Hightower Remains Undefeated

Ken Hall Stadium - Behind the stout Fort Bend Hightower defense, Coach Padraic McGinnis and the Hurricanes remain undefeated with a win over Alief Elsik, 27-10. The Hurricane defense led by highly-recruited linebacker Clifton Lewis, monster man in the middle Darius Anderson, recent Baylor commit Michael Johnson, and stealthy safety Santres Broussard kept the Elsik Rams out of the end zone and now should be recognized as one of the top 6A teams in the Houston area.

The battle of District 23-6A favorites started out when the Hurricane defense forced a quick three and out by Elsik.  The Rams started out on their own 12, then two E. J. Davis runs netting just 3 yards. That was followed by a Devin Henderson short keeper on 3rd and 7 which left them facing 4th and long. In a punt reminiscent of Michael Davidson and University of Texas this past weekend, Elsik only netted 6 yards after the punter dropped the ball and kicked more East and West than North and South.

Hightower's offense then scored on the first play from scrimmage. Quarterback, Neiko Hollins and receiver Terrence Cooper made the Rams pay when Hollins found Cooper on the right sideline and hit him in stride right at the goal line for a 32 yard TD pass, 7-0.

After another Elsik three and out, Hollins and the Cane offense once again went to work at their own 38. Hollins found Kealan Jackson for 4 yards on first down. On second down, Elsik's Javante Hubbard corralled Hollins for a 2 yard loss, followed by Elsik jumping offsides on third down. That is when the running back by committee for Hightower opened up their bag of tricks. Trevon Estes galloped 23 yards for a Cane first down. Terrell Malone gained the next 21 yards on two runs setting up 1st and goal at the 9. Alphonse Bush became the third Hightower tailback to tote the rock, finishing it off with an easy touchdown, 14-0 Canes.

The Hurricanes forced their 3rd straight three and out when QB Henderson fired incomplete on third down.  The toss was into good coverage by senior corner Julian Chandler. As the Canes took over on offense, Elsik’s tough defense hammered back.

After a nice pass breakup by Broderick Jones on 2nd and 14 one of the top linebackers in the state (and the whole nation) Dontavious Jackson dropped Hollins for a huge sack that left Hightower punting.

It was a short-lived momentum change because Santres Broussard intercepted the ball on Elsik's first down play, ending the first quarter with the Canes up by two touchdowns.

Elsik's next drive was their best of the night but was stymied on 1st and goal from the 10 when Michael Johnson had a ten yard tackle for loss pushing the Rams back to the 20. The Rams settled for a 31 yard Saul Amaya field goal, 14-3.

The teams traded scoreless possessions to end the half.

The Canes scored once again on their first possession of the half on a seven play drive. After several Hollins zone-reads moved them to the Ram 40, Terrell Bush almost took it to the house getting nailed down at the one. Hollins snuck in on the next play stretching the Hightower lead to 21-3 after the Rodriguez PAT.

Action slowed for the rest of the game as Coach McGinnis stood behind his defense and a strong running game with his five-headed monster at tailback.

The wildest play of the night came on Elsik's only touchdown. After Kealan Jackson almost made a great catch on 3rd and 10, the Canes were forced to punt from their 28. A short punt and a fortunate bounce was all Chris Brown needed as he scooped up the strange and oddly long carom and raced down the left sideline for a 45 yard punt return for a touchdown, 21-10.

Once again whenever Elsik had something go their way, the Canes answered back. The final scoring on the night happened on the next drive as Neiko Hollins and the Hightower offense pushed their way into the end zone. A huge scrum on 4th and short at the 1 saw the two teams meet on the goal line before Hollins was finally shoved into the endzone with help from his whole team including a huge assist from offensive linemen David Barefiel, The Fort Bend Hightower Hurricanes walked away with the 27-10 victory. The Hurricanes need to be mentioned as one of our top teams in the state now gliding to 6-0 on the year.

by Glenn McCarthy (@GlennMcCarthy44)

Player of the Game- Quarteback Neiko Hollins and defensive back Santres Broussard

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