High school football: Highland wins nail-biter over Murray for Region 10 bragging rights

The Region 10 football race centers around three teams, and two of those teams battled on the gridiron Friday night as reigning region champion Highland hosted Murray.

It was a game full of chaos and one that seemed to drag on forever due to 40 combined penalties, but it was also a game of fun football in between where the win came down to the final play as Highland’s defense made a goal line stand to preserve a 34-29 lead as time ran out.

The lead was the Rams’ first of the game and came with 2:20 remaining after Will Bauman intercepted a moving Dru Reuss and raced down his sideline 55 yards into the end zone.

Willem Miles punched through the PAT and Highland found itself ahead.

“Dru is a great quarterback, and I know he likes to make plays with his legs and that he will try to make something happen,” said Bauman. “He’s really good at it, but that time I read it right.”

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For Bauman, who plays both defensive back and quarterback for the Rams, it was a nice follow up as he had just helped the Rams cut into Murray’s lead the drive before with a 15-yard touchdown toss to Vili Ripley after Highland trailed 29-20 heading into the fourth quarter.

“All the kudos to Murray. They’re a great team,” Bauman said, “but at the end of the day, it was our day and it was a good day.”

Bauman added another passing touchdown in the game with an 80-yard bomb to Adriean King Boyd to kick off Highland’s scoring early in the second quarter. It was the Rams’ response to Murray’s first score on Jagger Karr’s 1-yard catch on a pass from Reuss with the same quarter just under way.

Although Murray never really pulled away in the game, the Spartans seemed to be in control of it especially over the second and third quarters behind three huge field goals from Anthony Guerra and a rotation of offensive plays that utilized many of their offensive weapons.

At the same time, the Rams never let the game get away from them. They chipped away and held their ground on the final drive after Murray took possession on its own 35 and marched down the field while benefiting from a few Highland penalties.

The Spartans just couldn’t get the ball across the plane this time and through the brick wall of Ram defenders. They fell just inches short of winning the gritty battle.

“Tonight, I think as you saw there, was just digging down deep,” said Highland coach Kautai Olevao. “Coach (Dalton) Dunn and Murray, they’ve got a great coaching staff and they coach the boys really well.

“I’m proud of our boys. It’s Homecoming, and hats off to the Highland football team, but we also have to correct our penalties. I don’t feel like we can win the rest of the season with that many penalties.”

Up next, Highland faces region foe Juan Diego. For Murray, it will be at Providence Hall, where it will try to regroup after the heartbreaking loss. Reuss finished with three touchdown passes Friday and Guerra had the three field goals to lead Murray.

“I told the kids before the game, ‘I wanted their hearts,’ and they gave me their hearts tonight and that’s all I can ever ask for,” Dunn said. “At the end here, I told them, ‘This does not define us in any negative way.

“We took a huge step forward for Murray football and we’re winning out the rest of the way, so let it hurt but let it motivate you because we’re coming back hungry Monday.’”