By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The three-year run of winning football came to an end for the Highland Park seniors Friday. They were bounced from the Class 5A state playoffs by Pittsburg, 49-18, at Hummer Sports Park, ending the Scots' season with a 6-3 record.
Highland Park sophomore G'Honi Montgomery had 58 rushing yards and a TD in the Scots' 49-18 Class 5A playoff loss to Pittsburg Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
The No. 8 East seed for the Scots meant they drew a tough opponent in the Purple Dragons. The Scots hung tough, trailing just 21-12 midway through the second period with a chance to cut into the deficit. But a fumble deep in Pittsburg territory turned into another score for the visitors, who gradually pulled away.
The season ended on a sour note, but the seniors who depart the Highland Park program can take pride in a historic turnaround. They completed their freshman season on a losing streak that extended to eight seasons. But since moving to the Meadowlark Conference, they have led a turnaround that is nothing less than historic. The Scots have amassed a 19-9 record over the past three seasons.
“This senior class is the first class that I had for all four years, and they witnessed (the turnaround),” coach Jermaine Monroe said. “The underclassmen, they don’t know what it was like. They don’t know the experience of going 0-9. This senior class knows that, and they helped change that. They were part of that grind to turn the thing around and keep it going. They can share those experiences.”
Senior Jamon Wilson closed out his banner Highland Park career in Friday's 49-18 Class 5A playoff loss to Pittsburg. [File photo/TSN]
The Scots struggled Friday to turn their speed loose against the Purple Dragon defense. They got a 25-yard touchdown run from sophomore G’Honi Montomery, a 7-yard score from senior Jamon Wilson, and a 44-yard scoring pass from junior Dontrail Fox to sophomore Joe Kingcannon.
Defensively, the Scots were the victim of a ground-and-pound offense. Pittsburg attempted few passes but rushed for 406 yards. Senior running back Stone Peery accounted for 214 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
“With the type of offense that they run, they’re going to grind it out and eat the clock,” Monroe said. “And they made some chunk plays. We just made some mistakes in critical moments of the game, and it just got away from us.”
A running clock accelerated the pace of the second half and brought an early end to the evening. Monroe was not deterred by the outcome, however.
“We had a great season.,” Monroe said “We never gave up. The boys kept fighting to the end. Each week we got better and better, and even this week we got better. The score says one thing, but I think we played a solid game.”
Monroe was effusive in his praise of the seniors, but said he was ready to celebrate the effort of the entire team in the locker room following the defeat.
“I’ll tip my hat to them,” Monroe said. “I’m blessed to be able to coach these guys because all they do is give their heart and their soul, everything they have, in every practice, every game. They are just a great group of boys.”
PITTSBURG 49, HIGHLAND PARK 18
Pittsburg (7-2) 21 7 14 7 -- 49
Highland Park (6-3); 6 6 0 6 -- 18
Pittsburg – Nickelson 6 run (Rueda kick)
Pittsburg – Durden 35 pass from Nickelson (Rueda kick)
Highland Park – Wilson 7 run (run failed)
Pittsburg – Nickelson 24 run (Rueda kick)
Highland Park – Montgomery 25 run (run failed)
Pittsburg – Peery 5 run (Rueda kick)
Pittsburg – Peery 44 run (Rueda kick)
Pittsburg – Deringer 13 run (Rueda kick)
Pittsburg – Peery 15 run (Rueda kick)
Highland Park – Kingcannon 44 pass from Fox (run failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing – Pittsburg: Peery 13-214, Nickelson 2-30, Mitchell 5-47, Proffitt 3-40, Deringer 2-23, Riley 4-22, Hall 4-20, Busch 1-10. Highland Park: Wilson 10-44, Fox 5-26, Montgomery 5-58, Brown 1-1.
Passing – Pittsburg: Nickelson 1-4-1, 35 yards, Krogen 1-2-1 28 yards. Highland Park: Fox 5-11-0, 64 yards.
Receiving – Pittsburg: Durden 1-35, Davis 1-28. Highland Park: Wilson 2-8, Montgomery 2-9, Kingcannon 1-44.
Punting – Pittsburg: none. Highland Park: Fox 4-33.0.
