If you missed the 5A-Division I state championship football game Friday night while Christmasing with family or partying with friends, you missed a whale of a game. Highland Park High, trailing most of the match, came within 3 in the final 2 minutes, recovered an onside kick and scored a touchdown with less than a minute to go. Marvel High came roaring back, but their spectacular final pass play came less than a yard short of the goal line. Game over.
The Scots won 53-49.
Whether you traveled to AT&T Stadium to catch the game or you stretched out in front of the fire to watch on TV’s Fox Southwest, you may have missed the Lake Highlands connections. The defensive coordinators for both teams formerly coached at Lake Highlands High.
Kevin Hall, defensive coordinator for Manvel, has been in the game for 28 years. He was recruited to Manvel from Burnet High in 2016.
Don Woods is defensive coordinator for Highland Park and a 37-year coaching veteran. He may be seeing double this morning, since last year’s HP team also took the state title.
Last January, Woods was one of several former Wildcat coaches who met at the home of Kim and Lynn Jensen to remember old times and chat about all things Lake Highlands. The group vowed to meet again soon, especially since several beloved coaching friends – including Kevin Hall – were unable to attend. We’ll hope the group gathers and shares another photo.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall.