As the final seconds ticked off the clock of Highland Park's 2022 season opener on Friday night, Jermaine Monroe could finally be himself.
 
“I’m a rah, rah, rah type of coach and I kept my composure throughout the game,” Monroe said. “I didn’t get too high, I didn’t get too low. And I could tell the players were feeding off me and the staff was the same way. We were just focused on what we needed to be doing until the game was over.”
 
And once that clock hit zeroes, Monroe and his Scots could do something they hadn’t done in nearly a decade. Celebrate.
 
In beating visiting Kansas City Wyandotte 60-47, Highland Park ended the state’s longest losing streak at 65 games. The last time the Scots had tasted victory was in Week 2 of the 2014 season when they beat KC Harmon 60-26.
 
To put it in perspective, this year’s senior class was in fourth grade the last time Highland Park won a varsity football game. Monroe, meanwhile, hadn’t yet become a head coach, still a year away from taking over at Maur Hill.
 
When Monroe took over that program, he said it compared to the same rebuilding job he faced when he took over at Highland Park last season.
 
“It’s the same situation, just a different location,” Monroe said. “The attitudes, the mindset when we first came in. We just had to change the culture.”
 
Monroe saw some signs of progress last season. On four occasions in 2021, the Scots scored at least 30 points in a game, putting themselves in position to end the streak.
 
But late-game collapses cost Highland Park, particularly in losses to Atchison (47-36), Emporia (42-32) and Topeka High (70-42).
 
“Last year, it was a lot of new and I don’t think we had them all bought into the program and the direction we are going in that first year,” Monroe said. “There were a lot of things we did where we couldn’t finish games. The boys are buying in more to what my plan is, what my coaching staff is doing. It’s getting them to trust us on the things we’re asking them to do. The senior class has really led the way in trusting us and showing the younger guys what to do in being good teammates and not give up.”
 
That growth showed as Highland Park fell behind right away in the game, trailed 25-16 in the first half and 41-34 in the third quarter before reeling off four straight touchdowns spanning the third and fourth quarters to take control of the game.

Senior standout Tre Richardson scored three of those game-clinching scores on runs ofg 68, 22 and 6 yards, finishing the night rushing for 224 yards and 4 scores on just 13 carries while also catching and throwing touchdown passes.
 

 
“There were several times we could have put our heads down and gave up, but the kids kept fighting through to show how resilient they are,” Monroe said. “I was proud of the guys not letting mistakes be excuses. Every aspect of the game was tested. We stayed positive with each other even when things got tough.”
 
One of those tough moments presented itself just before halftime. Almost immediately after grabbing a 44-yard touchdown pass from Richardson to pull the Scots within 25-22, Scot A’ydren Drew-Gregory picked off Wyandotte quarterback Shaun Carter and returned the pick 95 yards for an apparent go-ahead touchdown as time expired in the half.
 
Only Drew-Gregory started his touchdown celebration a little early and the officials waved off the score on an unsportsmanlike penalty. Monroe’s even-keeled approach came into play during the break.
 
“We went into half and one of the biggest mistakes some coaches might make is to not coach the mistakes,” Monroe said. “If we would’ve snapped on the kid and made him feel awful about the mistake he might be afraid to take the risk. We told him, ‘You made a mistake, we’re going to learn from it and move forward.’”
 
During the break, the officials discussed the play and correctly awarded the Scots the touchdown, giving them a 28-25 lead going into the second half. At that point, Monroe said he felt it was a break that programs in the situation the Scots have been in simply don’t get.
 
Highland Park capitalized and now takes a 1-0 record into a Week 2 game against KC Schlagle.
 
“These guys have been hungry for this for a long time,” Monroe said. “Some of these guys haven’t won a game in middle school or high school, at least at the varsity level. To do it the first game of the year is huge.
 
“We have the talent, we have the group that can win multiple games. I was just telling another coach that if they can just get a taste of victory, they’re going to be so hungry for more. Now (the challenge) is to get them back to focus. We’re going to preach 1-0. Last week is over, this week we need to be 1-0 again.”
 
In addition to the many messages and calls of congratulations Monroe received after the breakthough win, it’s some other calls he’s enjoyed as much if not more.
 
“I got guys who’ve been calling and asking to do more work,” he said. “I’ve got kids that I wish had come out for football calling and saying they want to play now. We’re going to open the door for those kids to come out and play.
 
“We’re going to give love to the day one guys, the guys who’ve been through the grind. They’ve been here four years or been a part of the program for the time they’ve been here. But for the kids that still want to come out here, be on the team, we had to prove it to them and I’d be a fool to turn my back to them. I think it’s not only going to help build the football program, but all sports.”
 
 
TAKING DOWN NO. 1
 
Rossville hadn’t lost since 2019.
 
Derby hadn’t lost at home since 2014.
 
