Highland rides late comeback to second-straight 6A championship

Everything, for a moment or two, was in Pinnacle’s hands.

The Pioneers were driving, trying to execute one of those scenarios that fill backyard childhood dreams. 2:32 on the clock, trailing by four, 75 yards between them and a state championship. The drive never quite got into Highland territory, but it came close. From the Pinnacle 44-yard line, sophomore quarterback Wyatt Horton unleashed a pass for star tight end Duce Robinson, who was running a post uncovered over the middle. Here it was. Pinnacle’s dream almost close enough to touch.

Instead, the ball sailed, grazing off Robinson’s outstretched fingertips. Behind him, defensive back Cole Crandall found a Christmas gift nestled in his arms 15 days early. Pinnacle’s dream had become Highland’s. Horton’s dream had become Crandall’s.

Seventy yards or so later, after a never-ending zig-zagging run through a mess of bodies all over the field, Crandall crossed into the end zone. Behind him followed a stream of black-and-teal jerseys, each sharing in senior’s jubilation. In that moment, they knew what would become official a few moments later: with a 37-26 win, Highland was the back-to-back 6A state champion.

“Indescribable,” Crandall said. “… That was it, that was game.”

This, though, wasn’t easy for Highland.

When they played Pinnacle back in October, the Hawks pulled off a commanding, 25-0, win. It was the type of performance that changed narratives, establishing Highland as a potential Open Division contender and deflating the hype that had surrounded Pinnacle.

Saturday afternoon at Sun Devil Stadium reflected none of that.

Over the first 32 minutes, Pinnacle unleashed the type of offensive explosion that Highland has rarely been the victim of this year. Robinson caught one of the touchdowns of the season, mossing a pair of defenders and stretching across the goal line for six. Myles Libman, the Pioneers’ second target, then caught three touchdowns of his own. By the end of the barrage, Pinnacle led, 26-14.

But Highland coach Brock Farrel knew not to panic. “If you start losing your mind on the kids, they don't execute,” Farrel said afterwards. Instead, he offered up a minor schematic tweak.

“We were just breaking too hard on the run and the screen and the QB scrambles and letting Duce and Myles, both amazing receivers, go free untouched,” Crandall explained. “They made big plays.”

Down the stretch, Highland’s defense adapted. On its final four drives, Pinnacle managed just 49 total yards.

Still, Highland’s offense had to score twice to make the comeback possible. Early in the season, the task might have seemed insurmountable. Before transfer quarterback Kalen Fisher became eligible in October, the Hawks struggled to move the ball through the air, enabling opponents to zero in on their run game.

“Now that we're more balanced, it makes it more difficult so more kids are making plays and if you take one thing away, we're gonna try another,” Farrel said.

On the two scoring drives that turned the game on its head, that multiplicity shone through. On the first, junior running back Eli Kerby delivered the type of score Highland has relied on all season, taking a counter 66 yards through a gaping hole to the house.

“From watching film, they jump to (junior running back) Kody Cullimore,” Kerby said. “The only way they can stop him is getting everyone, running everyone. And we just have a counter. If everyone's running, there's no one for the backside. So that was in the playbook, we knew it would successful.”

The second drive, on the other hand, showcased the offense that has allowed Highland to emerge as a 6A favorite over the second half of the year. The first eight plays were perfectly even: four runs, four passes. Pinnacle couldn’t cheat either way, as evidenced by a fourth-and-5 conversion to receiver Jacob Soehl on an out route.

For the ninth play, Farrel called on his passing game again. This time, the recipient was Joseph Walter, who began the season as Highland’s starting quarterback. Now, here was Walter, wide open in the back of the end zone, giving the Hawks a 27-26 lead with 8:27 to play.

Thanks to its defense, that was all Highland needed.

“I couldn't ask for more,” Farrel said. “Our defense on the field to win a championship.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Highland rides late comeback to second-straight 6A title