Morton Ranch Mavericks at James E. Taylor Mustangs - October 16, 2026

      On Friday, October 26, 2026, the James E. Taylor Mustangs hosted the Morton Ranch Mavericks at Rhodes Stadium. Kick off was at 7pm. For Morton Ranch, this was their only Friday football game in October for 2026. Their 4 other October games are on Thursdays.

     Those who remember last year’s meeting between these two teams were looking forward to this year’s match up and if they only watched the first half, they were not disappointed. Last year, the Mavericks played so well against the Mustangs that they secured their first district win. This year, the Mavericks were leading at halftime.  Unfortunately for the Mavericks and their fans, the team that went into the locker room at halftime was not the same team that came back out. The team that started the game was fired up and ready to play. The team that came out after halftime looked like they just got told that their puppy got out and they really needed to get home and go look for it.  

     This game’s officiating was mostly good, but there were a couple of big mistakes that could have changed the final score. Shortly before halftime, there was a blocked kick. Immediately there was a flag on thr ground behind the defense. Before the officials could discuss that flag, a fight broke out. One player was penalized and another ejected.  The officials seemed to talk for quite a while, but they never addressed the flag that was thrown before the fight. One of the Mavericks’ assistant coaches noticed, but no one else seemed to. We never did hear why that flag was thrown and no penalty was ever enforced. Earlier in the game, a Mustang hit the plant leg of the Mavericks’ punter causing him to fall. Coach Cavallo tried to press his case with an official for quite a while to no avail. There were plenty of other opportunities for the officials to get a call right, and they occasionally did, but I do question some of their no calls. One thing I wish officials truly understood is that not enforcing the rules fairly doesn’t help anyone. I know lots of them think that they are helping an underdog or disadvantaged team. In reality, they are enforcing bad habits and not teaching kids how to play proper football.

     This paragraph is specifically for the coaches and the coaches alone. This is not the NFL. The team who ends the season with the worst record does not get the first draft pick. If you want to win, you need to spend less time in the locker room and more time on the field. You should be the first team out to start warmups and the last team in the locker room to end warmups. Your players should be behind the end zone stretching and getting warm while the home team’s band is on the field. You should call the best play for the position that you’re in and when possible, you should give your QB the freedom to make choices as a play unfolds. Not doing these things tells your players and your fans that you’re not in it to win it.

     This applies to players and coaches alike - don’t let the peanut gallery get into your head. I heard plenty of people in the stands at this game screaming at the coaches. Some of them obviously don’t know as much about football in general and the Mavericks specifically as they think that they do. Coaches, remember that you are the professionals. Everyone else is a passionate fan. If there are people in the stands who are also professionals and want you to win, they know how to contact you and share their oberservarions and insights instead of screaming it at you from the stands.

     Despite the disappointing number of points to scored in the second half, there are players who deserve attaboys for their performance during this game. I wasn’t taking notes during the game so I apologize if I miss anyone. Players earning attaboys are: Eli, C. Williams, C. Brown, Gomez, Carolina, & Rosalez. There were many other players who deserve attaboys or a pat on the back for their efforts during this game & I’m sorry I missed you. To whomever posted the full roster on MaxPreps, thank you!

Box Score	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	FINAL
Morton Ranch Mavericks	7	12	0	0	19
James E. Taylor Mustangs	0	14	10	14	38

     After this game, the standings for District 19-6A are

District 22-6A Football Standings
AB	Team	Wins	Losses	Points For	Points Allowed
1	Katy Tigers	6	0	311	54
2	Tompkins Falcons	4	1	195	117
3	Taylor Mustangs	4	2	158	136
4	Jordan Warriors	3	2	161	129
5	Cinco Ranch Cougars	3	2	146	176
6	Paetow Panthers	2	3	110	144
7	Mayde Creek Rams	1	4	100	180
8	Morton Ranch Mavericks	1	4	96	207
9	Seven Lakes Spartans	0	5	66	200

     The next game for the Mavericks will be Thursday, October, 22, 2026 against the Mayde Creek Rams. This is a rivalry game with a few twists for this year. Some of the players have attended both high schools. It will be interesting to see if this year’s games unfolds differently than last year. Kick off is at 6:30pm at Legacy Stadium with the Mavericks on the home side. If you’re going, be sure you don’t forget your stadium seat, jacket, or anything else in your vehicle. In 45+ years of attending high school football games, this is the only game I remember where they do not allow re-entry even if you buy another ticket. 

