by Brian Turrel
The Schlagle Stallions suffered a 48-29 loss to the Highland Park Scots Friday evening in their home opener.
The Stallions moved the ball effectively on the ground and had a brief first-quarter lead, but weren’t able to contain the lightning speed of Scots’ running back Tre’ Richardson, who scored eight touchdowns for the visitors.
Highland Park got on the board just two minutes into the first quarter with an 18-yard touchdown run for a 6-0 lead. The Stallions answered with a touchdown run from Kameron Daboe, and tacked on the extra point for a 7-6 advantage.
Schlagle had Highland Park nearly stopped on a 4th-and-8 on the 28-yard line, but a fake punt handed off to Richardson created a morale-busting 72-yard scoring run and 12-7 Scots’ lead.
Highland Park put together a long scoring drive in the second quarter, taking over at its own 23 and grinding its way down the field with short and medium runs before Richardson scored on a run from the 15 with less than a minute remaining before halftime.
Daboe ran back the ensuing kickoff, and Schlagle made the 2-point conversion to cut the halftime deficit to 18-15.
Schlagle got great starting position to open the second half, but handed the ball back to the Scots on the 15-yard line. A 70-yard touchdown pass to Richardson from Highland Park quarterback A’ydren Drew-Gregory followed.
On the next drive, Schlagle again drove deep into Scots’ territory, but turned the ball over on an interception at the 1-yard line. Richardson again turned poor field position into points with a 95-yard touchdown run, and Highland Park led 30-15.
With three minutes left in the quarter, Schlagle took advantage of a failed onside kick to get good field position. Cameron Campbell scored from 25 yards out, and Daboe ran in the 2-point conversion to bring the Stallions within 7.
Schlagle sent the kickoff short to keep it away from Richardson, but he ran up to scoop the ball and then headed toward the end zone for another touchdown, and the quarter ended with a 36-23 Scots’ lead.
Richardson scored twice in the fourth quarter, on a 76-yard run, and also a 52-yard swing pass to the right side. Schlagle countered with a 67-yard run from Campbell, making the final margin.
Highland Park, on the east side of Topeka, has joined the USD 500 schools in the Kansas City-Atchison League, now renamed the Meadowlark League. Last Friday, the Scots broke a 65-game, 8-year losing streak with a 60-47 win over Wyandotte. With two consecutive wins in the new league, the Scots look to be making themselves at home.
