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Highlanders blank Monterrey Tech

By: Glenn Sattell, WOLSports Editor
| Published 09/20/2013

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas - They nearly didn't play the game, but it was a happy 2013 home opener for The Woodlands High School football team, a 31-0 winner over Monterrey Tech late Friday night at Woodforest Bank Stadium.

The game started an hour late because of lightning in the area and a driving rain storm. Monterrey Tech planned to begin the trek back home by 9 p.m. if the game could not get started by then. It did, but just barely, kicking off at 8:30 p.m.

And then it rained from before the game started and never let up through four quarters and beyond.

"What we did tonight, we overcame a lot in terms of weather and playing conditions and bouncing back from a tough loss against Katy," said Highlanders Head Coach Mark Schmid. "We overcame a lot to take a positive step."

It was the fourth meeting between the two teams. The Highlanders (2-2) have won all four by 30-plus points.

They wasted little time in cranking up the offense. An 8-yard run from Patrick Carr and a 50-yard completion from Dylan Larsen to Tyler Patrick had the Highlanders in business.

However, two holding penalties helped stymie the initial drive of the 2013 home schedule and a 32-yard field goal try sailed wide.

After forcing a second consecutive three-and-out, Patrick Carr ran 12 yards over the Barregos defense and then ripped off a 59-yard touchdown run, and the Highlanders were off to the races. Rhett Pruitt tacked on the first of four PAT kicks.

Carr rolled up 102 rushing yards on nine first-quarter carries.

"We kind of had a slow start offensively, only 7 points in the first quarter, a couple of drives stalled," Schmid said. "A lot that had to do with the weather. But I thought the kids played well in spite of it.

"I don't think it ever stopped raining. We ended up throwing the ball well and catching it. So I thought we responded well."

Carr finished with 132 yards on 19 carries.

"Big plays spark you," Schmid said. "They give you momentum. They turn the tables. Patrick's big run let us relax a little bit. I felt like we were a little uptight early. And then Ricardo (Trevino) made the big play."

Ryan Spaulding booted a 25-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead after the Highlanders recovered a Monterrey Tech fumble at the Barregos' 10-yard line. Trevino proceeded to put some distance between the Highlanders and Barregos by blocking and then returning a field goal attempt 69 yards for a touchdown.

The Highlanders took that 17-0 advantage into halftime.

A strong Highlanders' defensive effort limited the visitors to just two first downs in the opening half. It also recorded its second shutout in three weeks.

The Highlanders held Monterrey Tech to just 97 yards rushing and both Chris Fetterman and Zak Krolczyk recorded sacks.

"We responded well from the loss to Katy," Schmid said. "Our kids were more focused this week, came to work with a little more purpose about them. They didn't like the way that felt last week and so this was a big night for us."

The Highlanders put the game on ice with a 98-yard touchdown drive and a 24-0 lead late in the third quarter. Larsen completed passes of 52 and 33 yards to Bayley Novak which set up a 14-yard touchdown pass to Patrick.

Larsen threw for 151 yards, completing 5-of-9 passes.

Matt Bonaguidi, called up from the junior varsity this week when Chris Andritsos went down with a knee injury, fired a 56-yard touchdown pass to Robert Le Goubin on the first play of the fourth quarter and the lead ballooned to 31-0. He had another touchdown pass called back by a penalty.

Bonaguidi added 73 yards through the air, completing 3 of 8 attempts.

"I was pleased with the way that they played," Schmid said. "Obviously with the weather that we had, ball security, they did a great job handling shotgun snaps. We threw the ball pretty well.

"Matt's going to have to be a player for us. He got some valuable reps tonight."

The Woodlands opens District 14-5A play at 7:30 p.m. Friday when it hosts Conroe (3-1) at Woodforest Bank Stadium.

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