Homecoming heroism

The Highland-Lone Tree offense scored zero points and generated just 76 yards of total offense in its first two games.

Against Wapello on Friday, the HLT offense racked up 356 yards and scored four touchdowns on its way to a 35-7 homecoming victory.

The win was particularly emotional for the Highland students on the team. Their last game in 2025 was a 40-7 loss to the Indians.

“These kids cancelled our season last year, so it was personal,” junior quarterback Caleb Wheeler said. “I wanted to beat the ever-living crap out of them, and we did it.”

The season forfeiture that followed cancelled the Huskies’ homecoming game in 2025 as well.

“You’re going to see me dance like I’ve never danced before,” Wheeler said.

The offense got off to another slow start, as it stalled out in Wapello territory on its first drive, but the defense gave HLT its first lead of the season. Senior Jarrett Brackin recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown to make it 6-0 after a missed PAT.

The HLT offense went three and out on its next drive, and the team’s special team coverage issues from the first two games reared their ugly head, as Wapello sophomore Kendyn Lanz took a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown that gave the Indians a 7-6 lead to end the first quarter.

In the second quarter, HLT finally found its footing.

Facing a third and 22, Wheeler rolled out to his right, looking for a target downfield. Seeing none, he tucked the ball and ran, cutting and juking his way back to the middle of the field. As he neared the first down marker, Wheeler saw daylight and hit the accelerator, bursting through the gap and scoring a 40-yard touchdown run to retake the lead for HLT.

HLT’s defense forced a three and out on the ensuing drive, but the offense didn’t go anywhere on its next drive, handing the ball to sophomore punter Arlo Means, but the kick was muffed and recovered by the coverage unit, giving the offense the ball at the Wapello 27. HLT was forced back on the first three plays of the drive, but with the ball on the opposing 30, outside of Means’ range as a kicker but too close for a punt to be valuable, head coach Thayne McElhinney decided to go for it.

Senior receiver Hunter Seibel broke free on a go-ball down the near sideline on the fourth down play, and Wheeler hit Seibel in stride for his first career varsity passing touchdown.

“I know I can beat those corners every time,” Seibel said. “I just had to make a move, get down the field and catch the ball.”

A roughing the kicker call put the ball inside the two on the following try, and HLT decided to go for two, punching in the conversion on a run by Tyler Pierson to make it 21-7.

HLT decided to keep the pressure on for the rest of the half, recovering an onside kick to set up another explosive touchdown. Wheeler found Garrett Beeson near the sticks on the near sideline, and Beeson refused to get tackled, running through the corner covering him and evading the safety to break away for a 48-yard touchdown reception, giving HLT a 28-7 lead.

Means successfully executed another onside to give HLT the ball back yet again, but Wheeler fumbled, ending the stretch of three consecutive HLT possessions. Wapello was unable to score before the half crept to a close, giving the hosts a 21-point halftime lead.

Highland-Lone Tree scored one final time in the third quarter, as Seibel beat his man again for a 40-yard touchdown pass from Wheeler to lock up the game for HLT.

“We’ve always been like that,” Wheeler said of his connection with Seibel. “Just throw it up to Hunter deep and its a touchdown.”

Defensively, Highland-Lone Tree continued its dominance in the second half, as Jonas Koedam recovered a fumble, Koedam and Tyler Pierson came up with interceptions, and the line generated a pair of sacks to keep Wapello stuck deep in its own territory.

Beeson was a standout in McElhinney’s eyes, collecting 9.5 tackles and three TFLs.

“Garrett Beeson was playing with his hair on fire. I don’t know what got into him, but he was amazing. It felt like he was in on every tackle.”

When all was said and done, the HLT defense gave up just 76 yards of total offense and zero points from scrimmage. That performance came just one week after Martensdale-St. Mary’s ran for 184 yards on HLT. and went for over 300 yards of total offense.

“It was just our communication, us doing our jobs and taking our gaps, coming as a team and working together,” senior defensive lineman Gauge Richardson said.

Throughout the second half, chants rang out from the student section at Highland High School, as screams of “HLT” rang through the stadium. Middle schoolers were jumping, screaming and twirling shirts in the air. When the final whistle sounded and the players had made it through the handshake line, the students rushed the field, hugging and celebrating with the players. According to Wheeler, that crowd was the best he’d ever seen at a Highland sporting event.

“It’s the most kids, the most people I’ve ever seen since I’ve been here,” Wheeler said. “It was awesome.”

The win also marked the first of McElhinney’s career.

“It felt pretty good, hopefully we get a lot more.”

HLT now has a week off due to New London forfeiting its varsity season, giving the players a week to recover and prepare for the remainder of district play. HLT will travel to Pekin when it returns to action on Sept. 18, kicking off a four-game road trip that will take it through the rest of the district slate.

Statistical leaders:

HLT passing yards: Caleb Wheeler 232;

HLT rushing yards: Wheeler 89; Tyler Pierson 20; Will Daufeldt 12; Hunter Seibel 3;

HLT receiving yards: Seibel 185; Garrett Beeson 47;

HLT tackles: Beeson 9.5; Jonas Koedam 4.5; Wheeler, Gauge Richardson 4; Aiden Yoder 3; Travis Ford 2; Jarrett Brackin 1.5; Donald Edwards, Daufeldt, Arlo Means 1; Jackson Bandow 0.5

HLT interceptions: Presten Smith, Koedam 1

Wapello passing yards: Kody Marlette 39

Wapello rushing yards: Edgar Vazquez 33; Kendyn Lanz 7;

Wapello receiving yards: Draysin Crow 39;

Wapello tackles: Kinnick Richenberger 10.5; Lanz 9.5; Draysin Crow 8.5; Dayne Hogue 4.5; Izaya Bergen 4; Vasquez, Lelan Ealey, Grayson Nagle 3; Marlette, Gaige McConnell 2; Brecken Allworth, Johan Nunez 1.5; Jett Malcom 1; Camron Brewer 0.5

Wapello interceptions: Marlette 1