For the fourth time in the state semifinals, Denton Ryan was unable to contend with Highland Park. Previously, the Raiders previously lost in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Scots quarterback Buck Randall connected with receiver Cannon Bozman for a critical first down. The conversion allowed Highland Park to march down the field. With :06 remaining, the Scots let time to expire, setting up a kicker Sutton Stock field goal. The walk-off secured the 24-21 victory over Denton Ryan in the Class 5A Division I state semifinal on Friday night at the Ford Center at The Star.
It’s the Scots first state championship berth since 2018, when it won three straight Class 5A Division I state titles.
It may be a first for coach Randy Allen, who ranks second on the state’s all-time wins list with 460 career triumphs.
“Right now, it doesn’t seem realistic,” coach Allen told the Dallas News, who previously led Highland Park to a state title in 2005. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. These six weeks or five weeks just run together. You go from one game to the next, and so next week will be a lot of preparation.”
Denton Ryan is now 7-4 in state semifinals, with all of their blemishes coming at the hands of Highland Park.
It was a comeback effort for the Scots, who trailed 14-0 early for only the second time this year. Denton Ryan began the contest with a two-touchdown lead behind a running back Nemo Warmate 2-yard rush and a pick six by Air Force signee safety Trae Williams.
The Scots responded with two of their own scores by running back James Lancaster to finish the first. Lancaster ended the game with 48 yards and a duo of scores.
Highland Park’s defense remained steadfast in the second half, restricting the Raiders to their lowest point total of the season. In total, the unit has only allowed 16.1 points per game this year, ranking third among 5A teams.
Highland Park will next play Smithson Valley in the Class 5A Division I State Championship at 11 a.m on Saturday at AT&T Stadium.
Highland Park vs. Denton Ryan Box Score
Date: December 13, 2024
Event: State Semifinal
Final Score:
- Highland Park Fighting Scots: 24
- Denton Ryan Raiders: 21
Scoring Summary:
| Quarter | Highland Park | Denton Ryan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 14 |
| 2 | 14 | 0 |
| 3 | 7 | 7 |
| 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 24 | 21 |
Team Stats:
| Statistic | Highland Park | Denton Ryan |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 22 | 13 |
| Total Yards | 336 | 288 |
| Passing Yards | 256 | 136 |
| Completion Attempts | 18-36 | 14-25 |
| Yards Per Pass | 7.11 | 5.44 |
| Interceptions Thrown | 1 | 0 |
| Rushing Yards | 80 | 152 |
| Rushing Attempts | 38 | 27 |
| Yards Per Rush | 2.11 | 5.63 |
| Penalties | 5-30 | 11-93 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Fumbles/Lost | 0-0 | 1-0 |
Individual Stats:
Highland Park Passing
| Player | Comp | Att | Pct | Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buck Randall | 18 | 36 | 50 | 256 | 1 | 1 |
Denton Ryan Passing
| Player | Comp | Att | Pct | Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quin Henigan | 14 | 25 | 56 | 136 | 1 | 0 |
Highland Park Rushing
| Player | Att | Yards | Yds/Att | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Lancaster | 18 | 48 | 2.67 | 2 |
| Matthew White | 10 | 31 | 3.1 | 0 |
| Buck Randall | 9 | 1 | 0.11 | 0 |
| Isaiah Lee | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Denton Ryan Rushing
| Player | Att | Yards | Yds/Att | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nemo Warmate | 13 | 93 | 7.15 | 1 |
| Tre’Vaughn Reynolds | 9 | 51 | 5.67 | 0 |
| Braeden Mussett | 3 | 4 | 1.33 | 0 |
| Quin Henigan | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Highland Park Receiving
| Player | Rec | Yards | Yds/Rec | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannon Bozman | 8 | 145 | 18.13 | 1 |
| Charles Olmsted | 3 | 29 | 9.67 | 0 |
| Benton Owens | 1 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| Harrison Cullum | 2 | 26 | 13 | 0 |
| Brandon Lilly | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 0 |
| James Lancaster | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Matthew White | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Denton Ryan Receiving
| Player | Rec | Yards | Yds/Rec | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braeden Mussett | 6 | 65 | 10.83 | 1 |
| Jose Melendez | 2 | 31 | 15.5 | 0 |
| Tre’Vaughn Reynolds | 5 | 25 | 5 | 0 |
| Raymond Smith | 1 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
