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Clash of the Champions II

Defending Class 5A Division II state champion Katy will take on perennial power Bellevue Washington in a "Clash of the Champions II". The game will be played at Katy's Rhodes Stadium at 7 p.m. Saturday September 12th. In 2007, defending state champions Southlake Carroll and Miami Florida Northwestern played in Dallas in the "Clash of Champions." The event attracted a sellout crowd of more than 31,000 fans at Ford Stadium in Dallas.

The Bellevue Wolverines have won seven 3A state championships, including six in the last eight seasons. In 2004, Bellevue knocked off Concord California De La Salle who at the time had a record 151 game winning streak. Bellevue also defeated another national power, Long Beach California Poly, in 2005 and has an overall record of 4-0 against out-of-state competition. Bellevue will also play the California state champion Grant High School of Sacramento in the CBA Football Classic on Saturday, September 19th at Seattle Memorial Stadium.

Butch Goncharoff, the Head Coach for the Wolverines is 100-8 since taking over in 2000. Goncharoff won state titles in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008. He is also the first coach in Washington state history to win four consecutive state championships.

Katy has won back to back 5A state championships and has played for a state title in four of the past six years. Katy's only out of state matchup has been a 31-6 triumph over Weston Florida Cypress Bay last season. Cypress Bay, which plays at 6A as one of the nation's largest high schools, did not lose another regular-season game and finished 11-2.

Katy's Head Coach Gary Joseph has a 68-7 record since being elevated to head coach in 2004. He was an assistant for 22 years before that. The Tigers are one of only 11 Texas high schools to win six state championships.

By: Michael Wright
Lone Star Gridiron

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