Highland Park Scots 2017 Championship

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HP WINS FIFTH CHAMPIONSHIP

SPECIAL EDITION JANUARY 2018

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MIRACLE MAKERS How the Scots rallied for a thrilling repeat

MELISSA MACATEE

4 Special Edition | January 2018 | parkcitiespeople.com

HIGHLAND PARK REFUSES TO LOSE Jones, Scots pull off one final magic act

By Randy Jennings

Special Contributor

A

“John Stephen will go down as one of the best to ever play at Highland Park.’’

Highland Park head coach Randy Allen

JOHN STEPHEN JONES Quarterback, Senior, No. 9 • 2-time state-title game offensive MVP • 29 career wins as a starter • 12-0 playoff record • 61 touchdown passes this season • 7,965 career passing yards

RLINGTON — John Stephen Jones’ era at Highland Park High School will always be known for producing two state championships thanks to an ability to thrive in situations where lesser teams wilt.

The “refuse to lose’’ attitude was absolutely necessary for a 53-49 heart-stopping victory over Manvel in the Class 5A Division state title Dec. 22 at AT&T Stadium.

“There’s a little magic about John Stephen,’’ said Highland Park head coach Randy Allen. “He’s the best at making something out of a play when it is not there.’’

Despite being sacked a record seven times in the first half, there was Jones down the stretch, keeping his team in it with clutch passes and then encouraging his teammates on the sideline while the defense tried to somehow slow down Manvel.

“I had a ton of doubt after we got stopped with four minutes left,’’ said wide receiver Cade Saustad, “but John Stephen kept telling us we had a chance.’’

With 4:15 remaining, Highland Park was stopped on Jones’ fourthdown incompletion, trailing 4939. To that point in the fourth quarter, Manvel had run one play from scrimmage and scored 14 points.

But the Scots defense forced a punt and Jones engineered an 87-yard, seven-play scoring march capped by his own 1-yard keeper to pull the Scots within three points.

A miracle was still required. With 2:08 to go and only one timeout remaining, an onside kick was Highland

MELISSA MACATEE

Park’s only chance. Matteo Cordray had been working all season on an onside kick in which he fakes in one direction and kicks to the other.

“If I did it 10 more times, I don’t think I could have kicked a better one,’’ said Cordray. He faked left and his kick to the right took a big hop and nestled into the hands of Saustad.

“It was my biggest catch of my night,’’ said Saustad, who finished with 12 pass receptions for 220 yards and three touchdowns.

On the go-ahead 45-yard drive, Highland Park faced one more crisis, fourth and 15 at the Manvel 39 with 1:11 remaining. After calling a final timeout, Jones unleashed a perfectly measured throw to Finn Corwin for 28 yards.

Two plays later, Jones found Saustad on a 16-yard slant for the Scots’ first lead of the night with 34 seconds remaining.

“I was afraid we scored too fast,’’ Allen said. “Manvel is as good as any team I’ve ever played and certainly the most explosive.’’

From its 28, Manvel needed only two plays to reach the Scots 31. After just missing on a potential touchdown reception, Mavericks receiver Jalen Preston was tackled at the 1 on the game’s final play.

“Honestly, I’ve never been in a game like that,’’ Jones said. “That’s why we go to practice and work hard every day. When we got the onside kick, I was thinking, ‘Let’s take advantage, let’s execute.’’’

Allen said his quarterback continually reminded his teammates that if they could stay within three points, there was a chance something could happen at the end.

Jones threw for 564 yards and Kason Martin, a University of North Texas signee and the son of the Manvel coach, had 483 for the Mavericks.

“Some people might say that Jones is all hype, but I tell you he’s a baller,’’ Martin said.

“I told him after the game I’m sure we’ll run into each other at the next level.’’

Manvel head coach Kirk Martin and his son had a long, tearful embrace afterward.

“Knowing that it is the last game I’ll coach him is emotional,’’ the coach said. “That’s life. He’ll be a better man because of it.

“It is tough to beat [Highland Park] at their home.’’

6 Special Edition | January 2018 | parkcitiespeople.com

A RECORD-SETTING GAME FOR THE AGES

High-scoring contest comes down to tackle at 1-yard line

Highland Park’s Cade Saustad scored three touchdowns and recovered an onside kick in the closing minutes against Manvel in the Class 5A Division I championship game.

By Todd Jorgenson

People Newspapers

R

eload. Repeat. Mission accomplished.

Highland Park never wavered from that mantra, even when Manvel led by 10 points with less than three minutes remaining in the Class 5A Division I state championship game Dec. 22 at AT&T Stadium.

