HS Football Playoffs: College Park Ends Their Historic Playoff Run As They Fall to Bridgeland

THE WOODLANDS, TX – When College Park stepped foot on the turf at Woodforest Stadium history was being made. This was the first time in school history that they were in the District Area Round Playoff Game. The College Park Cavaliers will fight their way to a new territory, the Regional Playoff Rounds as the Bridgeland Bears will try to do the same.

Coached by Lonnie Madison, The College Park Cavaliers rank in the top 100 in Texas with a win record of 8-2 overall. On paper Bridgeland Bears rank higher than the College Park Cavaliers but, on the field, it seemed to be a different story. Whether it was a pass down field or a running play, the Cavaliers seemed to know where the Bears were going for every play. In the first half the Cavaliers overwhelmed the Bears with pressure coming from the defensive line. Quarterback, Conner Weigman, felt that pressure as he scrambled and tried to avoid the sack, all the while trying to find an open receiver down field.

The College Park offense was not so lucky as a fumble early in the first quarter started off the series of unfortunate events. Bridgeland’s defense was also putting up walls against Ty Buckman and the College Park offense. Along with a couple of questionable calls, all in favor of Bridgeland, College Park had a hard time completing passes and getting past the Bear’s defensive line. When the ball was turned over, College Park’s defense went to work creating many 3rd down and long situations as well as forcing Bridgeland to punt the ball off.

The first half was every evenly matched for both teams. Although College Park fumbled a couple of times and Bridgeland intercepted the ball, the Cavaliers held the Bears to just 13 at the half. Bridgeland wasn’t without fault as they too fumbled and overthrew to open receivers. While Bridgeland is a power house in the rankings, College Park was able to hold off many attacks from their 5-star quarterback. His accuracy dwindled as the College Park defensive line put pressure on him every down.

We have a game! Bridgeland holds off College Park going into the half.

Halftime
College Park - 7
Bridgeland (@BridgelandFB) - 13 pic.twitter.com/Xq10VR45Sr

— Woodlands Online Sports (@WOLsports) November 20, 2021

The second half was the same as the first, College Park came up strong but unfortunately turned the ball over to Bridgeland where they capitalized as well as got the 2-point conversion making the new score 14-7. As the game progressed, Bridgeland found their groove and put 2 more touchdowns on the board as well as a sack on Ty Buckman, by Charles McKnight.

College Park was not going to give up though. The 4th quarter was a turning point for them as they too found a groove and put points on the board and at one point making it a one touchdown game. But again, Bridgeland broke out and scored on turnovers from the College Park offense. Injuries riddled College Park as they played to their fullest but Bridgeland already established a solid lead making it difficult for College Park to recover. Final score was Bridgeland 35, College Park 28. Bridgeland will move on to face Tyler Legacy or Cedar Hill in the Regional Playoff Round.

As their season comes to an end head coach Lonnie Madison along with the 2021 College Park football team has to be proud of their performance. Not only becoming the first team to in school history to make it past the first round of playoffs but to also hold a power house team to just a 1 touchdown win. Bruised and battered, College Park gave it their all for their last game and will be remembered for their performance.

“Obviously we are disappointed, the outcome didn’t turnout the way we wanted, but I’m incredibly proud of the way that the kids fought. They had a lot of adversity tonight, they never quit, they battled all the way until the last 40 seconds of the game.” Said College Park head coach Lonnie Madison reflecting on the Area Round Playoff Game and his team’s performance.