The countdown to Friday night lights has reached the 24 hour mark for the Highland Huskies as they get ready for their opener against East Buchannan. Highland is coming off of a 3-6 season a year ago, finishing with a 3-3 mark in Class A District 5, advancing to the playoffs with a fourth place finish. The Huskies scored 24 points per game in 2021 while giving up 27. They averaged 297 yards per game, 227 of that on the ground. The Huskies lost 13 seniors to graduation including their top two options on the ground, Brenton Bonebrake and Connor Grinstead, who combined for more than 1,800 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns and 260 carries. Grinstead was also the man under center, going 33 of 83 for 638 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven picks a year ago. On defense, the Huskies lose their top three tacklers in Grinstead, Jaden Schmid and Carson Netser who combined for more than 150 stops.
East Buchanan was 10-2 last season, making a trip to the UNI-Dome before falling in the semifinals. They are ranked No. 1 in Class A in the initial poll of the season from the Des Moines Register. The Buccaneers scored 25 points per contest while giving up 13 per game a year ago. They averaged 414 yards of offense per night, 360 of that on the ground last year. The Bucs graduated nine seniors including quarterback Keaton Kelly who was 30 of 68 for 623 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions last year. Top back Adam Hackett has also departed after 203 carries 1,751 yards and 20 touchdowns Top receiver Hunter Bowers returns. He pulled in 20 catches for 473 yards and five scores as a sophomore. On defense Hackett had 94 tackles to lead the Bucs last year, East Buchanan also has future Iowa Hawkeye Cody Fox, a 6’4″ 260lb offensive lineman to anchor them up front. This week Highland head coach Cory Quail talked about how the Dogs are getting ready for the season. “For offense, the big thing is identifying kids and where they fit the best and keep kids confident and aggressive. The big thing on defense going into week one is that you have to be very big on having base alignments and assignments. Obviously they (East Buchanan) has an Iowa commit up front and they have some big boys who are aggressive off the ball and will shove you around if you aren’t fundamentally sound. They had a very successful season last year and have a very quality group of kids coming back and they are very well coached. We have to come in with the mindset that A) We aren’t afraid of this team, we are a team that can be very successful also, and as long as we trust the things that we’ve done to this point, we’re going to have our best opportunity to just focus on what we can control, come into that game and just play to the best of our abilities.”
East Buchanan won this matchup a season ago 24-12. Action gets underway Friday night at 7p.m. in Winthrop.