Legend of the Fall -- The Woodlands' Garrett Hope

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THE PROTOTYPE

Garrett Hope, The Woodlands Football

Hope Led Area's Stingiest Defense

By Austin Staton

Opposing coaches would often watch film and talk about the athletic ability and his dominance on the field as a reason for the Highlanders success this past season.

Leading The Woodlands to the fourth round of the playoffs for the first time since 2003, the 6-foot-3, 209-pound, outside linebacker was instrumental in the Highlanders relentless defense.

In The Woodlands’ lone loss of the regular season, the Highlanders defense was torched for 30 points by Lufkin – mostly due to the result of untimely turnovers. However, that loss left a sour taste in the mouth of the seniors on the defense, especially for Hope.

That loss would be rectified over the next four weeks as the defense unleashed their wrath on opposing 14-5A offenses.

“We were pretty ticked off,” said Hope of the loss to Lufkin. “We didn’t like the feeling of losing and we weren’t going to let that happen again.”

He was right.

Over their final four games of the regular season, The Woodlands posted a school-record, four-straight shutouts to close the season, outscoring their opponents 175-0.

Defensively, Hope plays with a strong intensity and desire on the field to help him succeed while his strong on-field awareness, size and athleticism allow him to take over games. When opposing offenses take a punch at the Highlanders defense, Hope is the first one to make sure they pay.

In The Woodlands bi-district playoff game against Klein Collins, the Tigers’ Shane Rhodes scored on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Stehling just minutes into the first quarter. The score snapped a streak of 17-straight quarters without allowing a touchdown. However, that wouldn’t stop Hope and the Highlander defense.

“The momentum in the first half of the game was difficult for us to catch up with,” said Hope. “During the second half we chose to lock down inside the tackles. We kept our composure, came back out and stuck it to them.”

Behind the leadership of Hope, who often painted his face with eye black to intimidate opponents, the Highlanders dropped Round Rock Westwood and Mesquite before ultimately falling to the top-ranked team in the state of Texas, Dallas Skyline.

For Hope, there is no doubt that he will play at the next level. If his intensity and work ethic carry over to the collegiate game – watch out.