A 2018 Rematch at Tyler Friday Night

by Kirk Dooley

Friday’s district battle between the Scots and the Tyler Lions will have an elephant in the stadium. While the big playoff game against the Lions was two year ago, it will be a major factor in this week’s game in Tyler. At least in the minds of the players, coaches and fans.

Student Supply Lists | Tyler High School   In the 2018 state quarterfinals the Scots faced the Lions at the Star in Frisco. Tyler (then called John Tyler) controlled the first three quarters and led 35-14 going into the final period.
The great back-to-back state champions were about to be knocked out of the playoffs for the first time in three years. Some Scots fans were leaving the stadium, thinking the game – and the season – were both over.
When the HP players saw the Tyler players dancing and celebrating their big upset victory, something clicked and the Scots suddenly became laser-focused on salvaging their pride. And they had the personnel to dig out of the hole, including sophomore linebacker Patrick Turner, who had six tackles in the game.
HP quarterback Chandler Morris (now the Oklahoma Sooners’ third-team QB as a true freshman) led his team to one of the most magical quarters in HP football history. Down 21 points, Morris hit Benner Page with a six-yard TD, tightening the score to 35-21. DB Hudson Clark (now an Arkansas Razorback star) stopped the Lions with his second interception of the night. That play electrified the Scots. Morris and his big O-line marched down and scored on a 28-yard TD pass to Bennett Brown.
35-28 with 8:18 left.
The Scots defense stopped the next Tyler drive and the HP offense responded by marching down to the 14 before Morris ran it in himself to tie the score with 3:25 left in the game.
Again, the HP defense held and the Scots offense was given the chance to win the game. An incredible 45-yard pass from Morris to Finn Corwin (who went on to become an Oklahoma Sooner) looked like a TD but the officials ruled him out on the one-yard line. So with nine seconds left Morris scored from the one-yard line to give the Scots a cardiac 42-35 win for the ages and set up their third state championship in a row.
So that brings us to Tyler this Friday. The Lions are 2-4 for the season and 2-1 in district. A win by the Lions would give them a tie for the district lead. In other words, they are very motivated and they also believe they have score to settle from 2018. Beware of high school players with deep emotions.
Tyler QB Ken’Yontae Pinkard (#2) has thrown for 780 yards and run for 209. QB Eli Sanchez (#4) has passed for 377 yards. Top receiver Makavion Potts (#1) is also a dangerous kick returner. On defense Trevion Ates (#7) is averaging 11.7 tackles per game and leads the team in interceptions and tackles for loss.
Nobody wants to beat the Scots more than Tyler. The Scots will need a quick start like they did last week. The last time the Scots beat the Lions it led to a state championship. It’s too early to think about that now but Tyler will learn this Friday that Brayden Schager is the new Chandler Morris and Patrick Turner is the new Patrick Turner.

