The Woodlands Closes Out District Play Undefeated

SHENANDOAH, Texas -- It will be interesting to see how Thursday night’s 45-8 victory over New Caney affects The Woodlands heading into the Region II-5A Division I playoffs.

On one hand, the Highlanders, who are ranked No. 1 in the Houston area and No. 3 in the state of Texas, got to give most of their regulars the night off.

Heck, Daniel Lasco, who finished the regular season with 1,290 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, watched the game in shorts and a short-sleeve shirt.

But, on the other hand, the Highlanders are not going to see a team even remotely close to as bad as the hapless Eagles in postseason play.

New Caney, which ended the year 2-8 overall and 0-5 in District 14-5A play, had 17 yards in the first quarter, 14 yards at halftime and 61 yards at the end of three quarters of Thursday night’s snoozefest.

The Eagles finished the game with 137 total yards, but 76 of them came when the Highlanders had their third-string in during the final 12 minutes of play.

So, what does it all mean?

In essence, The Woodlands had a bye in the final week of the regular season. Will that bye have any affect on how the Highlanders play against Westfield or Klein Forest on Nov. 14?

Trent Eckel, who passed for almost 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns in eight games, did get to play a quarter-and-a-half on Thursday. He completed 5-of-6 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns.

Randy Knust also played half the game. He caught four passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns.

And Ryan Clapsaddle and Robert Bouthilet played into the third quarter before calling it a night. Clapsaddle had one of the Highlanders’ two interceptions, and Bouthilet was in on several tackles for loss.

But the danger of playing a team this bad in the final game of the regular season is that it often causes lethargy and overconfidence in the playoffs.

The Highlanders are 10-0 for a reason. They are one of the best football teams in the state of Texas. Their road victories over Katy (31-27) and Lufkin (31-21) prove that.

But, plain and simple, the Highlanders’ junior varsity would beat New Caney. And its ninth-grade A team might give the Eagles a run for their money.

“The Woodlands is just so solid,’’ said Klein Forest head coach Kenny Hammock. “They just keep coming at you in waves. And they don’t beat themselves.’’

The Highlanders will meet Klein Forest in the first round of the playoffs if Klein Forest loses to District 13-5A champion Klein Collins on Friday night and Westfield beats Spring.

If Klein Forest upsets Klein Collins, the Woodlands would get Westfield (if it beats Spring) in the first round. The Woodlands beat the Mustangs in the first round of the playoffs in 2008.

In either case, the Highlanders should be plenty rested. And they have plenty of guys who have game experience.

Joseph Schneider tossed touchdown passes of 69 yards to Max Ward and 18 to Knust against the Eagles’ mostly invisible secondary. He also intercepted a pass late in the game.

Cole Jordan, who could be the best third-string quarterback in the state, hit 4-of-7 passes for 45 yards and had two passes dropped.

The Highlanders had seven tailbacks and two quarterbacks run the ball against New Caney. They finished with a combined total of 173 yards.

Cooper Woodyard, who was filling in for Lasco, scored on a 34-yard run, and flanker Peter Falivene took a 9-yard sweep to the house as The Woodlands sprinted to a 42-0 halftime lead.

The Highlanders literally could have named the final score. But head coach Mark Schmid was gracious in victory.

Now, we will have to wait and see if the win is going to be good or bad for the Highlanders in the long run.

Stay tuned.