Highland Park already has clinched a playoff spot for the 38th consecutive season. On Friday, the Scots can notch another familiar goal.
HP has already earned at least a share its 60th district championship in program history, becoming the first team in Texas to achieve that milestone.
But with a victory against Midlothian in the regular-season finale at Highlander Stadium, the Scots (8-1, 5-0) can complete another unbeaten run through District 7-5A Div. I play and clinch the outright title.
HP holds an eight-game winning streak and hasn’t been seriously challenged in more than a month. The Scots have outscored their last four opponents by a combined margin of 198-73.
The HP offense has been firing on all cylinders for much of the season, averaging 48.7 points behind junior quarterback Buck Randall. He needs just 92 passing yards to surpass 3,000 for the season, and he’s thrown for 34 touchdowns while tallying another nine on the ground.
Versatile running back Matthew White has 16 total touchdowns, while leading receiver Cannon Bozman has 12 for the Scots. The HP defense has seven takeaways in its last three games, including three in a 56-14 thrashing of Burleson Centennial a week ago.
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Meanwhile, the Panthers (7-2, 4-1) have won four in a row since an upset loss to Joshua in the district opener, and have scored 46.5 points per game during that span.
Dual-threat quarterback Beau Wendel, son of head coach Doug Wendel, steers Midlothian’s run-based attack. He’s thrown for 13 touchdowns and is also the team’s leading rusher. Michael Archie and Brendyn Jackson are the other top playmakers.
Midlothian was the runner-up behind HP in the district standings a year ago and advanced to the third round of the Region I playoffs. The Scots, of course, advanced to the state championship game.
