Woodlands Playoff Football Preview

The Woodlands looks to avenge last year’s playoff loss on Saturday.

No. 3 The Woodlands (11-0) vs. No. 9 Stony Point (10-1), 6 p.m., Saturday (Woodforest Stadium)

It’s very difficult to compare teams from other areas. Statistics don’t necessarily tell the whole story. But oftentimes that’s about all a person has to go on when looking at the two teams head-to-head.

This is what we do know – Last year was the only time the two teams had ever met. The Tigers won that meeting 21-7. Like this year’s match-up it was an area round playoff game.

The District 16-5A co-champions have outscored the opposition 408-101 this season. The only loss this season for Stony Point was a 28-21 decision to district co-champions Cedar Park.

The Woodlands has outscored its opponents 395-176. The Highlanders were involved in a lot higher-scoring games this year than the Tigers, who went 3-1 this season against playoff teams, outscoring those 150-56.

The Woodlands is 6-0 this season against playoff teams, outscoring those foes by 235-121.

The two teams have somewhat similar passing yardage. Stony Point has thrown for 2,207 yards and 19 touchdowns while the Highlanders have racked up 2,371 passing yards and 26 touchdowns.

But the Tigers have run the football extremely well, grinding out 2,774 yards and 34 touchdowns as compared to The Woodlands’ 1,730 combined rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. So stopping the Tigers’ ground attack, or at least slowing it down, will be a key on Saturday.

The Tigers have five players with more than 300 rushing yards for the season and another with 278. Sam Kelley leads that group with 723 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Quarterback Gus Barrera, Jr. has thrown for 1,371 yards and 12 touchdowns as well as rushing for another 474 yards and seven touchdowns. But Aaryn Sharp is a capable signal-caller as well for Stony Point. Sharp has thrown for 820 yards and seven touchdowns this season, including four in the Tigers’ 56-7 bi-district playoff victory last week over Cy-Falls. Sharp has also run for 348 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Gerard Shillow is the Tigers’ leading receiver with 53 catches for 1,138 yards and nine touchdowns. Teammate Stephen Williams also has 32 receptions for 405 yards and four touchdowns.

Highlanders’ quarterback Trent Eckel has put up impressive numbers as well, throwing for 2,058 yards and 20 touchdowns. Randy Knust leads the receiving corps with 29 catches for 751 yards and 11 touchdowns. Jonathan Wilcher and Brett Felton have 21 and 17 receptions respectively.

Daniel Lasco leads The Woodlands’ ground attack with 1,354 rushing yards (7-yard average) and 15 touchdowns.

This is what else we know – these are two pretty darn good football teams. Both top-10 rated in the state. Some believe that the winner of Saturday’s game will go on and win Region II and advance to play for a chance at a state championship. Who could argue?

The winner of this game advances to the regionals to face the winner of the Garland vs. Tyler Lee game. Those two teams play at 2 p.m., Saturday, in Corsicana.

These are two evenly matched teams and home field could be the deciding advantage.

Glenn’s guess: The Woodlands 35, Stony Point 27