Two touchdowns later, propelled by grit and determination, the Scots rallied for a stunning 53-49 win to capture back-toback state titles for the first time in the program’s decorated history.

After trailing throughout the game, HP scored 28 points in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a desperation onside kick recovery followed by a 16-yard touchdown pass from John Stephen Jones to Cade Saustad with 34 seconds remaining.

Literally 1 yard separated victory from defeat for the Scots (15-1), who stopped Manvel’s last-ditch comeback effort at the 1-yard line as time expired.

“A lot of people didn’t give them a chance to do it, but they fought back and did it, and they did it against great competition,” said HP head coach Randy Allen, who has now led the Scots to three of the five state titles in school history.

Jones shattered plenty of offensive records for a 5A championship game, completing a remarkable 37 of 58 passes for 564 yards and four touchdowns. Saus-

tad finished with 12 catches for 220 yards and three scores, along with the aforementioned onside kick recovery that kept the rally alive. Paxton Alexander had 247 all-purpose yards with a rushing touchdown.

As a team, HP racked up 662 yards of total offense. Yet numbers alone don’t do justice to the nature of this resilient victory, which came against a previously unbeaten opponent that dominated its competition all season.

“A lot of people didn’t give them a chance to do it, but they fought back and did it, and they did it against great competition.”

Randy Allen Jones was named the offensive MVP of the championship game for the second consecutive season, and showed the type of clutch leadership for the past two seasons that will place him among the top tier of HP legends.

“He’s magic,” Allen said. “He can escape, he’s a leader, he competes, he finds the open receivers, and he makes runs when he has to.”

Trailing 49-39 down the stretch, the

Scots turned the ball over on downs on their first comeback attempt, but kept hope alive when Jones scored on a 1-yard run with 2:06 left. Then came Saustad’s recovery of the onside kick, followed a few plays later by a heart-stopping 28-yard completion to Finn Corwin on fourth-and-15.

Jones found Saustad over the middle for a 16-yard score with 35 seconds left, giving HP the 53-49 lead. Manvel made a valiant effort to respond, but Jalen Preston was stopped following a catch just short of the end zone.

“This was right down to the wire. We made a lot of plays and they made a lot of plays, and we came out by an inch or two,” Allen said. “I’m so proud of our kids for fighting back and getting us back in the game.”

The win allowed HP to tie the school mark for victories in a season with 15, and this year’s squad also established a new record for total points in a season with 728, which included 316 points in postseason play — surpassing the undefeated 2005 championship team.

The Mavericks (14-1), a decade-old program making its second appearance in a state-title game, featured bigger and faster players, and showcased plenty of big-play ability behind quarterback Kason Martin and an aggressive defense that registered nine sacks — setting a new state championship game record — including seven in the first half.

ROB GRAHAM

As a result, the Scots spent much of the night simply trying to stay within striking distance.

The teams traded touchdowns for the entirety of a thrilling second half, beginning with Alexander’s 18-yard touchdown scamper on the opening drive of the third quarter that trimmed the HP deficit to 21-18.

Manvel’s longest drive of the night, in terms of plays, resulted in a 7-yard scoring pass from Martin to Preston.

HP responded again when Jones found Jay Smith on a 4-yard touchdown strike.

The Scots came up with a big defensive play on the ensuing possession, stopping a drive when James Herring forced a fumble and Marshall Ballard recovered.

HP couldn’t capitalize, but the Mavericks did, when Martin hit Colbey Washington for a 62-yard touchdown pass to make the score 35-25 late in the third quarter.

On the next HP possession, Jones hooked up with Alexander for 80 yards on third-and-long, setting up a Benner Page touchdown run.

Manvel again needed only one play to find the end zone, courtesy of a 95-yard touchdown catch by Preston that broke another state championship game record.

Jones then engineered another scoring drive to cut the deficit to 42-39 when he found Saustad for a 9-yard touchdown.

At that point, few could have predicted the fireworks that followed, nor the miraculous way in which it all ended.

