18 June 2021 | parkcitiespeople.com
Sports
NEW QUARTERBACK TO LEAD FAMILIAR FACES FOR SCOTS IN 2021 HP uses spring to solidify depth chart ahead of challenging schedule By Todd Jorgenson
HP 2021 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
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he lack of spring football practice didn’t seem to hurt Highland Park last season when the Scots still managed an undefeated regular season and a four-week playoff run.
Aug. 26 Southlake Carroll^ Sept. 3 Mesquite Horn Sept. 10 at Coppell Sept. 17 Rockwall
We’ve gained a lot of experience and repetition, and feel better about our depth chart. Randy Allen
Dual-threat quarterback Brennan Storer will take over as the starter for Highland Park in 2021. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)
Still, head coach Randy Allen is pleased that his program could re-establish its offseason routine following a year of interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had to remember how we did spring training since we didn’t have it last year,” Allen joked. During three weeks of spring workouts, which culminated in a public scrimmage, the Scots developed chemistry while coaches evaluated younger players on the roster.
“It’s a great way to end the school year. We’ve gained a lot of experience and repetition and feel better about our depth chart,” Allen said. “It’s always exciting for our players to start competing before a new season. There’s a lot of enthusiasm.” There will be plenty of new faces in the starting lineup on both sides of scrimmage for HP in 2021. One of them is dual-threat quarterback Brennan Storer, an incoming junior
Oct. 1
at Sherman*
Oct. 8
Longview*
Oct. 15 at McKinney North* Oct. 22 Tyler* Oct. 29 at West Mesquite* Nov. 5 Wylie East*
who Allen said makes good decisions and has improved his throwing velocity and accuracy. “He’s gotten lots of reps, and just getting the chemistry with his receivers has been important. He’s had a really good spring from that standpoint,” Allen said. “It’s been very important for him. He’s gotten better each week.” Despite seeing limited varsity action last season behind graduated starter Brayden Schager, Storer al-
ready has picked up multiple scholarship offers from major college programs and earned invitations to a handful of national showcases. Storer will have some experienced receivers to target in the fall, with the returnees including Luke Herring, Jackson Heis, Luke Rossley, John Rutledge, and Grayson Schrank. Grant Gibson will be back to anchor the offensive line. Familiar faces on defense will
* — District 6-5A Div. I game ^ — Neutral site TBA
include George Wright, Jack Curtis, Mason Gallas, Blake Bevans, Henry Jurgovan, and Adam Rourke. On special teams, kickers Jack Stone and Sam Heinrich also will return. The Scots, who finished 11-1 overall last year, will start fall practice on Aug. 14. They will face Plano East in a scrimmage on Aug. 19, then open the regular season on Aug. 26 with a neutral-site showdown against Southlake Carroll.
Fleet Footed: Speedy Point Guard Heads to Colorado
As a team captain, Pease led the Scots on consecutive deep playoff runs
By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
C
David Piehler remembers the first time he saw Jack Pease in the Highland Park High School gym for one reason — and it had nothing to do with dribbling, passing, or shooting. It was at the Scots’ summer youth camp when Pease was in fifth or sixth grade and one of many youngsters hoping to play for the longtime HP head coach one day. “He stood out mainly because of his speed and quickness at that age,” Piehler said. “It was obvious he had the ability to be a good athlete in any sport.” Flash forward several years, and Pease is still the fastest guy on the court, except he’s also a floor leader, lockdown defender, ball-handling whiz, and team MVP. He and Worthey Wiles were captains for two consecutive years,PCP_June2021-1x10Banne_Final.pdf both of which saw the1Scots 5/6/2021 reach the fourth round of the Class 5A playoffs.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever coached a person that can get from Point A to Point B faster,” Piehler said. “He’s the epitome of a hard worker. He’s gotten everything out of his ability and has continued to get better every year.” Pe a s e ’s high school career ended when the Scots fell to eventual state runner-up Kimball in a hard-fought regional semifinal playoff game in March, ending HP’s 18-game winning streak. “The camaraderie was incredible this year. We were so cohesive,” Pease said. “Some of my teammates are my best friends. We’ve played some bigtime basketball against some big-time players.” Pease joined the varsity roster as a sophomore when the Scots clinched the 2:44:39 PM district title on the same night Piehler earned his 500th career coaching victory.
However, the most memorable win might have been on Dec. 31 this season, when the Scots toppled 6A powerhouse Allen and didn’t lose afterward for more than two months. Next year, Pease will play at the University of Colorado as a preferred walkon after the coaching staff contacted him early in the season. It added a wrinkle to a recruiting cycle that had Pease contemplating lower-level scholarship offers or even attending a year of prep school or junior college. “We stayed in touch throughout the season. Right after their conference tournament, they contacted me and said they would love to have me on the roster,” Pease said. “The dream has been to play at the Power Five level. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I’m beyond excited.”
I don’t know if I’ve ever coached a person that can get from Point A to Point B faster. David Piehler
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Highland Park point guard Jack Pease led the Scots in several statistical categories this season. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)
