The Woodlands Highlanders put an end to the Lufkin Panthers' reign atop the Houston-area district with a hard-fought win at Abe Martin Stadium Friday night. But there is still plenty to be decided in the District 14-5A race.
Lufkin and Oak Ridge are each guaranteed spots in the postseason, while New Caney's loss to Conroe on Friday officially eliminated the Eagles from the playoff picture.
In the final week of the season, Conroe will take on College Park with a playoff berth on the line. Lufkin travels to face Oak Ridge in a game that will decide the top Division II seed from District 14-5A.
The district's other game really has no meaning as New Caney will travel to take on The Woodlands Thursday night.
Here is a look at this week's slate of action.
Conroe (4-5, 2-2) vs. College Park (4-5, 1-3) — College Park was a surprising 24-0 shutout loser against the Oak Ridge War Eagles, while Conroe stayed in the playoff race with a 29-10 win over New Caney.
Now those teams will meet with a playoff spot on the line.
Since an impressive start to the season, College Park has struggled since in district play. The Cavs are 1-3 in district and have lost four of their last five games.
The Cavs managed only 142 total yards and no points against an Oak Ridge team that had struggled defensively throughout the year. Paco Solano led College Park with 14 carries for 74 yards and Tyler Chaumet threw for 43 yards and three interceptions on 6-of-14 passing.
Other than a blowout loss to The Woodlands, Conroe has been competitive in district. Darrell Thomas ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns in Conroe's 29-10 win over New Caney.
The winner of Friday's game will advance to the playoffs as the second seed in the Division II bracket while the loser will miss out on the postseason.
Lufkin (7-2, 3-1) at Oak Ridge (5-4, 2-2) — Lufkin enters this matchup coming off only its second district loss in the last six years and with its six-year run of district titles already ended.
Oak Ridge will be riding high after a surprisingly easy win over College Park put the War Eagles in the playoffs.
In Oak Ridge's 24-0 win, the defense had its most impressive performance of the season, and Torain Oakley led the offense with 92 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Ryan Cyr added 69 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
With a tough matchup with Lufkin this week, that win was the most important one of the season for Oak Ridge.
Lufkin will be looking to take out some frustrations on an Oak Ridge team it has dominated in recent years.
The Panthers looked to be on their way to another district title against The Woodlands when they built a 21-14 lead midway through the second quarter. But the Highlanders reeled off 17 unanswered points to take a 31-21 win and the district title.
Deauntre Smiley threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns and Quinn Trimble led the Pack with seven catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
The winner of Friday's game will go to the Division II playoffs as the first seed.
New Caney (2-7, 0-4) at The Woodlands (9-0, 4-0) — This game will be meaningless in the standings and should be lopsided on the scoreboard.
The Woodlands is riding high after an impressive showing at Abe Martin Stadium when Trent Eckel threw for 253 yards and four scores and Jonathan Wilcher had three catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
New Caney is just playing out the string after a 29-10 loss to Oak Ridge.
