It’s not a stretch at all to say that this was the best season in the history of The Woodlands’ football program. The only other time they’ve reached the title game was 2003, when they got dismantled by Galena Park North Shore.
This year’s team got dismantled by Lake Travis in the final, but that doesn’t take away from their excellence throughout the rest of the season. They didn’t achieve their final goal, but regular season wins over Katy, George Ranch, Lufkin, and Beaumont West Brook and playoff wins over Sachse and Allen should make the Highlanders proud. That’s a tough slate, no matter how you slice it up.
The Woodlands accomplished this with a devastating defensive front and a balanced attack lead by quarterback Eric Schmid. The Highlanders held teams to single digit scores six times this year, scoring one shutout. They scored more than 35 points a whopping thirteen times this year, only struggling in the state title game and in predistrict competition.
The Woodlands also suffered a tragedy this year. Linebacker Grant Milton sustained a brain injury and had to be rushed to the hospital following a game with Austin Bowie. The support for Milton from the Texas High School Football community and other areas around the country was amazing, even Houston Texans star JJ Watt showed his support financially. The latest updates on Milton can be read here.
Hang in there, Grant. We’re all pulling for you.
Key Losses
QB Eric Schmid, WR Chris Stewart, WR Dylan Casey, DE Michael Purcell, DE Zachary Loane
There are many more losses than just the players listed, but these ones will hurt the Highlanders’ 2017 campaign the most. This was a special senior class for The Woodlands, one that brought the team to the state title game through the sheer force of will.
Eric Schmid’s unflappable cool in the pocket will be missed, as well as the playmaking ability of Chris Stewart and Dylan Casey. The Woodlands leaned on their seniors on the offensive side of the ball all year, and they delivered.
On the defensive side, there might not have been a better defensive end tandem in the state than Purcell and Loane. Purcell brought home a district defensive MVP award, and Loane made the first team as well. They were solid in the run game and rushed the passer well, and losing these bookends will hurt their defense severely.
Key Returners
WR Kesean Carter, T Jake Syptak, DB Ethan Bonner, MLB Jackson Shearer
The good news for The Woodlands is that they have plenty of returners. They’ll lose their bookends at defensive end, but they retain solid defenders. Shearer in particular is name to look out for from a solid linebacking corps, and Bonner is excellent from his corner position.
On offense, they’ll retain some explosiveness, as well as a good chunk of their offensive line. Jake Syptak is a devastating blocker, and Kesean Carter is always a threat to take a play the distance.
The Verdict
There are some key cogs from the machine coming back, but a similar amount of holes to fill. You’re not going to really replace any of them completely, but the development of the younger players will mean that head coach Mark Schmid will just need to adapt, not completely replace.
The main question still remains: can The Woodlands continue to set the bar higher? They don’t have much further to go until they’re a team that threatens for a title every year, they’re right there on the edge of that distinction, the distinction of being a very good team consistently and being a great team consistently. This is a team that’s only lost 5 games in the past three years, but has struggled to make that push past the early rounds of the playoffs.
I like The Woodlands to continue their deep playoff pushes. This team is now experienced in what it takes to make it to the title game, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see them in deep playoff rounds again.
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Talford is a senior.
Apologies. Hudl had him as a Junior. Will update.