Highlanders best Kingwood

SHENANDOAH, Texas – The Woodlands High School football team clinched its 16th consecutive berth into the postseason, but it wasn’t easy. The Highlanders defeated Kingwood 41-35 on Friday night at Woodforest Stadium in a battle of District 14-5A unbeatens.

It looked like a yawner midway through the third quarter with The Woodlands (8-0, 4-0) holding a commanding 35-7 lead and appearing in complete control. But the visiting Mustangs (3-5, 3-1) stormed back with the next three scores and suddenly it was a 35-28 game with just over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

“We did what we had to do in the end to pull out the win,” The Woodlands head football coach Mark Schmid said. “We misfired on our first two possessions we dropped some balls that could have resulted in scores.

“I think that probably would have taken the wind out of their sails. But they got the momentum rolling and very much like Lufkin, we had a dogfight on our hands.”

Highlanders quarterback Joseph Schneider threw his second of two touchdowns on the night, an 18-yarder to Matt Lee to put some distance in between. The PAT kick attempt was blocked but the Highlanders still led 41-28 with 5:34 remaining.

Kingwood tacked on a final score with 1:32 to play before the Highlanders recovered the onside kick attempt and ran out the clock.

Schneider threw for 260 yards, completing 14 of 21 attempts, and added 58 rushing yards on 10 carries. Highlanders’ running back Daniel Lasco rushed for 162 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half, as the Highlanders enjoyed a 28-7 lead at halftime.

Lasco scored on short touchdown runs of 3, 1, and 1 yards after Kingwood quarterback Greg Williamson scored on a 5-yard run to give the Mustangs an early 7-0 lead.

Schneider then threw 48 yards to Max Ward to complete the scoring in the first half.

Ward put the game seemingly out of reach midway through the third quarter with a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown.

But the No. 5 state-ranked Highlanders are always going to get their opponents’ best shot. “We walk around with a target on our backs every time we step out on the field,” Schmid said. “It’s a big game for every (opponent). That was the case tonight.

“Kingwood came in and did a great job offensively and made it very difficult for us. You’ve got to give credit to them. And that’s what we’re going to get from people.

“Hopefully that’s one of the things that we’ll learn from tonight and move on and be better next week.”

The Highlanders also got big production out of receivers Jackson LaPlant, who had six catches for 87 yards, and Blake Webb, with 60 yards on three pass receptions.