8 Special Edition | January 2018 | parkcitiespeople.com

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2018 | Special Edition  9

PHOTOS BY ROB GRAHAM, MELISSA MACATEE, AND BIANCA R. MONTES

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10 Special Edition | January 2018 | parkcitiespeople.com

THESE SCOTS JUST KEPT FIGHTING BACK

MELISSA MACATEE

HIGHLAND PARK SCOTS Paxton Alexander, Landon Alhadef, Conner Allen, Bryce Anderson, Paxton Anderson, Tal Armayor, Marshall Ballard, Loren Barrett, Blake Barton, Cole Bohner, Spencer Borrego, Ben Boudreaux, Brandt Brock, Bennett Brown, Jack Brown, Carson Bryant, Ryan Butz, Chance Chadwick, Camden Clark, Hudson Clark, Jed Clouse, Brister Conser, Jeffrey Copeland, Matteo Cordray, Bolton Corwin, Finn Corwin, Ryan Coxe, Charlie Craft, Cayden Davis, Braden DeFeo, Padgitt Diehl, Drew Dodge, Prince Dorbah, Michael Downie, Owen Dunston, Wyatt Esquivel, Harris Feferman, Zak Folts, Grant Gallas, Clay Grant, Harrison Hall, Jack Ham, Jeremy Hanes, Trevor Hart, Henry Hempel, Connor Henderson, James Herring, Christopher Herrod, Jack Hickey, Cal Hirschey, Colby Hopkins, Thomas Hurst, Jack Hurt, Cole Jackson, Sam Jackson, Scully Jenevein, Jack Jernigan, John Stephen Jones, Jack Jurgovan, Calvin Kean, Ryan Khetan, Tyler Kilgus, Noah Landsberg, Spencer Landwehr, Avery Lewis, James Lightbourn, Jack Liston, Luke Lochausen, Jack Marks, McClain Matter, Christian McAnalley, Trusten McArtor, Mason McKenney, Grant McVeigh, Michael Mills, Chandler Morris, Nick Morris, Trey Nanney, Noble Nash, Elliott Newsom, Andrew O’Brien, Benner Page, Stephen Palles, Ford Parker, Cade Pettijohn, Colston Pierce, Jake Pogue, Chris Read, Cameron Reeves, Will Rhodes, Ben Richardson, Regan Riddle, Nolan Roberts, Davenn Robinson, Jimmy Rupple, Cade Saustad, Luke Schmit, Grayson Serio, Matt Sewall, Colton Shawver, Thomas Shelmire, Henry Sherer, Jack Sitzer, Sam Sloan, Ben Smith, Jay Smith, Hudson Soetenga, Andrew Stanzel, Luke Sullivan, Will Vandermeer, Reid Walker, Jake Walsh, Ryan Webb, Matthew Weyman, Walker Williamson, Parrish Wilson, Whit Winfield, Wesley Winters, and Ryan Zolcinski.

HIGH FIVE Highland Park won its fifth state football title in school history Dec. 22 against Manvel.

Here’s a breakdown of the trophy haul.

TODD JORGENSON

A

t times, the Class 5A Division I championship game felt like a bout between two heavyweight prizefighters. And it seemed like Highland Park had several opportunities to throw in the towel.

The Scots took punch after punch from Manvel, trailing for more than 47 of the game’s 48 minutes against an opponent that was bigger, faster, and stronger.

HP might have been battered and bruised, but in the end, the Scots delivered the knockout blow.

The resiliency that led the Scots to the 53-49 win is perhaps the most defining characteristic of a team that secured back-to-back state titles for the first time in program history.

How else can you explain such improbable heroics against Manvel, whose roster was littered with Division I recruits and who showcased that talent with big plays YEAR 1945 1957 2005 2016 2017

RECORD 12-0-2 11-1-1 15-0 14-2 15-1

throughout the night. The Scots seemed to be hanging on for dear life, trailing by double digits much of the game as the Mavericks answered every HP scoring drive with a quick-strike touchdown.

But anyone who expected the Scots to fold under such pressure hadn’t been paying attention. After all, the defending champs already weathered the best shot of every 5A team on its schedule — including close calls during the playoffs against Texarkana Texas High, Mansfield Lake Ridge, and Denton Ryan.

Indeed, as the opponents got tougher, HP seemed to get better.

That’s what championship teams do.

“I can’t even say how proud I am of everybody on this team,” said senior quarterback John Stephen Jones, who won championship game offensive MVP honors for the second straight year. “This team never quits.’’

Jones exemplified HP’s toughness by saving his best performance for last, and securing his place among the program’s alltime greats. He passed for 564 yards and four touchdowns, and ran for another score.

Already suffering from an ankle injury that limited his scrambling

OPPONENT Waco Port Arthur Marshall Temple Manvel

ability, Jones was sacked eight times by an aggressive Manvel defense. But every time he got hit, he got back up. So did the Scots.

When it seemed their final comeback effort failed on a fourth-down incompletion, trailing by 10 points with 4:15 remaining, maybe they subconsciously recalled their season-opening loss against Rockwall.

In that game, HP led by 11 in the closing minutes when Rockwall scored a touchdown, then recovered an onside kick, and then marched into the end zone again to steal a 53-49 victory.

