Letts

It’s been quite some time for Highland football, 721 days without a win, but last Friday this number was reset to zero. 

Putting an end to a long-standing losing streak that has been hanging over Highland since 2021, the Huskies went on the road and earned their first victory of the season over district opponent Louisa-Muscatine, 20-18, on Oct 6. 

“We put importance into every game about the same, but this one, obviously, we knew we were two very evenly matched teams,” Highland coach Cory Quail said, “A big congrats to L-M, they played a very tough game.”  

On a cold windy night, the Falcons took an early lead in this contest, scoring a touchdown on their first possession of the game, but failed on a two-point conversion.

Highland returned the favor by also scoring on their first possession, a 14-yard rushing TD by freshman Jose Ramirez, but unlike L-M the Huskies scored on their two-point attempt, rushed in by junior Sage Hartley-Norman, to take an 8-6 lead. 

“That was a team effort on offense, it really was,” coach Quail said about how Highland’s offense played. “It was 100% team effort on offense, at the offensive line, to our running backs, to our receivers. Our receivers did not get any passing plays tonight, they were blockers tonight and they did a wonderful job.” 

Highland attempted four passes in this game, all thrown by freshman Garrett Beeson. Two of those passes were caught by junior Colten Sypherd for 17 receving yards.

Time of possession was the name of the game in the second half, as Highland clung onto a two-point lead.

Taking six-minutes off the clock, Highland’s first drive of the third quarter ended in the endzone. 

This drive consisted of 11 running plays that finished with a 9-yard TD rushed in by Hartley-Norman. Failing the two-point conversion this time around Highland led by eight after the score. 

“The time of possession, that was the big thing. Just being able to control the clock, keep our defense off the field,” coach Quail said about the importance of clock-draining drives. “When the defense lives on the field, then your whole team tires out at this level. I thought our guys did a wonderful job and it energizes you to be able to play on both sides.”

L-M scored a TD on its next possession to cut the deficit back down to two, but with Highland being able to skillfully drain the clock on offense it ended up being the Falcon’s only offensive series of the third quarter.

On a drive that began in the third quarter but ended in the fourth quarter Highland scored its third and final TD of the night, run in once again by Hartley-Norman. 

In addition to two rushing touchdowns, Hartley-Norman accounted for 139 of Highland’s rushing yards. 

It was déjà-vu for the Falcons, just like the last quarter they only possessed the ball a single time in the last frame thanks to Highland taking so much time off the clock, but they did score a TD on their only possession. 

Needing the clock to reach zero to secure their first win of the year, the Huskies iced the game by orchestrating a six-minute 12 play game ending drive, never giving the ball back to the Falcons.  

“That’s just the guy’s demeanor, their toughness, their character,” coach Quail said about how Highland played against L-M. “This week we probably had the best week of practice I’ve ever had at Highland, and that starts with me as the coach. I changed up some things and just tried to put the guys in a better place and they executed today.

Aside from the time of possession this game came down to two-point conversions. Both teams scored three touchdowns in this contest, but Highland won this game because they went 1 for 3 on two-point attempts while the Falcons went 0 for 3.  

The Highland defense stood tall when it needed to, making stops on every single L-M two-point attempt. In addition to those stops they also forced a sack fumble and a goal line stand in the second quarter.  

“Our guys, they fought through a tough week. We had some unknowns that were happening with our team, and they gritted it out this win,” coach Quail said. “And I’m not going to lie, I had tears almost rolling down my cheek there, 7.9 rolling down to zero on the clock. To be here on a field that I know pretty well. It’s one I’m never going to forget.” 

Highland (1-6) will end their regular season at home against the Wapello Indians (1-6) on Oct. 13. 

GAME SUMMARY

HIGHLAND 20, LOUISA-MUSCATINE 18

HL 8 0 6 6 20

L-M 6 0 6 6 18