Highland Park Rides a Rollercoaster Against Heath
Rockwall Heath comes to Highlander for the Scots’ first home game of the year.
Scots opened their 2025 football season at home against Rockwall Heath. Highlander Stadium underwent a “glow up” over the summer, featuring new lights, custom colored seats, and a general cleanup.
A familiar face on the opponent’s sideline, former HP Athletic Director, Rodney Webb of course, knew the Scots’ best secrets. Webb served at HP Athletic director during the 2022 football season before returning to coaching in his neighborhood of Rockwall. If this was a concern for the Scots, no one mentioned it.
Before kickoff, it was obvious the Scots would be facing Heath without Matthew White, one of the Scots’ very reliable running backs. White is expected to be back on the turf after a little rest for a minor injury.
Even with a three-day weekend, the Scots fans of all ages filled the stadium. The Belles had held their annual Spaghetti supper prior to kickoff, resulting in a lot of young Belles in the audience.
The Scots made their final night march from the indoor facility, lined up two by two; fans lined the path with cheers as their favorite players walked by. The band, with their new band director, Marc Nicholson, played a beautiful rendition of the national anthem as the players stood with a hand over their hearts looking westward to the flag.
The football captains, Stuart Allday, Cannon Bozman, Thomas Cook and Beau Jones headed out to the center of the field for the coin toss. The Scots would kick off to the Hawks.
Pretty typical of a Friday night at Highlander Stadium until the rollercoaster ride began. The Hawks’ Carter Zahn returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, leaving the Scots’ fans stunned. The Scots struggled during the first half; a field goal attempt was blocked, and two touchdowns were called back due to penalties. Suddenly, the Scots found themselves trailing the Hawks 0-14 after a Heath touchdown pass to Isaac Zmerzlikar.
The Scots pulled themselves together during the first quarter. Buck Randall made touchdown passes to Case Messer and Cannon Bozman, tying up the game 14-14 by the end of the first quarter.
By halftime, the Scots had taken the lead after a Buck Randall one-yard run into the endzone and two touchdown passes to Cannon Bozman with successful Sutton Stock extra point attempts. Heath hit one field goal, making the score Scots 35-17.
It seems the Scots took their foot off the pedal when they came out for the second half. The third quarter brought a crazy turn of momentum as Heath scored three touchdowns. Cannon Bozman caught a 69-yard pass from Randall, keeping the Scots ahead 42-38 as the game entered the fourth quarter.
Rockwall Heath scored two more touchdowns, forcing the Scots to fight a little harder.
Despite an attempt to come back with a Buck Randall sneak up the middle late in the fourth and an unsuccessful onside kick, the Scots found themselves defeated 52-49 at home.
What was evident from the game against Rockwall Heath is that the combination of Beau Jones and Thomas Cook is a quarterback’s worst nightmare. Dean Dulin’s move to cornerback was a genius move, he intercepted a Heath pass and broke up another that would have been a touchdown. Buck Randal showed poise and patience and gave opposing teams a new reason to fear his passes because he also showed he can run if no one is open, keeping the Scots moving in the right direction. Isaiah Lee ran every which way against Heath. The Scots clearly have the passing game under control with Cannon Bozman and Case Messer will be go to receivers, however the receiver pool of players runs deep, each as reliable as the next.
This isn’t the first time the Scots have gotten out to a 0-1 season. Take a little trip down memory lane to the 2017 season, quarterback John Stephen Jones and the Scots traveled to Rockwall to open their season. After touchdown passes to Cade Saustad, Finn Corwin, and Conner Allen, a short touchdown run by Conner Allen and a field goal by Mateo Cordray, the Scots found themselves on the losing side of the Scoreboard 49-53. Eerily similar to last Friday night. The 2017 Scots did not lose another game that season. They found themselves as State Champions after a 53-49 game at ATT Stadium against Manvel.
