This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
After his team's running game was shut down all night, Highland quarterback John Hunter finally found some daylight.
Hunter's 18-yard scramble in the fourth quarter provided the winning points as the Rams defeated crosstown rival East 10-3 in a Region 6 prep football matchup Friday at Highland.
The matchup was part of the Great American Rivalry Series — a promotion highlighting 100 rivalry games nationwide. It didn't disappoint.
"That's a neighborhood street fight," Highland coach Brody Benson said. "It was a gutty performance by our kids.
"East is a great football team. They did a great job shutting us down, offensively."
Both defenses battled, each forcing three turnovers and stifling the game plans of the opposing offenses. As the matchup entered the fourth quarter, it became evident that the team that got the first break might come away with the victory. That break went to Highland.
After both teams traded lost fumbles, the Rams had the ball on the East 30 with 6:08 remaining. On second down, Hunter connected with Brandon Jones for a 12-yard gain. On the next play, Hunter took the ball up the middle, shaking off some tackles and willing his way to a touchdown with 5:06 left on the clock.
"We struggled all night, but we finally came together and we got one play," Hunter said. "It seemed like everyone got their assignment, and I just wanted to do it for my team. I ran into the corner of the end zone, I was trying to go as hard as I could on that play. We were hungry."
That the winning TD came on a long run was surprising considering the running game for Highland (4-1, 2-0 Region 6) struggled all night. The Rams were limited to 62 yards on the ground to go along with 144 yards in the air.
"Not once during that game did we start falling apart or start yelling at each other for doing stuff wrong," Hunter said. "We just stuck together."
East's best shot at the goal line came late in the final minute of the second half, when Lorenzo Manu converted two big passes to get the Leopards (1-4, 0-2) down to the 4. But a chop-block penalty and a holding penalty pushed them back to the 35, keeping the score tied 3-3 at halftime. —
Storylines
• Highland quarterback John Hunter scrambles 18 yards for the game's only touchdown with 5:06 left in the fourth quarter.
• Hunter finishes 7 for 12 passing for 144 yards.
• East's Avery Hopkins intercepts two passes, and Hausia Sekona registers three sacks.