Last-minute touchdown keeps Hornets buzzing

As sophomores, kicker Eric Duale, quarterback Nick Knerem, tailback Chis Snook, receiver Kyle Callari and tight end Tyler Houska paid their dues through Highland’s 1-9 season two years ago.

But now it’s payback time for the senior-laden Hornets, who remained undefeated with a come-from-behind 24-21 win over host Wadsworth on Friday night in a Suburban League slugfest at Art Wright Field.

"This is unbelievable ... the way we pulled it out at the end ... I really believe that we are a team of destiny this season," Knerem said after marching Highland 75 yards for the winning touchdown, including a 10-yard pass to Callari with four seconds left.

"I told coach [Tom] Lombardo that I was getting good position on the corner all night," Callari said. "I cut outside, and Nick hit me with a perfect pass."

Wadsworth receiver Anthony Schrock didn’t have a catch in the first half, but the junior — who played with a brace around his injured left knee — gave the Grizzlies a 21-17 lead with a 21-yard touchdown grab from junior quarterback Caleb Busson with 2:50 to play.

Busson, who passed for 134 yards, also rushed for 119 yards, including a 60-yard scamper in the second quarter. The run set up a 4-yard touchdown by fullback Bart Randolph that cut Highland’s lead to 14-7. Randolph’s 3-yard touchdown, his seventh TD of the season, drew the Grizzlies to within 17-14 in the third quarter.

The Grizzlies (5-3, 3-2) defense stopped Highland cold in the third quarter, when the Hornets ran three plays, Knerem was intercepted by Joe Wenger and Callari fumbled the kickoff after Randolph’s second touchdown.

Highland (8-0, 5-0), ranked 10th by The Plain Dealer and ninth by the Associated Press in Division II, scored on three of its four possessions in the first half. The Hornets got a 4-yard run by junior Aaron Maslowski; a 12-play, 48-yard drive in which Knerem scored from the 1; and a 32-yard field goal by Duale.

Wadsworth senior Brett Currens blocked Duale’s first attempt from 30 yards out with less than two minutes to play in the first quarter.

Snook, Highland’s career rushing leader, rushed for 187 yards and now has 1,075 yards this season.

"I’m speechless — what a football game," Lombardo said. "We overcame those turnovers. We just kept fighting. It came down to Nick and Kyle. They made up for those earlier mistakes."