HS Football: Willis Repeats as Unbeaten District Champions Following Halloween Night Victory

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Back-to-back unbeaten seasons and district championships were the rewards for the Willis Wildkats (10-0) following their win over the Grand Oaks Grizzlies (5-4) on Halloween Night.

The test ahead of the Wildkats entering the night was to overcome 13-6A’s second-best defensive unit in the form of Grand Oaks. The Grizzlies typically conceded only 237 yards per game, with the pass defense being the best in the district.

The unique combination of blitzes and exotic coverages challenged the Willis coaching staff, but the unit was confident in their players and their ability to overcome the difficult situation.

In an exclusive interview with The Woodlands Online Sports, Willis Head Coach Trent Miller spoke on Grand Oaks’ defense and what they knew coming into the night.

“What they do defensively gives teams a lot of fits,” said Miller. “They do a great job of disguising coverages, rolling coverages, doubling guys, and just moving pieces like you don’t expect.”

Knowing their opponent’s tendencies, the Wildkats got to work on the opening drive to pierce the Grizzlies for a quick score.

Atypical of their pass-heavy offense, Willis went to the run game for substantial yards in the first few drives. Utilizing Jermaine Bishop Jr., Daylion Robinson, and Terri Lawrence III on the ground gashed the Grand Oaks defense for large chunks of open turf.

The wide gaps given by the sturdy Wildkat offensive line allowed the runners to score rushing touchdowns on three of the team’s first four drives, with the other being a passing score to Romel Stevens.

“The ball doesn’t get to those guys without that offensive line up front,” explained Miller in praise of his linemen. “Those guys are unbelievable. They’re playing so well together.”

Compared to the runaway success of the Wildkat offense, the Grizzlies were modest in their offensive production, with the first quarter seeing one score.

Play from Grant Smith and the multiple weapons for Grand Oaks were kept in check by the relentless Wildkat defense. Despite the Grizzlies having one of the best pass offenses in 13-6A, the ground game was the more reliable option.

Runs from Keilan Gause and Devon Wallace broke through the Willis defense on several occasions, including a Gause rushing score that got Grand Oaks on the board.

“We had no idea what to expect from them,” said Miller. “They moved the ball really well in that first quarter and that caught us off guard.”

While impressive, it did little to eat away at the already overbearing Willis lead at the end of the first quarter.

Willis’ 21-7 first-quarter lead only grew as the first half continued. A shift to passes overloaded the Grand Oaks secondary, with Stevens being the main beneficiary of multiple deep passes. By the end of the night, Stevens bagged three receiving scores which nearly doubled his season total entering the night.

“Romel [Stevens] seemed like the easy target early on cause he was getting some loose coverage,” said Miller. “They were pressing, bailing out, and he did a great job of staying underneath, using leverage, and getting over the top when he needed.”

The locomotive that was Willis’ offense churned out six touchdowns on seven first-half drives while the defense only gave up one more score on a Ty Rupe receiving touchdown.

The typical dominance by Willis was on full display, with the team taking a 42-14 lead into the locker rooms.

A chaotic start to the second half saw the first score come on a punt that was muffed by the Willis return team. The loose football escaped the returner and bounced into the endzone for a Grand Oaks score. It was an interesting spark for a team needing a change, but it would ultimately be the final score of the game for the Grizzlies despite multiple changes from Willis.

Undaunted by the special teams mistake, the Wildkats took to the field for their next drive. A healthy balance of passes and runs saw another passing score from Jack Emerson to Stevens. It was the duo’s third connection for a touchdown, but the offense was far from done.

Another touchdown for Willis, this time from Lawrence III, saw the team end the third quarter by outsourcing the Grizzlies 14-7. While a slim margin, the 56-21 overall lead for the Wildkats was more than enough of a cushion for both teams to call off the dogs and coast through the final 12 minutes of regulation.

Jakobe Blanks and the Wildkat second-unit players played out the stretch during the fourth quarter, adding a final touchdown for good measure.

Grand Oaks could not muster any last-second score in response to the Wildkat onslaught, ending the night in a 63-21 Willis victory for a second straight unbeaten season and back-to-back district titles.

The historic run for the Wildkat football program was ushered in by Trent Miller, his coaches, and his players. The relentless work and effort on display have rewarded the team with success rarely seen in high school football, and the taste of victory is a hard one to emulate.

“Words can’t describe how special this is for this team, this program, or this community,” said Miller. “It’s been a grind since we got here and if you’d told me, after our first year going 5-5 that we were tunning back-to-back championships, I would have called you crazy. But that’s just a testament to how these kids have bought in and fought for each other.”

A bye week next week gives the Wildkats a full week’s rest before the start of the playoffs, while Grand Oaks prepares to face Caney Creek in a matchup that will try to end the Grizzlies’ season on a high.

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