Highland Park defeats Rockwall-Heath: Live score, updates in Texas high school football opener (8/29/2024)

Scots record road win behind 3 total TDs from QB Buck Randall

Randy Allen paces the Highland Park sideline in a Texas high school football playoff game against Denton Guyer in 2022. / Photo by Brian McLean, SBLive

Highland Park takes on Rockwall-Heath to open the 2024 Texas high school football season on Thursday.

• LIVE TEXAS HS FOOTBALL SCORES

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HIGHLAND PARK 34, ROCKWALL-HEATH 21 (FINAL)

POSTGAME

- Highland Park wins its season opener with a double-digit victory on the road. The Scots had 241 yards of offense to 229 for Heath. Scots' QB Buck Randall was 17-of-27 passing for 187 yards and two TDs plus a rushing TD. Heath running back Ashton Bradford had 105 yards on 14 carries with a TD.

FOURTH QUARTER

- Highland Park stops Heath on downs at the Scots' 25. Scots take over with a 20-point lead near the four-minute juncture.

- TOUCHDOWN HIGHLAND PARK: QB Buck Randall takes a keeper 2 yards into the end zone, continuing his huge night for the Scots, who now are up by 20 (Highland Park, 34-14 | 7:55, 4th)

- Highland Park's defense forces a punt, and the Scots take over near midfield with close to 10 minutes left.

- The final quarter commences with Highland Park up by 13.

THIRD QUARTER

- Heath goes for it on a fourth down at midfield, but a pass attempt goes incomplete. Highland Park takes over in the closing moments of the third.

- FIELD GOAL HIGHLAND PARK: Highland Park extends the lead to 13 as Sutton Stock connects on his second field goal of the night, this one covering 33 yards (Highland Park, 27-14 | 6:05, 3rd)

- The second half is under way. Heath got the second-half kickoff, but was forced to punt it away.

HALFTIME

- Despite trailing by 10 at the break, Heath actually has outgained Highland Park, 168-163. Scots' QB Buck Randall is 12-of-18 passing for 119 yards and two TDs, with receiver Cannon Bozman hauling in five of those completions for 63 yards and a TD. Heath tailback Ashton Bradford has 94 yards on seven carries, including a big-play TD.

- Highland Park holds a 10-point lead at the break (Highland Park, 24-14 | Half)

SECOND QUARTER

- TOUCHDOWN HIGHLAND PARK: The Scots roll the dice, going for it on fourth-and-goal from the Heath 17, and they get it. QB Buck Randall finds Harrison Cullum in the end zone for a 17-yard TD with nine seconds left in the half. Highland Park back up by 10 (Highland Park, 24-14 | :09, 2nd)

- Highland Park drives down to the Heath 10, where the Scots face a first-and-goal in the closing seconds of the opening half.

- TOUCHDOWN ROCKWALL-HEATH: This game has turned into a festival of big plays all of a sudden. Heath marches 87 yards in seven plays, with Ashton Bradford taking a run 68 yards to the house. PAT gets the Hawks within three (Highland Park, 17-14 | 1:58, 2nd)

- FIELD GOAL HIGHLAND PARK: Scots respond after the Heath kickoff return and score on the ensuing possession. Sutton Stock boots a field goal from 46 yards out and the Scots are back up by double digits (Highland Park, 17-7 | 4:13, 2nd)

- TOUCHDOWN ROCKWALL-HEATH ON A KICKOFF RETURN: But just like that, Heath dramatically swipes the momentum right back from the Scots, as on the ensuing kickoff, Jaylon Rochell runs it back 101 yards. Two TDs 13 seconds part, and Heath is on the board (Highland Park, 14-7 | 10:16, 2nd)

- TOUCHDOWN HIGHLAND PARK ON A PICK-SIX: Angus Wall intercepts a pass right in front of his own goal line and he is off to the races. He goes in for a 98-yard pick-six, as the Scots dramatically regain momentum back. Sutton Stock adds the PAT, and Highland Park is up by two TDs (Highland Park, 14-0 | 10:29, 2nd)

FIRST QUARTER

- Rockwall-Heath driving as action shifts into the second quarter.

- TOUCHDOWN HIGHLAND PARK: Scots go 68 yards in 11 plays and gets the game's initial score as QB Buck Randall hooks up with Cannon Bozman for a 12-yard TD. PAT makes it 7-0 (Highland Park, 7-0 | 6:20, 1st)

• Kickoff is set for any moment.

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2024 Texas high school football preview

Stay with SBLive's preseason coverage in the lead up to the 2024 Texas high school football season and the start of games on Thursday.

• Who are the 25 best teams in Texas, regardless of classification or association? Here are the SBLive Preseason Texas Power 25 rankings, as well as the 20 winningest active coaches.

• Who are the 100 most important high school football players in Texas? We scoured the state and counted down from 100 to 1: Part 1 (100-51) |Part 2 (50-1)

• We're taking a position-by-position look at the top players returning in the Lone Star State this fall, starting with 50 quarterbacks, 70 running backs, 40 wide receivers, 25 tight ends, 25 offensive linemen, 30 cornerbacks, 25 safeties, 45 linebackers and 25 kickers/punters.

• Finally, we examined offseason player movement and the 12 transfers that will have the biggest impact in the fall.

• Who are the most underrated teams in the Lone Star State entering the season? We're taking a look by region at the programs poised to out-perform expectations, starting with North Texas, Southeast Texas and Central Texas.

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-- Buck Ringgold | buck@scorebooklive.com | @sblivetx