When Pearland head coach Tony Heath took over the Oilers' football fortunes in 1997, he inherited a team that had a 19-game losing streak, a team that had never had a winning record in any decade since the school began playing 11-man football in 1949, and a favorite homecoming opponent year-after-year.

As Heath begins his 10th year, it is no longer strange to see Pearland as a pre-season top 10 team in the Houston area. Texas Football Magazine has the Oilers ranked No. 15 in the state in their pre-season poll.

Heath is the winningest coach in Pearland football history with a 75-27 mark and is the longest tenured coach that the Oilers have ever had. The Oilers are 60-13 from 2000 to 2005.

Heath inherited the 1997 schedule that saw the Oilers snap their overall losing streak of 24 games while winning their first league game in three years to make the playoffs in his first season with a 2-8 mark. The first-year coach made no secret that his goal for that initial season was to win at least one game. He didn't promise a district title or to even make the post-season. By his own admission, Heath has always characterized himself as a cautious optimist.

Pearland won the right number of league games that first season to make the playoffs before losing to Galveston Ball in the bi-district contest. While others scoffed at the 2-8 season record, Heath knew that it was a step in the right direction.

The Oilers missed the playoffs in 1998 (5-5) and 1999 even though Pearland finished 8-2. They tied Clear Lake and Clear Brook for second-place in the District 24-5A standings, but lost the tie-breaker sending Lake and Brook to join Ball High to the post-season.

That would be the last time that a Heath-coached team would miss the playoffs as the Oilers have extended their season for the past six straight years, which is another school record. That includes winning the first playoff game in 50 years when the Oilers beat Deer Park 35-13 in the Astrodome in 2000. The 2001 squad set a new school winning mark at 13-1 while capturing the District 24-5A and Class 5A Division I Region championships sending them to the 5A state semifinals. The 2001 team finished the regular season at 10-0 for only the second time in school history. The 1950 team was 10-0 while competing in Class B.

Pearland moved into their new stadium at The Rig in 2001 and have compiled a 24-2 home winning mark with their only losses coming against North Shore. The first loss was in 2002 during the regular season when Pearland was in the same district with the Mustangs and in 2004 when the Oilers hosted the 'Stangs in a bi-district playoff contest.

Another remarkable record posted by Heath and Co. is that the Oilers haven't lost a non-district game since the season opener against Angleton in 2000. Since that time, Pearland has reeled off 19 straight victories over non-district opponents as they enter the 2006 football campaign.

Pearland will face four tough non-district opponents and Heath is hoping that the 2005 District 24-5A champions can continue the winning streak while preparing to repeat as league champions.

The Oilers may have the toughest non-district schedule since Heath took over the helm ten years ago. The teams include: Fort Bend Kempner, Houston Madison, Spring Branch Memorial, and state 4A power La Marque. The four teams combined for an impressive 36-12 overall record in 2005 with all four teams advancing to the post-season.

FB Kempner - Saturday, September 2 - Away - 6:00 p.m.
Kempner and Pearland met the first time two years ago when the two teams squared off in San Antonio at the Dave Campbell Texas Football Classic at the Alamodome. The Oilers blanked the Cougars 14-0 in a strong defensive battle.

Kempner invaded The Rig last season and returned home with another loss at the hands of the Oilers 20-8. The Pearland defense held Kempner to only 17 total yards in the first half.

The University Interscholastic League (UIL) realigned the Fort Bend schools to District 23-5A. All the schools remain the same - just the number of the district changed while North Shore, La Porte, Deer Park, and the Pasadena schools were are now 22-5A. That means that Pearland will face a team from the new 23-5A in the first round of the playoffs instead of North Shore. The Oilers and the Cougars could possibly face one another again in the post-season.

Kempner head coach Mike Ferrell returns 17 lettermen to go with four offensive and four defensive starters from a team that was 7-5 overall and a 5A Division II area finalist.

Players to watch include: Inside LB Melvin Onyia (6-0, 195, 4.7), Josh Hazley (6-2, 205, 4.5), TE Anthony Stevens (6-2, 215, 4.7), WR Oscar Vasco (5-9, 150, 4.5), DL/OL Bobby Lubojasky (6-1, 210, 4.8).

The Cougars lost their skill players on offense and coach Ferrell will be looking for some new players to step up this season including: QB Zak Shakhshire (6-of-7 passing for 29 yards), FB David Revenaugh, OL Ryan Liscum, OL Zak Kisinger, TB Tony Clement, and WR Oscar Vasco (7 catches for 115 yards and two TDs).

