HP Cruises Past Falcons, Into Bye Week
FORNEY — Highland Park can enter its bye week with optimism about all phases of the game.
The Scots rushed for six touchdowns, including three for Jacob Urbanczyk, and rolled past North Forney 66-7 on Friday at City Bank Stadium.
John Stephen Jones threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score for HP before exiting at halftime.
The Scots (4-1, 2-0) pulled away with three touchdowns in the final 4:17 of the first half, thanks in part to several miscues on special teams for the Falcons (3-2, 0-2). Jones connected with Hudson Wood on a 30-yard strike in the final minute before halftime to make the score 39-7.
“We were able to get a lot of points on the board early and take control of the game,” said HP head coach Randy Allen. “It makes it more enjoyable, and morale is high after a game like this.”
The Scots scored multiple touchdowns in every quarter despite resting most of their starters for much of the second half. Jack Kozmetsky and Michael Clarke found the end zone on short runs, and Ryan Waters caught a touchdown pass late in the first quarter. Matteo Cordray added a 34-yard field goal.
Meanwhile, the HP defense forced 11 punts from North Forney (3-2, 0-2), two of which were blocked. And one of those was recovered by Matt Gahm for a touchdown — his second score in as many weeks.
“That takes a lot of enthusiasm away from a team when you can’t move the ball. It’s demoralizing,” Allen said. “When you can score a lot, it pretty much puts the other team out of the game at halftime. We hadn’t been able to do that this year.”
The Falcons scored their touchdown in bizarre fashion to open the second quarter. HP blocked a field goal attempt, but NF recovered and the Scots were called for a facemask penalty, giving the ball back to the Falcons at the 12-yard line. Tarik Dickinson scored on the next play.
Otherwise, the Scots were dominant on defense. They allowed just 73 total yards in the second half and forced two late turnovers, including an interception by Alex Walzel. And prolific NF quarterback Colby Suits completed just eight of 26 passes for 82 yards.
After picking up their first road victory of the season, the Scots will have two weeks to prepare for the next test at West Mesquite on Oct. 7.
