Mascoutah turns the tables on Highland, advances into IHSA Class 5A quarterfinals
Three weeks ago, Mascoutah big play playmakers Quincy Hall and Allen Middleton did not find the end zone against a stout Highland Bulldogs defense.
On Saturday, Hall, Middleton, and the Indians’ offense reversed that trend completely. Hall scored four touchdowns and Middleton scored three and threw for one as Mascoutah’s defense got a late stop and the seventh-seed Indians held on for a stunning 55-42 upset of second-seed Highland on Saturday afternoon in an IHSA Class 5A second round playoff game at Highland High School.
Mascoutah (8-3) will host No. 3 seed Peoria (10-1) in a Class 5A quarterfinal next weekend.
Knocking out the Bulldogs in the playoffs was sweet revenge for Mascoutah, which got blanked 56-0 by HHS in a Mississippi Valley Conference game Oct. 14 at Highland.
“There was a lot of commitment and focus we had to put into practice (this week). But we made a commitment at the beginning of the week that we were gonna beat these guys and everybody came out and practiced hard and was flying around and the energy was good,” Middleton said. “Everybody played together, the line blocked, and the defense held up and we did what we had to do.”
Both offenses started slowly in the first quarter but with 2:06 left, Middleton scored on a 5-yard run to make it 7-0. Highland responded on its next drive as Travis Porter scored from a yard out to tie at 7-7 in the final seconds of the first quarter.
Mascoutah went to the air in the second quarter to retake the lead as Middleton lined up as a wildcat quarterback, rolled out right and heaved a 49-yard touchdown bomb to Hall, putting the Indians back on top 14-7.
HHS answered on its next drive as Porter banged in from 10 yards out for a touchdown to tie it at 14-14 just 6:51 before halftime.
The Bulldogs offense heated up on the next two drives as Dylan Beadle scored on a 12-yard crossing pass from Brent Wuebbels and then Porter added 6-yard TD run, pushing the lead to 28-14 with 1:35 to go before the break.
A resilient Indians club had an answer as Zane Timon rolled right and hit Hall for a leaping 8-yard touchdown catch on the far sideline. The PAT kick failed to leave the score 28-20 at the half.
Hall’s and Middleton’s big play efforts — along with a gritty offensive line — were a welcome help for the Indians against the rugged Highland defense.
“Allen Middleton and Quincy Hall are just unbelievable talents,” Mascoutah coach Aaron Hilgendorf said. “They stepped up their leadership when the ball was in their hands. We made some changes where we were gonna give them as many touches as we could in the playoffs and they were able to execute and our offensive line was just absolutely awesome.”
Mascoutah got the ball to start the third quarter and the offense went right to work as Middleton broke a 50-yard run for a touchdown. Timon ran in the two-point conversion tying it at 28-28.
At 3:59 of the third quarter, the Bulldogs went back ahead 35-28 on Porter’s third and last touchdown of the day, a 6-yard run.
On their next drive, the Indians responded as Timon hit Jacob Fritz with a 12-yard curl pass for a touchdown making it 35-35 heading into the fourth quarter.
Mascoutah pulls ahead for good
Hall broke loose for a 60-yard touchdown to cap the Indians first drive of the fourth quarter for a 42-35 lead.
Highland marched back down the field on its next possession and tied it at 42-42 on Wuebbels’ 7-yard dump pass to Brendan Gelly with 7:37 remaining.
However, the Indians again had a big play answer as Middleton got loose for a 52-yard touchdown dash that put the Indians ahead 49-42 with 5:14 left.
“My O-line just blocked, they gave me a hole and I tell them when I get a hole, I’m taking it,” Middleton said. “We trust each other and I’ll be there for them, they’ll be there for me.”
Last ditch effort for HHS comes up short
HHS had a chance to come back but a third-down sack of Wuebbels back at their 19-yard line forced a punt.
The Indians picked up a first down on a six-yard Timon run and then ran the clock down to 25 seconds before punting back to Highland.
Highland managed to drive the ball to the 31 but on the game’s final play, the Bulldogs lost a fumble and Hall returned it 38 yards to the end zone for his fourth touchdown and the game’s final score.
Explosive plays critical
Seeing his team fall short in the second round of the playoffs was definitely not the finish Highland coach Jimmy Warnecke expected.
“I know we put 42 points on the board, but we didn’t have the explosive plays and they surely did and it was the explosive plays that did us in,” Warnecke said. “They played a helluva football game and I thought the explosive plays created a lot of momentum.”
Warnecke pleased with season
Despite the season-ending loss, Warnecke had much praise for his team’s 9-2 season that featured an MVC championship.
“I’m proud of them,” Warnecke said. “We took an 8-1 record into the postseason and played an 8A Edwardsville team tight. (Our) 20 seniors, I’m extremely proud of what they did and the leadership they had week in and week out.”
This story was originally published November 5, 2022 at 8:18 PM.