Topeka Highland Park is in its first year in the newly formed Meadowlark League, a reincarnation of the former Kansas City Atchison League, renamed this year when the Scots joined what is now a seven-team league.
Newbies aside, Highland Park is traditionally a battled-tested team, Schlagle head coach Ceryn Macon said. The Scots have "played against some stiff competition in years past and are now in a league that they can compete in and have already had some success with a big shootout win versus Wyandotte," he said.
Schlagle and Highland Park are both 1-0 overall and in league play. The Stallions and Scots will meet Friday in the DiPasquale Moore PrepsKC Metro Matchup.
Highland Park outlasted Wyandotte 60-47 in Week 1 in Kansas. Schlagle blasted Harmon 55-0.
The Stallions were led by senior Kam Daboe, who, according to his coach, played lights out offensively and in special teams and was solid on defense. First-year player Lorenzo Johnson, a junior, had 18 total tackles with 5.5 sacks, Macon said.
Senior Elonnie Fishback dominated on defense and was a standout on special teams, as were freshman Dymyn Evans and Mark Nash. Running back Cameron Campbell led the ground game against Harmon and looks to do the same against Highland Park. Campbell is a "big strong physical back that punishes opponents between the tackle box and a hard hitter on defense," Macon said.
Macon is in his second year as Schlagle head coach. They've already won more games than they did one year ago in a winless 0-8 campaign. More kids are buying in, Macon said. As a team, the Stallions are focused on the small details and learning to execute one play at a time.
"They are playing for each other," Macon said.
The Scots will be a challenge. Will the Stallions respond?
"They have some athletic players," Macon said. "We need to play our game and stay physical at the line of scrimmage and keep everything in front of us."