9-4-26 Rockwall Heath

   Last weekend’s Scots loss to Lewisville reminded me of another HP game that took place last season.

   Ironically, it was the Scots’ opener against Rockwall Heath on August 29, 2025. Both teams came out blazing on offense and neither could be distracted by a punt. The first quarter ended in a 14-14 tie and then the  Scots broke serve and rolled up 21 points in the second quarter. They were able to relax during the halftime break sporting a comfortable 35-17 lead.

   That’s when the Scots learned the hard way that there is no such thing as a comfortable lead against the Hawks. They took the Scots’ second quarter momentum and wacked them over the head with it as Rockwall-Heath scored 21 points in the third quarter to tighten the Scots’ lead to 42-38. Sure enough, the Hawks wound up scoring 35 points in the second half to win the game, 52-49. It was an epic battle.

   It turned out to be a positive lesson for the Scots because they never relaxed again the rest of the season. 

   In that game HP quarterback Buck Randall completed 25 of 43 passes for 400 yards and five touchdowns.

   The HP-Heath game was interesting for another reason. The Hawks head coach was Rodney Webb, who was the Highland Park Athletic Director the year before. He had been the veteran Rockwall head coach for seven years when he and his good friend Randy Allen scheduled each other. The battles were incredible, with both teams frequently combining for 100 points. Webb left Rockwall to be the head coach at Denton Guyer, leading them to the state championship game in 2021. Webb retired earlier this year and the new Hawks head coach is Casey Dick, who came to Heath from Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he led the team to a state championship. In college he was a quarterback for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 2005 to 2008. He was born in Lucas, Texas, and played high school football for the Allen Eagles. As a senior QB he threw for 1,942 yards and 14 touchdowns.

   Coach Dick has plenty of firepower returning this season at Rockwall-Heath. Last year’s starting quarterback, Prosper Neal, returns, along with leading running back Carter Zahn, along with seven other starters from an 8-4 area finalist. In the Highland Park game last season Neal completed 11 of 19 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns. Zahn picked up 100 yards rushing on nine carries, averaging 11 yards per carry.

   In last week’s Lewisville game, HP running back Caiden Reeves led the Scots in rushing with 28 yards on seven attemps. Logan Jones ran for 24 yards on five carries, Ford Jackson picked up 21 yards on three carries and James Flowers ran for 17 yards and two touchdowns on 11 attempts. Flowers was also the games leading receiver, gaining 104 yards on four receptions. That’s 26 yards per catch. Thompson Braner gained 46 yards on three receptions and Beckett Lawrence caught three passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns. James Axley, Caiden Reeves Liam Thomas, Evan Snelleman and Colten Heimlen each caught passes. That’s eight receivers.

   Last year starting sophomore offensive lineman Colton Williams was injured in the first game (against Rockwall-Heath) and rehabbed his knee for a year until finally taking the field last Saturday against Lewisville. So this week will be his third start on the Scots offensive line.

   I mentioned last week that his father, Kyle Williams, played for Coach Allen (and Coach Wells) in 2001. He then went from Highland Park to USC and then played in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks.

   You’ll have to memorize this fact about Colton Williams’ dad, Kyle, becasue this will be the last time I mention one of my favorite sports facts.    

   Kyle Williams is one of only four offensive linemen in college football history to have blocked for three Heisman Trophy winners. Who were they?

   The answer is QB Carson Palmer in 2002, QB Matt Leinart in 2004 and RB Reggie Bush in 2005.