Football: Week 9 preview

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – One team hopes to lock up at least a share of the District 14-5A title, another still has designs on it as Week 9 brings some very intriguing matchups.

The Woodlands Highlanders (6-2, 4-0) vs. College Park Cavaliers (4-4, 1-3)

Up Next: The Woodlands High School football team looks to clinch at least a share of the District 14-5A title when it hosts the College Park High School football team in a 7:30 p.m. Friday game at Woodforest Bank Stadium.

Last Week: The Highlanders held off Bryan 21-14 on the road for their fifth consecutive victory when quarterback Chris Andritsos scored on two touchdown runs. College Park fell for the fourth time in five games, 34-14, to Lufkin.

What to Watch For: Can the Cavaliers protect the football and help the defense return to early season form? The Cavaliers have given up 41 and 34 points in their last two games after yielding just 63 total over the entire first half of the season. The Highlanders offense is averaging 25 points per game over the last three. Running back Patrick Carr needs 27 rushing yards to break 1,000 for the season.

Analysis: The Cavaliers can pull the upset if they take care of the football. Four turnovers last week killed any chance for victory. College Park had better do all the damage it can in the first half, because the second half has belonged to the Highlanders. The Woodlands defense has not allowed a score of any kind in the second half of the last five games.

Oak Ridge War Eagles (7-1, 3-1) at Lufkin Panthers (3-5, 2-2)

Up Next: With an opportunity still to play for a share of the District 14-5A championship, the Oak Ridge High School football team must first taste victory at Lufkin in a 7:30 p.m. Friday showdown.

Last Week: The War Eagles were defeated for the first time this season, 41-23, by A&M Consolidated in a home game at Conroe’s Buddy Moorhead Stadium. Lufkin won for the second consecutive week with a 34-14 victory over College Park after losing five straight.

What to Watch For: How will Oak Ridge respond to its first loss of the season? The War Eagles were limited to 23 points, second-lowest output of the season next to a 21-point total against College Park. The real question is whether or not the War Eagles defense can slow down a Lufkin offense that scored 41, 31 and 34 points in three of its last four games? Oak Ridge yielded 41 last week to A&M Consolidated.

Analysis: Lufkin, it would appear, has righted the ship after consecutive victories over Bryan and College Park and is back on course towards a possible playoff berth. The Panthers are 2-1 at home with the only loss, a 42-41 setback to A&M Consolidated. Oak Ridge could wreck it with a powerful running game that steered the War Eagles to a 7-0 start.

The Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors (5-3, 2-1) at Beaumont Legacy Warriors (4-4, 1-2)

Up Next: The Woodlands Christian Academy football team travels to Beaumont for a TAPPS District 6 Division III matchup with Legacy Christian at 7 p.m. Saturday. The game was originally scheduled for Friday but has been changed.

Last Week: The Woodlands Christian Academy had its five-game win streak snapped by Cypress Christian in a hard-fought 12-0 defensive battle. Legacy dropped a 57-6 decision to district-leading Bay Area Christian, its third loss in the last four games.

What to Watch For: Over The Woodlands Christian Academy’s last six games, the losing team has been shut out in four of those and scored just once in the other two. Four of those were lopsided victories. In seven of Legacy’s last eight games, it’s been the same result. Three of those have been victories.

Analysis: The team that scores more than one time has an excellent chance of winning this game. Only three times in the combined 16 games played so far this season by the two teams has this not been the result. The trend has held true over the last 11 games played by the two teams.

The John Cooper School Dragons (5-4) vs. The Village School Vikings (3-4)

Up Next: The John Cooper School football team hosts The Village School at 7 p.m. Friday in the season finale for both teams.

Last Week: The Dragons dropped a 23-20 heartbreaker to St. Mary’s Hall. The Vikings extended their win streak to two games with a 28-14 Homecoming victory over St. John’s junior varsity.

What to Watch For: Can the Dragons bounce back after consecutive tough losses to St. Stephen’s Episcopal and St. Mary’s Hall and finish with a winning record? The Village School is looking to finish the season on a three-game win streak to reach the .500 level.

Analysis: On paper the two teams appear to be fairly equal. Both hold 2-1 records against common opponents (The Woodlands Christian Academy, St. John’s JV, Northside).