Quick take
SHENANDOAH — The Woodlands senior quarterback Mabrey Mettauer watched his team’s playoff opener from the sideline on Thursday evening.
The Woodlands would have loved to have had the services of Mettauer, a four-star recruit and Wisconsin commit who suffered a head injury late in the second quarter of the regular season finale loss to Willis on Oct. 28.
The Highlanders, though, did not need him.
In place of Mettauer, senior Patrick Miller stepped in admirably in his first varsity start and do-it-all junior Quanell X Farrakhan Jr. electrified on a dour, rainy evening to help the Highlanders to a 35-0 win over Spring in their Class 6A-Division I bi-district playoff game at Woodforest Bank Stadium.
The Woodlands is 8-3 overall. Spring ended its season at 5-6.
“I was proud of the kids and the way they got after it in the first half,” The Woodlands coach Jim Rapp said. “We weren’t great in the second half. The atmosphere was a little different, you know. Our band was gone; their band went home. So much of football is about the experience. We had to control what we can control, so I was proud of the outcome.”
Miller’s last start was two years ago on the junior varsity. He completed 16 of 22 passes for 307 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
“Just try to keep the nerves calm and know that I trust every guy out there,” Miller said of his approach to a big night.
Farrakhan accounted for three touchdowns to spur the Highlanders to a 28-0 lead at the half. He scored on a 4-yard run, a 60-yard sweep toss from Miller and an 86-yard punt return.
In leading by four touchdowns at the break, The Woodlands scored on three of five first-half offensive possessions.
The Highlanders were just as impressive defensively, holding Spring to 64 total yards on 2.1 yards per play in the first half.
The Woodlands got a scare late in the third quarter when Farrakhan went down following a 24-yard catch-and-run. He had to be helped off the field and did not return.
Rapp was confident after the game that Farrakhan, who had an ankle injury, would be fine. He was not as certain of Mettauer’s status for next week.
“I assume but I have no earthly idea,” Rapp said of Mettauer returning next week. “I’m not in the mix of the medical people. Whether he is or isn’t, I don’t know. We’ll adjust and do the things we need to do.”
Highlights
In midst of a persistent rain in the first half, The Woodlands used a bevy of jet sweeps and screens to methodically generate points.
The Highlanders scored on their second play from scrimmage as junior receiver Jackson Bolender took a short pass for a 68-yard catch-and-run touchdown less than three minutes into the game.
That’s when Farrakhan took over.
The dynamic athletic talent — Farrakhan also starts at cornerback — scored all three of his first-half touchdowns within nine minutes of game time spanning the first and second quarters.
“It’s just watching film,” Farrakhan said. “We’re a study-heavy team and we executed what we had to do.”
The Woodlands did not punt until 10 seconds remained in the third quarter.
The only score in the second half was a 12-yard run by senior running back Joseph Canola with 1:16 left in the game.
The Woodlands outgained Spring 426-146 in total yards. Spring completed just 2 of 13 passes for 11 yards.
What it means
Making its 29th consecutive playoff appearance, The Woodlands secured its 14th eight-win season in the last 20 years.
The Highlanders improved to 3-2 all-time against Spring, which topped The Woodlands in the playoffs in 2021 (52-35) and 2020 (42-21).
Spring qualified for the playoffs after missing out last season.
Quotable
“They ran a base Cover-3 so they had a lot of seams open,” Miller said of Spring’s defense. “We knew most of their coverages and what would be open most of the game.”
Game balls
Farrakhan had four catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. He also had five runs for 12 yards.
Junior receiver Shane Walker added five catches for 79 yards for The Woodlands. Junior linebacker Zachary Wardle had a fumble recovery in the first half.
For Spring, senior Tre’Sean Cunningham had 51 yards on 14 carries. Senior Delonte Henderson had 46 yards on 17 carries.
Up next
The Woodlands plays the winner of Klein Collins-Cypress Ranch next week in the area round.
Klein Collins hosts Cypress Ranch at 7 p.m. Friday at Klein Memorial Stadium.
