Magnus Herndon leads The Woodlands past College Park in rain, with a school sack record in reach

SHENANDOAH – Magnus Herndon isn’t bothered by a little rain.

So when the night sky started dumping on Woodforest Bank Stadium on Friday, The Woodlands’ senior defensive end was ready to embrace the challenge and get after it.

“I love the elements,” Herndon said with a wide smile, his white No. 11 Highlanders uniform completely drenched after a marathon of an evening. “It’s crazy.”

Herndon and The Woodlands set the tone right out of the gates and rolled to a 39-7 victory against crosstown rival College Park. Separated by about two miles, players from both schools grow up playing together in the South County Football League. It adds a something special to the annual showdown, and this time around, the Highlanders prevailed.

SCOREBOARD: Friday’s area and statewide scores

The victory for The Woodlands (4-1, 2-0), paired with a Willis win over Grand Oaks, leaves the Highlanders as the lone team unbeaten in District 13-6A action. The Woodlands is seeking its first district championship since 2021 and now controls its own destiny.

After putting 63 points on Willis last week, the College Park offense looked to have some serious momentum entering Friday’s game. But Herndon and the rest of the Highlanders’ defenders were up for the challenge and put on a dominant performance. Junior quarterback Kaden Copelin accounted for four total touchdowns to lead the offensive efforts.

“I thought we had a great week of practice and a great week of preparation,” The Woodlands coach Jim Rapp said. “It’s probably been the best week we’ve had in a long time, but this year for sure. They knew what was in front of them because College Park is a great football team, and they’re very talented, so we knew we had to be on.”

In a game that was delayed and disjointed because of lightning, The Woodlands never allowed College Park (2-3, 1-1) to get into a rhythm and forced three turnovers en route to a 33-0 halftime lead. Matthew Johnson pulled down an early interception, Bryce Scott corralled a 32-yard pick six, and Nate Beagle jumped on a fumble before the intermission.

“I just love the bond we have,” Herndon said of the defense, which Rapp thought had been a little overlooked after several key graduations from last year. “That first game this season didn’t feel like we were really connected because we had a lot of young guys and a couple new coaches, but I definitely feel like that connection allowed us to succeed tonight.”

Herndon has been one of the key contributors for The Woodlands this season, stepping up as a senior team captain. He recorded his sixth sack of the season late in the third quarter and is now just two short of tying The Woodlands’ career record of 24. That mark is held by Michael Purcell, who was a senior during the Highlanders’ run to state in 2016.

“Magnus is a great young man, first and foremost,” Rapp said. “You take football away, he’s a top-notch human being. He works as hard as you see him play on the football field. What you see with Magnus is what he is all the time. He picks stuff up on the sideline. He picks stuff up in the weight room. He picks stuff up in the locker room. He’s that guy. So he’s a great kid, and I couldn’t be prouder of him for his motor and how hard he plays.”

Herndon broke onto the scene last season, earning second-team All-Greater Houston honors with 64 tackles, 16 sacks, 30 quarterback hurries and five forced fumbles. Coming back this year, he’s added significant weight and muscle to his frame and has honed his craft.

“I feel like I’ve grown a lot,” Herndon said. “I was only 195, 200 pounds last year playing at D-end, which is pretty crazy. But I’m up to 225 now, and I feel like I’ve grown a lot. I’m heavier in the run game now, and I’m not just a speed rusher off the edge.”

Herndon loves football. The sport has brought him a lot of joy over the years. But his inspiration goes deeper than that. He plays for his older brother, Will Herndon, who was diagnosed with juvenile Batten disease at the age of 6 back in 2009. It’s a rare genetic disease that can progressively impact vision, cognition and motor skills. Will’s parents, Wayne and Missy, established the Will Herndon Research Fund (also known as HOPE) after the diagnosis, and that endeavor has raised millions of dollars for research since.

Herndon calls Will his “why” for everything he does in life and in football. Will wasn’t able to be at the game Friday night like he usually is, but his younger brother could still feel him.

“I feel like he allows me to be a better person,” Herndon said of the bond. “He’s built me into the person that I am. He can’t walk that well, he can’t see, and he kind of thinks like a 6-year-old, so he watches Toy Story and Animal Kingdom. But I just love that he’s always with me. I’m always supporting him, he’s always supporting me, and I know he loves me.”

There’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.

This article originally published at Magnus Herndon leads The Woodlands past College Park in rain, with a school sack record in reach.

Source link