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The Woodlands Highlanders football team ready for new season with new coach

By: Carlos Gosselin, Woodlands Online Sports
| Published 08/28/2018

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- After generations of success under Mark Schmid, Highlander Football was in full display last season for coach Schmid’s last year with the program.

The Woodlands High School Varsity Football Team ended their 2017-2018 season 9-2 with a first round playoff loss, preparing to improve upon there latest season with freshman coach Jim Rapp. The standards are going to be held high for Jim Rapp as he’s been with team for a long time now and has learned all the ins and outs from coach Mark Schmid. There isn’t much to do in Highlander world but go up especially with a program like The Woodlands High School, who is projected to be the top dog every year and to to take the CISD by storm.

The Schmid era ended with a solid 9-2 season and a 1 game playoff bounce, which left Highlander fans with a bittersweet note as they fell to the Rockwall Yellowjackets 23-7, in the state playoff game at Woodforest Bank Stadium.

This year's team, however, will build upon the success the program earned last season and the past success that the Schmid era left, several returning stars will look to lead the young Highlanders back to the big stage and maybe for another State Championship run.

On the offensive side of the ball, Sophomore running back Breyton Gilford led the team with 628 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. Gilford was also named the District 12-6A Sophomore of the Year, which is something very new to the Highlanders. Trying to run in Daniel Lasco’s shoes is Breyton Gilford, is showing strides of becoming one of greats, and that his true colors and age, don’t define his skill on the football field. Averaging 7.31 yards per carry, including his longest run of the year a whopping 61 yard run, to solidify his campaign as the top back at The Woodlands High School.

The Highlanders are led by Head Coach and Athletic Director, Jim Rapp. Hoping there isn’t a Freshman slump, Rapp has spent the past 27 seasons as a coach for the Highlanders, as he takes over for Mark Schmid, who stepped down from his post earlier this year after 14 seasons at the helm. The team consisted of mostly Seniors last season with only 22 players returning for the 2018-2019 season, so a bunch of new faces for the Highlanders this year.

”I’ve been a coach here for a long time, but my time here goes back long before that," Rapp said. "I've either played and/or worked for every head coach in the history of this school, so I go way back. To be the head coach now, it's almost surreal to me. I'm actually the head coach where I went to school. I'm a Highlander through and through, and it's just an unbelievable honor for me."

Rapp has been The Woodlands offensive line coach for the past 22 seasons and was the offensive coordinator for the past 14 under Schmid. He was an integral part of the Highlanders' run to the Class 6A Division I state championship game in 2016. The Woodlands' offense shattered several program records including points scored (698), points per game (43.6), rushing yards (3,916), passing yards (3,758) and total yards (7,674)

The Woodlands Highlanders have been playing varsity football since 1978. They made their first playoff appearance in 1981, which also marked the team's first district championship. The Woodlands won its first playoff game in 1982.

Recent League Championships include 5A Region II District 14 in 2013, tied for 1st 5A Region II District 14 in 2012, 5A Region II District 14 in 2010, 5A Region II District 14 in 2009 and 5A Region II District 15 in 2003.

The program is proud to have produced long-time NFL receiver, Super Bowl champion and current New England Patriot, Danny Amendola, who was a member of the 2003 Highlander team that reached the state championship. Another notable athlete from the program is Daniel Lee Lasco II who is currently signed to the New Orleans Saints as a running back, is the most recent success story from the program.

PHOTOS: Revisit the 2017 season here.

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