HS Football: Senior Night Victory Sends Cavs into Postseason

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The College Park Cavaliers (6-4) rode multiple strong scoring surges in their 46-13 victory over the New Caney Eagles (1-9) on Senior Night.

Celebrations honoring the contributions of the senior classes of football players, cheerleaders, drill members, band members, and color guard members highlighted the start of College Park’s night at Woodforest Bank Stadium.

Their legacy weighed on the team ahead of the game, but it could not afford to distract the Cavs on a night to cap off the regular season.

In an exclusive interview with The Woodlands Online Sports, College Park Head Coach Kyle Coats paid respects to the veteran presence that has kept his program humming.

“We’re setting records at College Park right now that haven’t been done yet in 20 years,” said Coats about the team’s point total and takeaways. “The big point of emphasis for our guys in the senior class is that they’re now the standard of what everybody else after them has to attain.”

The teams took to the field, and with the festivities ending, College Park claimed the early momentum.

Following a quick stop and a turnover on downs on New Caney’s opening drive, the Cavs took five plays to reach the endzone themselves. An explosive pass from Camden Hughes and a final run through the goalline from Jayden Ogoli put College Park on the board 8-0 due to a sneaky two-point conversion.

Back-to-back stops from the College Park defense continued to keep the Eagles scoreless, and their special teams compounded New Caney’s issue further.

Lighting quick cuts and blocks down the sideline set up Marco Beltran on a punt return following an empty New Caney drive. The convoy of teammates in front of him allowed Beltran to find a crease and weave into the endzone to increase the Cavalier lead to 15-0.

“Anytime Marco Beltran touches the ball, there is a good chance it’s going to be a score,” said Coats. “Our sideline gets hyped up. I think it also gets our offense a little jealous because now they want to get after it and throw the ball around some.”

Fortunately for the Eagles, the transition to the second quarter saw some light improvement from the team’s offense.

A sly screen pass from Asher Price worked the ball into open space, and the Eagles moved into Cavalier territory for the first time. The time-consuming, 70-yard New Caney drive worked the ball deeper into opposing territory while eating five minutes off the clock. The offensive charge finally ended on a two-yard rushing touchdown from Ryan Baker.

Miscommunication on the New Caney sideline nearly forced a miss on the ensuing extra point. It, fortunately, went through for the Eagles and another smart decision from the New Caney coaching staff gave the team a chance to wipe away the deficit.

An onside kick caught the Cavalier return team off guard, allowing New Caney to set up shop on back-to-back drives.

But with their backs against the wall, the College Park defense stood their ground and forced a stop. Incompletions and a sack from the Cavalier defensive unit forced a punt that gave a much-needed offensive possession to their offense.

Unlike the early production that moved the ball effectively, College Park’s offense was handcuffed in their first drive of the second quarter. A quick three-and-out surrendered the ball back to the Eagles for their second straight drive starting in College Park territory.

The New Caney offense worked the ball inside the red zone with the hopes of tying the game with another touchdown. But as they had done earlier, the College Park defense held near the goalline and forced negative plays to push the Eagles back.

The distance was so great for the New Caney kicker that the field goal attempt greatly missed the mark.

College Park’s defense had bailed the team out of another difficult spot and given the keys to the offense with a chance to re-extend their lead.

“That’s hard to do in today’s age of football with how spread out things can be,” said Coats on his defense forcing stops. “I’m really proud of how those guys fought since some of those guys were coming into this year brand new.”

Coats’ offensive unit took to the field seeking their first offensive score since the team’s opening drive. A lethal passing game exploited the New Caney secondary down the sidelines for chunks of field at a time.

Hughes’ passing game had worked the ball downfield, and he was trusted to end the drive. A rollout from the elusive quarterback bought room for a safe throw that found the hands of Kenzo Almeida for a 22-7 College Park lead going into the half.

The end-of-half momentum that carried the Cavaliers to a lead-extending drive died off as the teams were ushered onto the field for the second half.

An empty drive started the offenses off for both teams, but a balanced attack on College Park’s second drive reignited some of the sparks that got the team in front.

An equal run and pass attack moved the Cavaliers into New Caney’s side of the field with an opportunity to reach the endzone. But with three chances inside the ten to breach the goalline, the Cavs failed to do so. A field goal was the consolation prize for their hard work, but it did little in building on the threatened 25-7 lead.

Fortunately for College Park, the defense got another stop when the Eagles seemed poised to eat into the Cavalier lead. A strip-sack on a New Caney fourth down turned the ball over, with the Cavs benefiting from solid field position.

The Cav offense relied on their rushing attack to move the ball, with the change working effectively in gashing the tired Eagle defenders. Even a lengthy penalty failed to stop the Cavalier march, with Hughes lowering his shoulder on an over 30-yard rushing touchdown.

Hughes’ legs carried College Park to a heftier lead and the 32-7 Cavalier control looked nearly insurmountable to New Caney’s lackluster offense.

“I feel like we came out flat compared to what I wanted in the second half,” said Coats. “The biggest thing for me was how our standard is our standard no matter who we’re playing. We started to match that later in the third by spreading the ball around, but that’s how we live up to that philosophy.”

Despite their struggles offensively, the Eagles struck through the air to move the ball into College Park territory as the clock carried into the fourth quarter.

Consecutive passes from Price punctured the Cavalier defense enough to record New Caney’s first touchdown since early in the second quarter. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, but the Eagles continued to prove that they were not surrendering in the face of a now 32-13 College Park lead.

“It kind of seemed like our guys thought [New Caney] would just hand them the game,” said Coats. “So I had to re-energize the guys by emphasizing that our second half starts at zero. I don’t care what the scoreboard is, we have to come out with effort and energy no matter what.”

A noticeable shift for the College Park offense saw the unit take their time on their responding drive. The previously fast-paced squad slowed their urgency and relied on runs to pick up yards.

The slower pace ate considerable time off the clock while maneuvering the Cavs into reasonable range for a touchdown. Blocks from the offensive line and an authoritative run from Clint Rachal blasted through the New Caney secondary for a short-distance touchdown.

Pending multiple scores in under eight minutes, the Cavs were safe in relying on their defense while coasting the remainder of the clock.

Rather than coasting, the College Park defense added their stamp to the game with a fumble-turned touchdown. The playmaking Beltran recovered an Eagle fumble deep in the secondary before weaving in and out of would-be tacklers for a defensive touchdown.

A touchdown on offense, defense, and special teams encapsulated College Park’s control of the contest since the beginning. The team’s handle on all three aspects of the game was enough to seal a 46-13 win for the Cavs ahead of their playoff date next Friday.

“Realistically, our guys have to know that Westfield is a good team,” said Coats. “We have to come into that game with energy and enthusiasm and the electricity that will get us to where we want to be, and that’s another round of football.”

College Park’s date with the Westfield Mustangs will be a huge test for the Cavaliers. But, a determined mindset and underdog spirit may be enough for the team to knock off the champions of 14-6A.