9-25-26 Naaman Forest

This past Saturday morning the sun came up and Highland Park players, coaches, parents and fans wondered if anyone got the license number of the truck that ran over them Friday night.

   The Argyle Eagles humbled the Scots, 70-37, at the new Argyle ISD stadium and folks in the Park Cities are still wondering what happened. Like an eclipse of the sun that happens every few years, the Scots suffered a complete and dominant defeat.

   Let’s start from the beginning. This summer Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine ranked Argyle as the number two 5A Div. II team in the state. Only South Oak Cliff was ranked higher. The Eagles are coming off a 12-2 season where they advanced to the regional finals before being knocked off by Melissa, 20-19. The team is dripping with talent. Five players are pre-season all-state players.

   And, finally, the team has D1 quarterback, Hayes Hackney, who moved in from Prosper Walnut Grove during the off season to be teamed with blue chip receiver, Julian Caldwell. Against the Scots Hackney completed 23 of 27 passes (85 percent) for 339 yards and five touchdowns. Caldwell caught 10 passes for 241 yards and four TDs.

   Hackney, with time to throw, and Caldwell, with impressive hands, were a lethal duo. They are probably the top QB/WR combination in the state and one of the best in the nation.

    Yet the Scots were hanging in there with the Eagles until the fourth quarter. HP ended up with 451 total yards and Argyle had 662.

   Scots sophomore receiver Beckett Lawrence had a nice night, with 69 rushing yards on three carries, in addition to 71 yards receiving on four receptions. Running back Caiden Reeves had 11 carries and scored three TDs. And kicker Shep Pryor was four for four on PATs and three for three on field goals, from 43, 40 and 31 yards out.

   The Scots won’t see the Eagles in the playoffs because they are in different 5A divisions. But Argyle will come to Highlander Stadium next fall for a re-match. Caldwell will be in college but Hackney will be a senior next year.

   Final word on Argyle: The week before playing the Scots, the Eagles scored 70 points on Somerset (Nevada).

   At least they’re consistent.

   This Friday evening the Scots open district 6-5A Div. I competition against the Naaman Forest Rangers at Highlander Stadium. The Rangers are 3-1 with wins over Keller Fossil Ridge (28-13), Saginaw (45-9) and Denton (21-17) and a loss to Richardson (24-23).

   The Rangers have a dangerous quarterback, Braylon Deal, who is a TCU commit. Coach Randy Allen compares Naaman Forest to Tyler, with the Rangers being bigger and faster. Both teams have a D1 quarterback and a solid wide receiver.

   The district season begins this Friday. The Scots have put their pre-district games in the past but the next two games should be challenging.

   Naaman Forest is one point away from being undefeated. There is no relaxing for the Scots.