Be there or be 🟪. GO MAVERICKS!!

PS. These thoughts, observations, and critiques are mine and mine alone. 

Disclaimer: My football education is from attending high school football games since 1978 and sitting between my dad and my grandpa for the first 12 of those years. I continue to learn more about the game and strategies every week. My vocabulary may be lacking, but I know what I see and describe it as best I can.

Morton Ranch Mavericks vs. Conroe Tigers - September 4, 2026

     On Friday, September 4, 2026, the Morton Ranch High School Mavericks traveled to Conroe to face the Conroe High School Tigers.

    Before we get to this game, I first need to give credit where credit is due for last week's win. Last week the Mavericks hosted the Cy-Creek cougars and came away with a 0-22 victory. The players who deserve attaboys for that win include: Clark, R. Nichols, H. Reed, T. Robinson, #2, C. Brown, #16, #6,  #22, T. Williams, E. Butler, & #19. It should be known that the only source I have found listing jersey numbers and names for this year's roster is on MaxPreps.com. This has NOT been fully updated. If anyone is reading this who has a better roster or knows of where I can find one, will you please send it to me? I would be very grateful.

    There were plenty of problems in the game on 8/29/2026. Some were fixed before 9/4/26, others were not.

    I have a very important message for the play callers for the Mavericks. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't fall victim to what I call Van Meter disease, named for Coach Steve Van Meter who was a head coach when I started a reporting on what I was seeing on the field each week. If you haven't been reading my blog log enough to know what Van Meter Disease is, please look up Einstein's definition of insanity. Coach Van Meter, there is no disrespect meant. If you have ever read my blogs from when you were coaching, you'll know why I named this common problem after you.

    Now, on to the game in Conroe. Unlike some people who were running their mouths before this game, I had actually done a small amount of scouting other than looking at the previous week's score. I knew that Conroe was not going to be a night off for the Mavericks because I knew that their previous loss (bbb loss) was at the hands of C.E. King High School.

    That said, the game started worse than I imagined; and while there were some moments of excitement for the Mavericks, the overall theme of the game is that there is a lot of work to do. First, let me say that I don't think I've ever seen a game where the amount of time each offense is on the field had such a mismatch with the score. I haven't seen the official numbers, but I wouldn't be surprised if during the first half, the Mavericks' offense spent 3x as much time on the field as the Tiger's offense, yet the score was decidedly lopsided in favor of the Tigers. It didn't take long to realize that the Tigers knew exactly what was in the Mavericks' playbook and how each play looked on the field. The coaches and players did their homework and it showed. The Mavericks simply were not ready to play a team like Conroe.

    Despite the way the game turned out. there are some players who deserve attaboys. The first attaboy is actually going to the spirit organizations and the band parents/volunteers. The band's equipment truck broke down on the way to Conroe. The Belles' director had the school song on her phone and went up into the press box to play it before the game when the band would have usually played. Those in charge of the truck were able to get the band's instruments and equipment to the stadium just as the 2nd quarter was starting. The band members whose instruments were on the truck, went straight from the truck to the warm-up area to prepare for halftime. In order to give the Maverick Band more time, Conroe went first during halftime. The Maverick Band did a great job at half time and did their best to help the team from the stands during the second half of the game. The Maverick players who earned attaboys are: #2, T. Robinson, #16, #22, C. Brown, C. Williams, H. Reed, T. Eli, #19, #1, R. Nichols, and #6.

    Next week, the Mavericks (0-0, 1-1), will open district play against the Cinco Ranch Cougars. Kickoff will be on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 7:30pm at Legacy Stadium in Katy. The Mavericks will be the visitor. Be there or be square.

Go Mavericks!

