Football playoffs: The Woodlands vs. Klein Collins

It could be déjà vu all over again for The Woodlands High School football team as it makes its annual journey into the postseason.

The Woodlands Highlanders (7-3) face the Klein Collins Tigers (8-2) in a bi-district playoff game at 7 p.m. Friday in Klein Memorial Stadium.

The Highlanders will be making their 18th consecutive playoff appearance after claiming a fourth district championship in the last five years.

For the second consecutive season, the Highlanders begin their playoff trek with Klein Collins. Last year, the Highlanders came away with a 42-31 victory on their way to the region finals. An extended playoff run is the hope again for 2012.

The Highlanders have never lost to Klein Collins. The two teams have met seven times.

The Highlanders have been led all season by the 1-2 punch of sophomore running back Patrick Carr and senior quarterback Blaine Gillepsie. Carr rushed for 1,667 yards and 18 touchdowns this season while Gillespie threw for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also rushed for 607 yards and eight touchdowns.

Houston Brown led all Highlanders receivers with 683 yards and seven touchdowns on 20 pass receptions.

District 13-5A runner-up Klein Collins comes into the game with losses only to Klein (44-41) and unbeaten Westfield (40-19).

The Tigers boast an explosive offense, scoring 30-or-more points in every game this season with the exception of the Westfield contest. Klein Collins scored 40-plus points in five games this season.

Tigers quarterback Blake Jackson threw for more than 1,000 yards this season and running back Tre White rushed for close to that number as well. Christian Snow and Derrick Thomas are among the leading tacklers for the Tigers.