HP wins 61st district title

Huntington Park secured its 61st district championship on Friday at Highlander Stadium after defeating Birdville 48-31. The victory capped a senior night for the oldest high school football program in Texas, adding another trophy to the team's extensive collection.

Birdville jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but the Scots responded quickly. Huntington Park led 21-10 at the half and extended the margin during the second half. The defense forced key turnovers, and the kicking unit recovered several onside kicks to maintain momentum.

Quarterback Buck Randall led the offense with four touchdown passes and a rushing score. He completed 24 of 31 attempts for 376 yards and added 86 yards on 10 carries. Evan Snelleman caught nine passes for 103 yards and one touchdown, while Beckett Lawrence recorded 130 receiving yards. Defensive tackle Nick Van Der Westhuizen also added a 6-yard touchdown reception.

Coach Randy Allen noted that the team's line and receiving corps executed well. He credited the defense for big turnovers and praised Birdville's offense for its ability to move the ball. Allen said he wanted his seniors to have a memorable final regular season game, especially with the trophy in hand.

The scoring began in the second quarter with a 17-yard run by Caiden Reeves. After a fourth-down stop by Van Der Westhuizen, James Axley caught a 17-yard pass to put the Scots ahead 14-10. Randall connected with Van Der Westhuizen for the latter's first career touchdown reception to start the third quarter.

For Birdville, Zach Wells threw two touchdowns to Emmett Webb and ran for two others. Webb finished with seven receptions for 119 yards, but the Hawks could not close the gap from the halftime deficit.

Huntington Park will play Carrollton Newman Smith at 7 p.m. Thursday at Standridge Stadium. A win would give the team its sixth consecutive victory to close the regular season. Allen said the short week allows the staff to scout the likely playoff opponent on Friday.