Scots scotch Tiger opener

By STEVE SNYDER
Lancaster News Editor

Football, like real estate, is about location, location, location. Unfortunately, the Highland Park Scots had it and the Lancaster Tigers didn’t Aug. 30.  The result was a runaway 45-8 win for the Scots.

In the season opener for both teams, Highland Park started three first-half drives at or inside the Tiger 30-yard line, and put the ball in the end zone all three times.  The three short drives were courtesy of two lost Tiger fumbles and a shanked punt.

The result? Four Scot touchdowns in the first 15 minutes of the game, en route to a 39-0 halftime lead.

The Scots won the opening coin toss and opted to defer their choice to the second half, leaving the Tigers to receive the opening kickoff.  The Tigers had a quick three-and-out series, as did the Scots. The Tigers then had another three-and-out series.  But the Scots did not.

From their own 26-yard line, they drove 74 yards in seven plays to put the first points of the game on the board.  Highland Park quarterback Bill Foran ran the ball in from 20 yards out with just under three minutes left in the quarter.  And then the floodgates opened.

On their second play from scrimmage after receiving the kickoff, the Tigers’ Demarcus Williams fumbled and turned the ball over to the Scots.  One play later, Foran hit Trevor Golden with a 17-yard touchdown pass.

On their next possession, the Tigers started deep in their own territory, at the 11-yard line. Another three-and-out situation had the Tigers in punting situation again.  A short punt only went about 20 yards, putting the Scots at the Tiger 29.  Two plays later, they were in paydirt again, this time on a pass from Foran to Austin Schoppe six seconds into the second quarter.

The Tigers received the kick again, and started from their own 20.  After four plays, Tiger quarterback A.D. Matthews coughed up the ball.  Once again, the high-octane Scot offense quickly responded.

From the Tiger 30, the Scots scored in five plays, with Foran throwing his third touchdown pass of the game.  The scoreboard showed nine minutes still left in the second quarter — the Scots had posted four TDs in less than six minutes.  A fifth touchdown and a field goal put the halftime score at 39-0.

However, the Tigers did not give up.  Although the Scots had nearly 200 more yards in total offense in the first half, Lancaster kept plugging away.  They had more first downs and more total yards in the second half.

Deandre Chism had 90 yards rushing in the second half, a bright spot for the Tiger offense. Other rushers also turned in better performances in the second half.

Tiger persistence finally put some points on the scoreboard for Lancaster.  Matthews connected with Demarcus Williams halfway through the fourth quarter on a 3-yard touchdown pass to get the Tigers on the scoreboard.  The duo then hooked up again on a two-point conversion.

Other than the two turnovers, penalties also hurt the Tigers. They had nearly 60 yards in first-half penalties to none for the Scots.  And one seems to reflect a problem the Tigers had last year — discipline penalties.

Joseph Thomas was ejected for a personal foul on the kickoff after the Tigers’ second touchdown.

Ths week, for the only time this season, the Tigers will be playing a Saturday afternoon game. They will be hosting a home game on the road, as they play DeSoto at Eagle Stadium.  It will also be the one time this year they get the extra challenge of playing a 5A team.