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Hightower ekes out win, beating Cinco Ranch 24-21
By WES SWIFT
Down 14-0 to the Cinco Ranch Cougars, the Hightower Hurricanes needed a big play. They did.
The Hurricanes defense stuffed Cinco Ranch quarterback Shane Ross at 3:14 left in the second quarter on fourth-and-2 near midfield in a momentum shifting play, and sparked the Hurricanes to a 24-21 win in the regional semifinals of the Class 5A, Division I playoffs.
“This is the playoffs, baby,” said Hightower senior safety Colton Valencia. “You got to make big plays.”
The Hurricanes took over and wasted little time putting points on the board, driving 52 yards and scoring when quarterback A.J. Highsmith hit wide receiver Darius Johnson for a 21-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 14-7 with 1:21 left in the second half.
The touchdown was the first of 21 straight points that gave the Hurricanes the momentum and eventually led to the victory.
But Hightower coach Shane Hallmark said the turnaround started with the defense.
“Cinco pretty much put it to us in the first half,” he said. “They put it to the defense, kinda woke them up. But they never put their heads down and continued to fight back. I’m just real proud of their effort.”
But the Cougars didn’t go quietly. Down 21-14 in the fourth quarter, Cinco Ranch knotted up the score after blocking a Hurricane punt and recovered the ball at the 16 yard line.
The Cougars only needed one play when running back K.C. Nlemchi scampered 16 yards for the touchdown and a 21-21 tie.
The Hurricanes, however, methodically drove the field, and Jake Kane put the Canes ahead for good when he booted a 40-yard field goal with 5:54 left in the fourth for a 24-21 lead.
The Hurricanes’ had to fight for the win, as the Cougars came out blazing on offense. Cinco Ranch took the opening kickoff 83 yards. Ros punctuated the drive with a draw play for a two-yard score and a 7-0 leads at 7:28 in the first quarter.
The hole got deeper for the Hurricanes, when Highsmith fumbled the ball early in the second. Cougar linebacker Andy McAteer jumped on the fumble, giving the Cougars possession at the 26 yard line.
Ros then struck again, hitting Ryan Moos for a touchdown pass. The score gave the Cougars a 14-0 lead.
Highsmith led the Hurricanes with two touchdowns and 130 yards on 11-of-20 passing.
Ros finished the game with 123 yards and a touchdown pass, but was also picked off twice. Running back Adam Hirtz had 101 yards on 14 carries for the Cougars.
The Hurricanes defense stuffed Cinco Ranch quarterback Shane Ross at 3:14 left in the second quarter on fourth-and-2 near midfield in a momentum shifting play, and sparked the Hurricanes to a 24-21 win in the regional semifinals of the Class 5A, Division I playoffs.
“This is the playoffs, baby,” said Hightower senior safety Colton Valencia. “You got to make big plays.”
The Hurricanes took over and wasted little time putting points on the board, driving 52 yards and scoring when quarterback A.J. Highsmith hit wide receiver Darius Johnson for a 21-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 14-7 with 1:21 left in the second half.
The touchdown was the first of 21 straight points that gave the Hurricanes the momentum and eventually led to the victory.
But Hightower coach Shane Hallmark said the turnaround started with the defense.
“Cinco pretty much put it to us in the first half,” he said. “They put it to the defense, kinda woke them up. But they never put their heads down and continued to fight back. I’m just real proud of their effort.”
But the Cougars didn’t go quietly. Down 21-14 in the fourth quarter, Cinco Ranch knotted up the score after blocking a Hurricane punt and recovered the ball at the 16 yard line.
The Cougars only needed one play when running back K.C. Nlemchi scampered 16 yards for the touchdown and a 21-21 tie.
The Hurricanes, however, methodically drove the field, and Jake Kane put the Canes ahead for good when he booted a 40-yard field goal with 5:54 left in the fourth for a 24-21 lead.
The Hurricanes’ had to fight for the win, as the Cougars came out blazing on offense. Cinco Ranch took the opening kickoff 83 yards. Ros punctuated the drive with a draw play for a two-yard score and a 7-0 leads at 7:28 in the first quarter.
The hole got deeper for the Hurricanes, when Highsmith fumbled the ball early in the second. Cougar linebacker Andy McAteer jumped on the fumble, giving the Cougars possession at the 26 yard line.
Ros then struck again, hitting Ryan Moos for a touchdown pass. The score gave the Cougars a 14-0 lead.
Highsmith led the Hurricanes with two touchdowns and 130 yards on 11-of-20 passing.
Ros finished the game with 123 yards and a touchdown pass, but was also picked off twice. Running back Adam Hirtz had 101 yards on 14 carries for the Cougars.
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