HS Football: District 13-6A Week Nine Recap

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The playoffs are drawing closer and closer for the teams of 13-6A, and the top of the standings are locked in. Willis, the Woodlands, and Oak Ridge have all secured postseason play, but the window for a team to take fourth place is still open.

Grand Oaks vs. Conroe

After a defensive win against the New Caney Eagles, the Grizzlies hosted the Conroe Tigers, who were in search of a win for a potential playoff spot.

Another defensive showcase started the game for Grand Oaks, as they held Conroe scoreless throughout the first quarter. The hold did not last longer due to the play of quarterback Christian Nunley, who led his team on multiple scoring drives during the second quarter. The Tigers ended the half with a 21-0 lead and kept up the pressure during the second half. Grand Oaks only mustered a single touchdown with a missed extra point, allowing Conroe to rack up uncontested scores for a comfortable 35-6 win.

The win situates Conroe in fifth place behind College Park. Should the Cavs lose out and Conroe win out, the Tigers would climb into the fourth-place spot in the district standings.

Caney Creek vs. The Woodlands

In preparation for their matchup against Willis, the Highlanders took to the road to play the Caney Creek Panthers.

The Woodlands dominated the game from the very beginning of the game. Aden Self took the ball 70 yards to the endzone on the team’s opening drive, and the scores came with greater frequency afterward. The Highlanders were up 35-0 after the first half, but the team never came off the gas pedal. Caney Creek did get their first score of the game in the third, but it came at the expense of more points posted by the Highlanders. Once the dust had settled, the Woodlands exited with a 62-7 win over the Panthers.

The win sets the team up with an unbeaten record in district play, which gives the Highlanders the first-place spot due to Willis being idle.

Cleveland vs. New Caney

Still looking for their first win of the season, the Cleveland Indians hosted the reigning district champion New Caney Eagles.

Having taken a step back from last year’s production, New Caney made a statement in the first half against the Indians by posting 42 unanswered points. This lead proved to be insurmountable in the second half, but Cleveland did show a strong fight. The Indians outscored New Caney in the third quarter by a score of 20-13, making it the most productive quarter of the whole season for Cleveland. The cushion of the first-half lead was unhindered by this production, however, and the Eagles flew to a 58-20 win.

College Park vs. Oak Ridge

The College Park Cavaliers got to play host against the Oak Ridge War Eagles with playoff spots on the line for both teams.

Both offenses got to work in the first quarter, with the Cavs striking first on a reception from the district’s leading receiver, Connor Dunphy. Oak Ridge responded by scoring 20 straight points, which provided enough distance for the War Eagles to implement different pieces on offense. Jack Emerson took a majority of the snaps at quarterback for Oak Ridge despite not being the typical starter. He thrived in his new position, with rushing scores coming in the second half as back-breakers to the Cavalier comeback effort. Deep passes to the endzone kept College Park within striking distance in the fourth quarter, but the effort from Emerson and the rest of the War Eagle offense kept Oak Ridge ahead by a final score of 37-27.

The win secures a playoff spot for Oak Ridge and keeps College Park in limbo. A win in the team’s last two games would secure their spot ahead of the Conroe Tigers, but New Caney and those Tigers are on the horizon for the Cavaliers.