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Turnovers cost TWHS in loss to Klein

By: Darrell Hamlett , Assistant Sports Editor

10/03/2004

Four turnovers and a last second, 36-yard field goal by Klein's Shawn Castillo snapped The Woodlands' eight game district winning streak as Klein took advantage of The Woodlands' propensity to put the ball on the turf of Klein Memorial Stadium to knock off the Highlanders 17-14 on Saturday in District 14-5A action.

"We committed way too many errors and turnovers today," said TWHS head coach Mark Schmid. "You can't win when you do that."

The Woodlands racked up nearly 400 yards of offense but the Highlanders were only able to get two scores as they fumbled three times in Klein territory, missed a 27-yard field goal and turned the ball over on downs at the Bearkat 7.

"The turnovers were huge," said Schmid. "We were moving the ball. We just couldn't put the ball in the endzone."

The Highlanders' turnover woes began on the first play of the game as Chris Burns muffed the opening kickoff and the Bearkats recovered it at the TWHS 25. Seven plays later, Klein quarterback Trevor Pounds snuck it into the endzone from one yard out to put the Bearkats in front.

On its first possession, the Highlanders appeared to be headed towards getting on the board but after catching a pass from Greg Meinzer, TWHS receiver Eric Paul fumbled the ball and Klein recovered it on their own 15.

The Woodlands defense then answered the call as linebacker A.J. Montalvo stuffed Klein's Jared Hawkins on a run blitz on a 3rd-and-4 to force a Bearkat punt.

The Highlander offense once again marched into Klein territory but failed to put any points on the board as Cameron Montgomery fumbled at the 33.

After forcing a three-and-out by Klein, The Woodlands offense once again went to work. On the first play of the drive, Meinzer found Kyle Drabek open for a 43-yard gain to the Klein 19. Four plays and two penalties later, Meinzer and Drabek hooked up once again, this time on a fade pass to the right corner of the endzone. The ensuing extra point attempt was blocked, leaving TWHS trailing 7-6 with 6:32 to go in the half.

Klein went three-and-out on its next possession as Wayne Hrozek stopped Hawkins short of the first down on 3rd-and-3.

After the punt, the Highlanders took over on their own 11 with 3:40 left before the break. The Woodlands went to its ground attack to move down the field. Montgomery rushed for 36 yards on four carries on the drive while Burns came in to pick up 26 more yards on three carries. Meinzer capped off the drive by connecting with Drabek on a six-yard TD pass. Ben Melear then hauled in Meinzer's pass on the two-point conversion to put TWHS up 14-7 with just 10 ticks left on the first half clock.

Using the scrambling ability of Pounds, the Bearkats were able to even the score on their first drive of the second half. The Klein QB eluded the Highlander pass rush twice for gains of 21 and 28 yards to take the Bearkats down to the Highlander 22. Then facing a 3rd-and-11, Klein received yet another break from the Highlanders as TWHS's Derrick McCants had a would-be interception go through his hands and into the arms of Klein's Zach Grichor who took it in for the touchdown. Castillo's PAT tied the game at 14-14.

The Highlanders looked like they were going to answer that score with one of their own as Montgomery hooked up with Drabek on a halfback pass for 41 yards down to the Klein 2. However on the next play, Montgomery fumbled as he attempted to cross the goalline and the Bearkats recovered at their own 1.

After holding Klein to a three-and-out, Melear returned the Bearkat punt to the Klein 26 to put the Highlanders in great field position. But once again The Woodlands couldn't punch it into the endzone and had to settle for a 27-yard field goal attempt that went wide right.

Klein was forced to punt once again as McCants broke up a halfback pass intended for Grichor and the Highlanders went on the attack. Meinzer found Paul for a 34-yard gain and Drabek picked up 23 yards on a reverse on 4th down to put TWHS at the Klein 16. There the Bearkat defense stiffened and stopped Montgomery short on 4th-and-inches to give their offense one last shot.

Riding the momentum from the defensive stop, Pounds took the Bearkats on his shoulders and led them down the field. The gritty QB had runs of 21 and 22 yards as he rushed for 61 yards on the 74-yard drive. But his biggest play came on 2nd-and-18 at the TWHS 40 when Pounds was about to be sacked by a Highlander defender but was able to pass the ball to Jordan Steckel for a 15-yard gain. After Hawkins picked up the first down, Klein coach Stan Labay elected to let the clock run down and attempt the game-winning field goal. Castillo connected from 36 yards out to set off wild celebrations on the Klein sideline.

With the loss, The Woodlands falls to 3-2 on the year and 1-1 in 14-5A play. Klein improves to 4-1 and 2-0 in district play.