Highlanders top Oak Ridge

SHENANDOAH, Texas - Junior Chris Andritsos threw for 279 yards and connected with senior Tyler Patrick on four touchdown passes to lead The Woodlands Highlanders to a 46-21 win over the Oak Ridge War Eagles Friday night at Woodforest Bank Stadium.

“We talk at halftime and make some adjustments on offense and defense. Hats off to our kids as they have done an excellent job this season making second half adjustments. Our kids are starting to take a lot of pride in being a second half football team,” said Highlander Head Coach Mark Schmid.

The Woodlands (8-2, 6-0) scored on its first three possessions of the third quarter along with a 61-yard punt return for touchdown by Tyler Patrick to break open a close game to become outright District 14-5A champions.

Senior running back Sterling Scott ran up the middle 75 yards to the 2-yard line on the first play of the third quarter, immediately seizing the momentum. Junior Patrick Carr plunged in from the 2 to give The Woodlands a 27-14 lead just 39 seconds into the third quarter.

The Highlander offense continued to be explosive as Andritsos connected with junior wide receiver Chris Bell on a 67-yard completion down to the War Eagle 14-yard line. The drive would stall and senior Ryan Spaulding kicked a 25-yard field goal to give The Woodlands a 30-14 lead with 5:51 left in the third quarter.

“We can’t come out in the second half and give up big plays against a quality team. We are going to evaluate film and continued to get better, our kids played hard and didn’t quit and that’s always a positive,” said War Eagle Head Coach Dereck Rush.

After an Oak Ridge (7-3, 3-3) turnover on downs, the Highlanders continued to churn out the big play. Chris Andritsos connected with Patrick for a 28-yard touchdown, the duo’s fourth scoring combination of the night, extending the Highlander lead to 37-14. Tyler Patrick wasn’t done, scoring his fifth touchdown of the night, a 61-yard punt return at the end of the third quarter to give the Highlanders a commanding 44-14 lead.

“Our run game really opened up our passing game, I give all credit to our lineman and our quarterback (Andritsos). Our defense showed up and played their heart out,” Patrick said.

Oak Ridge trailed 7-0 in the first quarter and began to gain momentum on its third possession when senior quarterback Jacob Norton completed a short screen pass on a third-and-8 for a first down. The War Eagles then went to the wildcat formation with junior running back Kwame Etwi taking the snaps and went on a 71-yard scoring drive. The drive was capped off by Etwi’s 9-yard run up the middle to tie the game 7-7 with 3:36 left in the first quarter.

The War Eagles took advantage of a short field due to a 22-yard punt by The Woodlands on their next possession. Oak Ridge went 32 yards in five plays in 1:27, capped off by junior fullback Justin Edwards 2-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter to take a 14-7 lead.

The Woodlands would respond by going on a 70-yard drive in nine plays and an 85-yard drive in nine plays on back-to-back possessions. Both scoring drives were capped off by Andritsos finding Patrick for touchdowns, a 13-yard wide receiver screen, and a 36-yard pass over the middle in the end zone to take a 21-14 halftime lead.

Both teams qualified for postseason play in the Class 5A Division I bracket. Oak Ridge will play district 13-5A champion Spring Westfield (10-0) at Leonard George Stadium in Spring on Thursday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m.. The Woodlands will host district 13-5A runner-up Klein (6-4) at Woodforest Bank Stadium on Friday, November 15, at 7:00 p.m..