When former Klein Collins coach Drew Svoboda was hired as the running backs coach at Rice early in the spring, the administration promoted Adrian Mitchell – who had been an assistant on staff for more than a decade – to take over and continue to build a program that grew into an annual contender under Svoboda. 

With a new head coach and just seven returning starters, there were a lot of unknowns as the Tigers began their push for another deep playoff run. In 2016, Klein Collins advanced to the state semifinals before falling to DeSoto. Last year, the team lost to Longview in the third round of the playoffs.

It hasn’t taken long for the Tigers to prove this year’s team has the potential to make another deep run of its own. Klein Collins is 5-0 with wins over Alief Taylor, Clear Springs, Klein Forest, Conroe Oak Ridge and The Woodlands College Park entering this week’s matchup against Klein Oak. 

“I feel like it's been a pretty smooth transition and it's largely in part to the great staff that we have,” Mitchell said. “We have a bunch of great coaches. Ultimately, the plan wasn't to change Klein Collins football. Klein Collins football was already pretty doggone potent and pretty doggone strong.”

Last week’s game against College Park was an important step in the team’s growth this season as Mitchell said they finally put together a complete performance in the 30-0 victory. The Tigers accounted for a season-high 501 total yards – including 433 on the ground – and recorded their first shutout since the regular-season finale against Houston Northbrook last year (62-0). 

“It was huge to see that growth in our kids and just the maturity of these guys,” Mitchell said. “The more they gel as a team, the more our kids are just playing together and playing as one. We’re truly being uniform, in more than just a uniform, in our actions and in our play – that's a big part of what we emphasize over here.”

The dominant performance on the ground is nothing new for Klein Collins, which prides itself on a smash-mouth offensive attack. The Tigers have rushed for four touchdowns in all five wins and are averaging more than 260 yards rushing per game. 

Senior Isaiah Spiller, who committed to Texas A&M in July, is again the focal point of the game plan and has 692 yards on 92 carries with 11 touchdowns so far this year. Braelon Bridges has chipped in 33 carries for 254 yards and four scores. 

Quarterback Carter Rhyne has thrown for 792 yards and three touchdowns, continuing to take advantage of opportunities opened up by the team’s explosive run game. Four different receivers – Alexander Brown, Josh Cordova, Xierre Murray and Bridges – have at least five catches and 100 or more yards on the season. 

“That’s just a matter of confidence,” Mitchell said. “Confidence the kids have in themselves and the confidence Rhyne has in those receivers. He has the willingness to throw the ball to some different guys. We spend a ton of time trying to improve in the passing game and it’s not a matter of us needing it in the game, it’s a matter of us wanting to use it.”

Defensively, Josh Allison (32 tackles, five TFL), Jalen Davenport (31 tackles, three TFL, two sacks, two FF), Trenton Wildridge (26 tackles) and Ethan Frazier (22 tackles, three TFL, two FF) are among the team’s statistical leaders. The Tigers are allowing just 12 points per game so far this season. 

While Klein Collins is off to a hot start, the team’s game against Klein Oak this week will be a good measuring stick for just how good the program is through six games. The Tigers’ first five opponents have a combined 8-15 record, but Klein Oak enters 4-1 and is one of just two teams with a winning record left on Klein Collins’ schedule. 

The Panthers’ only loss of the season came last week against The Woodlands (21-19).  

“Now obviously with it being Klein Oak, the kids know these kids, and we know the coaches, , so at times it's kind of easy to get caught into that whole little trap,” Mitchell said. “But I think our kids do a good job, and our staff does a good job of allowing Klein Oak to have the asterisk by their name because they're the team that we're playing this week. They have an asterisk because they are the current team we are playing against, and they're a doggone good team.”