9-18-26 Argyle

   In 2024 a freshman quarterback named Hayes Hackney led his Prosper Walnut Grove Wildcats to the state 5A regional semifinals. The Wildcats were defeated by the Argyle Eagles, 52-35, but Hackney completed 31 of 47 passed for 311 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for 59 yards and a TD. Not bad for a freshman.

   There aren’t many experienced sophomore QBs in the world but last year (2025) Hackney was  one. He led Walnut Grove back to the regional semifinals against ... guess who? ... Argyle, who won again, 50-42. In that game Hackney completed 33 of 53 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns.

   That’s impressive but what in the heck does that have to do with the Highland Park Scots?

   Well, come Friday evening at 7:00 in Argyle, it means plenty.

   During the offseason Hackney’s family moved from Prosper to Argyle. In a 4-2 district vote Hackney was ruled eligible to transfer to Argyle. 

   That leads us to the fourth game of this season, Highland Park plays Argyle this Friday in Argyle’s new stadium

   The game is being billed as a Texas-sized offensive fiesta led by two of the top quarterbacks in the state, Hackney and Buck Randall. After three games, Hackney has 1.017 yards passing. Randall has 1,084.

   This game will truly be one of the top high school quarterback passing battles in the nation.

   Of course, Friday’s match will feature all aspects of football – running, passing, receiving, blocking, tackling, special teams and pass defense – but here’s where I see the difference in this game. The Scots have a deep roster of good, young receivers. Argyle has a several good receivers also but among them is a thoroughbred named Julian Caldwell who last week caught five passes for 182 yards (36.4 yards per catch) and four touchdowns. He is a Texas Tech commit who could probably help the Red Raiders in Friday’s Match against the Houston Cougars.

   When Caldwell is double-teamed, Hackney can turn to receivers Micah De Leon, Ayden Lockhart, Ake O’Neal and others.

   The Scots are coming off of three strong challenges. In last Friday’s contest against Tyler, the Lions did boast a powerful, big-play offense but the Scots defense came together and held the Lions. A Kayden Walker 96-yard kickoff return reminded the Scots that Tyler was dangerous. Running back Cadarius McMiller ran for 123 yards and a touchdown. He looked like Lott McIlhenny with John Rutledge speed. You will see him again next year when he will be an Oregon running back.

   Argyle’s first three games were played against teams from three different states. They opened the season against Oak Ridge (California) and won, 27-26. On the first play from scrimmage in Argyle’s new stadium, running back Logan Rexroat took a Hackney swing pass and sprinted 85 yards for a touchdown. The Eagles then rolled up 602 total yards and beat Terrell (Texas), 55-27. Last weekend Argyle smashed Somerset (Nevada), 70-21.

   So in the last two games, Argyle is averaging 62 points per game. But you will recall that last Friday Tyler came in averaging 52 points per game but limped out of Highlander Stadium with 21. And a third of those points came on one special teams play.

   Who will come up big for the Scots this Friday? 

   It’s hard to say because when you play one of them, you play all of them.