Undefeated McKinney North Visits Highlander Stadium

by  Kirk Dooley

East Texas powerhouse Longview is the 64th winningest high school football program in the nation and they don’t lose at home much. Last Friday they defended their home turf against the Highland Park Scots who didn’t seem to be intimidated by the Lobo’s winning tradition. That’s because the Scots are the 10th winningest high school football program in the nation. And they don’t lose at home much, either.
Two strong, state-ranked teams with deep traditions collided last Friday in Longview. The Scots’ defense stepped into the spotlight and held the top two running backs in district 7-5A to a total of one touchdown. HP came away with a hard-fought 18-13 win in one of the Scots best defensive performances since John House, Bennett Brock and Matt Gahm wrote the book on linebacking as they led the Scots to the 2016 state title.
At the Lobos’ practice on Monday their coach let them know that their game this Friday against Sherman has been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns at Sherman High School. With Nov. 20 being a bye week for the Lobos, their next game will be Thanksgiving weekend against McKinney North.
So this Friday when the Scots host McKinney North, if there is a sea of green letter jackets in the stands, it’ll be the Lobos team scouting the Bulldogs in person. They might even all go to Banditos after the game for some good post-game Tex-Mex before heading back east.
On Friday this will be the third game in a row that the Scots face an opponent who is undefeated in district play. McKinney North is 3-0 and is coming off an impressive 52-31 win over Wylie East.
The Bulldogs will be screaming into Highlander Stadium playing like this is the district championship game. Sure enough, the winner will come away with sole possession of the district lead. The Bulldogs will be motivated and energized. They’ve got a sophomore quarterback – Gavin Constantine (#6) – who is fast and has a good arm. He’ll be handing the ball off to a freshman running back – Taylor Offord (#80) – who is shifty and quick but doesn’t have a driver’s license. The best player on the Bulldogs team is wide receiver J.J. Henry (#2) who last Friday against Wylie East averaged 20.75 yards per catch on four receptions. Last year, Henry lit up Justin Northwest for 204 yards. For the season he had 60 receptions for 1,214 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s no Marvin Mims or Jaxon Smith-Njigba but he can light up a secondary. Just ask Magnolia West, who lost their playoff game last November to the Bulldogs, 70-36.
“They can score a lot of points,” said HP coach Randy Allen.
Last Friday night the HP defense held Longview to only two explosive plays. Two Brayden Schager touchdown passes (to John Rutledge and Will Pettijohn) and two Jack Stone field goals were enough offense to give the Scots the 18-13 win.
The weather this Friday will be ideal for high school football under the Friday night lights. But, beware! It will be Friday the 13th.

Scots Travel to Longview to Play the Lobos Friday Night

by Kirk Dooley

If you’ve found yourself whining about the lack of district competition for the Scots the past few years, just hop in your car Friday evening and drive 137 miles to Longview. Make sure your seat belt is buckled, even after you get there.
The Longview Lobos, who are recent 6A state champions, dropped down to 5A this season and are picked to win district 7-5A D-I, with Highland Park picked as the runner-up. Some sportswriters pick Longview to beat the Scots this Friday. The Lobos come into the game averaging more than 50 points per game in district play. If you yearn for top competition for the Scots, you’ve come to the right place.
Highland Park is ranked second in state and Longview is ranked third. How’s that for some district competition? And these two teams aren’t just good every once in a while. They are competitive all the time and are two of the winningest high school football programs in America. As of this week, Highland Park is the 10th winningest program in nation, with 843 all-time wins. East Texas powerhouse Longview is the 64th winningest program in the nation with 737 all-time wins.
Last year Longview went 11-1 and this season is currently 5-1, including two big district wins. The Lobos beat West Mesquite 49-24 two weeks ago and then last Friday they pounded Wylie East, 52-17.
What makes the Lobos go? Their offense begins with a star running back named Kaden Meredith (#7), who is a power runner with sprinter speed. Last year he ran for 1,646 yards and found the end zone 20 times. This season he is averaging 113 yards per game. While he’s no Don or Joe or Jake or Josh Meredith, his 4.4 speed could be the difference in the game. So while the Scots defense focuses on Meredith, another running back, Markevion Haynes (#17) is a 100-yard RB who averages two running TDs per game. Last week he averaged 20 yards every time he touched the ball.
Sophomore quarterback Jordan Allen (#12) is averaging just 75 yards per game in the air, so the Lobo passing game is not yet where it will be come playoff time.
Another Lobo speciality is explosive special teams. Shannon Jackson II (#32) had a 93-yard kickoff return against West Mesquite. And wide receiver Cedric Hopkins (#6) is a very dangerous kick returner who also caught an 88-yard touchdown pass two weeks ago.
Yes, the Scots got an upgrade in district competition. And Longview has played twice as many games as the Scots this season. On paper you would call the Scots inexperienced at this point, but Coppell and Rockwall would beg to differ. Today, both 6A teams are undefeated except for their losses to Highland Park.
For the Scots, that’s gaining experience the hard way, but the quickest way.