The Klein Collins Tigers and Spring Westfield Mustangs are all too familiar with each other despite not facing off in 2016 and being in different districts. The two teams were once constant foes, playing each other every season throughout the mid to late 2000’s in district 13-5A. There is no doubt that the players and coaches will have this old annual squabble in the back of their minds prior to Friday night’s game at Woodforest Bank Stadium. The neutral stadium is home to The Woodlands Highlanders, but will play host for these two-6A Division II schools who both happen to be located less than 30 minutes south down I-45.
Klein Collins has proved that they deserve their top 10 ranking in the state, with only one blemish on their resume, which happened to also be a double overtime thriller against powerhouse Katy. The Tigers like to run, they also like to score, and their stable includes 4 different players with at least 500 rushing yards on the season. The committee is led by senior back D’Anthony Doyle who has had workhorse numbers with over 1,700 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground, adding one receiving score as well. Klein Collins will lean heavily on the senior’s 143 YPG, as well as the committee behind him to pick up the slack. The Tigers are also averaging just under 140 YPG through the air, and they rely on a stingy defense that has only given up 152 points on the entire season. Besides their second round overtime win over Cedar Ridge, Klein Collins hasn’t given up more than 14 points since September.
Surely the Tigers will look to their defense to slow down the Mustangs who also average over 225 YPG on the ground, adding another 120 YPG through the air. Westfield knows how to put points on the board too, the Mustangs lowest point total came in their 24-0 shutout of Stony Point in the first round. The Mustangs boast a committee backfield as well, with 3 different players over 500 yards on the season led by senior Daniel Young.
Given that both teams hold a solid defense and an even more solid running game, the battle should be won or lost on execution and turnovers. Both schools will look to slow down the other on the ground, while keeping their own offense churning. Whichever defense can have the bigger impact will ultimately be the difference maker on the field, now if this translates to the scoreboard will be answered on Friday.
Despite the second round scare against Cedar Ridge, the Tigers have had no trouble in their other two-playoff games, most recently coming off of a 56-14 trouncing of Tyler. Westfield has yet to be challenged in the playoffs conceding only 9 points through three games, while posting 103 points for themselves. On paper this matchup is everything you could want to punch a ticket to the final four, with the combination of scoring and defense on both sides this game could make for quite the showdown in North Houston. Klein Collins is currently riding an 11-game winning streak and Westfield is riding a 10 game streak, so something is going to have to give between the two Goliath’s on Friday night.
Brought To You By
