ARLINGTON, Texas — In a back-and-forth thriller, Highland Park found a way to get it done when it counted. The Scots defeated Mansfield Lake Ridge 37-35 on Friday night at a wild night at AT&T Stadium.
Mansfield Lake Ridge quarterback Jason Bean was questionable entering Friday night’s game but did play. The Eagles weren’t able to convert on their opening drive. Highland Park would convert on their opening possession with a Matteo Corday field goal.
Gordon DeLoach/TexasHSFootball
On the very next drive, Lake Ridge’s Dewone Jackson lost a fumble to Highland Park’s Ryan Coxe setting up the Scots with a short field. John Stephen Jones would cash in off the turnover, taking it in from a yard out to put his team 10-0 early in the first quarter.
Needing to capitalize on the next drive, Bean found Malik Knowles for a 13-yard touchdown. After back and forth play, another Jones 1-yard keep for a touchdown, Lake Ridge was able to capitalize again with a 7-yard Cartraven Walker rush for a touchdown to cut the Scots’ lead to 17-14.
The rest of the second quarter saw Highland Park’s Conner Allen rush for a 7-yard touchdown and a Paxton Alexander 35-yard rush for a touchdown. Lake Ridge scored one more time in the first half between Allen and Alexander’s scores with a 12-yard pass from Bean to Malik Knowles. The Eagles and Scots went into halftime with a Highland Park 31-21 lead.
Gordon DeLoach/TexasHSFootball
A series of strange events opened the second half as Highland Park fumbled on their opening drive. Lake Ridge followed with a fumble of their own, but the Scots were forced to punt. Lake Ridge scored first in the second half with a Jackson 3-yard rush.
After Highland Park was held to their second field goal of the game, Lake Ridge took the lead for the first time in the game as Bean found Knowles for a 19-yard touchdown and an Eagles 35-34 lead. Highland Park Head Coach Randy Allen remarked after the game that he was, in fact, worried, when Lake Ridge took the lead.
John Stephen Jones wasn’t.
Gordon DeLoach/TexasHSFootball
“I have faith in our offense,” Jones said “We’re super resilient and we are one of the best teams in the state. I had full confidence in the team’s work ethic.”
The Scots were able to drive the ball down the field for one more score marking the last scoring drive of the game and putting Highland Park in a 37-35 winning position. Lake Ridge was unable to capitalize when they went for it on fourth and 15, leaving Jones to kneel twice and allow the clock to run down.
With the win, Highland Park will face the winner of Lubbock Coronado and Denton Ryan, who play on Saturday in Abilene.
“They’re both very, very good,” Allen said of their potential opponents on Saturday.
Brought to you by:
