HIGHLAND, Kan. - Highland scored first on an 88-yard blocked field goal return and erased a 17-point halftime deficit with three touchdowns and a safety in the fourth quarter, but the Scotties (0-3) attempt to answer a two-minute drill touchdown by Ellsworth (2-2) came up just short in a 41-38 loss on Saturday.
Highland had the Porter Family Stadium crowd on its feet early in the first quarter, as the defense stalled the Ellsworth offense at the 8-yard line then pushed the Panthers back another nine yards courtesy of a
Kameron Graham sack. On the 34-yard field goal attempt,
Diandre Smith burst through the crowd and managed to get a hand up to block the kick.
As the ball spun on the 12-yard line,
O'Marion Cohens saw a lane developing on the outside and scooped up the loose ball and started sprinting. He picked up a couple of key blocks around midfield and was able to coast in for the touchdown.
A 27-yard field goal by
Carl Bonewits gave the Scotties a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Ellsworth found a stride in the second quarter to take a 34-17 lead into halftime.
Neither team was able to score in the third quarter, but Highland took advantage of a big interception by
Devon Donaldson with 2:01 left on the clock to start what would become a 59-yard scoring drive yielding nine points for the Scotties.
After a diving pick by Donaldson in the middle of the field,
Kahliek Rainey made quick work of four short completions - two
TO Spain catches bookending grabs by
TJ Jackson and
TJ Porter - to take the Scotties into the red zone.
Rainey opened the fourth quarter with an eight-yard keeper followed by a nine-yard run up the middle to give the Scotties first-and-goal on the 1-yard line. Highland took a page from the NFL playbook and lined up in the "tush push" formation, finally driving into the end zone after managing a couple of inches on first down and having a second-down attempt waved off due to an illegal substitution flag against Ellsworth.
After connecting on the PAT, Bonewits sent the kickoff deep into the right corner, with Ellsworth returner Aaron Logan giving chase but expecting the ball to bounce through for a touchback. Instead, the ball hit point down and stalled at the 2-yard line, brushing against Logan and forcing a quick decision. After briefly juggling the ball, he secured it two yards deep in his own end zone and tried to run it out. He made it as far as the 2-yard line before retreating back into danger, where he appeared to be wrapped up for a Highland safety.
Highland celebrated while the officials discussed the play, eventually ruling that the ball was downed on the 1-inch line. After a lengthy review, the decision was upheld, but the Scotties blasted through the Panther offensive line on the next play, with
Justin Smith putting the two points officially on the board for HCC.
The Scotties assembled a 54-yard scoring drive on the ensuing free kick to cut the deficit to 34-32 then took advantage of a huge momentum swing on Ellsworth's next possession. An 87-yard kickoff return touchdown was called back due to a holding penalty, putting the Panthers on their own 22-yard line.
Gabriel Hoskins finished the momentum swing for Highland five plays later, stripping the ball from Donte Ferrell on the HCC 10-yard line with the ball rolling out of the end zone for a Scotties touchback. Ellsworth immediately challenged the call, hoping for the pass to be ruled incomplete as Hoskins and Ferrell were fighting for the catch, but the ruling on the field was upheld for HCC.
Taking over on the 20, Highland was deliberate on offense, draining 6:08 off the clock on a 14-play scoring drive to take a 38-34 lead. Ellsworth was able to answer with an eight-play drive, but left the Scotties 32 seconds to work with.
Unfortunately, HCC wasn't able to capitalize on a solid return by Porter, with its fourth-down attempt intercepted.
Highland opens Jayhawk Conference play next week with the first of two road games, traveling to Dodge City on Sept. 27. Kickoff against the Conquistadors is set for 1 p.m.
