The 2016 Highland football season will be one to remember for quite some time. A year that was full of record breaking performances and a number of firsts in HCC history, made for an exciting Fall and a good time to be around HCC athletics.
 
HCC went 7-4 on the year a perfect 5-0 at home; the most wins in a season for the Scotties in over 20 years. That record helped boost them to number 17 in the final NJCAA National Poll, again, the highest NJCAA finish in program history. The Scotties finished 2^nd in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference conference, right behind the #1 team in the Nation Garden City; a team HCC lost to by six in week two of the season. This is the 4^th year in a row Highland has finished in the top half of the KJCCC.
 
This season saw many firsts for the young and talented Highland Scotties. Highland climbed the polls to 14^th in the nation two separate times throughout the season, the highest national ranking in school history. Highland defeated Coffeyville in back-to-back seasons, another first for the Scotties. In that game, they scored 48 points, the most ever on Coffeyville in history. Highland only allowed 198 points in 11 games this season, the fewest allowed since 2006 (197 points).
 
Head Coach Aaron Arnold, in just his 3^rd season at the helm, has posted an overall 18-14 record with the Scotties. Arnold put together a high-powered offense that was more balanced than it has ever been both on the ground and through the air. His scoring average this season was 28.6 points per game, the best all-time at Highland.
 
Coach Arnold and the Scottie offense was led by Marquis Terry, sophomore running back out of Atlanta, GA. Terry was the nation's leading rusher this season with 1,319 total rushing yards along with 16 touchdowns. He was named the KJCCC 'Offensive Player of the Year' and 1^st Team All-Conference. He will go down as one of the best running backs in program history. He sits atop the record book at HCC in single season rushing touchdowns (16) and points in a season (110). He is 2^nd in rushing yards (1,319) and carries (244).
 
Scottie quarterback Kahlil Render, sophomore from Homestead, FL, set a new school record for touchdown passes with 33 in his two-year career at Highland.
 
Highland also reached win number 300 in program history this season with a 20-17 win over Fort Scott CC on October 29^th.
 
Head Coach Aaron Arnold on this year's success, "I'm so proud of this team. These guys have worked so hard and I'm happy that they were able to put together such a great season. It was a team effort all year - our administration, coaches and players were completely committed to doing things the right way and I think it showed up out there on the field. We're still not quite where we want to be and we need to continue working to improve each and every day. When I look back this was one of the most enjoyable seasons that I've had coaching and that really is about the high character people that I get to be around each and every day."
 
Congratulations to Coach Arnold, his staff, the student-athletes and all the supporters of Scottie Football for an amazing season.