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Sports
AFTER TERRIFIC SENIOR SEASON, SCOTS DE SOARS TO AIR FORCE
Curtis is one of four HP senior football players who will join college rosters next fall
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By Todd Jorgenson
people newspapers
His toughness and tenacity as an edge rusher gave Jack Curtis a chance to play Division I college football. On Feb. 2, he turned that opportunity into a reality.
Curtis, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive end, capped a spectacular senior year by committing to the Air Force Academy on National Signing Day.
He is one of four HP senior football players who intend to play at the college level. Running back Ben Croasdale accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Furman University (in South Carolina) and receiver Luke Rossley will be a preferred walk-on at the University of North Texas. Plus, kicker Jack Stone signed with Michigan State during the early signing period in December.
This season, Curtis recorded 65 tackles (24 for loss), including 11 sacks and two fumble recoveries in 12 games for the Scots. He was named the MVP in District 13-5A by league coaches — a rare honor for a defensive player. Jack Curtis disrupted offensive backfields all season with 24 tackles for loss, including 11 sacks. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)
“He’s a true leader in everything that he does. He makes us better in every way,” said HP defensive coordinator Bobby Leidner. “He makes plays that he has no business making. It’s impressive to watch.”
Curtis, who amassed 122 tackles and 21.5 sacks in three seasons at the varsity level, said he first received an offer from Air Force after his sophomore season. He has visited the campus in Colorado Springs twice since then, including an official visit in January.
“They believed in me every step of the way. That really stuck with me,” said Curtis, who chose the Falcons over Army and Princeton. “They made me feel at home.”
Air Force, which plays in the Mountain West Conference, capped a 10-3 season with a victory over Louisville in the First Responder Bowl at SMU.
After graduating in May — and playing baseball for HP this spring — Curtis will head to the academy to begin basic training in June. Although he was unsure at first, he has embraced the military aspect of his college decision.
“I want to play football and be a leader in this country,” he said.
Rossley was one of the top receiving targets for the Scots this season with 24 catches for 269 yards and a touchdown. Croasdale rushed for 385 yards and seven scores.
“It was always a dream of mine to go play college football somewhere,” Rossley said. “I’m super excited that North Texas is giving me a shot.”
Staying Classy: HP’s New District Brings New Challenges in 6A
Jump to higher classification places Scots alongside Jesuit, Pearce, other foes
By Todd Jorgenson
people newspapers
Separated by just a few miles on the Dallas North Tollway, Highland Park and Jesuit are now neighbors in the new District 7-6A, too.
The idea became possible when the Scots learned they would be moving to Class 6A for the next two years. And in February, the UIL made it official with its biennial realignment announcement.
HP and Jesuit will be part of a nine-team district that includes schools from Irving ISD and Richardson ISD. Specifically, the schedule will feature Irving, Irving MacArthur, Irving Nimitz, Richardson, Richardson Berkner, Richardson Pearce, and Lake Highlands.
The district will cover football, volleyball, and basketball only, meaning it will be an eight-team league for volleyball and girls basketball, minus Jesuit. It will be in effect for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.
Although an alignment has not been finalized yet for sports such as baseball, softball, track and field, tennis, and golf, the lineup PCP_Mar2022-Banner-1DRAFT.pdf 1 2/2/2022 2:47:04 PMshould remain consistent. New district assignments for sports such as swimming, wrestling, and soccer will be unveiled later. Of the nine football teams, only three posted winning records last season — HP, Jesuit, and Lake Highlands. In addition to a first-ever meeting with the Rangers, the renewal of the Pearce rivalry should be a highlight for HP. The Scots were most recently in the 6A classification in 2015. Since then, they have
Brennan Storer and Highland Park will face a tough schedule in Class 6A next season.
(PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY) won three 5A Division I state titles. However, this year, HP reported an enrollment just above the 5A/6A cutoff line of 2,225, which triggered the shift. With eight district games, the schedule will only have room for two nondistrict contests for each school. The Scots will open on Aug. 26 with a home game against Flower Mound DISTRICT 7-6A
Highland Park Jesuit Irving Irving MacArthur Irving Nimitz Lake Highlands Richardson Richardson Berkner Richardson Pearce
Marcus, followed by a road trip to Lewisville.
