Highland Community College Hosts Northeast Kansas and 4-State All-Star Volleyball Matches
Highland, Kan. -- Highland Community College is honored to host and announce details for the Annual... Read More
The Highland Community College football team made a case for being in the national rankings at it knocked off the #13 ranked Hutchinson Blue Dragons in a thrilling 26-21 victory.
In the first possession of the game, the Highland offense showed the dominant theme this season of sophomore Demarre Kitt (Atlanta, GA) catching a Kahlil Render (Homestead, FL) pass and racing 74 yards to the end zone. The misfortune of another theme this season -- a missed extra point – gave the Scotties an early 6-0 lead.
The Highland defense brought it in the first half, once again dominating an offense and forcing three straight three and outs. After a Highland punt, Isaiah Gray (Warner Robbins, GA) intercepted the Blue Dragons pass. That interception would be the first of three for the Scotties. Highland was unable to convert after the interception, and the first quarter came to an end with Highland leading Hutchinson 6-0.
Freshman corner Dominique Williams (Knoxville, TN) started the second quarter with a quarterback sack, forcing the Blue Dragons to 4th and long. After a 45 yard punt return by freshman Ronnie Jamison (Columbia, SC), the Scotties found the end zone for the second time on a 37 yard touchdown run by sophomore Marquis Terry (Atlanta, GA). Highland converted on the 2-point conversion on a three yard pass from Render to Kitt. With 14 minutes left to play in the second quarter, Highland led #13 Hutchinson, 14-0.
The Hutch offense took the field looking to get some momentum going, but the Highland defense had other plans. Conference sack leader Brandon Berry (Griffin, GA) recorded his fifth sack of the season, setting up a 3rd and long for the Blue Dragon offense. On the next play, the Hutch quarterback was swarmed by a pack of Scotties, forcing him to lose the football. Scottie linebacker Jeremiah Hill (Cairo, GA), after being pulled out from beneath a 12-man pile, came up with the football and gave Highland possession at their own 49 yard line. A bad snap on 4th and one led to a fumble and Hutch took over from the Highland 38 yard line. Another three and out forced Hutch to punt the ball and pinned Highland deep in their own territory. With six minutes to play in the second quarter, Render connected with Ronnie Jamison for 17 yards on a third and long, moving the ball to mid field. The offense was unable to get anything going and Hutch forced a Highland punt with five minutes to play in the half.
A pass interference call on the Scotties gave the Hutch offense some life with 3:30 left in the half, although it wasn't enough as the Highland defense forced another punt and held the Blue Dragons scoreless through the first 30 minutes of play. Highland took a 14-0 lead into the locker room.
It was Highland’s football to start the second half, and the Scotties took advantage of it. After an illegal block in the back on the kick return, Highland had the ball on their own 14 yard line. On the second play of the drive, sophomore running back Ra'Quanne Dickens (Largo, FL) took the ball 73 yards to the Hutch three yard line. That set up a three yard touchdown run for Terry. After the failed 2-point conversion, Highland led 20-0.
The Hutchinson offense, with the help of a roughing the passer penalty on the Scotties, marched all the way down inside the Highland red zone. They were set up with a 4th and one inside the Highland five yard line, but the Scottie defense held strong and stopped them at the line of scrimmage. Not able to get any momentum on the offensive end, Highland was forced to punt out of their own end zone, and Hutch took over on the Highland 46 yard line.
Again the Hutch offense found themselves knocking on the door until a tipped pass was intercepted in the end zone by sophomore linebacker Jacob Rominger (Overland Park). On the ensuing drive, the Scotties would pick up one first down after a 24 yard run by Terry, but facing a 4th and nine, the Scotties decided to punt. Highland let the clock run out before the punt; that would bring an end to the third quarter with Highland leading 20-0.
Highland started the 4th quarter with a punt that was returned to the Highland five yard line. Punter Trenton York (Wamego) made the tackle to save a touchdown. On the next play, Hutch punched it in for their first score of the day. After the extra point, Hutch now trailed by 13. After a quick three and out by the Scotties, Hutch found themselves knocking on the door again. A 15 yard touchdown pass put another six on the board for the Blue Dragons. The extra point was good and Highland now led by only six, 20-14.
The Highland offense was unable to move the football and was forced to punt. Hutch took over and wasted no time marching down the field. A long run by De'Shawn Waller would set up a one yard Trey Griffin touchdown. Tie ball game. The point after attempt was good and Hutch now led Highland 21-20.
Hutch had scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and now found themselves with the lead and less than three minutes to play. A delay of game penalty against the Scotties on 3rd and six forced Highland into a 3rd and 11. On the following play, Render connected with sophomore Bailey Strunk (Wichita) for a 74 yard touchdown pass. The two point conversion again was no good, but Highland took the lead back at 26-21 with 2:30 left in the game.
The Highland kick was returned to the Hutch 31 yard line. A big sack by Antar Thompson (St. Louis, MO) set up a 2nd and 17 with 2:02 remaining. An incomplete pass would bring up a 3rd and 17. Following an incomplete pass, sophomore Jacob Rominger made a diving catch and recorded his second interception of the day; this one coming with 1:44 left in the game. Terry's 15 yard rush on 1st down gave Highland a first down, forcing Hutch to use its second timeout. One more run by Terry, a Hutchinson timeout and two kneel downs finished the game with Highland knocking off the #13 Hutchinson Blue Dragons 26-21.
Highland is off to one of the best starts in school history at 4-1 going into their bye week. HCC's next game will be against Butler CC in El Dorado on October 8 at 7:00pm.
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