Saturday rewind: Cougars’ Goehl proving tough to catch by any kickoff team

EWING, Mo. — Kick the ball to Robert Goehl at your own peril.

If opponents didn’t realize it before Friday night, they should now.

Highland’s all-state hurdler and menacing running back returned a kickoff for a touchdown for the third consecutive game dating back to districts last season, setting the tone for the Highland football team’s 61-0 bludgeoning of Missouri Military Academy on Friday night in the Cougars’ home opener.

“Teams are going to start looking at that and game planning a little differently,” Cougars coach Dave Degarmo said.

It might not matter if Goehl gets the ball.

“We’ve had some really great blocking out there, and you can’t take that away,” Degarmo said. “When it comes to Robert, his work ethic is second to none. When he sets his mind to something, he’s going to do it. If he sets his mind he’s going to get in the end zone, I feel sorry for anybody who is going to get in his way.”

MMA didn’t. It was the second time in the last two meetings Goehl has returned a kick for a touchdown against the Colonels. This time, his teammates helped pour it on, including the freshmen who were on the field at the end and made the shutout last.

“We had goals going into the game, and we accomplished every single one of them,” Degarmo said. “It was a great team effort all-around.”