For the third straight week and fourth time this season, the HCC football team has suffered a loss by four points or less, this time, by three, in a 9-6 loss to the No. 6 Ranked Independence Pirates.
 
A game that was postponed 24-hours due to weather, played out to be another defensive bout and a very low scoring contest.
 
Highland struck first after a Kendrick Catis interception on the second play from scrimmage that set up a William Solomon 45-yard field goal to give Highland three points and their only lead of the game.
 
The Highland defense stopped the Pirates on the next possession forcing them to turn it over on downs. Two plays later, a bad snap over Kyle Kearns head, would give Independence the ball at the Highland 11-yard line. Three plays later Brandon Bea would rush for the only touchdown of the day for either team. Reco Hannah blocked the extra point attempt and Indy led 6-3 with 7:56 left in the 1^st quarter.
 
Two possessions later, another Highland fumble set up Independence with a short field. This time the defense held them to only a field goal giving the Pirates the 9-3 lead. Those points would be the final points scored by Independence on the day.
 
Both teams struggled offensively and had trouble with turnovers. Independence fumbled four times, losing only one and threw four interceptions. The Scotties fumbled the ball six times and lost four of them to the Pirates.
 
Early in the 3^rd quarter, Jeremiah Hill intercepted a Malik Henry, returning it 17-yards to the Independence 13-yard line. Highland couldn't score the touchdown but tacked on another field goal, this time William Solomon from 23-yards out, to trim the deficit 9-6.
 
The fourth quarter was more of the same with neither offense finding any rhythm. Highland got the ball back with 2:11 to play but was unable to get into field goal range and turned the ball over on downs. The Pirates went on to defeat the Scotties 9-6.
 
The defense was led by Jeremiah Hill who recorded 11 tackles, .5 for loss and one interception. Kendrick Catis finished with 10 tackles, one tackle for loss and an interception. Tra Barrett and Isaiah Gray each had seven. Barret also had one tackle for loss, a fumble recovery, an interception and a broken up pass in the game.
 
Offensively, Tristan Speer went 5-18 for 27 yards. Willie Jordan had 14 carries for 61 yards with Justin Ruiz had eight carries for 51 yards.
 
The Scotties are now 2-4 on the year with each of their losses coming to ranked opponents and each of the losses by four points or less. They have four point losses to RV Garden City and No. 16 Butler and three point losses to No. 9 Hutchinson and No. 8 Independence.
 
Highland will now get to take on the No. 1 team in the nation in the Iowa Western Reivers this Saturday, October 21 and 1:00pm in Council Bluffs, IA.