CARDINGTON — Highland used its running game to grind out 27 points in the first half Friday, and handed Cardington its second straight Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference defeat, 35-13.

The Scots (5-2, 5-1) had two 100-yard runners for the second game in a row. Artie McAndrew rushed 10 times for 116 yards, and Justin Staton slogged out 105 yards on 22 carries. Highland had only two plays that weren’t runs, both in the second half. On defense, the Scots forced five turnovers overall, four in the second half, and two turnovers on downs in the second half.

Staton quieted the Pirates’ (5-2, 4-2) crowd with an 87-yard touchdown off the opening kickoff for a 7-0 lead. Cardington, however, tied the score in exactly one minute, as Jeff Stone ran for a 17-yard touchdown with 10:47 to play in the first quarter. Highland used its running game to keep the Pirates off the field, racking up 253 rushing yards and 10 of its 11 first downs in the first half.

Dustin Green finished off the Scots’ next drive with a 1-yard TD run at the 4:30 mark of the first, and after getting the ball back, McAndrew scored a 34-yard TD with 1:21 to play for a 21-0 lead. The Pirates’ Matt Kills brought the score to within eight, 21-13, on his 21-yard run with 10:09 left in the first half, but Staton capped a drive with a 30-yard scoring run with 5:24 left in the half for a 27-13 advantage.

The second half was all defense for Highland, as the Scots had no first downs and had three 3-and-outs in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, still leading 27-13, the Scots ran to kill the clock, getting their last touchdown on Jake Ulrey’s 4-yard run with 1:47 to play.

Stone had 15 rushes for 93 yards for Cardington, and David Meacham had three catches for 58 yards.

Highland will return home Friday for a game against Buckeye Valley, which is tied with the Scots for second place in the MOAC Red Division. Game time is 7 p.m.