MESQUITE – Prior to Saturday, Highland Park had been a pass-first team that used the run as a complementary feature.
The cold air at Mesquite Memorial Stadium, where the wind chill was 27 degrees, threw that approach out of the window Saturday afternoon against Everman.
Highland Park reinvented itself, using its running game to overtake Everman, 42-13, in a 4A Division II state semifinal. Highland Park (15-0) will face Lake Travis (14-1) in the state title game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Baylor's Floyd Casey Stadium.
Highland Park had 236 rushing yards and 166 passing yards, marking the first time in five playoff games that its ground game was more productive.
"When you throw the football, and your percentages are less than 50 percent with the wind the way it is, you're better off trying to run the ball effectively," Highland Park coach Randy Allen said.
The catalyst for Highland Park was senior running back Michael Thatcher, who rushed for four touchdowns. He recorded his third 100-yard rushing game of the playoffs with 16 carries for 125 yards.
Thatcher understood that, with the weather the way it was, his name would be called more often. Needless to say, he was ready.
"I'm the kind of guy who gets pretty nervous coming out," Thatcher said. "But as soon as we start running the ball, I'll come into a rhythm, and I'm sure the rest of the team is the same way."
Highland Park rushed for TDs on its first three possessions to take a 15-point lead.
But it was Highland Park's passing game that keyed the second drive with two third-down conversions.
On third-and-5 at the Everman 38, a pass from senior quarterback Winston Gamso sailed through the hands of senior receiver Travis Bellinger and into the hands of senior receiver Seth Gardner for 11 yards.
Later on the drive, faced with third-and-15 at the Everman 21, Gamso and Thatcher hooked up on a 17-yard screen play to set up first-and-goal. Gamso scored on a 1-yard keeper to increase Highland Park's lead to 14-6.
Despite holding a 28-13 lead at halftime, Highland Park felt it needed to continue scoring to beat Everman (14-1).
It moved the ball 53 yards in six plays on the first drive of the second half and added to its lead on Thatcher's third touchdown of the game.
"They had that great comeback last week against Rider," said Thatcher, referring to Everman's 21-point fourth quarter. "We knew coming into the second half that they were going to fight very hard, so it was important to go in there and score on the first drive."
Highland Park's defense shut down Everman down the stretch. Everman failed to get a first down in the second half after getting eight in the first.
Highland Park is aiming for its second state title in three years. It defeated Marshall, 59-0, in the 2005 4A Division I title game.
Allen, who coached the 2005 champions, anticipates a fiercely competitive matchup Saturday. He listened in as Lake Travis thumped Dayton, 49-13, Friday.
"They scared me to death because they scored so many points and scored so easily," Allen said. "It sounds like nobody can stop them, so what a great matchup in the state championship."
