Football: Highlanders come up short

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - What was billed as a high-flying pass-happy crucial District 14-5A tilt, turned into a defensive struggle for The Woodlands High School football team on Thursday night at Woodforest Bank Stadium.

The Highlanders battled A&M Consolidated on even terms until the Tigers converted two fourth-down plays en route to the game-winning touchdown drive and a 21-14 victory.

"I was proud of our kids, the way they battled a little short-handed tonight," The Woodlands head coach Mark Schmid said.

The Highlanders played without starting quarterback Blaine Gillespie, who suffered a concussion at Conroe the previous week. But Jayme Taylor filled in admirably, throwing for 113 yards on 10-of-21 passes and one interception. He also added 11 yards rushing.

But the Highlanders relied heavily on running back Patrick Carr and the sophomore didn't disappoint. Carr rushed for 178 yards on 18 carries, including touchdown runs of 72 and 15 yards. His electrifying touchdown run at the end of the first quarter gave the Highlanders a 7-0 lead. And his final scoring dash tied the game 14-14 with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

But A&M Consolidated, which went four overtimes last week before losing 71-68 to Lufkin, was in no mood to play extra time on Thursday. The Tigers scored what proved to be the game-winner with 5:49 left.

Houston Brown and Sean McCanna led The Woodlands receiving corps with four catches each for 80 and 29 yards respectively.

It doesn't get any easier for the Highlanders (3-3, 1-1), who travel to Abe Martin Stadium to face the Lufkin Panthers for a 7:30 p.m. Friday game of District 14-5A contenders.