Lake Highlands football rolled to a 37-9 victory Thursday night against the Richardson Pearce Mustangs on the road.
Lake Highlands receiver Conrad Ince celebrates a first down in the Wildcats’ season-opening 30-23 victory against Forney on Aug. 28, 2026, on the road. Photo courtesy of Mike Duhon Photography.
The Wildcats (4-2, 3-0 District 7-6A) hit Pearce quickly, never letting off the gas.
Lake Highlands Strong Out Of The Gate
After forcing a quick punt from the Mustangs (0-6, 0-3), it took Lake Highlands just four plays to find the end zone. Starting with good field position in Pearce territory, the Wildcats faced third and four from the 30-yard line before quarterback John Cothern completed a 27-yard strike to receiver Conrad Ince to set Lake Highlands up at the three-yard line.
There, Cothern found another receiver, Mason Spangler, for a touchdown to put the Wildcats up 7-0 with 9:09 remaining in the first quarter.
Lake Highlands proceeded to force a quick three-and-out, getting the ball back from the Mustangs’ 45-yard line. Cothern had the play to set up the Wildcats’ second score, scrambling 21 yards to set up a first down from 17 yards out. A couple of incompletions on the ensuing plays didn’t faze Cothern and, on fourth and nine from the 16-yard line, he connected with Ince to extend Lake Highlands’ advantage to 14-0 with 5:18 still left in the first.
The Wildcat defense gave up its first big play of the evening after Pearce got the ball back. Quarterback Wesley Mello found receiver Martin Strommen for a 60-yard completion into Lake Highlands territory, but the Mustangs’ drive stalled from there and Pearce settled for a 38-yard field goal to trim the deficit late in the opening quarter.
By the time the second began, the Wildcats held possession at the Mustangs’ 19-yard line, but faced fourth and six. Not concerned about matching field goals, Lake Highlands opted to go for it and Cothern once again found Ince in the end zone, this time to go up 21-3 with 11:55 in the second.
Pearce responded with a long, poised drive stretching 11 plays and over five minutes of game time. After a Wildcat penalty set the Mustangs up from the four-yard line, Pearce running back Nathan Ginn broke through for a touchdown.
Lake Highlands’ special teams would redeem the defense, though, with Jeremiah Lane blocking the Mustangs’ PAT and returning it the length of the field for two points to bring the score to 23-9 with 6:41 until halftime.
The Wildcats managed one more touchdown before the end of the half, with Cothern and Spangler connecting on their second three-yard score of the night to go up 30-9 with 28 seconds remaining.
Wildcats Weather Ugly Second-Half To Seal The Game
Following the halftime break, Lake Highlands started with the ball to kick off a disjointed half. The Wildcats lasted three plays before needing to punt and Pearce returned the favor with a three-and-out of its own.
Lake Highlands flashed with a 20-yard reception from Ince on the first play of the next drive, but fumbled on a rush the next play. Down 21 points and needing to capitalize on forcing a turnover, the Mustangs lost a yard on a Cole Morgan rush, then gained five yards on a pass between quarterback Noah Speer and receiver William Grimsley before promptly throwing an interception.
Lakai Wyatt hauled in the turnover for the Wildcats, but Lake Highlands’ next drive was another ugly one. Penalized on their first play, the Wildcats faced first and 20 and lost another fumble, this time on a Cothern scramble.
Pearce responded with another three-and-out. Lake Highlands got the ball back and completed a 23-yard pass to Franklon Evans, then threw an interception two plays later. Naturally, the Mustangs responded with yet another three-and-out.
With the third quarter coming to a close, the Wildcats led their longest drive of the game. Starting at its own three-yard line, Lake Highlands led a 14-play, 97-yard drive down the field for the game’s last score.
Evans and Ince combined for 55 of those yards, culminating in a four-yard touchdown reception from Ince to make the margin 37-9 with 7:54 left in the game. The Wildcats forced a Pearce fumble on the next drive and held on for the win.
What’s Next?
Pearce will angle for its first win of the season against the Plano West Wolves (2-4, 1-3) at 7 p.m. next Friday in Plano.
The Wildcats return to action at 7 p.m. next Friday at home for a matchup with the Coppell Cowboys (4-1, 2-0), whom SportsDay ranked as the sixth-best Dallas-area football team.
