Highland Park defense finally solves Magnolia to turn close game into late playoff rout

All week long, Highland Park coach Randy Allen called Thursday’s Class 5A-Division 1 area playoff game against Magnolia a classic “trap game.” “I told them that we’ve got to be careful, because Magnolia is a really good football team,” he said. “If our people were looking ahead to next week, we would get upset. So, we tried to emphasize that all week. I thought our guys came out and played a complete game.” It took a little more than a half for three-time defending state champion Highland Park to figure out Magnolia’s read-option offense, led by dual-threat quarterback Travis Moore, but once the Scots’ defense found their footing, they had little trouble with the Bulldogs. Chandler Morris completed 16 of 24 passes for 281 yards with five total touchdowns in three quarters of action and the Highland Park defense forced four Magnolia turnovers in a 63-28 rout at AT&T Stadium on Thursday night. The Scots (11-1), ranked No. 4 in 5A-1 according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, advanced to the third round of the playoffs and will face the winner of Friday’s game between top-ranked Frisco Lone Star (11-0) and College Station (8-3) next week at a location and date to be determined. Magnolia finished the season at 8-4. The final score doesn’t reflect how close the game actually was for a while. The first half was a classic quarterback battle between Moore and Morris. The Scots (11-1), ranked No. 4 in 5A-1 according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, advanced to the third round of the playoffs and will face the winner of Friday’s game between top-ranked Frisco Lone Star (11-0) and College Station (8-3) next week at a location and date to be determined. Magnolia finished the season at 8-4. The final score doesn’t reflect how close the game actually was for a while. The first half was a classic quarterback battle between Moore and Morris.

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HIGHLAND PARK DEFENSE FINALLY SOLVES MAGNOLIA TO TURN CLOSE GAME INTO LATE PLAYOFF ROUT

DAVID WOLMAN

Star-Telegram | 11/21/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Steve Nurenberg