HIGHLAND PARK — Highland Park High School came up with a huge 28-13 district win in Friday night’s football game against Richardson Berkner at Highlander Stadium.
Highland Park (5-1, 3-1 District 7-6A) took control early with a more uptempo offense, held Berkner to just 100 yards on the night, and scored two touchdowns right before the half to pull away. Both teams played a sloppy second half full of penalties, and Berkner struggled offensively after quarterback Cornell McGee IV was knocked out of the game with an injury.
“This was an outstanding football team, and them losing their quarterback hurt their offense, but our defense played a great game, and offensively, we did what we had to do to score,” Highland Park head coach Randy Allen told the media after the game. “We made some good drives, and that seven points right before half was huge.”
Highland Park used that uptempo offensive playing style on the game’s first drive, marching down the field and finishing with an eight-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Warren Peck.
After a shaky start, Berkner responded to an early 10-0 deficit with a kick return for a touchdown by Dameon Crowe, but the play was nullified by an illegal block in the back penalty, and Berkner ended up turning the ball over on downs after failing to convert a 4th-and-17.
Highland Park added another field goal to open up a 13-0 game, but Berkner’s kick returners were just getting started. Jamary Williams returned the ensuing kickoff for Berkner’s first score. After Highland Park added two more touchdowns and a two-point conversion before the half to take a 28-7 lead, Berkner’s Dameon Crowe made an incredible play by completely reversing field and outrunning Highland Park’s kickoff coverage for a 100-yard score on the last play of the half.
Highland Park blocked the extra point to maintain a 15-point lead.
McGee IV, who was seen leaving the game on crutches, returned briefly at the end of the first half but remained sidelined after halftime as Demarcus Calhoun took over at quarterback. After the change, Berkner (4-3, 4-1) only managed 50 yards of offense and got almost nothing going through the air.
The teams traded turnovers and punts as penalties killed each drive, but no one managed another score.
Peck finished the game with 199 total yards, two touchdown runs, and one interception thrown.
Running back Jamary Williams led Berkner with 44 yards on 12 carries
Highland Park continues its season with a road game against Irving Nimitz (1-6, 1-4) on Thursday, while Berkner hosts Dallas Jesuit (3-3, 2-2) on Friday.
