HS Football: Oak Ridge vs Alief Elsik preview

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- After a late off-season coaching change brought in former The Woodlands head coach Mark Schmid, Oak Ridge is still looking for their first win under the new regime. The War Eagles started the season on the road in Pearland, taking a 42-7 loss to Pearland Dawson. Oak Ridge showed flashes of what they could become under Schmid, but Dawson was just too strong of a team in Week 1.

Oak Ridge will look to make plays consistently in Week 2 when they return to Woodforest Stadium on Friday, September 6 for their first home game against Alief Elsik. Elsik (0-1) comes into Friday’s game winless in their last 11. The Rams went 0-10 in 2018, which included a 60-13 loss to Oak Ridge in last season’s meeting.

In 2018’s matchup, Oak Ridge found plenty of success running the football. The War Eagles put up nearly 400 yards on the Rams and racked up five touchdowns on the ground. As a sophomore, current starting running back Alton McCaskill produced 88 yards rushing and two touchdowns in last year’s win. McCaskill gained 73 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, so Week 2 could be a monster game for him and the War Eagles.

There’s no such thing as an easy win, but if Oak Ridge wants to contend with the best teams in the district this season, the War Eagles must be dominant in games like this. Coach Mark Schmid will understand this as he spent many years leading one of the top programs in the area. So, assuming he has his kids ready to play, Week 2 should be the first win of the year for The Ridge. Prediction: Oak Ridge 48, Alief Elsik 10.

Friday’s game will be a Woodlands Online on-demand broadcast sponsored by RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring with replays by Woodlands Dental Group. Friday’s game will also have live audio on the Woodlands Online site brought to you by RE/MAX. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.