Late Touchdown, Two-Point Pass Lift Highland Over Heber Springs
Highland 50, Heber Springs 49
HIGHLAND — Quarterback Austin Christy threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Jensen with 27 seconds remaining, then connected with Mason Sinclair for the winning two-point conversion as Highland defeated Heber Springs 50-49 Friday.
The Rebels answered after Heber Springs erased a 42-21 third-quarter deficit with 28 consecutive points. Quarterback Spencer Sugg threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores, all after halftime.
Lexxon Johnson opened the scoring on a 3-yard run. Hayden Hyslip returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown 16 seconds later, putting Highland ahead 14-0.
Aydin Isom intercepted a pass to set up his 3-yard touchdown run. After Jaxon Tribble’s 6-yard score restored Highland’s two-touchdown lead, Isom scored again, pulling the Panthers within 21-14.
Christy found Jensen for touchdowns with 48 seconds and four seconds left before halftime. Highland led 34-14 at the break.
Sugg scored from 7 yards early in the third quarter, completing a four-play, 60-yard drive. Tanner Graham caught a 40-yard pass during the possession, and Lane Bradley followed with a 10-yard run to set up the touchdown. Christy answered with a 1-yard run and a two-point pass to Carson Stanford for a 42-21 advantage with 7:23 remaining.
Heber Springs then scored on Sugg’s 3-yard run, his 14-yard pass to Josiah Riggs and Bradley’s 8-yard run. Golden Tate’s extra point tied it 42-42 with 8:06 remaining.
Facing second-and-17 at his own 9, Sugg connected with Graham for a 91-yard touchdown. Tate’s seventh extra point gave Heber Springs its first lead, 49-42, with 1:31 left.
Highland drove 80 yards to answer. Jensen caught his third touchdown pass, and Sinclair’s conversion put the Rebels ahead.
The Panthers advanced into field-goal range on their final possession. Tate’s 46-yard attempt went wide right as time expired. Highland opened its season 1-0; Heber Springs moved to 1-1.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Highland — Lexxon Johnson 3-yard touchdown run (Tayson Brink kick), Highland 7-0, 9:01.
Highland — Hayden Hyslip 38-yard interception return for a touchdown (Tayson Brink kick), Highland 14-0, 8:45.
Heber Springs — Aydin Isom 3-yard touchdown run (Golden Tate kick), Highland 14-7, 5:21.
2nd Quarter
Highland — Jaxon Tribble 6-yard touchdown run (Tayson Brink kick), Highland 21-7.
Heber Springs — Aydin Isom touchdown run (Golden Tate kick), Highland 21-14, 8:04.
Highland — Jimmy Jensen touchdown pass from Austin Christy (Tayson Brink kick), Highland 28-14, 0:48.
Highland — Jimmy Jensen touchdown pass from Austin Christy (kick failed), Highland 34-14, 0:04.
3rd Quarter
Heber Springs — Spencer Sugg 7-yard touchdown run (Golden Tate kick), Highland 34-21, 10:39.
Highland — Austin Christy 1-yard touchdown run (Carson Stanford two-point pass from Christy), Highland 42-21, 7:23.
Heber Springs — Spencer Sugg 3-yard touchdown run (Golden Tate kick), Highland 42-28, 4:23.
4th Quarter
Heber Springs — Josiah Riggs 14-yard touchdown pass from Spencer Sugg (Golden Tate kick), Highland 42-35, 11:22.
Heber Springs — Lane Bradley 8-yard touchdown run (Golden Tate kick), tied 42-42, 8:06.
Heber Springs — Tanner Graham 91-yard touchdown pass from Spencer Sugg (Golden Tate kick), Heber Springs 49-42, 1:31.
Highland — Jimmy Jensen 38-yard touchdown pass from Austin Christy (Mason Sinclair two-point pass from Christy), Highland 50-49, 0:27.
Players of the Game
- Austin Christy, Highland, quarterback: Three touchdown passes, one rushing touchdown and two successful two-point passes. Threw all three touchdowns to Jimmy Jensen, including the 38-yard score with 27 seconds remaining, then found Mason Sinclair for the winning conversion.
- Jimmy Jensen, Highland, slotback/running back: Three touchdown receptions. Scored with 48 seconds and four seconds remaining before halftime, then caught the 38-yard touchdown with 27 seconds left that brought Highland within 49-48.
- Spencer Sugg, Heber Springs, quarterback: Two rushing touchdowns and two touchdown passes, all in the second half. Scored on runs of 7 and 3 yards and threw touchdowns of 14 yards to Josiah Riggs and 91 yards to Tanner Graham.
- Aydin Isom, Heber Springs, running back/middle linebacker: Two rushing touchdowns and one interception. His first-quarter interception gave Heber Springs possession at Highland’s 19-yard line, setting up his own 3-yard touchdown run. His second score brought the Panthers within 21-14.
- Tanner Graham, Heber Springs, wide receiver/cornerback: Caught a 91-yard touchdown pass for Heber Springs’ first lead with 1:31 remaining. Also caught a 40-yard pass on the Panthers’ opening second-half touchdown drive.