by Kirk Dooley
The Friday Night Lights went out in Texas on August 31 as Highlander Stadium went dark at 10:00 p.m. with seven minutes left in the Highland Park-Rockwall football game. Fans on both sides lit up their cell phones and illuminated the darkness until the lights came back on 17 minutes later.
It was surreal.
Actually, the break helped the Scots deal with their cramping issues as both teams got a breather from the hot August night. The Scots defense was able to keep the Yellowjackets out of the end zone in the fourth quarter as the HP offense built up a 49-35 lead. The Jackets scored on the last play of the game to tighten the score to 49-42, but there was no time for an onside kick and a miracle finish, like how last year’s game ended.
Two of the Rockwall stars from last year’s win were on the field again this past Friday. Quarterback Jacob Clark, a 6‘5” Minnesota commit, completed 22 of 34 passes to his receivers and two to HP cornerback Hudson Clark, who returned one of them 42 yards for a touchdown. Dangerous Yellowjackets receiver Jaxon Smith caught 13 passes for 232 yards and two scores.
But the night belonged to HP’s junior quarterback Chandler Morris, who introduced himself on the fifth play from scrimmage with a nifty 70-yard touchdown run. He completed 22 of 30 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns, both to Drew Scott. Morris was also the Scots’ leading rusher, picking up 105 yards on 10 carries, and scoring four touchdowns on the ground. 
This Friday the Scots host the Mesquite Horn Jaguars, another big and speedy 6A powerhouse. The Jags’ quarterback, Jermaine Givens, had 4,000 of total offense as a junior and is one of the top dual-threat QBs in the state. Last year he was 11-6A’s offensive MVP as he led Horn to a 10-2 record.
Last week the Jaguars ran into a buzz saw known as the Allen Eagles. Horn suffered its first shutout since 2010 as the Eagles soared away with a 40-0 win. The Horn players now move from Allen (6A state champions) to Highland Park (5A state champions). Tough schedule.
Highland Park coaches are just as worried about Horn’s speed as they were before the Jaguar’s opening loss. They said that Horn is just like Rockwall except faster. It will be another challenging pre-district game.
On another subject, the best player the Scots would face this season has been injured and is out for the season. Mansfield Legacy quarterback/safety Jalen Catalon, one of the best high school players in the nation, will miss his senior season. Legacy was picked to win the district championship over Highland Park and picked to win the state championship by some. Legacy still has a team that will challenge the Scots in district play and beyond.
I feel like flying my flag at half-mast in honor of Catalon, the Scots’ talented and worthy opponent. After he sorts through his 24 scholarship offers, he’ll be playing on Saturdays for a big-time team next year.
In the meantime the Scots have Jermaine Givens to worry about. He and the Jaguars will be tough opponents on Friday night at Highlander Stadium. Bring your flashlight.