Friday, September 25, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. | Legacy Stadium, Katy

Paetow and Seven Lakes meet Friday with each seeking its first win of 2026 and its first District 22-6A victory.

Team Snapshot: Paetow Panthers

• Current record: 0–4 overall, 0–2 in district
• Head coach: David Hicks
• Head coach’s overall record: 21–30
• Head coach’s record at Paetow: 21–30

Season So Far

• August 28: vs. Langham Creek — Loss, 40–21
• September 4: at Pearland — Loss, 38–14
• September 11: at Jordan — Loss, 34–7
• September 19: vs. Cinco Ranch — Loss, 28–20

Team Snapshot: Seven Lakes Spartans

• Current record: 0–3 overall, 0–1 in district
• Head coach: Jimmy Hamon
• Head coach’s overall record: 33–61
• Head coach’s record at Seven Lakes: 33–61

Season So Far

• August 28: at Memorial — Loss, 50–21
• September 5: vs. Foster — Loss, 35–14
• September 17: at Morton Ranch — Loss, 43–28

The Breakdown

Paetow’s offense has produced 254 yards per game, with 152 of those yards coming on the ground. Z’yion Grear has rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns, while Curtis Zeno has added 151 yards. Quarterback Jaiden Noel has thrown for 347 yards and four touchdowns; Anthoni Terrell’s 130 receiving yards and Tyler Washington’s two touchdown catches give the Panthers options when they throw. Paetow has allowed 405.8 yards per game, including 228 rushing yards per game, making its run defense a central matchup Friday.

Seven Lakes averages 273 yards per game and has gained more through the air than on the ground. Quarterback Tyson Fifer has thrown for 498 yards and four touchdowns. Chace Janda leads the Spartans in both rushing and receiving with 195 rushing yards and 171 receiving yards, and Josh Tekwe has turned five catches into 145 yards. The Spartans have allowed 307.3 yards per game.

The defensive contrast is striking: Paetow has four takeaways and five giveaways, while Seven Lakes has two takeaways and seven giveaways. Yet Paetow has the more disruptive individual pass rush. Cayden Ayro has five sacks, Chandler Songster has three, and Klenam Attipoe has two. How Seven Lakes handles that pressure could determine whether Fifer has time to find Janda and Tekwe downfield.

Players to Watch

Paetow

• Z’yion Grear, junior: Leads the Panthers with 158 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 28 carries.
• Jaiden Noel, senior quarterback: Has thrown for 347 yards and four touchdowns. His ability to connect on longer throws could open room for Paetow’s backs.
• Cayden Ayro, senior defender: Leads Paetow with 39 tackles, including six tackles for loss, and five sacks.

Seven Lakes

• Chace Janda, junior: Has 195 rushing yards, 171 receiving yards and 144 kick return yards, giving Seven Lakes a threat in several phases.
• Tyson Fifer, senior quarterback: Has passed for 498 yards and four touchdowns. Protecting the ball against Paetow’s pass rush will be a key part of his night.
• Josh Tekwe, senior receiver: Averages 29 yards per catch on five receptions, including a 56-yard gain.

Recent Matchup History

• October 16, 2025: Paetow 28, Seven Lakes 3.
• October 18, 2024: Paetow 37, Seven Lakes 7.
• October 20, 2023: Paetow 35, Seven Lakes 11.
• October 20, 2022: Paetow 42, Seven Lakes 14.

Keys to the Game

Paetow

1. Tighten the run defense: Seven Lakes can use Janda both as a runner and a receiver. Limiting his gains on the ground would put more pressure on the Spartans’ passing game.
2. Get Noel into manageable downs: A productive early-down rushing attack would give him more chances to use Paetow’s receivers without facing predictable passing situations.
3. Keep the pass rush active: Ayro, Songster and Attipoe have combined for 10 sacks. Pressure could disrupt Fifer before longer routes develop.

Seven Lakes

1. Give Fifer time: Paetow’s pass rush presents a direct challenge to an offense that has gained 498 passing yards in three games.
2. Create running room early: Paetow has allowed 228 rushing yards per game. Success on the ground would ease the pressure on Fifer and help sustain drives.
3. Secure the ball: Seven Lakes has seven turnovers and a minus-five turnover margin. Cleaner possessions would give its offense more chances to build on last week’s 28-point output.

Keep Your Eye On

1. Janda’s total impact: His rushing, receiving and return production gives him several ways to influence the game.
2. Paetow’s pass rush against Fifer: The Panthers’ sack leaders face a quarterback who accounts for much of Seven Lakes’ offense.
3. The turnover battle: The teams have combined for 12 giveaways and six takeaways through their first seven games.