Scots Host the Woodrow Wildcats Friday Night

by Kirk Dooley

   This Friday the Scots will need to contain Mr. Lucas Woltjen.
   He’s the 5’10”, 170-lb. quarterback for the Woodrow Wilson Wildcats. He’s the team’s leading passer and leading rusher. He’s a hard runner who likes to pull the ball on option plays and run it himself. And he has had good success, passing for 557 yards and eight touchdowns and running for 300 yards and three TDs. Woltjen led the Wildcats to a 3-0 pre-district record, beating Frisco, Frisco Heritage and Wylie East.
   Then last week the district 6-5A race started and Woodrow battled Mansfield Timberview in a game that introduced the Wildcats to the quality of the HP/Timberview/Lancaster/Legacy district leaders. The Wolves surprised the Wildcats, 54-7. (This Friday Timberview faces crosstown rival Legacy and the winner will be a leading candidate to challenge the Scots for the district title.)
   The Scots are the number two 5A team in the AP state poll. They have a 4-0 record and have beaten three strong teams, including Rockwall, who opened their district race last week with a 73-point performance. HP’s game last Friday against Bryan Adams was another surreal game that got moved up to 6:00 p.m. then got called near the end of the third quarter. Like the Mesquite Horn game, it was a weather-delayed match that ended in a water-logged, empty stadium. But the BA game was different in that the Scots won 49-0 without playing the final quarter.
   Highland Park dominated Bryan Adams on both sides of the ball. The defense held the Cougars offense to minus-two yards of total offense and two first downs. Had the Scots offense missed the bus and never showed up HP would have won, 7-0, based on linebacker Colby Hopkins’ fumble recovery in the BA end zone.
   Chandler Morris had another outstanding game, throwing five touchdown passes – three of which went to Mr. Touchdown, Finn Corwin – in a game that was missing a quarter. Statistically, Morris in now the top 5A quarterback in the area (with over 1,000 yards) and Mr. Touchdown is the number two receiver.
   Against Woodrow, Hopkins has been moved to outside linebacker to fill in for injured Andrew Bonnet. Cal Hirschey will start at inside linebacker next to James Lightbourn.
   With temperatures in the mid-’70s and no rain in the forecast, the Woodrow game at Highlander Stadium will bless fans from both teams with perfect weather under the Friday night lights. Like Highland Park, Woodrow Wilson has a long, storied history. It’s alumni association is strong, like HP’s and they will sell out the visitors’ section. The Woodrow fans will loud and proud.
   While Highland Park is proud of its Heisman Trophy winner, Doak Walker, Woodrow is the only public high school in America to boast two Heisman winners – Davey O’Brien and Tim Brown. And while HP loves its NFL star quarterback, Matthew Stafford, WW boasts two NFL players – Sergio Kindle and Greg McCoy.
   Pride, heritage and tradition aside, only the current players can dictate Friday night’s score. I don’t think the talented Wildcat defense will stop Morris and the HP offensive machine. The game will probably come down to Lucas Woltjen and if he is able to move the ball gainst the Scots with his arm and/or his legs. 
   Pick your poison.