Clement had only 104 yards rushing last season in a limited playing role while Vasco is the leading receiver. LB Onyia will anchor the defense with 132 tackles last year.

Houston Madison - Friday, September 8 - Home - 7:00 p.m.
Pearland will host Houston Madison in their season home opener which will mark the first time the two schools have met on the playing field. Madison is the home of former UT quarterback Vince Young.

Head coach Ray Seals will welcome 23 returning lettermen with four offensive and seven defensive starters. The Marlins, who finished 9-2 last season as bi-district finalists, are a pre-season pick to finish second in the District 20-5A title race behind Houston Lamar.

Players to watch include: RB Corey Taylor (6-0, 185, 4.5), DB Loice Means (5-9, 155, 4.4), QB Christian Comeaux (6-4, 180, 4.5), CB Courtney Johnson (5-10, 180, 4.5), LB Timothy Shepperd (6-0, 205, 4.7), LB Asian Jackson (5-10, 190, 4.6), and DL Don Moore (5-10, 260).

Corey Taylor is the top running back returning for the Marlins with 100 carries for 765 yards and 12 TDs. Christian Comeaux (9 carries for 65 yards and one TD) will handle the quarterback duties. He didn't throw a pass last year and Seals knows that the success of the offense depends on the rookie signal-caller who has good size and speed, but lacks experience. CB Courney Johnson was a Hurrican Katrina evacuee from Louisiana and should be in the starting defensive lineup this season.

Spring Branch Memorial - Friday, September 15 - Away - 7:30 p.m.
Pearland handled Spring Branch Memorial last season 18-7 in a close game. The Oilers only led 3-0 at halftime and then saw Memorial take a 7-3 lead early in the third quarter. But the Pearland defense stiffened to hold the Mustangs scoreless for the rest of the game.

Alex Bolan hit a 27-yard field goal with 10:20 remaining in the fourth quarter to pull within 7-6. Michael Speciale rambled 13 yards for a touchdown with 7:43 left in the fourth period and Fozzy Whittaker sealed the win with a 10-yard dash for another score making the final 18-7. The final score was set up by a fumble recovery by Brandon Shaw.

Memorial head coach Gary Koch saw his team post a 7-4 overall record last season as Division I bi-district finalists. He also saw 70 lettermen graduate with only 15 returning lettermen to go with five offensive and three defensive starters making depth a challenge for this season.

Players to watch include: S Tyler Maddox (5-11, 181, 4.5), DT Tyler Hoffman (6-2, 285), DE Shane Barron (6-5, 220, 4.7), DB Ben Harper (5-10, 185, 4.5), TE Trent Hoffman (6-2, 235); Top junior: DB Bo Aycock (6-1, 191, 4.5).
DB/RB Ben Harper will move to the offensive side of the ball after 78 carries for 484 yards and four TDs last season. The defense will be led by LB Flynt (103 tackles) and three-year starter S Maddox and DT Hoffman (66 tackles, 3 sacks, 11 tackles for loss).

La Marque Cougars - Friday, September 22 - Home - 7:00 p.m.
It was only a matter of time before head coach Tony Heath scheduled his former team where he was an assistant coach. Add former La Marque assistant coaches Eric Wells, Doug Hagar, and Ryan Silvertooth (La Marque graduate) -- and you have a game made for the ages.

La Marque was ranked as the No. 1 Class 4A team in the state last season until they fell to Brenham in the 4A Division II state quarterfinals. The Cougars finished with a 12-1 overall mark.

Head coach Bryan Erwin will return 25 lettermen with four offensive and three defensive starters.

Players to watch include: DB James Thomas (6-1, 175, 4.5), OL Aundre McGaskey (6-4, 270), DL Mike Ray (6-3, 245), KL Raphael Guidry (6-3, 230), QB Durklyn Haynes, and RB Markus Frank (5-9, 175, 4.5).

The Cougars lost several Division I players to graduation, but have some key players returning this season. QB Durklyn Haynes has shared offensive duties since his sophomore season. He will finally get the starting nod after rushing for 325 yards on 58 carries and six TDs while hitting 32-of-76 passing for 416 yards and 4 TDs last year. Running back Markus Frank will be the featured ball carrier after picking up 867 yards on 133 totes and six TDs his junior year. Offensive tackle Aundre McGaskey, who has already committed to Texas, and Corey Biggers will anchor the offensive line.

The defense will be led by DB Thomas who had 11 INTs last year while DL Ray, DL Guidry, and DB McDonald will anchor the defensive side of the ball.

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