Lions frustrated in 62-0 loss to Highland Park
October 4, 2008

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

UNIVERSITY PARK -- Greenville’s Lions self-destructed in a 62-0 loss to No. 3 state-ranked Highland Park on Friday night at Highlander Stadium.

The Lions fumbled nine times, losing four of them, and committed 11 penalties for 115 yards.

They finished the game with only four first downs and 67 total yards while giving up 336 yards to the Scots, who benefited from a short field for most of the game.

“We kept shooting ourselves in the foot with fumbles and penalties,” said Lions coach Jim Phillips.

Highland Park’s first three scoring drives covered only 16, 11 and 23 yards following two Greenville fumbles and a short punt. The Scots’ next two drives were 68 and 39 yards. They also drove 77 yards to start the second half and then had drives of 42, 19 and 12 yards that followed another short punt and two lost fumbles.

Highland Park, which reached the state finals last season, stayed unbeaten for the season at 5-0 and in District 10-4A play at 0-2. The Lions dropped to 1-4 and 0-2.

“Highland Park’s good,” said Phillips. “I’m not going to take anything away from them. We’ve just got to learn somehow to go on the road and compete.

“I don’t know how you can play so good one week and so bad the next week,” said Phillips, whose Lions managed 355 yards in last week’s 42-28 loss to Rockwall-Heath.

Greenville finished with 67 yards rushing as tailback Dakieston Williams led the Lions with 55 yards on 14 carries. Quarterback Alton Dennis, who ran for 214 yards on 26 carries last week, wound up with a minus 21 yards on 15 carries.

The Lions were 0-for-4 passing.

Highland Park quarterback Luke Woodley went 13-of-23 for 166 yards and three touchdowns, including tosses of 13 and 6 yards to Will Leifeste and an 8-yarder to Chris Hipps.

Running back Bryan Dickenson rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, scoring on blasts from the three and four.

Will Glasscock also ran for touchdowns of three and five yards while finishing with 26 yards on seven carries.

Brookes McIlhenny, the son of former Highland Park and SMU standout quarterback Lance McIlhenny, ran for 47 yards on eight carries, scoring on a 2-yard run.

Dillon Zweifel, the Scots’ backup quarterback also ran for a 1-yard touchdown as the Scots substituted liberally in the second half.

Devonte Green, who started at quarterback for the Lions, finished with 20 yards on four carries and was 0-for-3 passing.