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126
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ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL
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HOUSTON, TX
WRESTLING
3 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
5 REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
4 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
Looking Back
The Eagles reached the TAPPS
5A state semifinals for the second
time in four years after a third
consecutive district championship,
a third straight 10-win season and
extending the victory streak at
Hotze Field inside Granger Stadium
to 20 straight games.
STH’s only regular season loss was
a 31-17 defeat at Angleton after
four consecutive wins to start the
season. The return matchup with
the UIL 5A area playoff winner is
September 25 in the 2015 home
opener.
STH is 30-5 and 13-1 in district
since 2012 when Tim Fitzpatrick
was promoted to head coach.
During those three seasons the
Eagles were undefeated in 18 games
at home while averaging nearly 40
points per game.
Offensive tackle Campbell Clarkson
‘15 (U.S. Air Force Academy) and
kicker Jack Brady ‘15 (Millsaps
College) earned TAPPS 5A All-
State distinction.
Looking Ahead
Sixteen starters return and represent
the desirable mix of size, speed,
swagger and experience to make
the Eagles a legitimate state
championship contender.
“But we tell everyone in our
program ... respect must be earned,
no one owes you anything. We’re
starting 0-0. What we’ve done in the
past won’t get us to where we want
to be,” Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick has returned STH’s
winning tradition rooted in
consistent persistence. The
continuity of his coaching staff
continues but with shuffled
responsibilities. Keith Page
succeeds Tim Clarkson as offensive
coordinator after seven years on
the STH staff and serving as the
primary quarterbacks coach since
2012.
“We’re going to get the quarterback
under center more, rather that
straight shotgun (snaps). That’s
something Tim and I had already
talked about, adding some
formations, and expanding some
complements in the run game.
We’ll have the same balance and
philosophy ... physical up front and
running the ball,” Page said.
Page plans to put an immediate
stamp on a lethal set of skill players
who blitzed through the inaugural
TAPPS 7-on-7 tournament
undefeated, taking down 2014
TAPPS state champion Dallas
Bishop Dunne in the semifinals
and then St. Pius X 48-39 for the
championship.
Quarterback Michael Keating ‘16
excelled in that 32-team activity
and appears poised to take full
advantage of a high octane corps
of receiving weapons which
includes Landon Malouf ‘16, Drew
Guidroz ‘16, David Jones ‘16 and
newcomer Jhamon Ausbon ‘17,
along with break-away running back
William Heck ‘16.
“All those guys can go get it and
score. And Keating’s progress is
obvious. More zip, more accurate,
more decisive, more polished but
still has the touch when he needs
it. He’s put in the work, traveled to
some summer camps on the east
coast, and the results show. And
he remains one of our top running
threats. Fearless and fast. It will be
interesting to see how teams adjust
to defend us,” Fitzpatrick said.
Keating was already one of the
city’s top private school dual threats
in 2014, throwing for 1,654 yards
and 18 touchdowns while rushing
for 724 yards and nine scores.
Malouf and Guidroz figure to
dramatically improve on their
combined 50 receptions from last
season. Heck aims to add to his 780
rushing yards, and Rowdy Hinckley
‘16 provides a valuable change-of-
pace toughness running between
the tackles.
Tackle Charlie Vatterott ‘16 (Texas
St. committment) sets the tone
in the offensive trenches where
he played his sophomore season
before moving to the defensive
side and will anchor the front with
Harrison Rose ‘16, Parker Palazzesi
‘16 and left tackle Max Banes ‘18.
Defensive tackle Lorenzo Neal ‘16
brings the pedigree of a fullback
father who played 16 NFL seasons
with four Pro Bowl appearances.
Lorenzo Sr. was named to the 2000s
All-Decade team as a lead blocker
for 11 straight 1,000-yard rushers.
Lorenzo Jr. (6-2 305) measures
his force bullying ball carriers and
lowering the boom on quarterbacks.
Already with multiple college offers
including Purdue, Fresno St. and
Nevada Reno, Neal is the latest in a
series of Eagles delivering menace
and mayhem, extending the recent
tradition of Parker White ‘13
(Miami, OH), Joseph Lowry ‘14 and
Clarkson.
The added defensive muscle
surrounding Neal comes from
270-pound Robert Gonzales ‘16
and Sam Yeboah ‘17.
Linebackers Pete Huggins ‘16 and
Melvin Larkins ‘18 are game-
wreckers leading a back seven unit
who can hammer and stack with
any in the state.
Jones again brings impact to
both sides of the ball, proving
his versatility by switching from
safety to join Payton Ross ‘16 at
cornerback, a unit that includes
Patrick Leyendecker ‘16 who
excelled in the 7-on-7 competition.
2014 Newcomer of the Year Grant
Delpit ‘17 and Dawson Hawkins ‘17
are play-makers supreme at safety.
“It’s a great core. And the guys have
an edge. We’re close to cashing in
big in the playoffs and with this
group we think we have as good a
chance as anyone else. But you have
to prove your worth on the field.
The goal is to play in December,”
Fitzpatrick said.
“And win.”
SWIMMING
2015-2016 PREVIEW
CROSS COUNTRY
/
TRACK & FIELD
10 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
21 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
BASKETBALL
9 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
16 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
SOCCER
1 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
18 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
BASEBALL
23 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
49 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
FOOTBALL
17 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
39 AT THE NEXT LEVEL