Disclaimer: My football education is from attending high school football games for 45+ years and sitting between my dad and my grandpa for the first 12 of those years. I continue to learn more about the game and strategies every week. My vocabulary may be lacking, but I know what I see and describe it as best I can.    

Seven Lakes Spartans vs. Morton Ranch Mavericks - November 6, 2025

     On Thursday, November 6, 2025, the Mortan Ranch Mavericks hosted the Seven Lakes Spartans for the last regular season game of the 2025 season. Kick off was in Legacy Stadium at 6:30pm. For these 2 teams, it was mathematically impossible for either team to make the playoffs. We all knew before the game began that this was for pride.

    I think the best description of this game for Maverick fans would be 47 minutes of frustration with sparks of happiness followed by 1 minute of exhilaration mixed with nervousness and joy. Throughout the game, there were multiple times that I wanted to go to the press box and beg the play callers not to run Brown up the middle again. He ran up the middle a lot. Mr. Brown, I have no doubt that you were exhausted on Friday, and probably more than a little sore, but you were a solid work horse all night long and deserve major kudos.

    For the Mavericks, they used 2 quarterbacks, neither of whom had played quarterback on the varsity team this season. I watched both warm up and waited to see who would start. Both quarterbacks played during the game and both did well, but in different ways. It's good to see that there are players who are able to diversify and play different positions.

    Everyone knows that my soapbox issue is the game officials and this week they gave me plenty to write about. I have previously commented that Coach Cavallo appears calm on the sidelines during the games. During this game, he was obviously upset, and he had every right to be. Seeing him press his case with the officials impressed how wrong they were. Everyone in the stadium saw the replay and knew that the officials were wrong. It happened more than once and one of those times resulted in points that were earned not being put up on the scoreboard.  I don't know what TASO and the UIL can do other than increasing the number of mystery evaluators, but they need to do something. Officials should not be deciding who wins and who loses a game.

Box Score
	1st Q	2nd Q	3rd Q	4th Q	Final
Seven Lakes Spartans	3	6	0	0	9
Morton Ranch Mavericks	0	7	0	3	10

    Quite honestly, if the officials had been playing it fair, the score would have been tied at the end of the first half. Just saying,

Final district 19-6A Standings are

District 19-6A Football Standings
AB		District		Overall		District		Overall
	Team	Wins	Losses	Wins	Losses	Points For	Points Allowed	Points For	Points Allowed
1	Katy Tigers	8	0	8	2	411	108	465	194
2	Cinco Ranch Cougars	7	1	7	3	280	193	322	216
3	Jordan Warriors	6	2	7	3	282	157	339	184
4	Paetow Panthers	4	4	5	5	290	291	298	252
5	Tompkins Falcons	4	4	5	5	287	205	354	353
6	Mayde Creek Rams	3	5	4	6	233	259	311	303
7	Morton Ranch Mavericks	2	6	3	7	116	349	171	368
8	Seven Lakes Spartans	2	6	3	7	111	240	114	285
9	Taylor Mustangs	0	8	0	10	153	357	194	398

    Congrats to Katy for winning the district championship and being undefeated in district. And congratulations to Katy, Cinco Ranch Jordan, & Paetow for making the playoffs.

    Several players deserve attaboys for their efforts Thursday night. If you see any other these players, be sure to give them a pat on the back. They earned it This week's attaboys go to C. Brown, S. Fontenettte, E. Rios, M. Kinlaw, T. Lazar, R. Nichols, L. Hernandez, H. Reed, C . Rozales, J. Wilson, G. Obikili, Daniels, M. Washington, D. Parker, T. Williams, T. Alexander, #92,  & T. Robinson.

    

    Congrats to all of the seniors who have played their final high school football game. I hope that you are able to pass on your knowledge to the younger players before you graduate and that you are able to come back for a game of two after this year. I hope that those who want to play in college are able to land somewhere where you can be successful and that all of you find success in all of your endeavors. 

    Go Mavericks!

Until next season, . . .   

Disclaimer: My football education is from attending high school football games for 45+ years and sitting between my dad and my grandpa for the first 12 of those years. I continue to learn more about the game and strategies every week. My vocabulary may be lacking, but I know what I see and describe it as best I can.