In their second-year under head coach Joe Donovan, the Highland Huskies football team (5-4) achieved their first winning season since 2012. The Huskies were up and down all year long, beginning the season with a pair of non-district wins against Danville (61-6) and West Liberty (50-14). Highland’s district slate started with three straight losses to Sigourney-Keota (38-8), Wilton (35-18), and Iowa City Regina (36-0). After the Regina setback, Highland rattled off three straight wins against Van Buren (67-14), Columbus (28-0) and Louisa-Muscatine (28-0). The Huskies season ended with a 41-14 loss to Wapello on October 21.
Quarterback Jake Wood was the Huskies’ top offensive player with 1,396 yards (1,203 passing) of total offense and 21 touchdowns. Trey Lasek’s 799 rushing yards and eight scores led the Huskies’ ground attack. Trent Lasek hauled in a team-best 41 receptions for 555 yards and six touchdowns. Bill Burton led the Huskies’ defense in multiple categories including total tackles (52.5), solo tackles (31), tackles for loss (four), interceptions (eight), fumbles recoveries (two), and defensive touchdowns (two). The Huskies returned three kickoffs for scores, two by Burton and one by Trey Lasek.
The Huskies ended the season with a 5-4 overall record, a one-win improvement from last year. Highland will lose Burton, Wood, Blake Donovan, Logan Dutton, Matt Hoenig, Trent Lasek, Johnny Poeschel, Chase Rath and Nate Yahnke to graduation.