Photos by Nick Ellis
BY VINCENT PEREZ
AJ Cleveland, laser-focused, looked out at his receiver Shabazz Muhammad and the ball seemed to float to Muhammad’s gloves. The pair were a recurring theme Friday night in Highland’s 49-8 league victory.
The Scots (7-1, 3-0 Southeast Yosemite League) kept their five-game winning streak alive defeating rival Foothill (4-4, 1-2 SEYL).
Cleveland, Muhammad and the entire Scot defense acted as working parts of a quick-revving Ford engine.
Cleveland, the Kern High Network player of the game in KHN’s Game of the Week, threw an astounding 14-for-18, 214 yards and four passing touchdowns. Cleveland knows the Scots have what it takes to keep the engine going at full-speed.
“Going from here, we have to keep playing like we have and we’ll be fine,” said Cleveland.
Last season as a sophomore Cleveland took occasional snaps on the gridiron but this season, Cleveland has become a starring member and leader for the Scots.
“Now, I’m used to it. I can do my job and watch my line do their job,” he said.
When Muhammad went down late in the third quarter with an ankle injury, Cleveland was concerned for his teammate because he remembered how he broke his ankle last season from the same personal foul, a horse-collar tackle, which caused him to miss the season.
“He’s one of my best receivers, I need him in the future,” said Cleveland. Yet, Cleveland did not miss a step, instead connecting with Jalen Hudgins for Highland’s last touchdown in the game, solidifying the 49 points, in the third quarter.
Muhammad showed what he was made of on the field in the three quarters he was in, picking apart Trojan corner backs. Muhammad, standing at 5-foot, 11 inches, leapt over Trojans like he was in the high jump, and excelled on defense.
He finished the game with 80 yards on six catches, two touchdowns, two interceptions and five tackles. Muhammad was grateful for the Highland victory post-game.
“It feels great being on the field with my brothers and dominate,” said Muhammad.
Muhammad paralleled Top 10 ESPN catches throughout the game, yet finally showed an ounce of humanity with the ankle injury and didn’t return in the fourth. According to head coach Michael Gutierrez and Muhammad, he’ll be ready to play next week at South.
The Scots’ defense denied Foothill any points in the first half. Highland led 35-0 at halftime and when the Trojan special teams surprised Highland, it was only a glimmer. In the opening kickoff of the second half, Foothill’s Raymundo Soto ran 90 yards to their only touchdown.
Foothill quarterback Rafael Monje and his offensive line struggled against the wall that was the Trojans’ defense. On their first possession, Foothill was stripped when Nick Salas rescued the ball from running back, Kaelan Deloney’s arms, to set up another touchdown, 14-0, four minutes into the game after the first of two Salas touchdowns.
The effort from Highland was seen on both sides of the ball and the offensive general was Cleveland, picking his spots from the pocket.
Gutierrez said Cleveland is a special quarterback post-game.
“It shows how talented he is,” said Gutierrez in his sixth season at Highland. Finding the right words to motivate players week in and week out can be tough, but Gutierrez seems to have found his.
“Our goal is to be a better team than the previous week,” he said.
He predicts the SEYL matchup with South High will be a physical matchup that they will take seriously, yet the Scots’ must improve in one area.
“We played [well] on both sides of the ball,” he said. Yet, the special teams need work, said Gutierrez. That will be a focus in the coming games, heading toward playoffs.
Muhammad’s touch on catches have been on point so far.
“He’s a special guy,” said Gutierrez. “People are finally seeing how good of a football player he is and to see him play defense and offense [well]. We’re happy to have him on our side than have to face him.”
Highland travels to South next Friday, and Foothill will take on East on the road.
