The Emporia High football team knew what challenge was in front of them Friday night against Highland Park at Hummer Sports Park.
EHS scored first and never surrendered the lead in an 83-64 victory over the Scots to advance to the regional round of the Class 5A playoffs. It’s the first playoff win for Emporia coach Keaton Tuttle and the first win for the Spartans in the postseason since 2019.
The Spartans needed three plays to score their first touchdown with Fred Jackson connecting with Sheldon Stewart for a 39-yard touchdown reception.
Highland Park responded right back on the ensuing kickoff with an 80-yard kick return from Tre Richardson.
The Spartans got three rushing touchdowns from Bobby Trujillo of 45, 3, and 10 yards to go up 28-14 with 1:52 left in the first quarter. EHS led 28-22 at the end of the first quarter.
Momentum swung toward Highland Park early in the second but a Jalyn King 6-yard interception return for a touchdown made it 35-22 with nine minutes to play before halftime.
Trujillo added two more rushing touchdowns of 13 and 19 yards in the second and capped off by a 28-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to King to give EHS a 56-34 lead at halftime.
Trujillo accounted for all four second-half touchdowns of 5, 13, 29, and a 3-yard run with four minutes to play that gave EHS an 83-56 advantage.
Trujillo ran for 299 yards and nine touchdowns to anchor the Spartan offense. Jackson was a perfect 4-for-4 passing for 116 yards with two touchdowns.
EHS improved to 2-7 on the season with the win. They’ll travel to Blue Valley Southwest next Friday at 7 p.m. You can hear the game of 14 KVOE AM/96.9 FM with coverage beginning at 6:40 p.m. The Timberwolves upset Topeka-Seaman, 42-14 to improve to 4-5.
It’ll be the second meeting in the postseason between the two schools in three seasons with BVSW ending the Spartans’ 2020 season with a 36-15 victory.
Area Scores:
Council Grove 48 Fredonia 8
At Caney Valley next Friday.
Columbus 46 Burlington 8
Troy 59 Mission Valley 14.
Non-playoff game
Southeast Cherokee 20 Northern Heights 6