In the title game, Jones scored on a 1-yard run with 2:15 left to trim the deficit to three, then Cade Saustad fell on the onside kick, and later caught the winning 16-yard scoring pass from Jones.

The final score? 53-49, this time in HP’s favor.

“I still can’t believe it,” said Saustad, who finished with 220 receiving yards and three touchdowns. “When we didn’t get that fourth down, I didn’t know what to do. But John Stephen kept telling guys we had a chance.’’

HP’s heroic 15th victory tied the school record for wins in a season. And it will be remembered for generations to come.

SCORE NOTABLE 7-7 Co-champion team led by Doak Walker, Bobby Layne 21-9 Scots defense allowed only 5.8 points per game 59-0 Only undefeated, untied season in program history 16-7 HP won 800th game in school history in state semis 53-49 Scots set school record for points scored in a season

12 Special Edition | January 2018 | parkcitiespeople.com

FRONT ROW DARLINGS Dedicated seniors support Scots from the stands

By Bianca R. Montes People Newspapers

From ringing cowbells to rustling blue and gold pompoms, Highland Park High School football fans didn’t hold back when it came to supporting their team’s quest for a repeat state championship at AT&T Stadium.

But beyond hollering moms in the stands and the high kicks of the cheerleaders on the field, a front row of senior girls sought to be the most dedicated devotees in the crowd.

For Tierney Block, Ashley Fowler, and Frances Ann Matise, those front row seats are just as much a part of football tradition as going to the game itself. The girls have claimed front row seats at every stadium the Scots have played in during the season.

“We are their biggest fans,” Fowler said in between a round of “Go Scots, Go,” and a grumpy discord over an official’s call that didn’t favor the Scots.

The game was a real nail-biter for the girls and just about anyone who watched the Scots yard-by-yard comeback from a near defeat.

But as their emotions went from nervous to anxious to thrilled, their unwavering support and belief in their team never swayed.

“I’m going to cry if they win or lose,” Block said, her voice hoarse from screaming.

But losing was not on any of their agendas. The girls said they knew what it was like to win a state championship – after all, they went through this last year.

“We know exactly how it feels to win,” Fowler said.

To prepare for the repeat, she and her friends made the football players treats to fill up on before the game, screamed encouragement to them from the stands, and without a single ounce of embarrassment held humongous photo cutouts of their favorite players during the entire game.

“Football is such a big part of school for us,” Fowler said, trying to find the words to explain her die-hard devotion.

And while they’re not on the field playing, she said they “like to know they’re making some type of difference.”

Fans such as Frances Ann Matise, Tierney Block, and Ashley Fowler [top left] support the Scots.

ParkCitiesPeople

EDITORIAL

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O P E R AT I O N S

Editor William Taylor

Senior Account Executives Kim Hurmis Kate Martin

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Assistant Editor Bianca R. Montes Sports Editor Todd Jorgenson Copy Editor Annie Wiles

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Distribution Manager Don Hancock

Client Services and Marketing Manager Sarah Diver

Production Manager Craig Tuggle Production Assistant Imani Chet Lytle PHOTOS BY ROB GRAHAM AND BIANCA R. MONTES

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14 Special Edition | January 2018 | parkcitiespeople.com

HOW THE STATE WAS WON ...

By Todd Jorgenson

People Newspapers

H

ighland Park’s historic run to a second consecutive Class 5A Division I state championship featured plenty of heroes, thrilling victories, and magical moments.

The Scots finished the season with 15 straight victories, tying a school record for wins in a season. The team also established a new school mark for points in a single year.

Let’s look back on how it all happened.

PHOTOS BY MELISSA MACATEE

RANDY ALLEN Highland Park head coach Randy Allen has led Highland Park to three of the five state championships in school history (2005, 2016, 2017), and is the school’s all-time leader in coaching wins with 223. Here’s a look at the career of this legendary coach.

BY THE NUMBERS

11.7 19 70 376

Average wins per year at HP (17 district titles) Seasons as HP head coach (most in school history) Playoff wins in his career (second all-time) Career victories in 37 seasons (fourth all-time)

GAME 1

GAME 2

GAME 3

Sept. 1, 2017 • Rockwall 53, HP 49

Sept. 8, 2017 • HP 32, Waxahachie 21

Sept. 14, 2017 • HP 34, Mansfield Timberview 32

HP’s only loss of the season came on the road in the opener against its only Class 6A opponent. The Yellowjackets erupted for 46 points in the second half – 15 in the final two minutes that included a successful onside kick. Cade Saustad had 268 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

In its home opener, HP avenged a loss from last season behind a balanced effort that included 108 rushing yards from Conner Allen and two receiving touchdowns by Finn Corwin. The HP defense forced two second-half turnovers to help the Scots rally from an early deficit.

