HIGHLAND FOOTBALL

Huskies score for first time, but fall to Wilton

By Paul D. Bowker
Posted 9/16/22

RIVERSIDE

Friday night’s game at Highland began so differently than the previous two had.

Wilton, an unbeaten team in a higher classification class than the Huskies, kicked off to start …

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HIGHLAND FOOTBALL

Huskies score for first time, but fall to Wilton

Posted

RIVERSIDE

Friday night’s game at Highland began so differently than the previous two had.

Wilton, an unbeaten team in a higher classification than the Huskies, kicked off to start the nonconference game.

The ball came loose and Highland’s Tristan Richardson jumped on top of it. Shouts of delight came from the Huskies sideline and home stands.

The fumble recovery did not lead to Highland’s first score of the season – that would come later in the game. The fumble didn’t shut down Wilton because the Beavers drilled the Huskies 55-9 for their third straight victory.

However, Highland’s fumble recovery on the first play of the game and two defensive stops against Wilton in the opening quarter provided little victories for first-year head coach Cory Quail and his young, learning football squad.

“I feel we’re finding areas where we’re getting better each week in all three phases of the game,” Quail said. “I never talk to our kids about the scoreboard or wins and losses. We talk about how are we improving and where we need to improve next. What are our three most important goals and how do we accomplish those?”

After giving up 109 points and being shut out in losses to No. 4-ranked East Buchanan and Columbus, the Huskies scored twice against Wilton. Sophomore quarterback Sage Hartley-Norman threw his first career touchdown pass to Ethan Paisley and Jared Diaz, a sophomore who has spent most of his first three games punting in the face of oncoming rushers, kicked a 25-yard field goal.

Hartley-Norman escaped defensive pressure from Wilton and sidearmed the scoring pass to Paisley in the third quarter. He completed 7-of-16 passes for 124 yards and was intercepted just once, and he rushed for 77 yards. Those were all season bests.

Paisley caught four passes for 90 yards.

Highland nearly struck first in the game. The Huskies drove to the Wilton 6-yard line on a first down pass from Hartley-Norman to Paisley on fourth down. But a fumble at the 4-yard line turned the ball over to the Beavers.

Wilton went ahead 7-0 with 6:46 left in the first quarter when sophomore running back Owen Hassell broke free and scored on a 52-yard run.

That play opened up Wilton’s offense. The Beavers scored two more touchdowns in the opening quarter and four times in the second quarter for a 48-0 lead.

Hassell rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Drew Keith passed for 139 yards and three touchdowns, including two scoring passes to Cade Southrada.

Highland sophomore Colten Sypherd rushed 10 times for 22 yards and Logan McFarland, another sophomore, caught 2 passes for 28 yards and led the Huskies on defense with 5 tackles.

Those were all signs of improvement.

“We will continue to see that improvement as our guys get more experience throughout the season,” Quail said. “I’m excited about who we have on this team and where our future can go. We need to continue with cancelling the noise and focus on what we can control.”

Highland will go after its first win in Class A, District 5 play this Friday, Sept. 16, at North Cedar, which has given up 140 points in three consecutive losses.

Highland, football, Wilton