It wasn't easy, but Highland unofficially earned its way into the OHSAA football playoffs in Division IV Region 14 after a 40-37 home victory over Pleasant Oct. 23 in a Mid Ohio Athletic Conference game in Week 10.
The Scots end the regular season with a 4-6 overall record and a 3-4 mark in the MOAC. They will likely be the No. 11 seed, according to JoeEitel.com, and could play at Bellevue in Week 11 when the OHSAA officially releases the brackets on Sunday, Oct. 25.
Kane Stover was a one-man gang against the Spartans accounting for 400 all-purpose yards as he ran 24 times for 245 yards and two touchdowns, completed 2 of 3 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown, and returned two punts for 88 yards including an 84-yarder for a touchdown. He made 15 tackles on defense as well.
Also for Highland, Robby Schmidt caught a 20-yard TD, and Hudson Howell made a catch for 47 yards as Nick Hinkle ran eight times for 101 yards. Backing Stover on defense, Josh McAvoy made three tackles for loss, and Zach Riley had eight tackles, while Dylan Wiggand and Hinkle had six tackles apiece.
For Pleasant, Weston Shaffer finished with 264 passing yards and five touchdowns on 16-for-32 completions. He also ran for 89 yards on 22 carries. Keean Perriguey caught four for 130 yards and two touchdowns, adding an interception, while Isaac Smith had three catches for 61 yards and a score plus a fumble recovery, and Brody Ringer caught two TD passes among his three receptions for 50 yards. Cooper Halpin kicked a 27-yard field goal.
Evan Pfieffer recovered a fumble for the Spartans (2-8, 1-6), as Madden Queen had eight tackles, and Colin Caudill and Ringer each had six.
Here are more results from around the Marion area in high school football played in Week 10 Oct. 23:
Graham 35, North Union 14
The winner-take-all championship game in the Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division was tied at 14-14 at halftime, but the Falcons (9-1, 5-0) pulled away in the second half.
Graham outgained North Union 419-248, plus recorded a 22-15 edge in first downs. The Falcons were 9 of 13 on third downs and committed seven penalties for 53 yards. North Union as 2 of 10 on third downs and had 13 penalties for 124 yards.
Despite the loss, JoeEitel.com has the Wildcats (7-3, 4-1) sitting in ninth in Division V Region 18 with a possible opponent being Vermilion. The official pairings from the OHSAA come out Oct. 25.
Nickolas Hajjar paced North Union by going 20-for-26 throwing for 152 yards and by running for 49 yards and a touchdown. Brycen Delawder ran for a TD, and Dainon Lindsey caught a TD among his six receptions for 73 yards. Xavier Gruber and Wyatt Arver combined for 11 receptions for 57 yards. Arver led the defense with 12 tackles, and Kadrin Riffle had 10.
More on Elgin football: Elgin makes history in its victory over Hardin Northern
Vote in the poll: Marion Star Football Player of Week 10 Poll, vote for your favorite
Mount Gilead 47, Cardington-Lincoln 0
Mount Gilead outgained the Pirates 458 to 69 in total yards in this Knox Morrow Athletic Conference game.
Tyler Harr put up six touchdowns on just 15 runs for 260 yards for MG (5-5, 3-4), and Grant LaRoche backed him with 93 yards on six carries, while Boe Sayers had nine rushes for 43 yards and a score. On defense, Kaden St. Clair wracked up 19 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. James Bradley ran 10 times for 46 yards to lead C-L (0-10, 0-7).
Northmor 42, Loudonville 27
The KMAC game was tight with the Redbirds (4-6, 2-5) cutting Northmor's lead to 28-27 early in the fourth quarter, but Jackson Welch returned a kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown to help the Golden Knights put it away.
Welch also made eight receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown, and Brad Bowlin ran in a TD, while Tanner Miley ran for two scores and 149 yards on 28 carries and passed for a TD and 135 yards on 14 of 21 completions. Northmor (3-7, 3-4) also ran back a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Loudonville outgained Northmor 361-299 and had more first downs 18-17. The Knights won their last two games of the season, beating teams with better records in both.
Shelby 42, Marion Harding 7
It was all Shelby (10-0, 7-0) in this MOAC game. For Harding (5-5, 3-4), Dez Feliciano was 16-for-29 in the air for 153 yards and a 10-yard TD to Marcus McGary. The TD ended an 80-yard drive in the fourth quarter. McGary ended with 60 all-purpose yards. Jackson Payne returned a kickoff 60 yards, while Mattic Simmers intercepted a pass, and Talan Wolford recovered a fumble.
Other games
Perry (5-5, 5-3) kept Ridgedale winless after a 46-0 victory in the Northwest Central Conference. Ontario (9-1, 6-1) did the same to River Valley in the MOAC by a 47-14 score. No other details were available for either game.
rmccurdy@usatodayco.com
419-610-0998
X @McMotorsport
Instagram @rob_mccurdy_star
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Highland survives Pleasant upset bid, plus more Week 10 results