Highlanders take down Klein in OT

SHENANDOAH, Texas - Senior running back Sterling Scott rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 9-yard touchdown in overtime to give The Woodlands Highlanders a 34-31 Bi-district playoff win over Klein at Woodforest Bank Stadium on Friday night.

“The way the game was going back and forth, you just knew that it was going to come down to the wire. The team that capitalized on the opportunities was going to come away with the win, and we came up big in overtime. Sterling Scott did a great job carrying the ball, (Junior quarterback) Chris Andritsos had big runs, offensive line did a great job and it’s a huge win for us,” said Highlander Head Coach Mark Schmid.

The Highlanders quickly took control of the game in the third quarter, taking the opening possession of the second half 75 yards for a quick score. Andritsos connected with Junior Chris Bell 28 yards to the Klein 40-yard line. Andritsos took the snap on the very next play and sprinted past the Klein defenders for a 40-yard touchdown. The drive covered 75 yards just 46 seconds into the third quarter, giving the Highlanders a 21-7 lead.

Klein (6-5) came roaring back, scoring in its next two possessions, the first being a quick strike 71-yard touchdown pass from Senior quarterback Rainer Ausmus to Senior running back David Hamm. The next Bearkat possession saw Klein drive 90 yards in 4:24, tying the game 21-21 on a Hamm 5-yard touchdown run with 2:42 left in the third quarter. The game’s momentum had fully swung back to Klein, as they again gained possession back with 49 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Highlander defense made a game-changing play when Senior defensive lineman Zak Krolczyk sacked Ausmus, forcing him to fumble and Senior linebacker Tanner Birdsong recovered for The Woodlands. The Highlanders recovered the games’s only turnover at the Klein 39-yard line with 0:03 left in the third quarter.

The Highlander offense wasted little time capitalizing on the Klein fumble, as they only took three plays to go 39 yards and re-gain the lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Scott with 11:24 left in the game.

Like a heavyweight fight, Klein had an answer and tied the game for the third time when Hamm scored his second rushing touchdown of the night, from 31-yards out to pull Klein at 28-28 with 7:02 left in the game. Hamm finished with 39 carries for 195 yards and two touchdowns.

The Woodlands (9-2) tried to answer again, but the drive stalled at the Klein 29-yard line and Senior kicker Ryan Spaulding missed a 47-yard field goal with 2:06 left.

The Highlander defense came up huge again once more as the Bearkats drove to the Highlander 41-yard line before Birdsong tackled Hamm for a 3-yard loss, setting up a fourth-and-9 play. Klein turned the ball over on downs and the game went into overtime.

The Woodlands won the overtime coin toss and elected to go on defense first. The defense stiffened after Klein had a first-and-10 at the Highlander 13-yard line, but could not move the ball past the 7-yard line. Klein took its first lead in overtime on a 25-yard Kyle Pfau field goal, leading 31-28 with the Highlanders possession to come.

The Woodlands wasted little time as the Andritsos and Scott show continued as Andritsos had a 3-yard carry, followed by Scott’s 7-yard carry to get the Highlanders a first down at the 15-yard line. It was Andritsos’ turn with a 6-yard run to the 9-yard line. Scott took the next carry and ran up the middle and plunged into the end zone for a 9-yard game-winning touchdown.

“That whole (game-winning) drive, in the huddle we were saying keep pushing it, keep pushing it. All the guys were tired, but the guys did great blocking and I took it to the house,” said Sterling Scott.

Klein got off to a quick start by taking the opening possession 75 yards in eight plays for a score. Ausmus drove across the goal line on a quarterback keeper for a 1-yard run to take an early 7-0 lead.

The Woodlands would quickly gain momentum back marching their first possession 67 yards in nine plays and scored on Junior running back Patrick Carr’s 2-yard run, tying the game 7-7 with 5:20 left in the first quarter. Carr suffered a left-ankle injury and returned to the game for one offensive series in the third quarter.

The Highlanders would make a key stop in the first quarter as Klein marched 67 yards in 14 yards, but came away with no points. The drive stalled at the 1-yard line on a false start penalty on Klein backing them up to the 6-yard line. Klein Senior running back David Hamm was tackled for a loss back to the 8-yard line, forcing Klein to attempt a field goal. The 28-yard field goal by Senior Kyle Pfau was blocked by Highlander Senior Tyler Patrick.

The Woodlands took the lead on a long sustained drive at the end of the second quarter. The Highlanders marched 96 yards in 15 plays in 4:35, converting two third-and-11 plays on the drive. The drive was capped off by Andritsos’ 13-yard touchdown run, giving the Highlanders a 14-7 lead with 45 seconds left in the second quarter. Andritsos finished with 17 carries for 170 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Andritsos was also 10 of 18 passing for 106 yards.

The Woodlands advances to the Area round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs against Round Rock (7-4) on Saturday, November 23, at Waco ISD Stadium in Waco, Texas.