Highland Park High School hung on to beat Dallas Jesuit 15-13 in a football game at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Despite being held scoreless in the second half, the Scots’ defense held Jesuit’s offense out of the end zone — forcing field goals and coming up with a crucial stop in the final two minutes.
“For us to hold them to the amount of points that we held them to — two field goals and a touchdown — was a tremendous effort,” Highland Park head coach Randy Allen told The Dallas Express after the game. “We gave them field position because we turned it over a couple of times, and they just fought them and held them and came up with big plays, either a pass breakup or a sack. I’m just really proud. Our defense has come a long way.”
Highland Park (4-1, 2-1 District 7-6A) took the opening possession down to the Jesuit 17-yard line but came up empty as a penalty wiped away an 18-yard touchdown run, and quarterback Warren Peck was sacked on fourth down to turn the ball over on downs.
Jesuit fumbled the ball away on the ensuing possession, and the game remained scoreless until late in the second quarter, when the teams combined for three touchdowns.
Peck ran the ball into the end zone to give Highland Park a 7-0 lead, and Jesuit immediately answered as quarterback Charlie Peters connected with Cade Gill on a three-yard touchdown pass. As the game looked like it would go to halftime tied at seven, Peck completed a deep pass to Bryce Laczkowski, setting up a touchdown run from Wilson Axley before the break.
Jesuit jumped offside on the extra point, allowing Highland Park to convert a two-point conversion and lead 15-7 at the half.
The teams continued to fight as the defenses dictated the game’s pace. Jesuit’s offense had better success moving the ball but only got six points on two field goals.
After Noah McGough made a 39-yard field goal to make it a 15-13 game early in the fourth quarter, Highland Park drained the clock with an offensive possession that lasted nearly nine minutes and almost ended in a score. However, Jesuit intercepted a Peck pass in the end zone to give itself a chance to drive for the winning score.
Jesuit’s final possession lasted only four plays as the Highland Park defense rose to the occasion and sacked Peters on a must-have fourth-down attempt.
“It was a case of too many field goals [and] not enough touchdowns,” Jesuit head coach Brandon Hickman said after the game. “I felt like we were moving the ball really well. We just struggled getting it in the end zone a little bit. But credit to Highland Park’s defense; I thought they did a really good job and had a good game plan. … I was pleased with the way the kids fought. I thought it was a great game.”
Peck accounted for 259 yards of total offense for Highland Park with a rushing touchdown and threw two interceptions, while Axley had 104 total yards and a touchdown.
Peters led Jesuit’s offense with 174 passing yards and a touchdown pass.
Highland Park continues its season next week against first-place Richardson Berkner (4-2, 4-0) at home, while Jesuit (3-3, 2-2) has a bye week.
