The Highland football team will try to get back on the winning track Friday when they welcome the North Cedar Knights to Riverside. Highland is 1-2 on the year, following a loss last Friday to the Wilton Beavers on their homecoming 39-14. Against the Beavers, the Huskies were led by Brenton Bonebrake with 12 carries for 76 yards. Connor Grinstead had a rushing touchdown and Logan Bonebrake caught a score. For the season, Highland is led by Grinstead through the air at 10 of 25 for 269 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. His favorite target is Logan Bonebrake with eight catches for 222 yards and three scores. Grinstead is also the leader on the ground with 43 carries for 277 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Grinstead’s 24 tackles are also best on the team.

North Cedar is 1-2 this year after beating Pekin Friday 26-9. Jason Sander was nine of 15 for 194 yards and three touchdowns in the victory, connecting with Davonte Crist five times for 146 yards and a touchdown, on the ground Tyler Jackson had 20 carries for 98 yards and a score. Sander is 26 of 46 by air on the year with 366 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. His favorite target is Crist with 10 catches for 223 yards and a score. On the ground, Jackson has 47 carries for 261 yards and two touchdowns. He’s also the leading tackler with 28 stops and two sacks. This week, Highland head coach Scott Morel talked about the matchup with the Knights. “I think the biggest thing for us to improve is to be more disciplined on defense. Make sure we know our assignments. Sustain blocks offensively. North Cedar likes to spread things out and attack teams through the air. We have to come back this week in practice and make sure that we do the little things right to get ready. The guys are resilient. I think they will bounce back after Wilton.”

The two teams met a year ago with Highland collecting a 55-14 victory, their only win in 2020. Action starts Friday at 7p.m. in Riverside.