Although the complete 2022 schedule is still being finalized, the Scots will tentatively start district play perhaps earlier than ever, by hosting Lake Highlands on Sept. 9. They also will face Jesuit at home after a midseason bye week and will travel to Pearce for their regular-season finale. Home and away games will be swapped in 2023.
The new district should be especially challenging in boys basketball, where Richardson and Lake Highlands are among the top 6A programs in the state this year and Jesuit is a perennial playoff contender.
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Diamond Dreams: Experience Fuels Optimism for Scots HP faces difficult schedule in renewed quest for district title, playoff success
By Todd Jorgenson
people newspapers
Highland Park players and coaches still feel the sting of that final inning from last season’s second-round playoff series that ultimately ended their season.
However, many of the same faces who were on the field and in the dugout for that Class 5A Region II area-round defeat against Marshall are back for the Scots in 2022, with renewed optimism about a deeper postseason run.
Indeed, experience should benefit HP, which has more than a half-dozen starters returning both in the lineup and on the mound — from a team that won 24 games a year ago and was the runner-up in District 13-5A.
“The ups and downs from last season I think we’re going to learn from,” said HP head coach Travis Yoder. “This group works hard and they compete.”
With several seniors returning to the lineup with significant varsity experience, Yoder hopes HP can again challenge for a title in a challenging district, while also breaking through for the type of deep playoff run that has been elusive.
The Scots saw their 2021 season end with a heartbreaking 8-7 setback in the decisive third game of a second-round series against Marshall, marking the fourth consecutive season in which the Scots have been ousted on the second weekend of May.
HP’s pitching staff will be led by lefthander Collin Valentine, a University of Texas signee,
Texas signee Collin Valentine will likely be the ace of the Highland Park pitching staff this
season. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)
as well as fellow returnee Ben Bailey. Preston Gamster and Jack Curtis should contribute on the mound, along with Jordan Stribling and Sam Webster.
Gamster and Curtis also will play key roles in a lineup featuring several familiar faces such as infielders Jack Rich and Jack True, catcher Parker Stephens, and outfielders Braden Jirovec and Trey Brimmage.
HP again will be tested by a district and a region that has several top pitchers returning. That could lead to
This group more close, low-scoring games that test mental works hard and toughness. they compete. “We’ve hit well at times and we’ve pitched Travis Yoder well at times. We’re trying to find that combination,” Yoder said. “If we have both, we’re going to be tough.”
February 24 Denison^ 3 p.m. 24 at Prosper Rock Hill 5:30 p.m. 25 at Prosper Noon 25 Plano West^ 5:30 p.m. 26 Frisco Wakeland^ 1:30 p.m. March 3 Celina** 4 p.m. 3 at McKinney 6:30 p.m. 4 Sachse^ 1:30 p.m. 4 Richardson Pearce^ 4 p.m. 5 Sherman** 10 a.m. 10 Keller 11 a.m. 10 Allen 4 p.m. 11 Denton Guyer 11 a.m. 12 Georgetown 12:30 p.m. 12 Sachse 3 p.m. 15 Mesquite Poteet* 7:30 p.m. 18 at Mesquite Poteet* 7:30 p.m. 22 at Forney* 7:30 p.m. 25 Forney* 7:30 p.m. 26 Allen 11 a.m. 29 West Mesquite* 7:30 p.m. April 1 at West Mesquite* 7:30 p.m. 5 Crandall* 7:30 p.m. 8 at Crandall* 7:30 p.m. 9 Burleson 11 a.m. 12 at North Forney* 7:30 p.m. 14 North Forney* 7:30 p.m. 19 Greenville* 7:30 p.m. 22 at Greenville* 7:30 p.m. 23 at Prosper Rock Hill 11 a.m. 26 at Royse City* 7:30 p.m. 29 Royse City* 7:30 p.m.
* — District 13-5A game ** — at McKinney ^ — at Prosper
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