Highlanders drop hard-fought game to Longhorns
Published 4:38 pm Monday, September 16, 2024
Star Correspondent/Brandon Hyde Highlander Jacob Stinnett kicks off to the Johnson County Longhorns Friday night in Roan Mountain.
Star Correspondent/Brandon Hyde The Cloudland Highlanders faced the Johnson County Longhorns Friday night at home.
Star Correspondent/Brandon Hyde The Highlanders tried to slow down the Johnson County run game all night.
Star Correspondent/Brandon Hyde Cam Peppers takes a snap for the Highlanders.
Star Correspondent/Brandon Hyde Cloudland's Kingston Cole gets his hands on the Johnson County quarterback.
Star Correspondent/Brandon Hyde Grayson Cole looks for space on an outside run.
Star Correspondent/Brandon Hyde The Highlanders had a tough time containing the Johnson County run game Friday night at home.
Star Correspondent/Brandon Hyde Highlander quarterback Bryce Birchfield hands off to Landon Barnette.
Star Correspondent/Brandon Hyde Grayson Cole fights for yards for the Highlanders Friday night at home against Johnson County.
Star Correspondent/Brandon Hyde The Cloudland Highlanders make a crucial stop to regain possession with less than two minutes in the third quarter, down 20-16.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
The Highlanders dropped a back-and-forth game at home Friday night in a non-conference matchup. The game remained undecided until late in the fourth quarter, featuring two teams determined to contest every yard on the field.
Grayson Cole went on a long run at the 6:12 mark, then scampered off the left side for a 3-yard touchdown run to put the Highlanders up 8-0, after Cole ran up the middle for the two-point conversion. The Longhorns responded with wideout Lucas Warfield, who made a nice reception and sprinted into the end zone. However, the Highlanders’ defensive line stiffened up, preventing the Longhorns from converting their two-point attempt, making the score 8-6 with 1:32 left in the first quarter.
Johnson County scored again in the opening minutes of the second quarter to take the lead at 12-8. The Highlanders looked to respond, and Cole answered the call, finding the end zone for his second score. Bryce Birchfield added the two-point conversion to put the Highlanders up 16-12. Juan Mejia, averaging 10.8 yards per rush, broke a couple of tackles and raced into the end zone to give the Longhorns a 20-16 lead heading into the break.
The bulk of the second half was a stalemate as both teams searched for a decisive score, but neither could find much traction, with both defenses flexing their muscles. Highlanders punter Jacob Stinnett showcased the importance of the kicking game, flipping the field for his team several times, including two punts of over 50 yards. With just 5 minutes left in the game, Mejia found the end zone again to put the Longhorns up 27-16.
Grayson Cole finished the night with 156 yards on 26 carries, while Landon Barnette chipped in 43 yards on 12 carries. Kingston Cole and Barnette led the team in tackles, while Noah Young also had a strong game for the Highlanders, disrupting the Longhorns’ offense several times. Juan Mejia rushed for 213 yards for the Longhorns.
Head Highlanders coach Zac Benfield praised his team’s effort in the loss. “We played with grit and determination the whole game. There were moments in the second half when we could have laid down, but the boys kept fighting and playing hard. I’m proud of the boys,” Benfield said.
