Highland wasted no time taking control against Williams Field Friday night. 

The Hawks asserted their dominance early in the game, en route to a 43-21 victory in a 6A East Valley Region game at Williams Field High School. 

Highland jumped on their Gilbert crosstown rival Blackhawks from the outset with 29 unanswered points, moving the ball with a balanced attack. 

Quarterback Kalen Fisher was efficient for the Hawks, completing 13 of 17 passes for 157 yards, one touchdown, and most importantly no interceptions. 

Running back Jay Martin led Highland on the ground with three scoring runs and 129 yards. 

The win sets up a showdown next week against ALA-Queen Creek (6-1, 1-0) which will carry Open Division playoff implications. 

Highland (5-2, 2-0) cannot afford another setback if it wants to keep Open hopes alive. 

“All we can do is take things one game at a time and one opponent at a time,” receiver Greg Toler Jr. said afterward. 

“We played well in the first half and took care of business early. We can now start preparing for a really good ALA (Queen Creek) team."

Toler scored on a 46 yard reception from Fisher on Highland’s second possession. 
 

That had followed the Hawks first scoring drive, which ended with a one yard touchdown run from Kody Cullimore. 

Highland added two-point conversions on their first two scoring drives, making it 16-0 midway through the first quarter. 

Jay Martin added two of his three touchdowns in the second quarter, both on short runs, and Highland had a 29-0 lead just before halftime. 

Williams Field (5-2, 1-2) didn’t show much life but right before halftime, when Braeden Kirsner returned a kickoff deep into Highland territory, setting up a short scoring run from tailback Dylan Lee. 

The Blackhawk offense kept up the fight in the second half. Another short touchdown run from Lee made the score 36-21 midway through the fourth quarter. 

But Martin’s 22 yard scoring run on Highland’s next drive shut the door for good. 

“Besides that long kickoff return, we executed pretty well on both side of the ball.” Highland coach Brock Farrell said afterward.  

“Really solid first half.”

Highland sophomore Grady Crandall had two interceptions for the Hawks.