Football playoffs: The Woodlands defeats Klein Collins

SPRING, Texas – The marching bands performed at halftime, on either side of that The Woodlands High School football team marched up and down the field with Klein Collins on Friday in a wild shoot-out at Klein Memorial Stadium.

The Highlanders scored early and often and in record-setting fashion took care of the hosting Tigers 66-42. The Woodlands rolled up 615 yards of offense, including 438 yards on the ground.

The Highlanders (8-3) advance to the area round of the playoffs where they face Round Rock Westwood at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Baylor University.

The Woodlands head coach Mark Schmid, who was on the sidelines for the first time in several games because of health issues, said he couldn't recall The Woodlands ever scoring that many points in a game.

"Definitely never in a playoff game, " Schmid said.

Highlanders' quarterback Blaine Gillespie threw for 222 yards (10-13-1) and a touchdown and also rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns.

"I love my team," Gillespie tweeted after the game. "Let's keep this playoff run going."

"Let's roll," tweeted Jayme Taylor, who rushed for three touchdowns as well.

Klein Collins (8-3) had no answer, either, for sophomore running back Patrick Carr, who rushed for 207 yards on 30 carries.

Gillespie threw 43 yards to Sean McCanna for the first of nine Highlanders touchdowns. McCanna led all receivers with 87 yards on three pass receptions.

Ben Gilstrap ripped off a 36-yard touchdown run and the Highlanders jumped out to an early 14-0 lead.

But The Woodlands couldn't shake Klein Collins, at least not until midway through the third quarter when Garrett Harvey scored on a 9-yard touchdown run to spark a 21-0 run that broke a 35-35 tie.

Harvey put on the finishing touches with a 3-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter after Alex Garcia booted a 29-yard field.