Over the past 15 years, Lake Highlands football has lost to Berkner just twice. On Friday, the two teams met at Wildcat-Ram Stadium with the top spot in District 7-6A on the line and the Wildcats triumphed 24-19.
The Wildcats emerge from the tunnel. Photography by Mike Duhon.
Despite being named the away team in this shared-stadium matchup, Lake Highlands fans came out in droves and commanded the stadium.
“It’s a special place,” Wildcat coach Cory Campbell said. “It was packed over here and they were into it. (It’s a) fun environment.”
That crowd fueled a spirited defensive performance from the Wildcats that saw a Berkner team averaging 28 points per contest held to just 19. That defense was showcased towards the end of the first quarter when senior defensive lineman Jordan Kondoba sacked Berkner quarterback Aaden Parsons for a loss of seven to help set up a three-and-out for the Lake Highlands defense.
“I can’t do it without this great defense,” Kondoba said. “My teammates were helping me out the whole time (and) gave me good pressure. Corners were over there guarding every route, had me enough time to get to that QB.”
Kondoba struck again on the final play of the game when the Rams had a shot at a Hail Mary to win the game. Parsons dropped back, zero seconds left on the game clock, and Kondoba suffocated him for his second sack and a Wildcat win.
“That defensive line group – I think I’ve said it all year long – they’ve just been a really consistent bunch,” Campbell said. “Defense travels and it’s fun to watch those guys – what great kids and we needed them tonight.”
Lake Highlands continued pressuring the quarterback, holding Parsons to just 15-33 passing and forcing his first interception of the year. That interception set Lake Highlands up for a 23-yard touchdown catch from Franklon Evans to give the Wildcats a 17-6 lead with 6:55 left in the third. Using a great play design, Evans found himself wide-open in the end zone for an easy score.
He also recorded a touchdown when quarterback Chuck Smith high-pointed the ball and Evans out-jumped his defenders for an impressive haul on his second score of the day with 1:48 in the third to balloon the Wildcat lead to 24-6.
For all that went well with Lake Highlands’ defense, the Wildcats also gave up some big plays to allow Berkner back in the game.
The first came on a 22-yard rushing touchdown from Arizona State pledge Daquwan Dunn in the first quarter, although the point after was blocked, maintaining Lake Highlands’ 7-6 lead.
Then, up 18 points in the third, the Wildcats gave up a huge 55-yard run to Tra Gaston, who rumbled down to the one-yard line. Parsons capped off the drive with a rushing touchdown to bring the Rams within 24-13.
With 8:26 left in the fourth, Lake Highlands allowed another massive play as Parsons delivered an 80-yard strike up the right sideline for Ty Crethers, who scored to make it 24-19 and bring Berkner within one possession. Thankfully for the Wildcats, Berkner’s two-point conversion attempt failed and scoring stopped there.
The Rams impressed defensively as well, forcing what had been a high-powered Lake Highlands offense into scramble mode and making the Wildcats earn it on every play.
Going into this game, Lake Highlands had averaged 44.5 points per matchup and hadn’t scored less than 34 in a game all year. Berkner’s defense managed two interceptions and steady tackling to give the Wildcat offense its biggest challenge of the season.
“Coach Bryant’s done an unbelievable job over there,” Campbell said. “I felt like that was probably their best game (and) we knew it was gonna be versus us. We’re just fortunate to come out on top.”
Christian Rhodes, who was named a player to watch by SportsDay heading into this week, impressed once again for Lake Highlands, recording 232 total yards on 27 carries and five receptions despite not finding the goal line.
Receiver Mason Spangler managed his third touchdown of the season, however, when he opened scoring as Smith found him streaking across the back of the end zone for a 3-yard reception to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead with 8:38 left in the first.
The only other Lake Highlands score came when Chris Zepeda nailed a 24-yard field goal with under a minute left in the first half to give the Wildcats a 10-6 lead.
“It was good for us to be in a ball game like that,” Campbell said. “Hats off to those guys. They played really well and we did just enough and our defense got a stop down the stretch.”
Berkner will have a chance to get back in the win column at 7 p.m. next Thursday on the road against Irving, which just picked up its first district win of the season versus Irving Nimitz.
The Wildcats return to action at 7 p.m. next Friday against a winless Nimitz team at the Boneyard.
“Last thing said – we own this,” Kondoba said. “Lake Highlands owns the Boneyard. We run the district.”
