The Willis Wildkats Look To Continue Their Playoff Run In The 3rd Round Against The Forney Jackrabbits

WILLIS, TX – The Willis Wildkats advanced to the third round of the playoffs after a comeback victory over the Tomball Cougars last Friday. Tomball aimed to avenge their loss to Willis last year, but the Wildkats pulled off a great win to reach the regional semifinals. They will now face the Forney Jackrabbits, who have had a strong season with an 8-2 record. Both Forney and Willis have similar records, finishing second in their districts with only one loss in district play. It should be a fairly evenly matched game and could be one of the more underrated matchups in the regional round.

The Willis Wildkats: Talent Shines Through

Last week was intense for the Wildkats, who had to rally after being down 10-21 at halftime against Tomball. A strong second-half effort and crucial plays helped Willis come back, ultimately winning 34-27. While some unlikely heroes stepped up last game, familiar faces also made significant contributions. We’ll highlight a different player this time: QB Lincoln Frazier, who is emerging during this postseason. Despite a fumble and an interception in the last game, the freshman quarterback performed well, throwing for 390 yards and 2 touchdowns. He now has 3,358 yards and 37 touchdowns passing this season, serving as the driving force of the offense. The team’s heart, of course, is Jermaine Bishop Jr., who scored 3 touchdowns last game. He now totals 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns for the season, making him one of the top WRs in the state. Everyone knows what he can do, and he will definitely be a key player in this game. The unlikely heroes from last game are Jayden Lane and Tyler Andrade, two wideouts overshadowed all season by Bishop and Jaivion Martin. Andrade recorded a season-high 9 catches for 91 yards, while Lane had 5 catches for 46 yards and caught a crucial touchdown. Their contributions are encouraging because when Martin or Bishop are neutralized, Frazier can depend on his third options in this pass-heavy offense. Speaking of Martin, he has 966 yards and 13 touchdowns and will be another important factor in this game. RB Jamarcus Williams had a quiet last week, but his season totals of 550 yards and 7 touchdowns are solid, and his rushing skills might be needed in this matchup. This offense is one of the best in 6A, and with all the talent they possess, it’s tough for other teams to stop them — making them a matchup nightmare for any defense they face.

The defense, on the other hand, has been playing better, with a key interception by A’Majai Friend being one of the biggest plays of last week's game. They were somewhat able to contain Tomball’s impressive offense last week, making key adjustments to try and shut them down. They are still a solid unit that now seems to be playing in harmony with the offense, but there are still some holes. The rush defense can still cause problems for them, and against a team like Forney, that could come back to haunt them. Overall, they will only improve and are not a weakness to the point that it can destroy the team; if that were the case, I doubt they’d be anywhere near where they are right now.

Forney Jackrabbits: A Steady Attack

This season marks only the second for Forney in 6A and their first time in the 6A playoffs. Before moving up, they reached the state semifinals for 5A, falling just short of a championship appearance. They have done well in their second year in 6A, finishing 5-1 in district play to place second in their area. This success is thanks to an elite rushing attack led by Javion Osborne, who has over 2000 yards this season with 32 touchdowns. The Notre Dame commit is ranked as a 4-star prospect and among the top 10 running backs in the nation according to 247 Sports. He's one of the most dangerous players Willis has faced this year, and they will need everything they've got to try and contain him. If the run game isn’t effective, they can still pass, as QB Nelson Peterson Jr has nearly 2000 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. His primary targets are Imari Jehiel and Preston Jackson, with Jehiel gaining 931 yards and 10 touchdowns and Jackson recording 542 yards and 5 touchdowns. Both players will be threats Willis must watch out for, and they could cause trouble even if they manage to slow the run. The defense is vulnerable, though, as Forney has let many teams get close, with several one-score games going their way. They suffered big losses to North Forney and Waxahachie, and the Willis offense has the firepower to match these teams that have beaten them. Overall, they are a solid team that seems a bit one-dimensional, but they could still pose a challenge for this Willis defense.

Final Thoughts:

Both teams have a lot of talent on offense, with Bishop and Osborne being some of the top recruits to come out of Texas this year. It will be interesting to see how Willis adapts to Forney’s attack and if Forney can handle Bishop's speed. It has all the ingredients for a great game and could be one of the most exciting games of the third round that not many people are talking about. If Willis wins, they will face the winner of DeSoto and College Park, eyeing that College Park rematch for a chance to avenge their earlier season loss. Hopefully, both the Cavs and the Wildkats can secure wins because that District 13 rematch could be a classic.