It was a tough way to end an up-and-down year for the Humble Wildcats.
With its prerogative to have a great afternoon in honor of the seniors, and maybe deny rival Kingwood of a trip to the playoffs, the Wildcats fell 41-21 Saturday afternoon under sunny November skies at Turner Stadium.
Humble finished the year 5-5 for the second time in three seasons while going 2-5 to wrap up District 23-6A.
The Wildcats outscored the Mustangs 21-14 in the second half as senior McArthur Baker III made some things happen at quarterback with two rushing scores and one passing.
“They just told me to come out here and have fun,” Baker said of the second half of his final high school football game. “Just do your thing.”
Kingwood (6-4, 4-3) clinched the final playoff spot out of District 23-6A with the win, joining North Shore, Atascocita and Summer Creek in the playoffs next week. The Mustangs return for the first time in five years.
“We lost to a good ball club,” Humble coach Robert Murphy said. “Congratulations to (head coach) Cale (Melton) and Kingwood. It’s a good ball club.”
The Wildcats had a chance to build on last Thursday night’s 35-7 win at Goose Creek Memorial, but stumbled out of the gate after honoring all 22 seniors in a pregame ceremony.
“These kids were freshmen when I took the job here,” Murphy said. “This group has laid a solid foundation for years to come. I’m so proud of the way they fought and the way they came out the second half and responded. I’m just happy for the example they set for these young guys. That’s big for me. I love them.”
Baker had rushing scores of 30 and 12 yards respectively in the second half after trailing 27-0 at the break. He also threw a beautiful ball to junior Marcus Bourda in the back corner of the end zone late in the third quarter for 24 yards.
“I drive back and I see one-on-one coverage,” Baker said. “I see 2 (Bourda) and you can’t guard him with the safety on him. It was just brrrrr.”
Baker totaled 109 yards passing and 85 yards rushing. Bourda made five catches for a season-high 115 yards. Starting quarterback Tristian Bernard threw for 56 yards while William Baxter had a 40-yard reception.
“Our kids understood that we were going to be aggressive,” Murphy said. “They were going to come out and play hard. I’m excited and proud that they didn’t come out the second half and just continue to not play with a lot of effort. It’s always tough when you’ve got ball games like this. I’m proud of the way they responded in the second half.”
Marquez Davis, the senior running back of Kingwood, had a humongous afternoon. He scored five touchdowns (26, 11, 10, 57, 4) and totaled 308 yards on 28 carries.
Kingwood led 27-0 at the break as it closed in on the final playoff spot out of District 23-6A.
Davis had three first-half rushing scores, including two in the first quarter.
But first, the Mustangs had a passing touchdown on the opening drive, which took two plays. But Davis played a role there, too.
The senior rushed the ball 51 yards on the first play from scrimmage. That’s before Landon Hinson, who on the next drive left with an injury, hit Jailen Monegan for a 24-yard touchdown and a lead within the first 29 seconds. Hinson exited the game on the next drive after a hard hit as senior Holland Hargrave quarterbacked the rest of the way.
Davis then added three of those scoring runs to put the game out of reach early.
The rest of the first half story was penalties and turnovers, all of which contributed to Humble being held scoreless.
Kingwood had interceptions by Hunter Noe and Sam Peterson in the first half while both teams combined for 175 yards on 16 penalties. By the end of the day, the number rose to 245 yards on 25 flags.
Kingwood also recovered a fumble and blocked a field goal in the second half.
While Hinson went out for Kingwood, senior Johnny Smith was taken out on a stretcher early in the third quarter.
“I’m just praying for those guys and hoping they come out okay,” Murphy said.
It was mixed emotions after the game for seniors like Baker.
“It’s just crazy,” Baker, who finished his season with 17 touchdowns, said. “I’ve been doing this for four years. It really hurts, but I don’t think it’s hit me yet. It was just good to be out here with my brothers one more time and just do it again. That’s how I really feel.”
Humble gathers on the field while teammate Johnny Smith was tended to with an injury during the third quarter against Kingwood on Nov. 9, 2024. (Chris Zorzi/SportCast Media)
