The Woodlands Highlanders will look to strengthen their lead in the District 13-6A football race when they host the Willis Wildkats at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at Woodforest Bank Stadium, according to the Highlanders’ team schedule.

Both teams enter the matchup 4-1 overall. The Woodlands is 2-0 in district play, while Willis is 1-1, according to MaxPreps.

A Highlanders victory would move them to 3-0 and drop Willis to 1-2, putting The Woodlands two losses ahead of the Wildkats with four district games remaining. It would not clinch the championship.

The Woodlands became the district’s lone unbeaten team with its 39-7 victory over College Park on Oct. 2, the Houston Chronicle reported. The Highlanders are seeking their first district championship since 2021.

Willis rebounded from a 63-28 loss to College Park with a 51-21 victory over Grand Oaks on Oct. 2.

Quarterbacks lead the offenses

Junior quarterback Kaden Copelin has thrown for 1,215 yards and 19 touchdowns without an interception through five starts for The Woodlands, according to an Oct. 7 preview from Woodlands Online.

Carter Cass leads the Highlanders with 30 catches for 329 yards and eight touchdowns. Against College Park, he caught 10 passes for 129 yards and three scores.

Willis sophomore quarterback Linc Frazier has thrown for 1,283 yards and 11 touchdowns with four interceptions. Running back Jamarcus Williams has added 489 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Preston Stephenson leads Willis with 463 receiving yards, while Trey Finney leads the team with 38 catches. Both have four touchdown receptions, according to Woodlands Online.

Defenses face another test

The Woodlands defense forced three turnovers against College Park. Senior defensive end Magnus Herndon recorded his sixth sack of the season and moved within two sacks of tying the school’s career record of 24, according to the Chronicle.

Willis defensive end Joseph Read has 6.5 sacks in three games, while Waylan Nolen and AJ Edwards each have seven tackles for loss through five games, Woodlands Online reported.

The Highlanders have won four straight games, outscoring opponents 200-58 during that stretch, according to results listed on MaxPreps.

After Willis, The Woodlands hosts Cleveland on Thursday, Oct. 15, visits Conroe on Oct. 23, hosts Grand Oaks on Oct. 30 and finishes district play against Oak Ridge on Nov. 6.