Homecoming night was set for something special: 70-degree weather, a packed house, and Kingwood fans of all ages cheering for their Mustangs. When we learned that our opponent for Homecoming would be powerhouse Atascocita, plenty of fans braced for a long night. But all week, the Kingwood Varsity team had been focused, determined to keep the game close and shut down Atascocita’s high-powered offense.
At first, it looked like another night of Atascocita dominance, with the first score coming off a quick interception that led to a Tory Blaylock touchdown. Blaylock followed it up with another score, putting Atascocita up early. But Kingwood wasn’t backing down. They answered with quick offensive wins, highlighted by impressive runs from Marquez Davis and Josh Arroyo, leading to Kingwood’s first score of the night. At that moment, the crowd roared to life, fully behind the Mustangs and ready to support them till the end.
“Being one of the leaders who believed feels great cause while everyone was talking down on us we were working. And advice to stay focused is to take it game by game and stay humble. ” – Adeolu Dada, Senior DE
The defense and special teams stepped up, stopping Atascocita’s running game and forcing several punts. Then came the second quarter, with a fantastic throw from QB Hinson to Jailen Monegan, who scored another Mustang touchdown to tie the game. Kingwood’s defense came up big again with key stops, and the offense took advantage, as Davis charged down the field for a score that gave Kingwood the lead. Atascocita responded with a strong pass from QB Cardae Mack to CJ Tonney to tie things up again just before halftime.
The third and fourth quarters kept the energy high, with both teams battling down to the final whistle. Though the Mustangs ultimately came up just short, losing 41-42, the effort was nothing short of inspiring.
Kingwood can hold their heads high after this hard-fought game. Davis was unstoppable with over 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns, plus a touchdown reception. Monegan had over 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while Casen McDonald and Tate Chapman each forced fumbles, creating crucial turnovers. It was a tough night for No. 3 Atascocita, and Kingwood showed that they’re not a team to be underestimated.
The next week Kingwood marched on to beat CE King in overtime 21-20 and secured a playoff spot for the team for the first time since 2019. Jailen Monegan and Marquez Davis played well each scoring a touchdown keeping the offense in the game. The Kingwood defense also put pressure on the opposing quarterback, with two interceptions by Trace Taylor and Sam Peterson. Cade Haug also added to the defensive effort.
“The Atascocita game really showed us that when we work together, we can accomplish great things. My teammates and I worked very hard for this and truly deserve it. We are so happy to leave our legacy at KHS, knowing that the 2024-2025 varsity Kingwood football team almost beat Atascocita and won against CE King. We are feeling ready and prepared for Summer Creek, knowing that we are more than capable of winning.” – Sam Peterson, Junior DB
We asked a few more Mustangs to share how they were preparing for this big game and leading their team this year. Here are the responses from Kennedy Brown and Jailen Monegan who have both had amazing seasons so far.
Sophomore, OL–Kennedy Brown has been a consistent player for the team coming out each week and performing and exceeding expectations. He has been recognized and has several offers putting the Kingwood Mustangs on the recruiting pipeline. We asked Kennedy Brown what he was doing to prepare for the big game this Friday.
“I am really just preparing by doing more than expected and not becoming comfortable with the position we are in right now. And also not underestimating our opponents each week because really anything can happen in a football game.” – Kennedy Brown
Be sure to watch out for senior wide receiver Jailen Monegan, who has consistently racked up impressive rushing yards in every game this season. He also shared some inspiring words for his team this week.
“I think the biggest thing for us is to treat this game like any other. We don’t focus on their record or offers; we just see another team of players. For us, it’s all about consistency in practice—how efficient and consistent our passes, throws, and tackles are—which translates directly to the game. I’m confident in my team; we’ve worked hard and made a lot of progress. People might look at our record and doubt us, but they haven’t seen our dedication in the weight room and on the practice field. Our offense will handle its role to support the defense, and we’ve got the talent to run a solid 6A offense.” – Jailen Monegan
While our game against CE King wasn’t our best, as a classmate noted, it sparked a new drive in the Mustangs. With renewed confidence, we’re ready to bring the same energy and intensity to our matchup against Summer Creek that we demonstrated during the Atascocita game. Summer Creek has only one loss to Atascocita and has been dominating opponents this season, averaging over 200 rushing yards per game. Kingwood’s defense will need to bring their A-game to contain Summer Creek’s running attack and keep Blake Thomas and Braylin Causey under pressure.
Come out Kingwood Mustang fans and fill the stands with the same energy we had on that homecoming night! Let’s show this Kingwood Varsity team they have the support from the Kingwood community and cheer on the Mustangs to victory against Summer Creek and keep the “Creek from Rising”.