Both entered the 2022 season ranked No. 1 in their respective classes. Both went down and saw their winning streaks come to an end.
 
Manhattan pulled off the upset of Derby, beating the Panthers for the first time since 2010 with a 26-23 overtime victory. Braxton Frey’s 26-yard field goal in overtime ended the Indians’ five-game losing streak against Derby – all five losses coming in the playoffs and ending their season.
 
“It’s a big win for our program, but ultimately, it is just one victory and we need to work hard to get better,” Manhattan coach Joe Schartz said. “Just like every team after the first game, we have many areas that we need to improve. It’s time to get to work.”
 
Manhattan sent a message early, going up 15 on touchdown runs by Jason Sanchez (7 yards) in the first quarter and DeAndre Aukland (18 yards) in the second quarter. But Derby responded with 23 straight points as Dylan Edwards ran for touchdowns of 68, 27 and 9 yards, the latter coming late in the third quarter to make it 23-15.
 
But Manhattan didn’t fold. Senior quarterback Keenan Schartz scored on a 6-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter and then hit Jaxon Bowles for the game-tying two-point conversion.
 
Neither team could score the rest of the way and then Manhattan held on Derby’s overtime possession, setting up Frey’s game-winning field goal.
 
“The players and coaches had an unshakeable will to win,” Manhattan coach Joe Schartz said of the win. “The message was to have no fear and just believe. It helped us keep our focus, especially when we fell behind.”
 
Manhattan out-gained Derby 325-273 and though Edwards – a Notre Dame commit – ran for 202 yards, the Panthers only threw for 30 yards. Schartz threw for 123 yards and ran for 92 yards.
 
While Manhattan was pulling its upset, St. Marys was knocking off Rossville. The Bears hadn’t beaten their Mid-East League rivals since 2017 and had lost to the Bulldawgs by an average of 34.3 points per game.
 
But behind three-year starting quarterback Keller Hurla, St. Marys got out to a 14-0 lead and then answered Rossville’s first touchdown with a third score to make it 20-7. Hurla threw for more than 250 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Rossville got within 20-13 but could never get a tying score.
 
After starting last year 0-3, St. Marys is a very big 1-0 in 2022.
 
“Rossville is always a great-coached team,” St. Marys coach Kyle Schenk said. “We were able to get ahead by making some plays in the passing game and I am super proud of all the young men who competed and the community who supports us.”
 
 
DAZZLING DEBUTS
 
Jett Vincent figured to be an impact transfer addition for Canton-Galva after being an All-State performer at both receiver and defensive back at Wheatland-Grinnell the past three seasons.
 
With the Eagles missing All-State quarterback Garrett Maltbie for Friday’s showdown with Eight-Player Division I No. 1 Little River – the only team to beat them in 2021 – Vincent’s impact was needed right away.
 
And he delivered.
 
Vincent stepped in at quarterback and completed 5 of 7 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns. But his real damage came on the ground where he ran for 344 yards and eight touchdowns to lead Canton-Galva to a blowout 66-36 victory.
 

• Basehor-Linwood had a gaping hole in its backfield with the loss of All-4A tailback and United Kansas Conference offensive player of the year Zack Sisemore.

 
But the Bobcats may have found a more than capable replacement in senior Jekai Harris. After rushing for 353 yards in a complementary role last year, Harris opened the 2022 season with a big game in the Bobcats’ 47-42 win over Tonganoxie.
 
Harris ran 28 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns. First-year starting quarterback Brady Vandonge also had a solid debut, throwing for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
 

• Lyndon won the first eight-player game in program history, pulling out a 20-14 win over Lebo. The game was tied 6-6 going into the fourth quarter but after falling down 14-6, Lyndon got a 72-yard kickoff return from Evan Feuerborn and two-point conversion to tie it and won it on Jalen Massey’s 1-yard run late in the game.

 
 
OTHER WEEK 1 STANDOUTS
 

• Nemaha Central’s Cooper Hajek ran for 200 yards and four touchdowns as the Thunder avenged last-second losses to Holton in each of the last two seasons with a 35-28 win over the Wildcats. Brayden Uphaus added 134 yardsand a touchdown passing.
• Jefferson County North’s Grady Noll ran for 286 yards and four touchdowns and also returned an interception for a touchdown as the Chargers topped Pleasant Ridge 50-8. The Chargers forced four turnovers overall.
• Axtell’s Isaac Detweiler ran for 204 yards and four touchdowns and threw for 169 yards and four more scores as the Eagles’ exploded late for an 82-38 win over Cair Paravel.
• Madison’s Bryson Turner ran for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns and first-year starting quarterback Hayden Helm ran and threw for a touchdown in the Bulldogs’ 66-6 win over Hartford.
• Chase County’s Mitch Budke ran for 187 yards and 5 touchdowns and also threw for two touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 60-8 win over Frankfort. Brock Griffin added 107 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Bulldogs.