‘Canes Run Gauntlet to Section Title Game

Houston football’s path to the Section title game looked near impassible.  The ‘Canes had to beat two high quality teams in the span of five days.  Cody Hungerholt’s group didn’t just do so (semi-unsurprisingly given the Section’s competitiveness), they won each big.  In the quarterfinals, Houston (5-seed, 5-3) put it on formerly state-ranked Southland (4-seed, 6-2).  The Rebels led 18-6 in the second quarter only for the ‘Canes to score 40 unanswered points.  Winning the second half 24-0, rolling up almost 500 yards offense and 28 first downs, Houston prevailed 46-18.  Mikkel Schutte (19-26, 324 yards, 15 first downs, 5 TDs passing) and Alex Van Gundy each had career-games (13-215 yards, 3 TDs receiving).  Cade Roth (40-yard TD reception) and Wyatt Walters (12-38 rushing, 2-20, TD receiving) also caught scores.  Isaac Heyer (8-56 rushing) and Ben Walters (6-yard TD run) helped.  Harrison Hanna (6-12, 78 yards, TD, INT passing; 2-61 rushing) and Noah Sales (8-40, TD rushing; 33-yard TD reception) led the Rebels.  Houston avenged a 9-8 season opening loss.  The guys then again played the Highway 56 corridor, at #2 in 9-Man LeRoy-Ostrander (1-seed, 9-0).   L-O got a 45-yard run by Carter Johnson on the game’s second play to set up a Chase Johnson 4-yard TD run.  The Cards’ mojo seemed alive, up 6-0.  But the first quarter had five TDs.  After taking a 14-12 lead late in the stanza, Houston recovered an onside kick, then scored.  They went from down 12-6 to up 20-12 quickly.  A time eating, 11-play, 50-yard TD drive to start the second half made it 28-12.  The ‘Canes scored 38 unaswered points total to lead 44-12.  Houston upset L-O 44-18, crushing their rags (no team in 2015) to riches (District Champs) season.  The game featured nearly 800 yards offense. Ben (12-221 yards rushing) and Wyatt (24-91, 4 TDs rushing) Walters combined for 300-plus rushing yards for Houston. Schutte (5-11, 81 yards, TD, INT passing), Caiden Olson (43-yard TD reception), and Van Gundy (6-yard TD run, two INTs) helped.  Chase (18-115, 2 TDs rushing, 8-16, 124 yards, 2 INTs passing) and Carter Johnson (21-111 yards, TD rushing) led L-O.  Houston (5-seed, 7-3) plays a second straight Section title game, versus GM (2-seed, 10-1).