Texas High gets set for Highland Park in opener
FRISCO, Texas—Texas High faces defending state champion Highland Park in the opening round of the Class 5A, Division I football playoffs.
The seventh-ranked Scots (9-1) and the Tigers (7-3) clash at 2 p.m. at The Ford Center at the Star in Frisco in a bi-district matchup.
Highland Park has won nine straight after a season-opening loss to Rockwall.
Texas High is 4-0 outside of Texarkana this fall.
“We’ve played well on the road; we’re comfortable going on the road, and everywhere we’ve travelled has been two hours or more,” Tigers head coach Gerry Stanford said. “Sometimes going on the road trip helps you focus and get your attention away from any distractions.
“Highland Park is an efficient football team, in all phases of the game. They execute and don’t make many mistakes. We have to go in and execute and be balanced.”
HP scores 41.6 points and gives up 21.6 points per game. The Tigers score 33.9 and allow 21.9 points per game and are riding a 5-game win streak.
Texas High is 2-1 all-time against the Scots, with the last meeting a 40-24 THS win in 2006.
Receiver Tevailance Hunt is the Tigers’ top scorer with 17 touchdowns, and tailback Chris Sutton has rushed for 709 yards and nine TDs. Hunt has an area-leading 59 catches for 944 yards. QB Riley Russell has connected on 82 of 127 passes for 1,318 yards with 17 touchdowns and two interceptions in five games.
Dejonte Harper has 75 tackles to lead the defense, Chris Arnold has 69 stops and Deidrick Reeves (66 tackles), Davon Williams (63) and Tim Noble (60) are also among the team’s defensive leaders.
Scott quarterback John Stephen Jones, the grandson on Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, is 135-of-187 passing for 2,635 yards, 34 TDs and one interception.
Running back Paxton Alexander has 68 carries for 595 yards and two TDs, and Conner Allen has rushed for 487 yards and seven scores. Cade Saustad has 45 receptions for 890 yards and 10 scores, and Alexander and Scully Jenevein have 25 catches each.
“It’s a great opportunity to go play in a great facility in front of a great crowd,” Stanford said. “The playoffs are a special time for football players, and it’s what every high school player looks forward to. To be able to go to the Star and play in front of a great crowd, it’s a great opportunity to compete against one of the best teams in the nation.”
The game will be broadcast on KTXK 91.5 FM starting at 1:45 p.m.