Quick take
NEW CANEY — Willis’ DJ Lagway and Jermaine Bishop were in perfect sync Friday night at Randall Reed Stadium.
Lagway connected with Bishop for five touchdown passes and No. 14 state-ranked Willis kept its magical season alive with a 42-21 win over Tomball Memorial in a Region II-6A Division II area round match.
Willis (12-0) advances to the regional semifinals for the first time since 1994 where it will face DeSoto, which beat Wylie East, 42-20, in the second round.
“This is something this town’s been waiting for a long time,” second-year Willis coach Trent Miller said. “I’m proud and I’m happy to be a small part of this town’s success and got a lot of football left to play.”
Highlights
After blocking a 47-yard field goal attempt on Willis’ opening drive, Tomball Memorial’s defense struggled the rest of the first half as Lagway and Bishop connected for a trio of touchdowns.
Imauree Holmes set up the first score by returning an Aiden Martin interception to the red zone following the blocked field goal. Lagway hit Bishop on a 16-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead with 9:13 left in the first quarter.
Tomball Memorial (10-2) responded by putting together a drive deep into Willis territory before an incomplete pass from Martin resulted in a turnover on downs in the red zone. Willis then put together a drive of its own, capped by Lagway’s 9-yard touchdown to Bishop to make it 14-0 with 1:49 left in the first quarter.
Justin Stewart intercepted Lagway early in the second quarter, but Tomball Memorial was unable to capitalize. Lagway and Bishop were, however, as the pair connected on a 65-yard touchdown for a 21-0 halftime lead.
“It was a great team win, defense came out and played their hearts out, tremendous job by the defense,” said Lagway, who also threw two interceptions. “Offense, we struggled a little bit today, but we got the dub and that’s all that matters. On to the next.”
Tomball Memorial drove the ball deep into Willis territory to open the second half but was soon stuffed at the goal line. In just over a minute, Willis went right down the field to score with Bishop’s 76-yard touchdown catch from Lagway for the only score of the third quarter for a 28-0 lead.
While Tomball Memorial scored three times in the fourth quarter with Treveon Green-Trent, Lance Martinez and Ashton Ansley all getting in the end zone, Lagway and Bishop connected for the fifth time on a 34-yarder. Willis started the fourth quarter with its fifth consecutive touchdown, a 4-yard run from Lagway.
“I always want to hold myself to a higher expectation, and honestly, I didn’t think I’d be able to do it but my team trusting me and my quarterback trusting me is a great blessing,” Bishop said.
What it means
Willis and Tomball Memorial met for the third time with the Wildkats improving to 2-1 in the series.
With the win, Willis, which claimed its first District 13-6A title since 2002, remains unbeaten and keeps its best season in 61 years alive after missing out on the playoffs last year.
Tomball Memorial, which finished as District 15-6A runners-up, was trying to advance to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2020 after prevailing with a 30-29 win over Cypress Springs in the bi-district round. The Wildcats fell short of tying the program record for wins, set at 11 in 2020.
Quotable
“That’s two special players, two five-star kids just kicking the ball around on the football field, having fun,” Miller said about Lagway and Bishop. “Beyond blessed and thankful that they both play for the Willis Wildkats and not for somebody else. When those two guys are on the field at the same time and they’re both healthy, we can be dangerous.”
Game balls
With the five touchdown passes, Lagway, who has now thrown for 56 touchdowns and rushed for 15 more, is one touchdown away from breaking the Class 6A record for touchdown passes in a single season, which is held by Garland’s Cergio Perez with 57 in 2021. The record, regardless of classification, is Levelland’s Nic Gerber with 77 in 2016.
Lagway, a Florida commit, is only seven touchdowns away, 71 total touchdowns, from tying Kyler Murray’s all time 6A/5A record of 78 combined touchdowns by one player.
“It’s a blessing, nothing but God, nothing but my teammates, the coaches, we put so much work in and I’m just so thankful, without them and God, I wouldn’t be here,” Lagway said.
Up next
Willis will face DeSoto in the regional semifinals next Friday at the Alamodome at a time to be determined.
“It’s been a blessing being able to make it where we’re at right now, but honestly, we got to keep grinding and keep working as a family,” Bishop said.
