After being in a defensive struggle with host Centerburg in the first half, Highland powered past the Trojans late to take a 34-6 win.
At the half, the Scots only led 8-6, getting a 12-yard touchdown pass from Reece Weissenfluh to Jack Weaver and a two-point run by Tate Tobin. However, they added a three-yard scoring run by Brody Matthews to lead 14-6 entering the final period.
In the fourth, Highland got a 45-yard run by Brock Veley for points, as well as touchdown runs of four and seven yards by Matthews. Matthews also added a two-point conversion in the quarter.
The Scots finished with a 379-54 advantage in total yardage, with 348 of their total coming on the ground. Matthews had 126 rush yards, while Veley added 123 and Weaver tallied 83.
Northmor Knights
Northmor rallied late, but could not overcome a 20-point halftime deficit in suffering their first loss of the season, 41-34 at Danville on Friday.
A 31-yard scoring run by Demetrius Johnson staked the Knights to a 7-6 lead in the first quarter, but the team gave up 21 straight points to fall into a deficit. They would get an 11-yard run by Johnson late in the period, but surrendered one more score to be behind 34-14 at the intermission.
Johnson would run for touchdowns of 30 and 10 yards in the third quarter as the Knights got within a 41-27 margin. Johnson would add his fifth touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter from one yard out with 5:08 remaining, but the team would not be able to score again, leaving them seven points behind when the game ended.
Northmor finished the game with 466 yards of offense — 429 on the ground. Johnson ran for 370 yards, while Conan Becker added 53. Johnson also completed six passes in the game, with Wyatt Reeder catching five for 38 yards.
Cardington Pirates
A slow start by Cardington proved costly on Friday, as host East Knox parlayed a 21-0 first quarter advantage into a 51-40 win in a high-scoring game.
After that slow start, the Pirates scored three times in the second quarter. Daniel Kill hit Garrett Wagner for scoring passes of 43 and 60 yards and also ran for a two-yard score. Kill added a two-point conversion pass to Trey Brininger in the period, as the Pirates closed within a 33-20 margin.
Cardington then got within six on a scoring run by Mason Goers in the third; however their opponents added a score of their own to lead 39-26 after the third.
The teams continued to trade touchdowns in the fourth with Cardington getting another four-yard Goers’ score and a 10-yard touchdown by Cody Hiett and a two-point conversion run by Kill. However, the Bulldogs matched them touchdown for touchdown in holding on for an 11-point win.
The Pirates had 542 yards in the game, with Kill completing 15 passes for 316 yards. Wagner caught nine for 212 yards and Cade Ruehrmund added four catches for 62. Also, Goers ran for 180 in the contest.
