College Park comes up short in heated District 15-6A matchup with Klein Oak

THE WOODLANDS, Texas— Friday night at Woodforest saw a crucial District 15-6A between the College Park Cavaliers and the Klein Oak Panthers. Both teams, with only two losses each on the season, needed a win here to keep playoff hopes alive. The Klein Oak Panthers defeated College Park 14-13 to move to 7-2.

College Park jumped on the scoreboard early with a 56-yard touchdown run by QauJon Charles on the opening drive of the game. The score marked Charles’ tenth rushing touchdown of the season. With both teams finding ways to move the ball downfield, penalties would halt a number of scoring drives in the first half. College Park saw a large gain from Jake Hunnicutt to Peyton Sobosle taken back due to a holding call, while Klein Oak had a Kendal Taylor touchdown reversed late in the first half due to a hold as well.

The Cavaliers wouldn’t hold on to their 7-0 lead for long, as Klein Oak quarterback Montreal Bolton found Panther’s leading receiver Tyler Hudson on a screen pass, who proceed to take it 68 yards for Klein Oak’s first score of the game. The Panther’s would find the end zone again before the second half, with a 2-yard touchdown run from freshmen running back Charles Garrett. A field goal from Carson Mohr would bring the Cavs within four points of the Klein Oak lead at the end of the half and the score to 14-10.

The second half opened with a surprise onside kick from the Cavaliers, setting them up in Panther territory. However, College Park could not take advantage of the stolen possession, going three-and-out.

After a stalemate in the third quarter, tempers started to flare as Klein Oak’s Jalin Carlton was ejected after a targeting call on Cavaliers' punt returner D’Majai Bailey. College Park running back QuaJon Charles only seemed to anger the Panthers defense more, gaining multiple first downs, leading to another late hit by Klein Oak’s Jadon Wilson, who would also be ejected. During the pushing and shoving, a Klein Oak coach made his way to College Park’s sideline--having to be held back by fellow Klein Oak staff. The mistakes from the Panthers would only lead to a Carson Mohr field goal. The Panthers would remain with the one point lead.

The penalties reared its ugly head again, as a 60-yard gain by Bailey was called back for a hold. College Park punted to Klein Oak with under three minutes left to play after a false start penalty set them back within their 15-yard line. After holding the Panthers to a punt, the Cavaliers would get one last opportunity with under a minute left on the clock.

Time would run out for the Cavaliers as Jake Hunnicutt was sacked on fourth down with 12 seconds left to play. College Park football will move to 5-3 on the season, while Klein Oak improves to 7-2.