OHSAA football scores | Highland rallies to beat Hudson in season opener

Highland rallied from a seven-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to score a 31-24 win over Hudson Friday at Hudson Memorial Stadium.

Casey Myser scored the decisive touchdowns, tying the score on a 10-yard TD run with 6:29 left and plunging in the winning score from 4 yards out with a 1:04 left.

After dealing with skin infection that hospitalized him, Myser was not cleared to play until Friday after missing the last two weeks of practice. He still finished with 144 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries.

Highland quarterback Dylan Borla also returned after missing most of last year with a knee injury. Borla went 12-of-17 passing for 147 yards, one TD and one interception. Evan Foust was Borla's favorite target with nine catches for 112 yards and a score.

Hudson took the lead late in third quarter thanks to the game's only turnover.

After Brennan Funyak ran in a 6-yard TD, safety John Ploskunak picked off Borla. One play later, Hudson running back Reno Ferri ran in a 33-yard TD sweep. Ferri finished with 97 yards on 10 rushes.

In his first start as Hudson's quarterback, Nathan Judy went 12-of-20 passing for 154 yards and a 28-yard TD pass to Mark Salem in the second quarter.

Here's how the game unfolded throughout with our live updates:

Highland football comes back with 14 fourth-quarter points to beat Hudson 31-24

Casey Myser scored twice in the final quarter to lead Highland to a 31-24 win.

Hudson out of timeouts with 33 seconds left

Hudson just took its final timeout with 33 seconds left, facing third and 7 at it own 27, down 31-24.

Highland rides Myser back to the lead with 1:04 left

Highland has come back yet again.

Casey Myser with his second rushing touchdown of the fourth quarter, running in a 4-yard TD up the middle. Kowza hits his fifth PAT of the night to make it 31-24 with 1:04 left in regulation.

Myser has found his legs after rushing for only 50 yards in the first hal

Hudson punts; Highland takes over with 3:30 left in regulation

Hudson forced to punt after the Highland touchdown. Hornets take over at own 29 yard line with 3:30 left.

Highland answers back as Casey Myser runs in 10-yard TD

Highland has answered back again.

Casey Myser capped an 80-yard drive for the Hornets with a 10-yard TD run. Jonah Kowza hit the extra point and we are tied at 24-24 with 6:24 left in regulation.

Hudson takes lead after interception; leads 24-17 after three quarters

Hudson got the first big break of the game.

Hudson safety John Ploskunak picked off Dylan Borla and returned it back to the Highland 30.

On the next play, Hudson running back Reno Ferri swept right and ran 30 yards for the touchdown. Brad Masiella hit the PAT to make it 24-17 Hudson as we reach the end of the third quarter.

8:45: Hudson finds running game to tie it at 17-17

After an exchange of punts, Hudson rediscovered its running game to tie the game late in the third quarter. Brennan Funyak ran in a 6-yard TD and Masiella's PAT tied it at 17-17 with 1:27 left in the third.

8:28: Highland opens second half with 28-yard TD pass to retake lead

Highland started the second half just how it wanted, driving eight plays for a touchdown, capped by a 25-yard pass from Dylan Borla to Evan Foust. Kowza's extra point makes it 17-10 Highland with 8:03 left in the third quarter.

Borla and Foust have connected seven times so far tonight.

8:03: Halftime stats for Hudson and Highland football

• Hudson: 6-9 for 107 yards passing; 13 rushes, 34 yards. Leaders: Nathan Judy 6-9 102 yards, 1 TD pass; Judy 8 rushes, 16 yards; Mark Salem 3 catches, 75 yards.
• Highland: 7-8 for 87 yards passing; 25 rushes, 89 yard. Leaders: Dylan Borla, 7-8, 87 yards passing; Casey Myser 14 carries, 56 yards; Evan Foust 5 catches, 68 yards.
• No turnovers by either team.

7:55: Highland and Hudson tied 10-10 at the half

It's an even contest at 10-10 at Hudson Memorial Stadium. Highland will receive the second-half kickoff.

7:50: Highland ties it at 10-10 after long drive

Highland quarterback Dylan Borla plunged in a 1-yard touchdown run to complete a 12-play drive for the Hornets. Jonah Kowza hits the extra point, tying the game at 10-10 with 25 seconds left in the first half.

Borla has been a good two-way threat this half. He hit a 25-yard pass to Evan Foust to set up the touchdown.

7:35: Hudson takes lead on Nathan Judy's 28-yard TD pass

Hudson takes its first lead of the game as Nathan Judy rolled out and hit Mark Salem with a 28-yard pass for the touchdown. Brad Masiella hits the PAT to make it 10-3 Hudson with 7:07 left in the first half.

Judy was 4-4 on the drive for 58 yards, but the drive continued after Highland was called for offside on a Hudson punt.

7:25: Hudson and Highland tied at 3-3 after one quarter

Highland will have second and 6 at its own 25 to open the second quarter.

7:22: Hudson answers with a 38-yard field goal to tie it

Hudson answers Highland's opening score with a 38-yard field goal by Brad Masiella, tying the game at 3-3 with 17 seconds left in the first quarter. The FG was set up by a 37-yard pass from Nathan Judy to Mark Salem.

7:15: Highland opens scoring with 34-yard field goal

Hudson gets the ball first. Explorers get one first down but punt it away. Highland with a 17-play drive into the Hudson red zone, but a pair of penalties keep them out of the end zone. Jonah Kowza hits a line drive 34-yard field goal to make it 3-0 Highland with 2:38 left in the first quarter.

Tale of the tape: Hudson vs. Highland high school football

• Hudson and Highland have been fixtures in the playoffs for the last decade. Hudson has run into Walsh Jesuit each of the last three years, while Highland has been eliminated by a state semifinalist each of the last two years.
• Hudson defeated the Hornets in week one last year, winning 35-14 at Highland.

High school football: Akron-area schedules, rankings and more: A guide to the 2024 season

Hudson and Highland players to watch

• HIghland : Running back Casey Myser was the Division II honorable mention All-Ohioan who rushed for 1,309 yards and scored 16 touchdowns on 179 carries (7.3 average) as a sophomore. Defensive end Carson Noonan returns as a first-team All-Ohioan and Miami (Ohio) commit after a junior season in which he tallied 56 tackles, including 14½ for loss. Ryan Zywiec is the reigning Suburban League American Conference Lineman of the Year and was a third-team All-Ohioan.
• Hudson : Nathan Judy comes off an excellent season at outside linebacker and tight end, but will start at quarterback this year for the Explores. Jake Clapper is a third-year starter on the offensive line, which returns four of five starters. Louie Castellarin will fit in all over Hudson's offense at wide receiver and running back.

High school football: Hudson Explorers 2024 schedule and preview

High school football: Highland Hornets 2024 schedule and preview

Behind the coaches for Hudson and Highland football

Jeff Gough enters his ninth year in charge of Hudson football with a record of 68-26. He led Hudson to the playoffs each of the last nine years.

Mike Gibbons enters his 10th year in charge of Highland with a 71-29 record. The Hornets' seniors are 34-.6

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: OHSAA football scores | Highland rallies to beat Hudson in season opener