Scots Get Defensive at Spring Game
When it comes to the spring, Highland Park doesn’t mess with success.
Regardless of changes in personnel or classification, the Scots stick with their routine during spring drills — trying to install offensive and defensive schemes, building a depth chart, and sorting through position battles.
So there weren’t many surprises during the hour-long scrimmage on Tuesday at Highlander Stadium, which essentially unveiled the 2016 Scots to the community for the first time.
Overall, however, head coach Randy Allen was pleased with the past three weeks of practice, which culminated in Tuesday’s spring game.
“We got better every week,” Allen said. “We think that, come fall, everybody will be ready and we’ve got a chance to have a good football team.”
The Scots finished 10-2 in each of the past two years at the Class 6A level and lost in the area round of the playoffs. They will drop back to the 5A level next season.
If Tuesday is any indication, the HP defense might already be in midseason form. The group includes some experience among the front seven, with returnees including Matt Gahm, John House, and Bennett Brock.
“Our defense was way ahead of our offense. They hit hard, and they pursue well, and they’ve got good speed,” Allen said. “We did some good things on offense, but we just need to be more consistent.”
Allen said the new starting quarterback for the Scots will come from an ongoing three-man battle that includes seniors Michael Clarke and Jack Fain, along with junior John Stephen Jones. All three played on Tuesday, although Clarke might have the inside track based in part on his limited action as the varsity backup last year.
“We’ll continue to compete going into the fall,” Allen said. “We’ll begin to make decisions then.”
The HP offense has been shorthanded, with some playmakers either banged up or involved in postseason runs in baseball or lacrosse for much of the spring. But Tuesday’s standouts included running back Jack Kozmetsky and receiver Cade Saustad.
“We got to look at some guys. That was the main thing. We feel that we made progress in the spring. We look forward to a good summer, and by the time we come back in the fall, we’ll be ready to roll.”
Looking ahead, HP will start fall practice on Aug. 8, and will open the regular season on Aug. 26 with a home game against Rockwall. The District 15-5A opener is slated for Sept. 16 against Lovejoy.
