Highland Park Stuns Ryan with Walk-Off Field Goal, Returns to State Title Game
For the fourth time in a state semifinal, Denton Ryan ran into the same roadblock—Highland Park. And once again, the Scots had the last word.
Friday night at Ford Center at The Star, kicker Sutton Stock drilled a walk-off field goal as time expired, lifting Highland Park to a 24-21 victory over the Raiders in the Class 5A Division I semifinal.
The win sends the Scots back to the state championship for the first time since 2018, when they capped off a run of three straight 5A Division I titles.
A Familiar Heartbreak for Ryan
Ryan jumped out fast, striking for a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter. Running back Nemo Warmate punched in a two-yard score, and Air Force signee Trae Williams snatched a pick-six to put the Raiders firmly in control. But history repeated itself. Just as in 2016, 2017, and 2018, Highland Park clawed back and ended Ryan’s run in the semifinals.
The loss drops Ryan to 7-4 all-time in state semifinal appearances, with every defeat coming at the hands of the Scots.
Scots Rally Behind Lancaster
Highland Park answered quickly behind the legs of running back James Lancaster, who scored twice in the first half and finished with 48 yards on the ground. That momentum pulled the Scots even at 14-14 before halftime.
Quarterback Buck Randall engineered the late-game march that sealed it, converting a crucial pass to Cannon Bozman on the final possession to keep the drive alive. The completion set up Stock’s game-winning kick with :06 left on the clock.
Defense Delivers Again
The Scots’ defense clamped down after the early hole, holding Ryan to its lowest scoring output of the season. Highland Park has surrendered just 16.1 points per game all year, the third-best mark among 5A programs, and it showed again under the brightest lights.
What’s Next
Legendary head coach Randy Allen, now with 460 career victories—second-most in Texas history—will chase another title when Highland Park (state finalists for the first time in five years) meets Smithson Valley next Saturday at 11 a.m. at AT&T Stadium.
“This doesn’t even feel real right now,” Allen said after the win. “But next week, it’s back to work.”
