Kiski Area keeps playoff hopes alive by beating Highlands

By: Ted Sarneso
Friday, October 13, 2023 | 10:32 PM

It was a must-win game for Kiski Area and Highlands when the two squared off Friday night.

Every time these two have played, the winner has made the playoffs.

Kiski Area (3-5, 2-3 Class 4A Greater Allegheny) came in with the slimmest of playoff hopes and left with a 36-21 win. Highlands (4-4, 1-3) now must win out to make the postseason.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Kiski Area coach Sam Albert, who coached at Highlands for some 20 years.

“It’s big for me coming home, and Highlands is a good football team,” Albert said. “Coach Bonislawski does a great job, has a good coaching staff. I’m just proud of our kids.”

Both teams might have been feeling the pressure of such an important game as neither came out clean on its opening possessions.

Both offenses racked up a score of penalties and fumbled the ball but were able to recover.

On the Cavaliers’ second possession, after a muffed punt by Highlands, Kiski Area quarterback Carson Heinle found Isaiah Gonzalez for a 10-yard touchdown pass to cap a 12 play, 41-yard drive.

The Golden Rams were glad to have dynamic playmaker and senior quarterback Aaran Randolph back in the lineup after he missed four games because of an injury.

“It felt great to come back from injury. Unfortunately, we lost, and we just have to keep working hard, keep practicing and keep our heads up,” Randolph said after the loss.

With Randolph back on the field, the Golden Rams’ dual running threat of Luke Bombalski and Randolph looked to be a handful.

However, without a passing game to balance the offense, the running game was not as successful as the Golden Rams had been used to.

Randolph finished with 134 yards rushing yards and two touchdowns, and Bombalski rushed for 104 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries.

On Randolph’s first play from scrimmage during Highland’s second drive of the game, he went untouched for a 38-yard option run, bringing a roaring crowd to its feet. But the drive stalled.

On the ensuing possession, Kiski Area drove the ball down the field, culminating the 11-play drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Heinle to Teegan Shirley. The drive was highlighted by a 33-yard pass play from Heinle to Terry Martin.

“Carson is one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached. He runs, he can throw the ball,” Albert said. “I don’t have enough superlatives for him, and our running back Landon Kucic runs hard.”

Heinle threw for 219 yards on 14 of 26 passing and three touchdowns, and Kucic had 16 carries and ran for 52 yards and two touchdowns.

Highlands could not put a consistent drive together as Kiski Area began to snuff out the Golden Rams’ run game and the Rams kept getting penalties called on them.

After Highlands punted for a third time, the Cavaliers took one play to find the end zone. Heinle found Martin on a 70-yard post for a touchdown.

Highlands needed to answer and after a long drive, marred once again by penalties on both sides, Bombalski plowed his way for a 7-yard run to put the Rams on the board.

Kiski looked to score before halftime but was unsuccessful and turned the ball over on downs before Highlands took a knee with 6 seconds left, giving Kiski a 22-7 lead at the half.

The Golden Rams then took the ball after Kiski went three and out to open the second half and drove 67 yards. Randolph finished the drive with a 5-yard run to bring the Ram within 22-14.

“When they started to come back on us, our kids stepped up and were resilient,” Albert said.

On their second possession of the half, the Cavaliers ate up clock and Kucic capped the drive with a 1-yard run to give Kiski a 29-14 lead.

Desperate to answer every Kiski score, Highlands drove down the field in three minutes and Randolph scored from 8 yards, stiff arming a Cavalier defender at the 3-yard line and cutting the Cavalier lead to 29-21.

“Randolph is so athletic that when our blitzers came free, they couldn’t tackle him,” Albert said. “He’s that good. Bombalski’s a bull. That’s why I’m so proud of our kids: They did what they were told to do and did a good job.

Kiski Area missed an early chance on its next drive. At his own 48-yard line, Heinle found Gonzalez wide open down the field, but Gonzalez dropped a sure touchdown.

Later, after a 29-yard run by senior running back Brennan Moore, the Cavaliers found themselves on the Highlands 13-yard line and sophomore kicker Andrew Finney missed a 32-yard field goal, giving the Golden Rams life.

The Rams drive stalled and on a fourth-and-4 as Randolph was tackled for a 5-yard loss.

Kiski responded with another touchdown drive, this time ended by a 24-yard run from Kucic.

“This is big because every game becomes relevant,” Albert said. “Our kids don’t quit, and this is a really big win for us.”

Next week Highlands travels to Armstrong, and Kiski Area is at Fox Chapel.

Tags: Highlands, Kiski Area