RICHWOOD — Highland played its worst offensive game of the season in its last game of the season on Friday, and was shutout by undefeated North Union, 29-0.
The Scots (5-5, 5-4) impressive run game was slowed down by the weather and by a tenacious Wildcat (10-0, 9-0) defense. Highland ran 35 times for only 110 yards, and completed only 1-of-8 passes for 4 yards. North Union, by contrast, rushed 48 times for 278 yards and completed 3-of-6 passes for 39 yards. Each team threw two interceptions, and the Scots lost one fumble.
The Wildcats were just inside the midfield stripe in the first quarter when they scored their first touchdown. Running back Thane Hoffman broke through the Highland line to race 43 yards for a 6-0 lead with 7:17 left in the period. North Union took its time on its next drive, which ended with Kam Smith’s 2-yard TD run with 1:34 to play. Smith also scored a 2-point conversion run to make it 14-0.
Turnovers hampered both teams in the second and third quarters, as neither could touch the end zone. Highland punted just three times to once for the Wildcats, and each averaged only 21 yards in the harsh conditions. Penalties didn’t hurt the Scots, who had only one penalty for 1 yard.
For a while it looked as if there would not be any more scoring, but North Union got its act back together in the fourth quarter. Just 1:15 into the period, Smith scored his second touchdown of the game, a 1-yarder, and Tyler Hammons caught a 2-point conversion pass from Drew Crabtree to take the lead to 22-0. Another long drive brought another TD late in the game. With 2:21 remaining, Crabtree took it himself for 1 yard, and the score was 29-0.
Kyle Minyo led Highland with 51 yards on 14 carries, and Shawn Beltz added 29 yards on 10 carries. Josh Gahm was 1-of-7 for 4 yards, a completion to David Fisher.
Crabtree ran nine times for 84 yards for the Wildcats, and Hoffman rushed 12 times for 79 yards.