The Woodlands’ starting quarterback in its 35-0 bi-district playoff win over Spring had not started a game in two years. Patrick Miller, a senior, had never started a varsity game.
The Woodlands’ leading man in Thursday’s start-to-finish rout was at another school his freshman year. Quanell X Farrakhan Jr., an incredible versatile talent as a starting receiver and cornerback, had to find his way within the tradition-laden, no-nonsense customs of the Highlanders.
Miller completed 16 of 22 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns to one interception against Spring. Farrakhan scored three touchdowns (a 4-yard run on a direct snap, a 50-yard catch-and-run off a sweep toss and an 86-yard punt return) and totaled 128 yards from scrimmage.
The success of Miller and Farrakhan is a testament to their ability and want-to, as well as their buy-in to The Woodlands.
Coach Jim Rapp calls it “a program thing.”
Of Miller: “We played half of a football game two weeks ago with our backup quarterback, so that’s no big adjustment for us,” Rapp said. “We moved on and did what we do. There’s no difference in the way we game-plan the offense or anything like that. It’s next man up. The quarterbacks know what to do. I was proud of Patrick and the things that he did.”
Of Farrakhan: “It’s not always easy to come in, whatever the situation is, new to this system,” Rapp said. “It takes time. Highlander football has a system about it. If you’re not used to being a system player and used to doing the little things right, it takes time sometimes for guys to figure that out.”
Miller assumed the reins of the offense when senior Mabrey Mettauer, a four-star recruit and Wisconsin commit, left The Woodlands’ loss to Willis on Oct. 28 because of a head injury. Mettauer’s status is uncertain for next week’s area-round playoff game.
Miller played the second half of the Willis game and impressed, completing 13 of 21 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns in his first significant varsity playing time.
“Every week I prepare as if I’m going to get into the game,” Miller said. “This week was just like another week for me.”
Miller played well in poor conditions against Spring. Rain pelted the field relentlessly in the first half. The play-calling protected the signal-caller, as Miller executed confidently with jet sweeps and screens.
The Woodlands’ varsity coaching staff also coaches the junior varsity, and what the varsity quarterbacks endure is what the JV quarterbacks endure.
As a result, the JV quarterbacks are indoctrinated into The Woodlands’ offense well before their name is placed on a varsity roster. And, therefore, Miller was prepared and poised for his big night.
“This game felt great for me,” he said.
There were no nerves.
“I think you just have to trust yourself,” Miller said. “Trust yourself to make the right play, make the right read. Know that the people around you are going to be where they need to be and know what they need to do.”
Rapp raves about Miller’s diligence. Miller has always been ready when his number is called.
“He’s a student of our offense so he knows who to read and he knows where the ball needs to go,” Rapp said. “He’s a great kid who’s always worked his tail off.”
Rapp did everything he could to make this week as comfortable as possible for Miller. It was an atypical week with the Spring game being played on a Thursday.
“He was involved in everything, down to what we were going to wear,” Rapp said. “I told him, ‘Hey, man, they’re probably going to be in a green helmet, gray shirt, maybe green pants. What do you want us to be in? Green? Red?’ You give him that option to be comfortable because there’s a lot of pressure being the starting quarterback at any school, and at ours.”
As for his teammates, Miller, who elected for a red uniform top with red pants Thursday, won them over long ago.
“He’s stepped up big time,” Farrakhan said. “People doubted him but I never had one doubt in him. He’s a dawg. I wasn’t worried at all that he’s in there. He’s always working. I can always rely on him, no matter what.”
Reliable and Farrakhan go hand-in-hand as well.
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Farrakhan starts at receiver and cornerback and returns punts.
On offense, Farrakhan—a four-star recruit who holds 20 offers, including Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Ole Miss and Tennessee, among others— has 822 yards and 14 touchdowns receiving, and 180 yards and six touchdowns rushing. On defense, he has two interceptions. On special teams, he has two punt returns for touchdowns.
“It gives us a big advantage, me being able to shut down one side of the field and then come back on offense and score touchdowns,” Farrakhan said. “Overall, that’s a huge advantage as a team.”
It’s not easy, though Farrakhan can make it look so at times.
“It’s super tough playing both ways at the 6A level,” Farrakhan said. “It takes being a dawg to be able to do it. It’s a lot of training. A lot of focus. That focus can separate you from everyone else.”
Farrakhan did not play both ways full-time last year, his first year at The Woodlands. He is this season.
“I’ve been able to show the world what I can do on both sides of the ball,” he said.
Rapp said it can be a difficult transition period when kids arrive to The Woodlands from another school. Farrakhan said he feels things are going quite well.
“I had 11 touchdowns last year,” he said. “I got (22) so far this year. I adjusted well.”
Farrakhan is doing his job. Just like Miller. And just like so many others who have worn the green and red.
“People have God-given talent, and they can use that but all they have to do is do their job,” Rapp said. “Do their job, and they’re going to make plays.”
