By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
Friday was a beautiful evening to start the high school football season for the Highland Park Scots.
Highland Park senior Jamon Wilson scored three touchdowns in Friday's 52-0 win over KC-Wyandotte, including a 90-yard kickoff return. [File photo/TSN]
The Scots, who finished 7-3 a year ago, wanted to come out and make a statement to open their 2024 season and Highland Park accomplished that goal with a 52-0 Meadowlark Conference romp past Kansas City-Wyandotte at Hummer Sports Park.
“To have a group of players that I have had for four years and for them to really develop and mature and to the point where we can get everybody the ball with so many dynamic players on offense is really special,” Highland Park coach Jermaine Monroe said.
“The boys wanted to make a statement in the first game and wanted to be consistent, not just big plays but be respectful to the officials and other team and its just those little things that they are focusing on that makes it bigger then football.”
The Scots started the game off with a bang to get the season started, getting a 90-yard kickoff return from senior Jamon Wilson.
“Last year Jamon didn’t get the opportunity to play in this game and I told him you have to make a big statement the first time you get the ball and the first play he gets it and took off,” Monroe said.
“The game plan was for me to come out hot and I wanted to give my team the spark we needed and I feel like I did that on the first play.” Wilson said.
That isn’t all the senior would do for his team on the night as Wilson would add two huge touchdown runs with 60-yard and 30-yard touchdown runs, looking like another No. 5 of old for the Scots in former star running back Naji Shinskia.
Wilson would finish the night with 90 return yards, 90 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
“My offensive line, they stepped up tonight and created me big holes that allowed me to showcase tonight,” Wilson said.
The Scots also got a huge night from their sophomore speedster, JoJo Kingcannon, whose dad also played at Highland Park.
“He’s an amazing ballplayer. He can play anywhere and he’s the type of player that can make amazing things happen with the ball in his hands and he can make it happen with the blink of an eye,” Monroe said.
“I told myself be patient and when I get the ball it's go time.” Kingcannon said. “CJ Brown got a huge block on my TD catch that allowed me to take it to the house, that block was huge.”
The Scots go on the road next week for a Meadowlark Conference contest against KC-Sumner.
“Sumner is always disciplined and they have athletes that can make big plays happen. They're very mature and we are looking forward to it,” Monroe said.
HIGHLAND PARK 52 - KC-WYANDOTTE 0
KC-WYANDOTTE (0-1, 0-1) 0 0 0 0 -- 0
HIGHLAND PARK (1-0, 1-0) 22 16 8 6 -- 52
Highland Park — Wilson 90 kickoff return (Kincannon 2-point run)
Highland Park — Montgomery 35 run (conversion failed)
Highland Park — Wilson 60 run (Cooper 2-point run)
Highland Park — Crawford 46 fumble return (Rice 2-point run)
Highland Park — Wilson 30 run (Cooper 2-point run)
Highland Park — Kingcannon Jr. 75 pass from Fox (Brown 2-point run)
Highland Park — Sipple 36 pass from Fox (conversion failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — Wyandotte: Black 8-17, Walton 5-15, Evans 1-11, Saunders 2-5, Vaughn 1-minus 10. Highland Park: Wilson 2-90, Montgomery 9-71, Cooper 2-29, Brown 1-20.
Passing — Wyandotte: Evans 5-8-1, 36 yards, Vaughn 3-4 28 yards. Highland Park: Fox 7-12, 174.
Receiving — Wyandotte: Vaughn 3-32, Burton 1-28, Black 1-3. Highland Park: Kingcannon 4-128, Sipple 1-36, Savage 1-9, Wilson 1-1.
