Page 40 - 2017-media-guide

perfect season happened in 2001 when Pearland went 13-0 before falling to San Antonio Taft in the
Astrodome in the 5A state-semifinals to close out at 13-1 which set a new school record.

The 2000 Pearland team, led by All-State running back
Anthony Evans (UH), advanced to the playoffs and beat
Deer Park 35-14 giving the Oilers their first playoff win in 50
years.

In the 20 years prior to Heath, the Oilers also had sev-
en 0-10 seasons and three 1-9 seasons leaving them
with a 3-97 record for 10 of the 20 years.

The Oilers made the playoffs in 1950, 1962, 1973,
1986, and 1997, Heath's first season. That team won
the right district games to advance to the post-sea-
son with a 2-8 record before falling to Ball High
in the opening round to close with a 2-9 mark.

Pearland missed the post-season in 1998 (5-5)
and 1999 (8-2) with the Oilers losing the sec-
ond-place tie breaker to Clear Lake and Clear
Brook who advanced with district champion Ball
Anthony Evans & Tony Heath High.

But from 2000 to 2016, Pearland never missed the playoffs again under a Tony Heath coached team
and as they say, "the rest is history."

Since 1999, Pearland is the 10th winningest football team in the state of any class with a 188-38 re-
cord. The Oilers have averaged 10.58 wins per season since 2000.

Pearland is also the only school to have ever had three running backs among the Top 10 All-Time
leading rushers in Class 5A Texas football history including No. 4 Anthony Evans (UH) with 6,192
yards, No. 6 Fozzy Whittaker (UT - Carolina Panthers) with 5,717 yards, and No. 10 Brandon Roberson
(Northwestern) with 5,235 yards.

Pearland's 2010 state title came at the expense of two
storied football teams in the state. The Oilers beat the
Katy Tigers 38-35 before 41,367 at Rice Stadium for
the 5A Region III Div. I title and then knocked off No. 1
nationally-ranked Euless-Trinity, who was the 2009 5A
Div. I state champion, 28-24 before an unofficial crowd
of over 60,000 at the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium in
Arlington.

Three years later in 2013, Pearland returned to the
state finals to face defending state champion Allen.
The Oilers gave it a battle, but were unable to knock
off the powerful Eagles. But the Oilers still won the
5A Region III Div. I crown and won their 5A Div. I state
semifinal contest to advance as a state finalists.

Despite that loss -- it was one of the most memorable
as Heath and his son, Connor, who was the quarter-
back, got to share in a never-forget accomplishment
together as father and son.
Dustin Garrison & Tony Heath
"The biggest moment for me – and it's unfortunate we didn't get the win – was getting to share the
state championship game with my son, Connor," Heath said. "That was the top for me.

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