Highland beats Red Hook in Class B quarterfinal, claiming first playoff win since 2009
HIGHLAND – It wasn’t too long ago when James Gescheidle was like many of the youth football players who were bouncing around the stands at Highland High School Friday night while their neighbors and older brothers worked to make their mark on history.
The Huskies were a dominant team in Section 9 for many seasons under retired coach Carl Relyea but the program has lately struggled to add to those days of glory. A change in the offense seemed to ignite Highland and Gescheidle this season.
Highland qualified for its first playoff game since 2015, and Gescheidle did his best to end a postseason drought that reached back to 2009 when he was just 3 years old. The senior back ran for three touchdowns – twice from 4 yards and once from 13 – to lift Highland to a 28-14 victory over No. 5 and shorthanded Red Hook in a Class B quarterfinal playoff.
“It’s awesome, just growing up here and now seeing all the work paying off,’’ said Gescheidle, whose 103 yards on 18 carries was short-changed when he had to fall on a high snap and took a loss of 21 yards in the fourth quarter.
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Buy that kid a burger, or two
HIghland lineman Craig Elliott had no idea that Gescheidle followed his lead blocks on both of his short scores.
“I think everything comes down to my line,’’ Gescheidle said. “I think as long as they have a great game I think I’m going to have a great game. I trust (Elliott) so much to help me have that game.’’
In the pros, the quarterbacks and running backs often reward their linemen with an expensive dinner for opening up the holes for scores. Elliott might not go hungry at lunch next week.
Mix and match
Red Hook barely made it to the postseason and went in without starting quarterback Landon Ramsey, who suffered a broken hand in a recent game. In fact, the Raiders were so short-handed they had to forfeit a game last week.
Nineteen players dressed on Friday night and Red Hook lost a few more players to injury against Highland, notably running back Liam Leggett, who had rushed for 37 yards in the first half.
With Ramsey out, Red Hook turned to sophomore quarterback Francis Bauer and had senior Robert Paschal step in at times after halftime. Bauer completed six of eight throws but also threw three interceptions to Highland’s Marco Garrity, Joshua Bishop and Landon Zehr.
By the numbers
Joshua Bishop fielded an onside kick and ran 55 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown – only eight seconds elapsed after Red Hook’s Jack Neese fell backwards in the end zone while making a 22-yard scoring grab, pulling the Raiders within 14-6 midway through the third quarter.
Highland rushed for 174 yards and QB Connor Gemmell completed four throws for 35 yards. … The Huskies did themselves no favors with nine penalties for 55 yards. … Garrity busted off a 30-yard run late in the game to finish with 51 yards. … Red Hook rushed for 188 yards. Jordan Bennett had 20 carries for 76 yards and Paschal had eight for 57.
Up next
Highland will travel to No. 1 seed and perennial champion Port Jervis for a semifinal playoff next weekend.
Red Hook coach Scott Ricketson is concerned about his 2024 roster, losing nine seniors and having a struggle convincing freshmen and sophomores to play varsity ball.
Kmcmillan@th-record.com; X / Twitter: @Ken McMillan THR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Highland beats Red Hook in Class B football playoff
