HS Football: War Eagles Defeat Tigers to Notch Second Win of District Play

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Oak Ridge War Eagles (3-2) handled the Conroe Tigers (3-3) despite the team’s rocky start on Thursday.

With back-to-back agonizing defeats on their minds, the Tigers opened up the game with impressive plays on both ends. An interception from defensive lineman Jadyn Ramos set up an explosive run from Nigel Leday to get Conroe on the board first.

Oak Ridge responded to the adversity with a demonstrative series of plays. A field goal cut the deficit to four points before the vaunted War Eagle defense stepped up by forcing a three-and-out. With a chance to take the lead, a methodical drive set up an easy rushing score to claim a 10-7 lead.

A defensive stop opened the second quarter for the War Eagles as they looked to continue their newfound momentum. The running game continued to work its magic, with Frankie Arthur scoring on a 33-yard touchdown rush.

In an exclusive interview with The Woodlands Online Sports, Oak Ridge Head Coach Mark Schmid commented on his team’s response after a rigid open.

“We have done that fairly well all season,” said Schmid. “The kids are resilient, they believe, and the fact that [Conroe] scored and it did not affect the offense.”

Before the first half drew to a close, Oak Ridge notched another rushing score, with Justin Hayes finding his way into the endzone for the second time. Not to be outdone, Arthur punched his way in for his second score of the half, making it 31-7 in favor of Oak Ridge.

“That is who we are,” said Schmid on the running game. “We have got three guys that we want to put the ball in their hands, and then the offensive line does its job up front.”

Conroe entered the second half with possession, needing a response on the scoreboard. Instead, they gave up another rushing score to Oak Ridge, which made their situation all the more difficult.

Even after a blocked field goal, the Tigers failed to notch a score on the ensuing drive. It took until a turnover on the War Eagles’ 18-yard line before Conroe managed to toss a score into the endzone, making it 38-14 with Oak Ridge still in front.

During the fourth quarter, Oak Ridge tried to seal the game by eating the clock with their successful run game. The strategy worked to a degree, with Conroe’s inability to sustain scoring drives with enough time to build a comeback.

The final nail in the coffin arrived when Justin Williams intercepted a Conroe pass across the middle for a touchdown. Some more late scores brought the game to an end, with the War Eagles marching home with a 48-21 win.

“They are gaining confidence,” said Schmid about his squad. “Those guys are going to gain more and more confidence, and when we are playing like that, we are a great unit.”

The win secured the second win for Oak Ridge in district play and now necessitates the team to keep the ball rolling.

“I like what we are doing,” said Schmid. “We are nowhere near a finished product, but I like where we are headed.”

The War Eagles turn around and face rivals Grand Oaks next Friday, while the Tigers get set to host the New Caney Eagles.