HS Football: Cavaliers Fight But Cannot Best the Still Unbeaten Wildkats

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Willis Wildkats (6-0) kept their unbeaten streak alive by defeating the College Park Cavaliers (3-3) at Woodforest Bank Stadium in a 45-21 slugfest.

Issues stemming from Willis’ win over the Cleveland Indians last week left a handful of the Wildkats suspended against College Park. Disciplinary measures against pieces of the Wildkat offense meant the team would be operating without some of their best weapons against a Cavalier team wanting to make an impression.

In an exclusive interview with The Woodlands Online Sports, Willis Head Coach Trent Miller spoke on the suspensions and how they affected the team in ways beyond the field.

“With everything that came down the pipeline it had an enormous effect on all of us,” said Miller. “It was a big slap in the face of who we are and everything that we stand for. We do not tolerate anything or condone anything that happened in that handshake line last Friday.”

But with key pieces missing, the Wildkat coaching staff was forced to adapt and apologize for the actions of the players.

“I am truly embarrassed and ashamed of how that all transpired,” iterated Miller. “You spend 48 hours not knowing who is going to play because of that and it made our preparation difficult with the decisions we made regardless of what outside factors would play in.”

Willis’ adjustments came by trusting the playmakers available to do their jobs and make impacts early. One component was Jalen Mickens, who took the opportunities that came his way and made the most of them, including a 70-yard receiving score on the opening play of the game.

“The way [College Park] was playing us early gave us the underneath routes and our guys took advantage of that,” said Miller. “Between Jalen and Jermaine [Bishop Jr.], if you give those guys a cushion, they can do damaging things with the football in their hands.”

Mickens’ score ignited three straight scoring drives split between Willis and College Park, with the Wildkats scoring two out of the three.

The 14-7 lead was not substantial but after the scoring run, the defenses took over and turned the remainder of the first quarter into a defensive battle.

A missed field goal and a turnover on downs kept the Cavs behind on the scoreboard but stops from their defense meant the Wildkats were unable to extend their lead beyond one possession.

Neither team would score for the rest of the first quarter and only a couple of touchdowns between the teams kept the second quarter from also being scoreless.

Jack Emerson struggled following the two passing touchdowns that opened the game, with two interceptions plaguing his early production. The second interception went to College Park’s Marco Beltran who accelerated to the endzone for the tying score.

The momentum seemed to be firmly on College Park’s side following the pick, but a revival of Willis’ rushing attack put the team back on track.

Trust in the sturdy Terri Lawrence III to plow through defenders was well-placed in the late second quarter. The reliable back pierced the Cavalier defense for huge gains before setting Emerson up for a rushing score that put the Wildkats up 21-14 going into the half.

College Park’s game plan was starting to slip as the second half got underway. Back-to-back punts further stagnated the Cavalier offense which had not scored since the team’s first drive of the game.

The punts provided a window for the Wildkats to push the game farther from their opponents, and the team took it. Another passing touchdown to Mickens put the team ahead by its largest lead yet, but they would need to keep up the momentum to reach the finish line.

Another interception from Emerson could have swung the favor back to College Park’s side, as the Cavaliers turned the turnover into points with a deep passing touchdown to Clint Rachal to bring the score to 28-21 Willis.

Instead of letting their opponents build momentum, the Wildkats trusted the run game again, with Lawrence III resuming his bruising work at runningback. A short field and stellar blocks from the offensive line provided space for Lawrence III to work on his way to his first touchdown of the night.

With the team back up by two possessions, the Wildkat defense finished the game strong by holding the Cavaliers scoreless through the final whistle.

Overpowering blockers at the line and authoritative hits from the defensive backs all culminated in a suffocating defensive unit that gave Willis the edge down the stretch.

“I think our defense started off a little bit rocky to start the season,” said Miller. “But they figured things out and cleaned things up as the season has gone on. [Jeff] Slafka is beyond pleased with how those guys played tonight with their rallying to the football, pressuring the quarterback, and not missing open tackles.”

College Park’s silent offense for the rest of the game meant the Wildkats were free to finish the game with strength and comfort. A couple more scores sealed the deal in Willis’ favor and the team was able to walk away from their performance with a 45-21 victory.

The win allows the Wildkats to put the issues of the past behind them and refocus on their next opponent in the hopes of remaining unbeaten.

“All things considered, this has been a great opportunity for us to learn how to win with class and treat people the right way,” said Miller. “Going into next week, hopefully, we can hit the reset button and keep the true main thing the main thing by focusing on us and what we can do to improve on a daily basis.”

Willis’ next matchup is against the New Caney Eagles under the lights of welcoming Yates Stadium, while College Park looks for a bounce back against Caney Creek.

Woodlands Online High School Football Highlights: College Park vs Willis - 10/04/2024

Woodlands Online High School Football Coach Interview: Coach Trent Miller 10/04/2024

Photos