Scots Strike Often in Rain-Shortened Shutout
Finn Corwin caught three touchdown passes from Chandler Morris as Highland Park blanked Bryan Adams in its district opener on Friday. (Photo: Chris McGathey)
No forces have been able to stop Highland Park so far this season, whether from the air or on the ground.
On Friday, the Scots again battled through weather delays without missing a beat during a 49-0 drubbing of Bryan Adams in the District 6-5A Division I opener at Forester Stadium.
After a three-hour lightning delay in the first half, the game was called after the third quarter when conditions again worsened.
The circumstances didn’t matter much, as the Scots (4-0, 1-0) dominated the overmatched Cougars (0-4, 0-1) for their 19th consecutive victory dating to last season, and their first shutout in more than two years.
Chandler Morris threw five touchdown passes, including three to Finn Corwin, to lead an HP offense that bounced back nicely after producing only 10 points last week against Frisco Lone Star.
On defense, the Scots limited the Cougars to minus-2 total yards and yielded just two first downs. That defense also forced two turnovers and gave HP favorable field position for the entire game.
Morris was 6-of-6 passing on the first two drives for the Scots, both of which culminated with scoring tosses to Corwin covering 37 and 31 yards. Corwin has emerged as the most dynamic playmaker for HP through four games, leading the team in receptions (21), yards (468), and touchdowns (seven).
Later in the first quarter, Whit Winfield intercepted a pass in BA territory, and HP’s Avery Lewis took a screen pass 35 yards into the end zone on the next play.
Another big play by the defense set up another Morris-to-Corwin strike early in the second quarter, when a deflected punt gave the Scots the ball at the BA 21.
Less than two minutes later, Colby Hopkins fell on a Bryan Adams fumble in the end zone for HP’s second defensive touchdown of the season, extending the margin to 35-0 before the skies opened up.
After the delay, the Scots scored on each of their possessions — a 6-yard touchdown pass from Morris to Grant McVeigh, and a 23-yard run by Hunter Heath.
The Scots ran just 27 offensive plays in the abbreviated game, but averaged more than 10 yards per snap. Heath rushed for a game-high 67 yards on just four attempts.
Morris, who exited the game with the rest of the starters in the third quarter, surpassed 1,000 passing yards this season and has already tallied 11 touchdowns.
The Scots will return home to play Woodrow Wilson on Sept. 28 in their final game before a midseason bye week.
