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SALT LAKE CITY — Anytime different divisions play each other in athletics, there is bound to be drama.
The comparisons between the levels, the upper division’s pressure to win, the lower division’s hope of an upset, all of these things come into play when teams in different classifications meet up.
For college football fans, think Football Bowl Subdivision-versus-Football Championship Subdivision. For high school football fans in Utah, think 5A Northridge visiting 4A Highland. Highland proved the 4A classification’s worth as the Rams defeated the Knights 28-6 in a non-region game in Sugar House.
Most of the first quarter was spent with the two teams jockeying for field position, until Highland running back Thomas Penbroke scored on an 11-yard run. Then, as Northridge set to punt, the Rams’ Jake Boren blocked the Knights’ punt. Andrew Parkin recovered the ball and scored to give Highland a 14-0 lead at the first quarter’s end.
Highland moves to 2-1, while Northridge falls to a record of 1-2.
Northridge got on the board in the second quarter as quarterback Ben Jackson’s 1-yard touchdown pushed the score to 14-6 at halftime. However, the Rams countered early in the third quarter as starting quarterback John Hunter scored on a 1-yard touchdown of his own, giving the Rams a 21-6 lead.
Unfortunately for Hunter, he left the game with concussion-like symptoms later in the third quarter, creating an exciting moment for the Pembroke family as sophomore James Pembroke entered the game. In the fourth quarter, Pembroke led the Rams to a touchdown, scoring on a 38-yard quarterback keeper.
Next week, Highland plays at Kearns while Northridge hosts Viewmont.
