9-26-25 Tyler
The 3-1 Scots head east to Tyler, Texas this Friday to battle the 1-3 Tyler Lions at Rose Stadium.
Technically it’s called CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium but I just call it 59-0 Stadium.
It was at this holy place that the 2005 Scots, led by future Super Bowl-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford, won the state championship in a record-breaking 59-0 route of Marshall.
If it wasn’t the most dominant football game in Highland Park history, it was one of the top three. It was the greatest performance I’ve ever seen by any team on any football field. And it was a state championship game!
It all began when HP and Marshall couldn’t agree to a neutral site. When they finally agreed to play at Tyler’s Rose Stadium, all Mother Frances broke out. Highland Park hadn’t been in a state championship game since 1957 and HP fans were foaming at the mouth to see this game in person. The stadium holds 12,000 and each team was allotted 6,000 tickets. Highland Park could have sold 20,000 tickets in a larger venue.
All tickets were general admission, so Scots fans got there early to get good seats. When the HP team busses pulled up a few hours before the game, the players got off and made their traditional walk around the field in an empty stadium, like they do for every game. This gave them time to meditate and get their game faces on.
To their surprise the Scots’ half of the stadium was packed with 6,000 fans two hours before game time. The team got a roaring ovation from the crowd as they walked past.
It was unreal.
One player told me that the 6,000 supporters reminded them that they weren’t playing just for the team and the school. They were playing for the entire community. It would be the game of their lives and they played like it.
On the first play from scrimmage Jack Feldt ran right up the middle for a 61-yard touchdown, the first of his five touchdowns. HP led at halftime, 42-0. As dominant as the HP offense was, the defense was even more so.
Marshall star running back Jackie Robinson, who ran for more than 1,900 yards that season, was held to 23 yards on 15 carries. QB Cory Carswell completed two of 19 passes for four yards and two interceptions. The Scots held Marshall to 21 yards of total offense and two first downs.
While traveling to Tyler on Friday, re-read this story about the historic 59-0 state title game in Tyler. But make sure you have a designated driver.
This season the Tyler Lions are 1-3, but two of their losses could have gone either way. They are picked to make the playoffs so they have a strong team. Quarterback Caden Granberry threw for 310 yards in a 43-42 loss to Marshall, running back Cadarius McMiller picked up 107 yards in a 28-21 loss to Lufkin and the Lions’ top receiver, Trey Haralson is 6’2”, 195 lbs. and runs a 4.5. The Scots will have their hands full with these skill players.
Friday’s battle at Rose Stadium will be another home game for the Lions but for the Scots, it will take place on hallowed ground. This is where Saint Stafford and his Band of Brothers made history in 2005.