10-23-25 Cleburne
If you are reading this while driving to the Cleburne game on Friday evening, I’ve got some bad news for you. Due to severe weather in the forecast, the game was moved up to Thursday evening and is already over.
But if you heard on the coconut telegraph about the game day switcheroo, then you should continue reading.
In the district 7-5A race the Scots are 3-0 and the Cleburne Yellow Jackets are 0-4. HP is the leader in district championship race. The ‘Jackets have no playoff hopes. It’s the first place team versus the last place team.
On one hand, this could be the game where HP back-ups get some live game action. On the other hand, Cleburne gave Red Oak a scare in a 38-28 Hawks win. In that game, the Cleburne quarterback Luke Stewart threw for over 200 yards and a touchdown and ran for 127 yards and three TDs. Not bad. And his supporting cast looked good also. Running back Hayden Leifeste picked up 114 yards while receivers C.J. Kensley and Malachi Cunningham clocked in at 200 yards between them. And they racked up all these yards against Red Oak, a solid team with hopes for a deep playoff run.
Last week Joshua came out of the chute with determination. When they started picking up five yards on every carry, those who didn’t take the Owls’ triple option offense seriously started getting nervous. But the Scots adjusted and shut down the Joshua offense the rest of the game.
The triple option was the offense of choice for most teams back when leather helmets were the rage. It is good for three or four yards per play and is an outstanding offense for teams who want to eat up the clock and keep the opposing offensive talent off the field. But nobody runs the triple option anymore. Blame Hal Mumme, Mike Leach and other air ballers who changed football forever. No longer was it three yards and a cloud of dust. It became an aerial circus which is fast-paced, exciting and what young players enjoy. Heck, a young coach named Randy Allen brought the Air Raid offense to Highland Park a quarter of a century ago and it has helped define Texas high school football. Just ask Matthew Stafford, John Stephen Jones, Chandler Morris and several others.
Only the service academies (Army, Navy, Air Force) still run the triple option. When the Scots were preparing for Joshua, they had a hard time practicing for its offense because it is so rare. Well, once again Coach Allen pulled a rabbit out of his hat. His cornerbacks coach (and JV Gold head coach) Shea Smith played football at the Air Force Academy and knew how to run the triple option. The week before the Joshua game Smith stepped out onto the practice field and ran the offense without pads or a helmet. He taught the Scots how it works and taught them how to stop it. The players loved having a coach get down and dirty with them while he taught them a new skill. Last Friday Joshua didn’t score its first touchdown against the Scots back-ups until 7:45 left in the game.
Due to injuries a few sophomores have been brought up to varsity for depth. One of them, inside linebacker Graham Rodgers, recorded three solo tackles and eight assisted tackles and a fumble recovery. He was named an Honorable Mention Dallas Morning News Defensive Player of the Week. In his spare time he is a nationally-ranked wrestler and is a captain of the Scots wrestling team. As a sophomore!
Oh, and if you didn’t know about the Cleburne game being moved to Thursday and you got drenched in the darkness at Highlander Stadium Friday night, you might like some good news.
This week the Scots’ Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Grayson Wells, who has been creating great offensive linemen at Highland Park since 1999, became a grandfather for the first time. As he held his tiny new grandson someone asked him what the baby’s name is.
Coach Wells hesitated a moment, looked at his grandson and smiled before answering the question.
“His name is Grayson.”