by Zelinski Lifts Hornets over Blue Devils
Highland Quarterback Tyler Zelinski threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns in a 17-7 win over visiting Brunswick. He was a triple threat as he ran for 63 yards and 11 carries and also punted six times for a 44-yard average. His main passing target was Sam Jenkins coming out of the backfield with 4 catches for 117 yards and two first half touchdowns.
Mobile Brunswick quarterback Nick Horton did everything he could to get the Blue Devils new triple option offense moving as he finished with 114 yards on 25 carries. Horton will have to continue to master that offense now set in place by new head coach Luke Beal.
Brunswick ran for a total of 147 yards but it wasn’t until early in the third quarter that they could get the ball moving as Highlands defense dominated the line of scrimmage.
Zelinski opened the scoring with a 70-yard touchdown pass to Jenkins out of the backfield to get things going for the Hornets early. A second quarter touchdown strike from Zelinski to Jenkins from 35 yards out and gave the Hornets a 14-0 lead in front of a raucous crowd as both teams headed to the half.
Down 14-0 with 7:52 left in the game, Brunswick went to their book of tricks as head Coach Luke Beal dialed up a reverse halfback pass from Victor Tally to Jordan Sadler for a 62-yard scoring strike. It was the burst of momentum the Blue Devils needed to make it close and breath some much needed life into the team.
Highland needed to answer and cut off the rally while also running clock. They did both on their next drive as they used up some clock and cashed it in with a 26-yard field goal from Charles Howe to go up 17-7 with only 3:19 left in the game.
All hope for Brunswick went out the window for good on the ensuing kick off that they fumbled back to Highland. The Hornets went on to run out the clock from there, handing head Coach Mike Gibbons a win in his debut as the Highland coach. Former coach Tom Lombardo is now with St. Edward and is expected to win multiple Division I state championships for the Eagles.
It was a night of debuts for Highland as this was opening night for their brand-new stadium North Gateway Tire Field at Highland Stadium. It was one of the nicest new facilities in the state and I would expect several state playoff games to occur there as well.
