ARLINGTON — Highland Park prides itself on a "next man up" mentality, something that senior receiver Finn Corwin demonstrated time and time again throughout Highland Park's perfect, 16-0 season and in the state championship game.
With Highland Park graduating its quarterback (John Stephen Jones) and top two receivers (Cade Saustad and Paxton Alexander) in the offseason, first-year starting QB Chandler Morris and Corwin, Morris' top target, stepped up big to lead a Highland Park offense that powered the Scots to a state title.
"I knew I had to be a leader coming in," Corwin said. "I love pressure. I love it ... Pressure busts a pipe. If you can't handle the pressure, it's going to bust your pipe."
Morris relied heavily on Corwin to move the ball on Saturday, with the receiver hauling in 12 catches for 142 yards and one touchdown — for which he pulled out some impressive moves to find the end zone.
Finn Corwin is a D1-caliber receiver. Here he shows off the moves on an impressive TD. Highland Park leads Shadow Creek 21-9. #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/rp0tOW4yjv
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) December 22, 2018
Finn Corwin is a D1-caliber receiver. Here he shows off the moves on an impressive TD. Highland Park leads Shadow Creek 21-9. #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/rp0tOW4yjv
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) December 22, 2018
Highland Park's fast start — the Scots went up by a touchdown within the first minute of the game — was in large part thanks to Corwin, who earned Highland Park fantastic field possession by taking the opening kickoff 59 yards to Shadow Creek's 28 yard line.
Later in the first quarter, Morris hit Corwin for a 75-yard gain before Morris connected with Sam Morse to put the Scots up, 14-6.
75-yard pass from Chandler Morris to Finn Corwin gets Highland Park to Shadow Creek 3-yard line. #txhsfb @SportsDayHS @hpisdschools @HPScotsLive @MaxPreps pic.twitter.com/WSyz9XXCF6
— Greg Riddle (@DMNGregRiddle) December 22, 2018
In the third quarter, Morris and Corwin nearly connected again for a score that would have put Highland Park up 33-9, but the touchdown was reviewed and eventually called back.
Refs overturn what was initially called a touchdown here by Finn Corwin. Say he lost control of the ball in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/ymeu4Syarz
— Alexa Philippou 🇬🇷 (@alexaphilippou) December 22, 2018
After snagging 37 catches for 764 yards last season behind Saustad and Alexander, Corwin followed up in 2018 with 1,648 receiving yards, the most for a Highland Park receiver across the last 10 seasons, as well as 17 touchdowns.
That, and helping propel your team to a state title, is certainly not a bad legacy to leave.
"When we're in third and fourth grade watching the Scots growing up, they're superheroes out there. When you meet them, it's just, you're shocked," Corwin said. "That's the feeling that we're trying to get, too."
On Twitter: @alexaphilippou
