10-15-26 Creekview
The Scots travel to Carrollton’s Standridge Stadium this week to battle the Creekview Mustangs. It will be a rare Thursday night game for the Scots so if you are reading this on Friday morning, the game is already over.
Don’t show up at Highlander Stadium next Friday (Oct. 23) to catch a Scots game because they have a bye week. Then our boys in blue and gold will close out district play with a home game against Birdville on Oct. 30 and an away game against Newman Smith on Nov. 5. That game will take place at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton, site of this week’s HP-Creekview game. So at least you already have the stadium plugged into your GPS.
What should the Scots expect from the Mustangs? Well, two years ago new Creekview coach Dusty Ortis, took over a program that had lost 20 straight games and led them to 17 wins in two seasons. This past fall they were 9-2 bi-district finalists and the year before they won eight games and made the playoffs. This season has been a tough one for the Mustangs who were winless until Oct. 2 when they beat R.L. Turner, 21-7.
They call the Creekview-R.L. Turner game the Battle for Carrollton which is great but what does Carrollton Newman Smith think about that? Are they the Carrollton Chopped Livers? I presume that if they beat both Creekview and R.L. Turner they win something.
Meanwhile the Scots are coming off a 62-7 win over R.L. Turner in a game that Scots quarterback Buck Randall retired to the bench early after playing for about 13 minutes. At that point he had completed all eight of his passes for 130 yards and four touchdowns. The Scots just needed 21 plays to score their first six TDs. The Lions didn’t reach mid-field until right before halftime. In the first quarter, with Randall at QB, the Scots picked up 168 yards on just 11 plays, scoring four touchdowns in the quarter. The Scots led, 42-0, at halftime.
Obviously, everyone got in the game for the Scots which is good for team morale. The HP backups were competitive and enjoyed their playing time. Eight different Scots scored touchdowns.
The leading rusher for Highland Park was Leyton Gilliam, who picked up 65 yards and two touchdowns on five carries. Starter Caiden Reeves ran four times for 62 yards and a TD before heading to the sidelines early. Ford Jackson (four carries for 44 yards) and Bear Anderson (eight carries for 37 yards and a touchdown) were also impressive chewing up yards.
Liam Thomas, Beckett Lawrence, Evan Snelleman and Luke Cecil each caught a first period touchdown pass. The Scots’ leading receiver was Colton Heinlen with 65 yards on three receptions (21.67 yards per catch) while Miller Merritt added 39 yards on two catches (19.50 yards per catch). Nine receivers caught passes.
On defense, the leading HP tacklers were Graham Rodgers (9), Nick Van Der Westhuizen (7), Lee Wagner (7), Fischer Millican (6), William Ledford (6), Beckett Curtis (5) and Hawkins Schoenvogel (5). Owen Isom had an interception and Kevin Kearns forced a fumble. The defense held the Lions to 132 total yards and one pass completion. Out of 12 Turner third down attempts, the Scots held them 11 times.
Running back James Flowers was nursing an injury and did not play. But the talented committee of running backs including new sophomore board member Bear Anderson, did just fine in moving the ball for the Scots.
Big game in Carrollton this week. Just don’t forget that the game is on Thursday.