Highland Park 20 Mpls. Washburn 12

St. Paul Highland Park quarterback Max Elliott said his offensive teammates never got used to the chunks of slop that made up Minneapolis Washburn's football field.

But Elliott and the Scots conquered it late in the first half on Wednesday night, driving 94 yards for a touchdown to take a 14-point lead. They never relinquished the lead in a 20-12 victory over Washburn.

Highland Park (7-1) prevailed in the Twin Cities Game, the annual meeting of conference champions from Minneapolis and St. Paul. But both the Scots and Millers are assigned to Class 3A, Section 2 and could match up in the playoffs, which begin next week.

Tarrell McDuffie caught two touchdown passes from Elliott and added a rushing touchdown. Their first connection capped the 94-yard drive that started with a key defensive play.

Washburn runnning back Mar'chea Wade carried the ball to the Highland Park 9-yard-line, but the Scots defense held tough on four consecutive plays and turned the Millers over on downs.

"The defense gave us momentum and we came on the field pretty happy," Elliott said.

Down 14-0 to start the second half, Minneapolis Washburn (6-2) made plays with its feet.

Wade got loose for a 57-yard run to the Highland Park 25-yard line. Younger brother Montrell Wade answered a few plays later with a 21-yard touchdown run for the Millers.

The Millers attempted to keep the pressure on, calling for an onside kick and recovering the ball. Their drive went nowhere, though and when Highland Park got the ball back, the momentum shifted.

Elliott and McDuffie hooked up on their second touchdown pass, giving the Scots a 20-6 advantage.

Washburn scored the final touchdown of the game on a 52-yard touchdown catch by Cedric Chappell.