Matteo Cordray kicked the go-ahead field goal with 28 seconds remaining as HP rallied to win its final nondistrict game on the road. John Stephen Jones threw four touchdown passes, including one to Paxton Alexander, who tallied 200 all-purpose yards (130 rushing, 70 receiving).

GAME 4

GAME 5

GAME 6

Sept. 22, 2017 • HP 50, Lovejoy 7

Sept. 29, 2017 • HP 63, North Forney 42

Oct. 13, 2017 • HP 38, West Mesquite 17

In the District 15-5A opener, John Stephen Jones had 251 passing yards in the first half alone, while tossing four touchdown passes and running for another score. Finn Corwin caught two touchdown passes. The Scots limited a potent Lovejoy offense to just 217 yards and forced two turnovers.

HP got its biggest challenge in district play from the upstart Falcons, but responded with a season-high point total. John Stephen Jones threw four touchdown passes. Conner Allen had three scores. Paxton Alexander tallied two. And James Lightbourn made a key fourth-quarter interception.

After a bye week, HP’s dominating performance took the drama out of a midseason clash against the previously unbeaten Wranglers. The Scots took a 21-0 lead in the first half thanks in part to a 98-yard drive, capped by a touchdown pass from John Stephen Jones to Paxton Alexander.

parkcitiespeople.com | January 2018 | Special Edition 15

GAME 9

GAME 7

GAME 8

Oct. 20, 2017 • HP 28, Mesquite Poteet 9

Oct. 27, 2017 • HP 35, Forney 13

Nov. 3, 2017 • HP 45, Royse City 15

With the offense committing three miscues and producing a season-low point total, the HP defense recorded seven sacks and two turnovers, and allowed only 75 yards after halftime against the Pirates. Paxton Alexander rushed for 142 yards and scored two times, including once receiving.

Another efficient offensive performance included four first-half touchdown passes by John Stephen Jones, including two to Bennett Brown, along with 297 rushing yards as a team. The defense shut out the Jackrabbits in the first half as the Scots clinched a playoff spot for the 30th straight year.

HP clinched the outright district title as the defensive pitched another first-half shutout, propelled by a Prince Dorbah sack to complete a goal-line stand. John Stephen Jones completed 13 of 14 passes with five touchdowns. Three of those went to Cade Saustad, and one to Finn Corwin.

GAME 10

GAME 11

GAME 12

Nov. 10, 2017 • HP 42, Wylie East 7

Nov. 18, 2017 • HP 56, Texarkana Texas High 49

Nov. 24, 2017 • HP 73, McKinney North 20

In the regular-season finale, HP completed a perfect run through 15-5A as John Stephen Jones tied a season high with five touchdown passes, including two apiece to Cade Saustad and Scully Jenevein. The Scots raced out to a 35-0 halftime advantage to easily avenge an upset loss from 2016.

The playoff opener was a seesaw affair against the more athletic Tigers, with HP advancing after John Stephen Jones threw for 466 yards and six touchdowns.

Cade Saustad finished with 171 receiving yards and three scores. And Paxton Alexander tallied 202 all-purpose yards.

In its first of four games at AT&T Stadium, HP overwhelmed the Bulldogs with 45 points before halftime. John Stephen Jones passed for three touchdowns and ran for three more. Paxton Alexander rushed for 137 yards, caught a scoring pass, and returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

GAME 13

GAME 14

GAME 15

Dec. 1, 2017 • HP 52, Mansfield Summit 20

Dec. 8, 2017 • HP 37, Mansfield Lake Ridge 35

With 31 points and almost 300 yards of offense in the first quarter alone, HP coasted past the Jaguars. Finn Corwin and Cade Saustad each caught two touchdown passes in that opening quarter. Marshall Ballard intercepted two passes as the HP defense forced a season-high four turnovers.

The Eagles made some big plays, but Ryan Coxe and the HP defense held tough down the stretch to extend the season. Matteo Cordray kicked two second-half field goals, including the game-winner, as a banged-up HP offense sputtered after a fast start. The Scots rushed for four touchdowns.

Dec. 15, 2017 • HP 45, Denton Ryan 35

For the second straight season, HP engineered an upset of the previously unbeaten Raiders in a thrilling state semifinal. Cade Saustad caught three of John Stephen Jones’ five touchdown passes, and the Scots defense forced two turnovers that helped lead to 24 straight points.