FOOTBALL: The Woodlands ready to play for injured teammate

The Woodlands quarterback Eric Schmid (3) hands the ball off to running back Carlos Ramos (5) during the third quarter of a Class 6A Division I regional semifinal game at McLane Stadium Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, in Waco. The Woodlands defeated Austin Bowie 52-31. less The Woodlands quarterback Eric Schmid (3) hands the ball off to running back Carlos Ramos (5) during the third quarter of a Class 6A Division I regional semifinal game at McLane Stadium Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, ... more Photo: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer Photo: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close FOOTBALL: The Woodlands ready to play for injured teammate 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

As The Woodlands football coach Mark Schmid stood near midfield at Baylor's McLane Stadium on a chilly Saturday night in Waco, he held a strand of thick industrial chain in his hands.

He explained the analogy between the chain and his team, stating that the Highlanders were only as strong as their weakest link.

On that night, The Woodlands had just punched its ticket to the Division I Region II-6A finals with a 52-31 victory over Austin Bowie.

But while the Highlanders were finishing off the Bulldogs, senior linebacker Grant Milton was being transported to a nearby hospital for emergency surgery to treat a serious head injury he sustained during the game.

Several days later, Milton remains in critical condition and in a coma at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco. According to a CaringBridge.org post from his father, Miles Milton, Thursday morning, Grant's injuries "continue to be life threatening."

Eight miles north of the hospital on I-35, McLane Stadium now sits empty. That is until 2 p.m. Saturday when the Highlanders (13-0) return to the 45,000-seat venue to take on Round Rock (10-3) in the regional finals.

With a trip to the state semifinals on the line and heavy hearts confined underneath their shoulder pads and jerseys, The Woodlands players will stroll out of the stadium tunnel, into their green inflatable helmet filled with white smoke, and crash through a large banner as they pronounce their arrival to the playing field.

It will likely resemble any other game they've played this season. But this time, it will mean more. This time, they will be playing with an even greater purpose. The players represented by that chain Schmid held Saturday night are ready to prove they haven't been broken.

"Our kids are motivated to play for Grant," Schmid said. "They know that Grant wants nothing more than for us to continue to do what we set out to do. They're motivated for their teammate, for their brother, and so we've had a good week of practice. Our kids have really rallied together, to say the least."

The outpouring of support the Highlanders have received - locally, state-wide and even nationally - has spread quickly. Financial donations to the family have been rolling in by the hundreds, and Houston Texans star J.J. Watt even got involved with a $10,000 contribution Wednesday morning.

"It's amazing to see the amount of support that we've gotten from students at the school, the people in The Woodlands community, the people from the state of Texas, and people from all over the country," Schmid said. "Seeing everyone that wants to help, in some way, shape or form, is just unbelievable. Our kids have seen that, and it's definitely opened their eyes."

While the circumstances have undoubtedly dictated an unfamiliar aura around the team this week, the fact remains that the Highlanders still have a game to prepare for.

And in the fourth round of the playoffs, The Woodlands has its hands full with yet another tough opponent with Round Rock. The Dragons are riding a six-game winning streak after advancing to the regional finals with playoff wins over Del Valle, Klein Oak and Coppell.

Led by coach Jeff Cheatham, Round Rock has a talented dual-threat quarterback with senior Marc Reed and a defense led by USC commit and defensive end James Lynch.

"They're a well-coached football team," Schmid said. "They're solid on defense. They line up well, and they're never really out of position. Offensively, they're physical, and they like to run the football. In doing so, they like to control the clock. It's going to be a physical contest, and our kids are excited about it."

The Woodlands advanced to the regional title game with wins over Mesquite Horn, Garland Sachse and Bowie. The Highlanders have scored at least 41 points in 10 straight games and have beaten their three postseason opponents by an average of more than 17 points.

With a win on Saturday, The Woodlands can capture its first regional title since 2003 when it finished 14-1 and lost to North Shore in the state championship game.

"We're happy to be in the fourth round of the playoffs," Schmid said. "We're looking forward to Saturday and taking care of business and moving on to the next round. It would mean great things for these kids and the program to be able to accomplish that."