HP v Rockwall Game/Season Preview

by Kirk Dooley

   Historically, Highland Park football teams focus so much on winning the state championship that nobody has really thought about what it would be like to start the season as the TWO-TIME defending state champs.
   But here we are. In West Texas it’s called “high cotton”.
   HP has won 29 games and lost three over the past two state championship seasons. If the team keeps winning at that pace, Highland Park fans will need oxygen masks.
   Will the 2016 and 2017 state titles mean anything to the 2018 team? The answer is yes. While the offense loses five first-team TSWA all-state performers – John Stephen Jones, Cade Saustad, Paxton Alexander, Thomas Shelmire and Matteo Cordray – the reloaded 2018 team has state championship experience and a winning mindset that only being in the arena can bring. Even with the Scots’ unprecedented loss of talent through graduation, Texas Football magazine ranks HP second in the state going into this season. With six returning starters. Texas Football’s nod to the Scots is really an endorsement of HP’s JV Blue program which is a factory of juniors being trained to start on Friday nights as seniors.
   How do you replace last year’s 5A Offensive Player of the Year, John Stephen Jones?
   You wind up Chandler Morris and turn him loose. 
   Two years ago JSJ made his first varsity start against Rockwall at Highlander Stadium and he led Scots to a 22-0 first quarter lead. He finished the night completing 18 of 22 passes for 327 yards and four touchdown passes to four different gentlemen. The Scots won, 43-21. Nobody wondered about Jones’ lack of experience after that and I believe that Morris has the talent and supporting cast to enjoy a similar trajectory.
   This Friday the Yellowjackets will bring their own lethal QB, 6’5” Jacob Clark, who lit up the Scots for 53 points last year in HP’s only loss. His favorite target, Jaxon Smith, can score every time he touches the ball. And on defense, Rockwall features Anfernee Orji, the most dynamic defensive back this side of Jalen Catalon.
   The Scots will start QB Morris, RB Benner Page, WR Finn Corwin, WR Bennett Brown or Drew Scott, WR Ben Smith, WR Drew Dodge, LT Regan Riddle, LG Ryan Butz, C Tyler Kilgus, RG Jack Rourke and RT Harrison Hall or Henry Hagenbuch. On defense look for DE Prince Dorbah, NG Jeremy Hanes, DE Jack Jurgovan, ILB Colby Hopkins, ILB James Lightbourn, OLB Chris Read, OLB Andrew Bonnet, CB Whit Winfield, CB Hudson Clark, S Ryan Khetan and S Brock Bakich. The kicker will be Wesley Winters and the punters are Andrew Stanzel and Will Vandermeer. This lineup is likely to be updated as the season progresses.
   The Yellowjackets are capable of scoring 50 points on the Scots. HP has the fire power to hang 50 on the Jackets. So will this be one of those 100-point games coming out of the chute or will one or both defenses stiffen up and protect their end zone? Who knows. That’s why we line ‘em up and play the game.
   Welcome to the 2018 edition of Highland Park football. Enjoy the ride. Just be sure to fasten your seat belt.