Highland Park to host Pulaski Academy in final non-district contest on Sept. 19

A pair of state powerhouses will meet when defending Texas Class 5A Division I state runner-up Highland Park hosts Arkansas Class 7A school Pulaski Academy on Sept. 19 in Dallas.

The Scots, the winningest program in Texas with 900 victories, are coming off a 14-2 season that culminated with a 32-20 loss to Smithson Valley in the 5A DI state title game. Highland Park, coached by Randy Allen, has won six state championships. Its famous alumni includes Bobby Layne, Doak Walker and Matthew Stafford.

Based out of Little Rock, Pulaski Academy's Bruins finished 10-3 in 2024, including a 5-2 record in the 7A-Central, capped by a 41-7 playoff loss to Bryant. Pulaski Academy has 11 state titles under its belt, most recently in 2022. The Bruins are coached by Anthony Lucas, a former standout receiver at the University of Arkansas.

Last season, Highland Park had a hole in its non-district schedule after the University Interscholastic League granted Lufkin's post-realignment appeal to move from District 7-5A Division I for travel reasons.

The replacement opponent was another state power, Colorado's Cherry Creek, which handed the Scots their only other loss of the season, 51-39, at Highland Park last Sept. 20. Texas teams typically play the same schedule with opposite home sites for two years, but the Scots needed another non-district game because the Cherry Creek game was a one-off.

Adding some intrigue to the marquee match-up is the fact that Pulaski Academy rolled into Highlander Stadium and cruised to a 40-13 victory over the Scots when the teams met on Sept. 4, 2015. Highland Park home losses are rare, as the Scots have gone undefeated at home seven of the last nine seasons.

Allen is closing in on becoming the all-time winningest head coach in Texas high school football history with 460 victories. He needs 30 more wins to tie Corpus Christi Calallen's Phil Danaher, who retired following the 2021 season.