Physical run game, defense power Highland to big season opening win at Washington

From the opening kickoff to the final play, Highland’s football team made a loud proclamation the 2022 season would start vastly different than 2021 did.

The Bulldogs used their physical offensive and defensive lines to pound the running game and throttle the Washington offense. The end result was a shockingly easy 54-10 victory at Washington on Friday, Aug. 26, in the season opener for both schools.

“Washington prides itself on physical play and we knew going into week one, if we were going to win (there), we were going to have to bring it to them,” Highland coach Jimmy Warnecke said. “I felt we did that offensively and defensively and it was good to see us be physical in all aspects of the game.”

HHS got its offense untracked on its first two drives. Quarterback Brent Wuebbles connected with running back Travis Porter on an 8-yard scoring strike to cap the first drive for a 7-0 lead. On the Bulldogs next drive, Porter finished it off with a 3-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 lead with 4:54 left in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, a physical Highland offensive line led by senior tackle Travis Gieseking and senior lineman Chase Pacatte began to impose their will on the more inexperienced Washington defense.

Porter scored his third touchdown on a 2-yard run and then hauled in a 7-yard touchdown pass from Wuebbles, pushing the lead to 28-7. Running back Paul Graham added a 26-yard scoring run and Wuebbles hit Cade Altadonna for a 36-yard touchdown bomb, capping a 26-point second quarter onslaught that staked the Bulldogs to a commanding 40-0 bulge at the intermission.

“I think we knew that they were an inexperienced group and that’s something that we really had to our advantage — all the returning experience. And the plan was just really to get on them from the start and really not let up and we executed that (well),” Warnecke said.

Not to be outdone by the high-powered offense, Highland’s defense also was stout. The Bulldogs kept Washington off the scoreboard until late in the third quarter, earning high praise from Warnecke.

“I kind of thought the story of the night was our defense,” Warnecke said. “I think we did a good job of not really ever letting get them get comfortable (offensively) and I was really proud of our staff and our boys in that respect.”

A Cameron Willis 30-yard pick-six for a touchdown in the third quarter and Jonathan Prott’s 57-yard touchdown dash early in the fourth quarter rounded out the scoring for HHS.

Porter scored four touchdowns on the night and Wuebbles threw for three TDs to pace the Bulldogs’ offense.

Full steam ahead: Next up is Edwardsville

The road win was the Bulldogs first season-opening victory since a 21-0 shutout at Alton to start the 2018 campaign.

Warnecke said this year’s group is hungry and eager to excel this fall after last year’s 5-5 season.

“I think this year as a staff and as a team, we learned a lot from our mistakes (last year) and I think we’re a little greedy this year,” Warnecke said.

Highland (1-0) will look to keep the road success going in week two when it faces perennial power Edwardsville at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at the District 7 Athletic Complex in Edwardsville.

This story was originally published August 27, 2022 at 3:00 PM.