SPARTA – The scale of Saturday night’s Division IV, Region 15 football playoff game is not lost on Highland coach Matt Jones or senior quarterback Kadin Johnson.
The Scots, seeded 17th, travel to top-seeded St. Clairsville in the second round. Oh, and the Red Devils are ranked No. 1 in the state.
“We’ve never really seen a team with that amount of skill,” Johnson said. “What stands out is their size and how they play. They play with a love of the game and they get after it. They’re good, (play) hard-nosed football; super-fast (and) they love football.”
Johnson has thrown for 1,212 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions on 83 of 154 passing this season— more yardage and touchdowns than both of his first two years combined. He’s also coming off his first 300-yard passing game. He completed 21 of 27 passes for 306 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in Highland’s 50-33 win at 16th-seeded Warsaw River View in the first round on Oct. 16.
“I can’t remember the last time we had somebody (throw for 300 yards),” Jones said. “He did a nice job … he was relaxed. But at the same time, our receivers did a good job of catching the football and making things happen after the catch.”
The 21 completions and four touchdowns were also career highs.
Landon Remmert caught five passes for 142 yards and three touchdowns against River View, Jay Melchiori caught five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown and Landyn Albanese had six catches for 54 yards.
“Landyn Albanese had what I thought was his best game,” Jones said.
Remmert has been a main target for Johnson, catching four or more passes in all but one game for the Scots this season. He has 599 yards receiving with eight touchdowns on 30 catches so far.
“We grew up playing together,” Johnson said. “We have that bond. I know when the game is on the line, he’ll be the first one I look to and the guy I’ll depend on because I know we both want to end up in the end zone.”
Johnson has also formed a good one-two punch with back Dane Nauman in the running game. Johnson has 353 yards and 10 touchdowns on 88 carries, and Nauman has rushed for 464 yards and four touchdowns on 57 carries this season.
Nauman had 92 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, and Johnson ran for two touchdowns and 48 yards on 19 carries in the win over the Black Bears.
St. Clairsville is led by quarterback Tyler Tonkovich (46-for-85, 771 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions), running back Jacob Jordan (90 carries for 621 and seven touchdowns) and receiver Colin Oberdick (20 catches for 553 yards and six touchdowns).
“They’re a big, physical team,” Jones said. “Up front, on both sides, they get off the ball really fast. They’re strong kids and their skill guys have great speed. We’ve got our hands full with this one.”
