Scots Push Past Marcus in Season Opener
Highland Park had all of its offensive firepower on display down the stretch of Friday’s season opener.
With their defense wearing down, the Scots tallied four second-half touchdowns and surged to a 38-24 victory over Flower Mound Marcus at Highlander Stadium.
The biggest play of the night came on a 75-yard pass from Brennan Storer to Jay Cox with 8:52 remaining that put HP ahead for good.
“That was a big turning point. They had all the momentum and they had worn our defense out,” said HP head coach Randy Allen. “Our guys executed really well.”
HP reached the end zone on four of its five possessions after halftime. Storer finished with 288 passing yards and three touchdowns along with a rushing score. Cox amassed 183 yards of total offense.
Wilson Axley and Luke Herring also caught touchdown passes as part of a balanced effort that showcased depth at the skill positions for the Scots (1-0). Grayson Schrank ran for a score.
Herring’s touchdown, on an 8-yard strike from Storer, came on HP’s second drive, as the Scots took advantage of favorable field position after a short punt.
Meanwhile, Marcus racked up 457 total yards with its high-powered offense — including 310 through the air from quarterback Cole Welliver — but struggled to capitalize on its scoring opportunities due in part to 106 penalty yards.
Late in the first quarter, for example, the Marauders (0-1) had a chance to tie the game after Welliver connected with Isaac Khattab for 47 yards to the HP 2-yard line. But a personal foul and a blocked field goal left Marcus scoreless.
The teams exchanged field goals early in the second quarter, with Jack Tanzy’s 31-yarder in his varsity debut giving the Scots a 10-3 advantage.
Marcus rallied to tie the game in the final minute before halftime when Welliver found Chance Sautter on a 17-yard scoring pass.
However, the Marauders started the third quarter with another short punt, fueling another HP scoring drive. This one ended with a 25-yard Schrank scamper on a reverse.
“It was all about execution,” Allen said. “They had the perfect blitz called. We blocked it perfectly and Grayson made a great run.”
Storer capped the next possession with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Axley, putting the Scots in front 24-10 midway through the third. It was Axley’s first career score.
Marcus wasn’t done, however, compiling back-to-back drives of 75 yards. Welliver found Ashton Cozart on a 4-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 3-yard scoring plunge by Chance Banner to even the game at 24-24 with 9:05 left.
Yet as they showed signs of fatigue, the Scots found another gear. Cox’s touchdown on a catch-and-run up the middle came on the next offensive snap, giving HP the lead but also the momentum.
“It was deflating,” said Marcus head coach Kevin Atkinson. “It was a case of self-inflicted wounds that we couldn’t overcome.”
The final HP drive might have been the most important, covering 59 yards in 12 plays, and bleeding valuable time off the clock before culminating in Storer’s short tumble across the goal line.
Storer, who completed his first nine throws of the game, finished 20-of-29 to begin his second year as the starter. He also rushed for 58 yards on 11 attempts, mostly in the second half.
Welliver, a 6-foot-6 junior, completed 25 of 37 passes for Marcus. Khattab grabbed six receptions for a team-high 103 yards, but none after halftime. Perhaps most importantly, the Scots contained Cozart, who is verbally committed to Oregon but finished with just two catches for 12 yards.
“We got a lot of kids in the game — we had to because of cramps,” Allen said. “We were fortunate to have enough depth to hang on.”
HP started its abbreviated nondistrict schedule with a hard-fought win against a perennial postseason contender. The Scots will look to repeat that feat next week at Lewisville in their final test prior to the District 7-6A campaign.
