Going into Friday’s game against Samuell we’re approaching the halfway point of the district race, two things are evident and neither one is surprising.
First, the Scots have two major rivals for the district championship – Lancaster and Mansfield Timberview. All three teams are 3-0 so far in district play and are the only teams with winning records.
The other is that Highland Park once again has a very good football team that is getting better every week. The return of receiver Drew Scott gives the Scots a tremendous weapon on the outside and the return of running back Hunter Heath gives the Scots a breakaway threat coming out of the backfield. The offensive line has been steady and strong, giving Chandler Morris the time he has needed to complete 122 of 169 passes for 1,887 yards and 21 touchdowns.
The Scots defense has been more fierce with the addition of defensive end Houston Hummel who leads the team in solo tackles with 13, followed by Andrew Bonnet (11), Prince Dorbah (10) and Cal Hirschey (10). Leading the Scots defense in tackle assists is Patrick Turner with 17, followed by Dorbah (13), Bonnet (12), Marshall Landwehr (12), John Beecherl (11) Hummel (11) and Andrew Washburne (10).
Dorbah is the sack master with four. Beecherl, Dorbah and Walker Cobb have snared an interception. Ford Frazar leads the team with five pass breakups, followed by Beecherl with four. This defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past three games, pitching district shutouts agains Bryan Adams (62-0) and Woodrow Wilson (66-0) and then holding Mansfield Legacy to six fourth quarter points in a 76-6 win.
Meanwhile you’ve got Lancaster, a state’s top 10 team with all kind of guns, averaging 69-0 in its three district games against Legacy, Samuell and Sunset. The Scots’ collision with the Tigers is set for Nov. 1 in Lancaster. In the meantime, HP faces Samuell this week and Sunset next Friday.
What to expect from Samuell? They’ve won two games – Spruce, 13-7 and Sunset, 32-0. But they’ve lost their last two games by an average of 61-0. The Spartans’ leading runner is De’Marcus Jones with 322 yards, their quarterback, Romie White, has thrown for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Jones is the leading receiver with 65 yards and one touchdown. Brandon Dotson has 58 receiving yards and a score.
This could a game where the HP reserves get some valuable playing time. But the HP starters shouldn’t forget what it is like to play an entire game because when HP visits Lancaster, they’ll play all night long.
Still, experience tells us that if the Scots lose any starters to injuries in the playoffs, having backups who have solid district reps unde their belts helps in the team’s efforts to advance.
It’s just an insurance policy the Scots hope they never need to cash in, but experienced backups who have become starters during the playoffs have been instrumental in the Scots three straight state championships.
That’s why they call it a team.
HP at Samuell Tonight
by Kirk Dooley