Not only does The Woodlands improve to 3-0 in District 14-5A action, it enjoyed its fourth consecutive win after an 0-2 start. Huntsville fell to 1-2 and 2-4, respectively.
Possessing 4.37 speed in the 40, Montague was simply too fast and too elusive for the host Hornets to stop. That fact was evident when he transformed a straight-forward dive off left guard in a dazzling 84-yardtouchdown sprint on the Highlanders' third play of the game.
Montague scored on TWHS' second possession; from five yards out at 4:18 of the first quarter. He padded the Highlanders' lead to 28-7 on the opening drive of the second half. He turned on the after-burners to skirt off right tackle for a 39-yard TD at the 5:17 mark of the third quarter.
When informed of Montague's statistical prowess, TWHS head coach Mark Schmidwas impressed.
"Wow," he said. "He makes us a different football team. From the first dayat practice, we knew he was something special."
Although wide receiver most likely will be Montague's position in college,Schmid couldn't afford to limit his stellar transfer to touch the footballjust five or six times a game. That's why Schmid has been working Montagueinto a more prominent role in the backfield since he joined the varsity atthe start of district action.
"You put the ball in his hands 17-18 times a game and he'll break three orfour of them," Schmid said.
Able to change direction with virtually no loss in speed, Montague gaveHornet defenders few clean shots at him. He was on the sidelines for goodafter his third score, which capped a eight-play, 82-yard march.
"The most I've ever run for was 120 yards in a game," Montague said. "I'mgetting used to being a running back, and I feel like I'm starting to fit in here (at The Woodlands). My teammates have been super in helping me learn the system."
Overshadowed by Montague's performance was the 7-of-11 passing by junior quarterback Brett Parsons. It was his perfectly timed nine-yard fade toss to wide receiver Taylor Grote that gave the Highlanders a 21-0 lead with 6:17 before halftime.
The Hornets did come back with a 13-play, 76-yard drive that led to quarterback Patrick Bolian's four-yard TD five seconds prior to intermission. But that march accounted for one-third of Huntsville's offensive output.
Montague's final tally was set up by linebacker Jake Beller's interception at the Highlanders' 19 yard-line.
TWHS tacked on 10 points in the fourth quarter, thanks to D.J. Smalls' 20-yard draw up the middle of Huntsville's defense and Derek Depasquale's 31-yard field goal. The latter score came about by Zach Carpenter's fumble recovery at the Huntsville 33.