HUNTINGTON HIGHLANDER FOOTBALL 2025
2013, 2017, 2021, 2022 - MSAC CHAMPIONS
2013 & 2021 - AAA STATE RUNNER UP
97, 98, 99, 03, 11,12,15,17,21,22,23,24 - QUARTER FINALS
2014, 2017, 2021 , 2022, 2023, 2024 - FINAL FOUR
2022-STATE CHAMPIONS
BELL LOUD, COUGARS QUIET: Highlanders Roll Capital 51–0 in Homecoming to Bob Sang Stadium
HUNTINGTON — The Highlanders finally came home. They brought the thunder with them. Playing at Bob Sang Stadium for the first time this season, fifth-ranked Huntington delivered a spectacular welcome-back performance Friday night, overwhelming Capital 51–0 in the Week 6 Battle for the Bell. The Highlanders improved to 4–1, turning their rivalry showdown into a showcase of defensive destruction, explosive offense and special teams fireworks. The bell belonged to Huntington. So did just about everything else. Huntington piled up 346 yards of offense, while its defense held Capital to 37 total yards, including minus-22 rushing yards. The Cougars managed only five first downs and converted just one of 12 third-down attempts. Capital spent the evening trying to find breathing room. Huntington kept closing the door.
The opening minutes, however, offered little indication of the avalanche ahead. An interception ended Huntington’s first possession, and a fumble spoiled another early scoring opportunity. The Highlander defense answered both setbacks with authority. With Capital backed against its own end zone, Jeremiah Lyles and Grady Franks brought down the quarterback for a safety, putting Huntington ahead 2–0. It was the first entry in a long list of problems the Highlanders created for the Cougars. After Donte Newsome returned the ensuing free kick to midfield, Travon Okonkwo powered the offense forward with consecutive runs. Marek Midkiff then found Newsome for a 23-yard touchdown, and Huck Capitan’s extra point made it 9–0. Then came the first special teams explosion. Ilias King blocked a Capital punt, and Okonkwo scooped up the loose ball and raced 24 yards for a touchdown. Suddenly, Huntington led 16–0, with its defense and punt-pressure unit already making major contributions to the scoreboard. Newsome followed with an interception, giving the offense another opportunity. Midkiff connected with Kellen Rife for a key third-down completion, and Johnny Garrett ripped off a 22-yard run to put Huntington on the doorstep.
On the opening play of the second quarter, Midkiff found Rife for a 6-yard touchdown. The lead grew to 23–0. Rife wasn’t finished collecting footballs, either. Shortly afterward, he intercepted a Capital pass, joining Newsome in making an impact on both sides of the ball. And when Capital later pushed into Huntington territory, Landon Dixon supplied the evening’s next highlight. Dixon intercepted a pass and took it 64 yards to the end zone, transforming a Cougar possession into another Highlander celebration. Huntington carried a 30–0 lead into halftime. Three phases. One very loud statement.
The second half brought more of the same. C.J. Quinn sacked Capital’s quarterback on the opening possession, helping force a punt. Huntington answered with a scoring drive that included an 18-yard reception by Rife and a 20-yard scramble by Midkiff on third down. Newsome finished it with a 2-yard touchdown run, stretching the advantage to 37–0. Antonyo Paschall then delivered a 16-yard sack, and Franks followed with another tackle behind the line. Capital punted again, and Midkiff eventually found Rife for a 33-yard touchdown, making it 44–0 and sending the game into a running clock. Tyler Long added the final touchdown in the fourth quarter, bursting up the middle for 35 yards. Markhi Martin later intercepted a Capital pass to help preserve the shutout. Midkiff finished 8-of-15 for 117 yards and three touchdowns, adding 38 rushing yards. Rife caught four passes for 81 yards and two scores, while Newsome scored both receiving and rushing touchdowns. Okonkwo led Huntington’s rushing attack with 62 yards on seven carries, and MayShaun Okonkwo added 45 yards on seven attempts. The Highlanders totaled 229 rushing yards, spreading the work across seven ball carriers. Defensively, King led Huntington with seven tackles. Quinn recorded six tackles, one sack and three tackles for loss. Paschall added six tackles and a sack, while Franks contributed six tackles, half a sack and two tackles for loss. Newsome, Rife, Dixon and Martin supplied Huntington’s four interceptions. Capitan completed the scoring effort with a perfect 7-for-7 night on extra points.
Now the Highlanders take that momentum back on the road for a meeting with the Parkersburg Big Reds, who enter at 3–3 and were ranked No. 7 in Class AAA in the Week 6 rankings. Huntington won 35–3 at Parkersburg last season, but another trip into Big Reds territory means another opportunity to prove how far this team can go. After a night of relentless defense and touchdowns from across the roster, the Highlanders have plenty to carry with them. The bell is secured. The next challenge is waiting. Big Reds, meet the green-and-gold express.
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