By Rob Tate
SportCast Media
Magnolia (2-1, 1-0) at Tomball Memorial (1-1, 0-0)
The details: 7 p.m. Friday, Tomball ISD Stadium
History: This will be the fifth meeting overall and first since 2017 for a couple of schools that are 16 miles apart down the Highway 249 corridor. Magnolia is 3-2 all-time against the Wildcats. Tomball Memorial won the most recent meeting seven years back.
Key player for Magnolia: Senior running back Colin Leahey had a breakout game and then some Friday against Klein Oak. The Air Force commit made noise the first two games with a combined 176 yards and four touchdowns against Lake Creek and College Station. Last week, Leahey had two 70-plus yard touchdown runs in the third quarter and finished the night with three visits to the end zone and 258 yards on 18 carries.
Key player for Tomball Memorial: Senior wide receiver Randall Russ II has 10 receptions for 224 yards and a touchdown through just two games for the Wildcats. Russ has emerged after 336 yards as a junior.
Stat attack: Let’s show some love for the punter. Magnolia junior Gavin Gonzales averaged 48.5 yards on two punts last week against Klein Oak. For the season, his averaged is 35.4. He’s also made two field goals, including 30-yarder against Klein Oak.
Notable: As District 15-6A features nine teams, Tomball Memorial opened with a bye last week … The Wildcats fell to Humble 29-17 in Week 1 and bounced back to defeat Cypress Creek 52-27 in Week 2 … Magnolia totaled 544 yards of offense in a 60-21 win over Klein Oak … The Bulldogs are averaging 46.7 points per game … Through three games last year, the Bulldogs averaged 20.3 per game. … Sophomore linebacker Ty Miller led Magnolia in tackles last week with eight and he broke up a pass … The Tomball Memorial defense has four takeaways … The Wildcats went 6-1 in district play last year, outscoring opponents 282-158.
DISTRICT 15-6A STANDINGS
Team, District Record (Overall Record)
Klein Forest, 1-0 (2-1)
Tomball 1-0 (3-0)
Magnolia 1-0 (2-1)
Klein Cain 1-0 (3-0)
Tomball Memorial 0-0 (1-1)
Magnolia West 0-1 (1-2)
Klein Collins 0-1 (0-3)
Klein 0-1 (Klein 2-1)
Klein Oak 0-1 (1-2)
