Coach Bob Farrior's high-octane Highland Home Flying Squadron offense scored often and early in building a 27 -6 half time lead before downing visiting Goshen, 41 – 20.

The victory gave Highland Home their second straight win on the young 2006 gridiron season, also making the Squadron 1-0 in Class 2A Area 4 play.

After a sluggish start on offense to start the game last week against Calhoun, the Squadron scored on their first four offensive possessions under the leadership of a pair of juniors in quarterback Deymond Sankey and running back Darius Chambers.

Sankey went 6-of-10 passing for 91 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 72 yards.

His counterpart, Chambers, rushed for 77 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown.

He also had a 56-yard punt return for a score.

&#8220Our offensive line played great tonight,” Highland Home offensive coordinator Johnny Mitchell said. &#8220When you put that together with a group of backs, receivers and a quarterback that I could not trade for anythingŠ is makes our job easy.”

To start the game, Highland Home won the opening coin toss and elected to receive the ball, as the offense set up shop first and 10.

From their own 41-yard line, it took them only seven plays to cover the 59 yards as running back Anthony Merriweather scored from eight yards out with 8:34 left in quarter number one.

Kyle Tucker's PAT kick was good as Highland Home went up 7 – 0 over the purple Eagles.

But on the ensuing kick-off, Eagle return man, Marquez Maddox, wasted little time in cutting into the Squadron lead as he raced 81 yards for the score.

The Goshen two-point play failed and the Squadron clung to a slim 7 – 6 lead.

But for the second consecutive possession, the Squadron drove 58 yards in 7 plays as Cordell Thomas out raced the Eagle defense 31 yards to score.

Tucker's kick was good as Highland Home built a 14 – 6 lead with 4:10 showing on the clock.

With 5:15 to go before half time, Thomas got his second touchdown of the game as he scored from six yards out on a fourth down and two play, as the blue clad Squadron went on top 20 – 7.

The 12-play, 63-yard drive, was set up as the Eagles turned the ball over deep in Squadron territory.

&#8220(The defensive line) sucked it up and did the job for us in the trenches,” Squadron defensive coordinator David Kirkland said. &#8220We also have a good group of defensive backs and we're getting better each week.”

Kirkland also credited the defensive play of Cordell Thomas.

&#8220Cordell Thomas played a great game at linebacker, picking up where he left off last week,” Kirkland said.

Highland Home closed out the first half scoring as Darius Chambers got his first score of the game on a second down and three blast from five yards out.

Tucker, who hit three out of four PAT kicks in the first half, was good as Highland Home took a 27 – 6 lead over the visiting Eagles into the locker room.

With fire and determination in their eyes, the Goshen men came out in a no-huddle offense and marched 68 yards in 8 plays, as Steven Mitchell sweep two yards around left end for the score.

After forcing Goshen to punt on their second series of the second half, the Squadron punt returner, Darius Chambers, put the game on ice for Highland Home as he outraced the Eagle punt team 56 yards for the score, with 4:18 to go in the third quarter.

Leading 34 – 12, Highland Home built their advantage to 41 – 12 as quarterback Sankey hit wide out Ken Bailey on a 14-yard scoring toss with 10:15 to go in the game.

Their eight-play, 78-yard drive, was once again set up as the Eagles drove down to the Squadron 22-yard-line, but a strong defensive stand forced the Eagles to turn the ball over on downs.

Goshen closed out the game scoring on a fourth down and 10 pass from the Highland Home 11-yard-line as quarterback Winguard hit wideout Jared Gipson with less that two minutes to go in the game.

Goshen's run for two points was successful as the final score read Highland Home 41, Goshen 20.

The Flying Squadron stay in area play this week as they travel to Horseshoe Bend to take on the Ponies.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.