HIGHLAND, Kan. - Four top-ten teams including the defending NJCAA champion along with new Highland head coach Tom Minnick's junior college alma mater highlight the 2025 Scottie Football schedule announced today. The 2025 schedule is home-friendly, with seven games in Highland and two stretches of three consecutive home contests.

The Scotties open with three home games spread out over the first four weeks of the season, beginning with a 4 p.m. kickoff against Snow College. The Badgers finished the 2024 season ranked no. 6 in the NJCAA polls and a 9-2 record. Following a bye week, Highland welcomes a pair of ICCAC opponents in Iowa Central and Ellsworth Community College. HCC welcomes the Tritons to Kessinger Field at Porter Family Stadium for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 13 and hosts the Panthers at 1 p.m. on Sept. 20.

Highland then opens Jayhawk Conference action with a two-game road swing. The Scotties head west to take on Dodge City Community College on Sept. 27, followed by a trip to southeast Kansas to battle the Independence Community College Pirates on Oct. 4.

Next up on the schedule is a pair of 2024 top 15 squads, as the Scotties host Coffeyville Community College on Oct. 11 before traveling to Butler Community College on Oct. 18. The Red Ravens finished 2024 ranked no. 8 in the NJCAA Coaches Poll, with the Grizzlies holding down the no. 12 spot.

A brief departure from KJCCC play opens the second homestand of the year for Highland, with each of the first two games in the stint featuring a connection to Coach Minnick's storied resume. On Oct. 25, the Scotties take on College of DuPage, where Minnick made both his playing and coaching debuts - first as a quarterback for the Chapparals and then as an assistant coach.

Following the second bye week of the year, Highland squares off against Minnick's previous employer, Garden City Community College. Kickoff against the Broncbusters is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8.

Highland wraps up the regular season with arguably the toughest stretch of the slate, facing the two schools that contested the 2024 NJCAA Div. I Football Championship. The Scotties take on 2024 champs Hutchinson on Nov. 15, then visit runners-up Iowa Western on Nov. 22 to finish the regular season.