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Highlands wins TD fest vs. Cooper
- Updated: August 19, 2016
It looked like Cooper was going to blow Highlands out for the second straight opening night, as the Jaguars jumped out to an early 15-point lead.
Highlands RB Grant Murray (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)
To say this year’s game was a lot more exciting would be a major understatement.
The teams combined for six touchdowns in a 12:07 span to start the second half as Highlands avenged its 2015 loss to the Jaguars, 52-42 on Friday.
Down 21-6 in the opening minutes of the second quarter, Highlands ran off the next three TDs to take the lead.
A fumble recovery in the end zone to cut the Jaguars’ lead to nine, and the Bluebirds’ Jared Pulsfort bulled in a 1-yard run just before halftime to make it a three-point game.
Brady Gosney put the Bluebirds ahead with a 60-yard run just 42 seconds into the third quarter, 24-21.
Cooper answered with a TD of its own minutes later, but Gosney scored from three yards out with 4:40 left in that frame to put Highlands up, 31-28.
The Jaguars answered again, as Justin Schlarman took in a 43-yard run minutes later, the fourth score of the stanza, making it 35-31 Cooper.
Then it was the Bluebirds’ turn again, and it was Grant Murray making it 38-35 on a 22-yard rush with 21 seconds left in a third quarter that finally came to an end.
Cooper fumbled on its ensuing possession, and Pulsfort ran it the end zone from 35 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter, giving Highlands 14 points in a 28-second span and extending the Bluebirds’ lead to 10.
The Jaguars pulled to within three again, 45-42, but Pulsfort sealed it with a late 32-yard run.
Murray led Highlands in rushing with 161 yards on 25 carries, Pulsfort gained 131, rushing 18 times, and Gosney ran it nine times for 71 yards. Pulsfort tallied three TDs and the other two ended the night with two each.
The final yardage was nearly identical, with the Bluebirds holding the edge by nine, 488-479 as they rushed for 367. Cooper – which won this matchup, 37-13 last year – ran for 241 and passed for 238.
Highlands travels to Alexandria to play in-county rival Campbell County next weekend.
The Jaguars open their home schedule against Newport Central Catholic.
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