After an uncharacteristic slow start, Highland Park surged to a familiar finish on Friday in the regular-season finale.
The Scots clinched the outright District 7-5A Div. I title with a 42-28 victory over Midlothian at Highlander Stadium. It marks the 11th consecutive league championship for HP and 60th in program history.
After an unbeaten run through district play, the Scots (9-1, 6-0) earned a top seed in the Region II playoff bracket and will host Lake Belton in their first-round clash on Nov. 14. HP has won nine straight games since falling to Rockwall-Heath in the season opener.
Midlothian provided the first serious obstacle for HP in more than a month, forcing the Scots to solve some offensive challenges and rally from a first-half deficit.
They passed those tests behind a series of big-play touchdowns in the second quarter. Buck Randall’s three scoring passes before halftime each covered at least 40 yards.
“It was a little bit more of a test than I wanted,” said HP head coach Randy Allen. “They’re very physical and very tough and fast, but our guys were up for the challenge.”
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The first two quick-strike touchdowns answered scores by the Panthers (7-3, 4-2). Randall connected with Matthew White on a 55-yard strike, then found Harrison Cullum on a 40-yard hookup.
HP went ahead for good in the final minute of the first half, when Randall found Cannon Bozman on a 60-yard flea flicker to make it 21-14.
The offensive flurry jump-started the Scots after a first quarter in which they punted on three straight drives without gaining a first down.
“Early on, I think we were a little out of sync. Once they kind of settled down, they executed really well,” Allen said. “These guys don’t panic. They just keep playing hard.”
Midlothian controlled the clock with a deliberate attack after halftime, but the HP defense rose to the occasion. Martin True scooped up a fumble deep in HP territory and returned it past midfield.
That led to a short James Flowers touchdown run about two minutes later that kept momentum with the Scots.
The Panthers responded with their best drive of the game, covering 13 plays and 72 yards and culminating with a 6-yard scoring plunge by Michael Archie.
Midlothian remained within striking distance until the closing minutes, but HP executed down the stretch. A long pass from Randall to Charlie Olmstead set up White’s second score on a short run.
The Panthers answered again with an Archie touchdown scamper from 31 yards out with 7:08 left. However, the Scots stopped a potential game-tying Midlothian possession on downs.
HP essentially sealed it with a second Cullum touchdown catch on a 27-yard toss by Randall with just 1:53 left. Dean Dulin capped the effort with an interception on Midlothian’s next snap.
Sophomore receiver Brendyn Jackson was a standout for the Panthers with two long touchdown grabs — covering 39 and 49 yards — from quarterback Beau Wendel on consecutive drives in the second quarter.
Jackson finished with a game-high eight catches for 158 yards, but tallied just three receptions for 28 yards in the second half, when Justice Roberts replaced Wendel. Archie racked up 102 rushing yards.
Midlothian held a significant edge in total yardage, although HP ran just 42 offensive plays. White finished with 103 all-purpose yards on only 11 touches.
Randall was 10-of-16 passing for 255 yards, which is an average of more than 25 yards per completion. He surpassed 3,000 passing yards for the season despite throwing a second-quarter interception.
