HIGHLAND, Kan. - After a shutout loss the previous week, expectations may have been low for Highland Community College (5-6) but the team rallied to send off its large sophomore class with a bang in a near upset of no. 1 Iowa Western Community College (10-1) on Saturday.
TJ Porter and
Jason Scoma had back-to-back receiving touchdowns in the third quarter but the Scotties fell 21-14 to the Reivers.
The Scottie defense was on point in the first half, giving up just two first downs to Iowa Western and holding the Reivers to an average of 5.8 yards per drive over the first 30 minutes.
Armoni Rue brought the crowd to its feet as he ended the second Reivers drive with an interception. The sophomore defensive back followed the check-down reads from Hunter Dekkers and broke in front of the IWCC receiver for a catch on the Highland sideline.
Highland looked poised to capitalize on the pick as
Michael Townsend drew a pass interference penalty on the first play of the drive, but IWCC was able to slow the Scotties down and hold for a field goal attempt.
The Reivers were able to force through the HCC line and get a hand on the kick, with Christian Williams falling on the ball at the IWCC 6-yard line but Highland answered with a three-and-out.
Iowa Western finally managed to break through on its first drive of the third quarter, capping off a four-play drive with a 43-yard pass from Dekkers to Naivyan Cargill.
Highland's next drive stalled, but the Scottie defense picked up a three-and-out to put the offense back on the field with just under 10 minutes to play in the third quarter.
Landyn Moore got the drive started with a flourish, following a nine-yard run up the middle with a two-yard scamper to the right, then drawing a face mask penalty as he was stacked up in the middle of a crowd.
Porter picked up another first down for the Scotties with a great second effort, racing nine yards after the catch to the IWCC 40-yard line. HCC continued down the field, pushing as deep as the Reivers 3-yard line.
After getting pushed back to the 5,
Gunnar Smith looked to have found the equalizer on third down, but Javais McGhee wasn't able to haul in the diving catch in the end zone. Smith made no mistakes on the next snap, however, finding Porter wide open in the end zone.
Great backside pursuit from the Highland defense turned into a quick seven points for the Scotties, as
Javen Augustus was in the perfect spot to pick off a bobbled catch by Jaivyn Moore. On the next snap, Smith found Scoma racing through the middle. Even though IWCC's Tim Roberson was able to get a hand on Scoma at the 3-yard line, the HCC tight end managed to keep the defender's body under him as they slid into the end zone.
Unfortunately, Iowa Western was able to respond with back-to-back touchdowns to open the fourth quarter and hold on.
Smith turned in a solid game under center, going 24-41 for 192 yards, and HCC picked up 19 first downs to just 16 for the IWCC. Highland also dominated time of possession, holding a 34:53-25:07 edge.
The Scotties finish the 2024 season with a record of 5-6.
