Highlands outlasted by Keystone Oaks in high-scoring game

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, August 31, 2018 | 11:42 PM

Nearly 30 penalties plagued Keystone Oaks and Highlands, but an otherwise undisciplined game was highlighted by a Highlands pass-catching duo that connected for 301 yards and a Keystone Oaks backfield that overcame early struggles to finish in the red zone.

Class 3A No. 4 Keystone Oaks (0-0, 1-0) defeated Class 4A Highlands (0-0, 0-1), 49-42, in a game that turned into a high-scoring affair in the second half.

The Golden Eagles and Golden Rams were tied 28-28 going into the fourth quarter after combining for five touchdowns in the third quarter followed by three touchdowns on the first five plays from scrimmage in the fourth quarter. The winning score belonged to Keystone Oaks running back Micahel Daure, who rushed for 177 yards and scored six touchdowns: five rushing and one receiving.

His last touchdown came on a 6-yard run with two minutes left in the game and was set up by quarterback Logan Schrubb, who converted a fourth down earlier in the drive on a scramble.

“We worked really hard this offseason, and we deserve everything we’re getting right now,” Daure said. “We feel really good right now.”

Highlands safety C.J. Morrow appeared to ice the game with 8 minutes, 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter with a 25-yard interception return to Highlands 20 yard-line. But a defensive pass interference call overturned the third-down play.

Morrow intercepted the next pass, which allowed Keystone Oaks to drain the clock on a 12-play drive ending in Daure’s sixth touchdown.

Highlands quarterback Seth Cohen and receiver Johnny Crise put on a show. The pair connected for touchdown passes of 99, 41, 38, 35 and 23 yards, and Cohen had a 61-yard touchdown run. Crise’s highlight-reel game ended with 301 yards.

“(Johnny Crise) is 6-feet, 6-inches, a basketball kid,” Keystone Oaks coach Greg Perry said. “His eye-hand coordination has to be fabulous, because he’s on the spot. All the credit to him. His coaching staff got him the ball on fade routes.

“The kid is good player, and he’ll do that a lot this year and not just against us.”

Keystone Oaks had the ball within 10 yards of the end zone on two drives in the first quarter, but Highlands stuffed Daure at the 1-yard line and tallied two sacks to force a nearly impossible fourth-and-goal from the 31-yard line.

Highlands’ first goal line stand led to the 99-yard touchdown pass from Cohen to Crise. Daure has 12 touchdowns in the first two weeks of the season.

“We challenged them at halftime,” Perry said. “We left points on the board in the first quarter just like we did the previous week against Seton LaSalle. We get down inside the 10-yard line, mess up, and that’s not our character. We’re a group that should know better than that.

“I’m glad we bounced back, and at the end of the day, you take the ‘W.’”

Tags: Highlands, Keystone Oaks