By Gary Thomas

Coach Justin Bragg and his second-ranked 2A Highland Home (HHS) Flying Squadron made school history this past Thursday night by beating the 2-and-6 Calhoun Tigers 54 to 8 as they finished the 2024 football season with an unblemished 10-0 record.

This marks the first time in 108 years of football that the Flying Squadron has accomplished such a feat. They also went undefeated in region play by going 6-0.

It didn’t take long for the Flying Squadron wing-T offense to kick in on the third play from scrimmage as quarterback TJ Washington hit wideout Taylor Chaney on a 24-yard scoring toss. Place kicker Austin Norman‘s PAT kick was true to give Highland Home School an early 7 to 0 lead.

The Flyboys got their second score of the first quarter when running back Austin Crittenden scored on an 11-yard run around left to put the Flying Squadron up 13 to 0 after Norman’s PAT missed his second attempt. The touchdown drive was set up by the Squadron’s defense fumble recovery by linebacker Logan Taylor.

On the Tigers’ next possession, they closed the gap on the Squadron lead to 13-8 when they scored on a 15-yard pass play. Their second-point run on the PAT was good.

Once again, the run-oriented wing-T kicked in when Squadron’s Washington scored on a 55-yard gallop to the Tiger end zone as the score stood at 19-8 in the favor of the Flyboys with 1:36 showing on the clock.

The Squadron defensive unit got into the scoring column when Auburn commit JJ. Faulk picked off a Tiger pass and raced 22 yards for the score. Once again the Squadron ran for two points on the PAT, but were stopped as the HHS lead was 25 to 8.

With 7:36 before halftime, the Squadron drove 45 yards in six plays and fullback Austin Norman scored from 2 yards out. His kick on the PAT was true as the Flyboys went up 32 to 8. 

After a Squadron defensive stand forced a Tiger punt, return man Chaney raised 38 yards for a Squadron touchdown to go up to 39 to 8. 

Washington and Cheney closed out the first half scoring when the two connected on a 36-yard touchdown pass to give Highland Home a 46 to 8 lead. The Flyboys got a late second half touchdown to make the final score 54 to 8 Highland Home. 

At the close of their regular season play, the Squadron are the top 2A team on offensive points with 479 points scoring on the season and at the top on defense, giving up only 52 points on the season. The Flyboys are off this Friday night as they look forward to the state 2A playoffs in two weeks.