A 29-yard field goal by sophomore backup-kicker Mitchel Henton late in the game resulted in a 17-14 Lake Highlands victory over Richardson in a nail-biter at the Boneyard to end the regular season.
With Desmond Roland and David Green sidelined by injury on Senior Night, Coach Scott Smith’s bend-but-don’t-break defense repeatedly held back the Eagles offense, allowing just 14 points despite repeated drives into the Wildcats’ red zone.
Richardson was also limited by injuries as offensive standouts Jordan Booty and Torrance Carr missed most of the game; however, it didn’t stop the Eagles from a gutsy effort that kept the ‘Cats defense on the field for most of the second half.
Time after time, Richardson (7-3, 4-3) drove deep into Lake Highlands (7-3,6-1) territory only to watch field goal and end zone attempts fail to reach their mark.
On the game’s opening drive, Lake Highlands, behind a 39-yard run by quarterback Michael Ketchmark, drove 65-yards for the game’s first score, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Devonte Sunwenghan.
Following a Derrick Anderson fumble, quarterback Torrance Carr drove the Eagles into Lake Highlands territory before being injured in a play near the goal line. The Richardson drive soon stalled before a 25-yard field goal by Andrew Buckmeier narrowed the Wildcats lead to 7-3.
Carr’s injury was one of the key plays in the game – as the senior quarterback represented a large part of the Eagles offensive production in the first half.
On its next possession, Ketchmark took the Wildcats on an 83-yard scoring march, with a balanced attack that featured key receptions by Zach Fleig and Deondre Glover. Once again, Sunwenghan ended the drive with a 16-yard touchdown that extended the Wildcats lead to 14-3 at the half.
Sunwenghan finished the game with 135 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns.
The second half was virtually all Richardson.
With its first possession, the Eagles drove the ball deep into Wildcats territory before kicking a field goal. Following a penalty against Lake Highlands on the play, Richardson took the points of the board and decided to go for it on a fourth-and-goal situation
Bad idea.
Wildcats clip Eagles with late field goal
Nov 06, 2010 by Danny Meisenheimer photos by Woods Norcross and Paige Mabry
Lake Highlands prevails against the Richardson Eagles with the help of stellar defensive play and a late game-winning field goal by sophmore Mitchel Henton. Shown here, Garrett Reeves, Mitch Marzuola and Randall Howard stuffing the Eagles running back.
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