by Kirk Dooley
The Scots get their fifth home game of the season this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. as they host the New Caney Eagles in a bi-district match. Being a playoff game, there will be no reserved seats. Everything is general admission. If you’ve always been a season ticket holder, feel free to get to the game early and grab your own seats before someone else does. The early bird gets the seat. 
When you say your prayers this evening, be sure to put in a word of thanks for Coach Randy Allen and his choosing to play this game on Thursday night. The weather forecast predicts a nice, clear football-weather evening on Thursday. On Friday evening the weather is predicted to be in the 40s and raining.
In north Texas, not much is known about New Caney, located northeast of Houston. The 5-5 Eagles slid into the playoffs at the last minute and are excited to taste some post-season action. It would be a nice feather in their cap to oust the state’s second-ranked team in the first round.
There’s one particular game I’d like for you to ponder. Two weeks ago New Caney beat Magnolia West, 55-48. The Eagles’ standout running back Cale Sanders, Jr. ran for 253 yards and five touchdowns. That alone commands your attention but what’s mind-boggling is that the Eagles have a sophomore running back, Kedrick Reescano, who gained more! Like 269 yards and one TD. Sanders averaged 11 yards per carry and Reescano averaged 10. That sounds like a clock-eating, first-down machine.
Of course, these two talented running backs have never met Mr. Marshall Landwehr or Mr. Patrick Turner and their merry band of running-back eaters. A solid and experienced Highland Park defense has gotten even better as the Scots enter the playoff season. This could be fascinating to watch.
Another new wrinkle that makes this game unique is that New Caney has six excellent players who go both ways and will see action on offense and defense. The Scots, with a roster big enough to have its own zip code, has the depth and flexibility to rotate its players without missing a beat. For those of you taking notes Thursday night, compare the first quarter stats with the fourth.
The winner of this game will advance to play the winner of Frisco Independence vs. Woodrow Wilson. They’re playing on Thursday night at Forester Field, a stadium named for the grandfather of 1972 Scots linebacker Mike Forester. His father (Bill Forester) and uncle (Herschel Forester) were both all-state players at Woodrow, all-SWC players at SMU and both played in the NFL. So there could be some good Woodrow karma at Forester Field Thursday night.
Meanwhile, back at Highlander Stadium, the Scots will try to hold New Caney to under 500 yards rushing.