HUNTSVILLE | It was close for most of a half, as Monterey used a size advantage on the offensive line and mashed on Scott High with its run game.
But then came the second half, some defensive adjustments by the Highlanders, and a comfortable, 33-14 win over the Wildcats.
Scott High (2-0), stumbled at times offensively in its home opener, but used a big night on special teams — and another big night by explosive junior Carter Slaven — to pull away from Monterey (1-2).
Missing a key component of their offensive attack, the Wildcats leaned on Donald Musell. He was up to the challenge, rushing for 113 yards on 31 carries. Hank Shepard added 52 yards on 10 carries.
But after 130 yards in the first half — which seemed like even more, because Monterey was able to run almost at will against the Highlander defense on back-to-back possessions once it shifted to a heavy front — the Wildcats could do almost nothing in the second half.
Scott High shifted to a heavier defensive front and limited Monterey to just 56 yards of offense in the second half, and the Wildcats did not sniff the end zone.
“They’re very well coached,” Scott High coach Billy Hall said of Monterey. “They’re very good in the box and that’s what they do. Coach (Eric) Privett handled it very well. He came to me and said, ‘This is what I’ve got, and I said, ‘Absolutely, roll with it.’ I’ll be honest, I really didn’t even need to know what it was.”
As a result of the defensive adjustments, Scott High was able to pull off a comfortable win despite not generating any offensive scores of its own in the third or fourth quarters. The only score in the second half was a 57-yard Slaven punt return — his second of the game — early in the fourth quarter.
The Highlanders got the scoring started after a Monterey punt that was partially blocked to open the game. Gage Privett connected to Sawyer Barnes from six yards out to give Scott the early lead. Privett finished 12 of 18 for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Monterey’s second possession resulted in another blocked punt, which was scooped up by Slaven at the 21-yard-line and returned for a touchdown, giving the Highlanders a 13-0 lead.
Unable to move the ball through its first two possessions, Monterey began to find some sizeable gaps to run through, and was able to put a pair of touchdowns on the board. The first was a one-yard run by Musell early in the second quarter.
Scott answered, though, as Slaven scored on an eight-yard run.
That was followed by a one-yard touchdown plunge by Ethan Phillips, as Monterey continued to hang around.
Again, the Highlanders had an answer. This time, Privett and Slaven hooked up for a 28-yard strike, making it 26-14 at the half.
Neither offense could get much going in the second half, but Slaven scooped up a punt off a bounce and returned it 57 yards for a score with 8:45 remaining. He is believed to be the first player in school history to return two punts for scores in a single game. He now has eight touchdowns in just two games this season.
Scott High finished with 222 yards of offense. Jesse Jeffers led the rushing attack with 59 yards on eight carries. Slaven was the top receiver, with four catches for 71 yards.
Hall said after the game that his team is still making mistakes, but they’re correctable.
“We just need to execute a little bit better on both sides of the football,” he said. “We’ve hurt ourselves a lot, but it’s things we can clean up. We’ve made some mental mistakes, but everything is fixable. And, nevertheless, we’re 2-0.”
One big issue for the Highlanders has been penalties. Through two games, Scott is averaging well over 100 yards per game in penalties.
“You’ve gotta be in the moment,” Hall said. “When the whistle blows, you can’t do something extra. You just have to be smart and know what’s going on. We just have to be aware of what’s going on.”
Three players left the game with injuries for Scott High, though the extent of them was not immediately clear. Kennix Parton and Devin Prewitt suffered ankle injuries, and Elijah Wilson left with a knee injury.
