FOOTBALL: Highlanders take back bragging rights after defeating Katy 26-3

SHENANDOAH, Texas — Revenge belonged to The Woodlands after beating Katy—the only team to hand the Highlanders a loss in their 2015 regular season—in a near shut out.

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The sold out match-up brought the intensity of a playoff arena, and within the first quarter, the Katy Tigers solidified what everyone knew. A win would not be taken easily. Costly penalties set the Highlanders back, but a safety and a field goal gave them the start they needed to take an early lead.

Starting in the second quarter, Highlander defense immediately stole the show. Two forced fumbles and an interception opened the door for the first touchdown of the night with only 35 seconds left in the half. The Woodlands led Katy 12-0.

“There was a huge, huge momentum shift for us,” Highlander Head Coach Mark Schmid said. “We struggled in the first quarter, offensively. We looked nervous, and we shot ourselves in the foot with some costly penalties, but we put it together in the second quarter.”

The Highlanders maintained the same momentum in the second half and continued to run the score up on Katy. By the end of the third quarter, The Woodlands held them down 19-0.

With 7:30 remaining in the game, Katy kicked a field goal and put the only points they would see for the night on the scoreboard, but the Highlanders still weren’t finished. A pass from quarterback Eric Schmid to running back Chris Stewart brought them to their final score of 26-3.

Winning against Katy’s top-tier football program was more than an act of revenge for the Highlanders. It was a reminder that they have every reason to be confident in the new season.

“You can’t take anything away from them. They’re an outstanding program, and that’s why I enjoy this match-up so much,” Schmid said. “They set the bar really high, and when they come in here and play our guys and we win, it’s got to build our momentum.”

Since the 2008 debut of Woodforest Bank Stadium, The Woodlands and Katy have been going back-and-forth. Before tonight’s game, they were tied 3-3. Now, the Highlanders are back ahead.

“We took the edge,” Schmid said. It’s a moral victory in terms of we have more wins than they do. It’s always good to come back and beat a team that beat you last year.”

Still, a tough road lies ahead for The Woodlands in their pre-district schedule. The Highlanders will take on George Ranch, the defending State Champions, Friday, September 16.