Two District Powerhouses Clash as Willis Takes on The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS – This Friday, two of the top teams in the district will face off at Yates Stadium in a heated matchup that could be a crucial factor in determining the district champion this year. Both squads boast high-powered offenses, led by stars who will influence how the game unfolds. For Willis, the game plan is straightforward: get the ball to Jermaine Bishop Jr. and avoid big hits on defense. For The Woodlands, the focus is on getting Jack Daulton involved and shutting down Willis’s key players to keep the game close. Both teams need this victory and will be bringing their best effort to stay in the race for the district title.

Willis Wildkats: Looking to Keep the Offensive Momentum Going

This season has been unpredictable for the Wildkats so far, losing a tough game to Klein Collins, then securing a road win in their first district game. Willis is led by a potent offense featuring some of the district's top players. Jermaine Bishop Jr. stands out as the star of this offense, with 538 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns through just 3 games. Averaging 19.9 yards per reception, Bishop is the cornerstone of this attack and a key contributor to Willis’s high-scoring victories. His quarterback, Lincoln Frazier, is only a freshman but has adapted well, passing for 834 yards and 9 touchdowns. Frazier, however, has thrown 2 interceptions and lost 1 fumble this season and sometimes delivers passes that miss the mark. Still, he's only a freshman and is expected to improve as the season goes on. Alongside Bishop and Frazier, other key players like TE/DE Jaivion Martin have demonstrated they can make an impact on both offense and defense. WR/RB Tyler Andrade also made an impression last game against Caney Creek, becoming another reliable piece for Willis to move the ball. Defensively, Willis showed improvement against Caney Creek compared to their performance against Klein Collins, recording 3.5 sacks and an impressive 20 tackles for loss. Martin and Bishop, who play both sides of the ball, have stepped up, along with others like LB Cayden Williams, who has 36 tackles, 10 of which are tackles for loss. This will be another challenge when they face The Woodlands, and playing at home gives them an advantage. They will need to maintain their high-powered offense supported by a defense that can make stops and regain possession.

The Woodlands Highlanders: A Balanced Attack

Coming into this game off a 45-14 win over Grand Oaks and a 3-0 start to the season, The Woodlands Highlanders aim to keep their winning streak alive as they travel to Willis. The Highlanders have looked like one of the top teams in the district this season, led by QB Jack Daulton on offense and DB Caycen Bartolazzi on defense. The Woodlands has been able to play a more balanced game, with their defense handling almost anything thrown at them so far. This week, that defense faces the challenge of stopping Willis's offense, which features Jermaine Bishop Jr. — so how they contain him might be the key to winning this game. Fortunately, they have DBs Caycen Bartolazzi and Parker Stewart, both of whom have been strong in coverage this year and will be eager for the challenge of guarding Bishop. The defense has recorded 36 tackles for loss, including 7 sacks, demonstrating their D-line’s ability to attack the QB and disrupt the backfield. On offense, the Highlanders are just as capable, led by senior Jack Daulton, who, through three games, has thrown for 648 yards and 5 TDs. Daulton is also a threat on the ground, scoring 2 rushing TDs against Grand Oaks and totaling 201 rushing yards on the season. RB Cody Jordan also contributes to the rushing attack, with 299 yards and 3 TDs. Last game, Jordan gained 169 yards and was a crucial scorer for the Highlanders. Daulton enjoys spreading the ball around, with WRs Jamieson Gavin, Colton Weddel, and Eli Lancaster being some of his favorite targets. The Woodlands also has a reliable kicker in Luke Crudginton, who has made 6 field goals this year and will be important if they can’t score touchdowns every drive. Overall, The Woodlands is built to handle big matchups like this against Willis, and they will rely heavily on their defense throughout the game to contain Willis’s key offensive players. If they win, it could set them up nicely for a shot at the district title.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this game promises to be a high-stakes battle between two teams that have proven they can be the best in the district this year. For Willis, it comes down to whether their defense can step up and if Lincoln Frazier can avoid mistakes. That defense was their Achilles' heel in their only loss and could pose a problem when facing a strong team like The Woodlands. For The Woodlands, they will need to keep players like Bishop and Martin in check to have a shot, and they will need to identify the weak points in Willis’s defense that were previously exposed. This is one of those games that everyone who follows the district should pay attention to, as whoever wins will have a huge opportunity at the district title. To watch the live coverage of the game, see it here on Woodlands Online, as it is sure to be an incredible game.