Scots Make Strides During Spring Practice

May 14, 2021May 20, 2021 Todd Jorgenson 0 Comments

The lack of spring football practice didn’t seem to hurt Highland Park last season, when the Scots still managed an undefeated regular season and a four-week playoff run.

Still, head coach Randy Allen is pleased that his program was able to re-establish its offseason routine following a year of interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We had to remember how we did spring training, since we didn’t have it last year,” Allen joked.

During three weeks of spring workouts, which culminated in a public scrimmage on Thursday at Highlander Stadium, the Scots were able to develop chemistry while coaches evaluated younger players on the roster.

“It’s a great way to end the school year. We’ve gained a lot of experience and repetition, and feel better about our depth chart,” Allen said. “It’s always exciting for our players to start competing before a new season. There’s a lot of enthusiasm.”

There will be plenty of new faces in the starting lineup on both sides of scrimmage for HP in 2021. One of them is dual-threat quarterback Brennan Storer, an incoming junior who Allen said makes good decisions and has improved his throwing velocity and accuracy.

“He’s gotten lots of reps, and just getting the chemistry with his receivers has been important. He’s had a really good spring from that standpoint,” Allen said. “It’s been very important for him. He’s gotten better each week.”

Despite seeing limited varsity action last season behind graduated starter Brayden Schager, Storer already has picked up multiple scholarship offers from major college programs and earned invitations to a handful of national showcases.

Storer will have some experienced receivers to target in the fall, with the returnees including Luke Herring, Jackson Heis, Luke Rossley, John Rutledge, and Grayson Schrank. Grant Gibson will be back to anchor the offensive line.

Familiar faces on defense will include George Wright, Jack Curtis, Mason Gallas, Blake Bevans, Henry Jurgovan, and Adam Rourke. On special teams, kickers Jack Stone and Sam Heinrich also will return.

The Scots, who finished 11-1 overall last year, will start fall practice on Aug. 14. They will face Plano East in a scrimmage on Aug. 19, then open the regular season on Aug. 26 with a neutral-site showdown against Southlake Carroll.

HP 2021 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 26	Southlake Carroll^
Sept. 3	Mesquite Horn
Sept. 10	at Coppell
Sept. 17	Rockwall
Oct. 1	at Sherman*
Oct. 8	Longview*
Oct. 15	at McKinney North*
Oct. 22	Tyler*
Oct. 29	at West Mesquite*
Nov. 5	Wylie East*