Jesuit Dallas came roaring back from a 3-1 second-period deficit, but a go-ahead goal with 20 seconds remaining in regulation sent Highland Park to a 5-4 win over the Rangers on Thursday at the StarCenter in Valley Ranch. The loss closes the regular season for Jesuit, who will now advance to the postseason as the fourth and final tournament qualifier out of the Varsity Gold division and will battle Frisco in the tournament semifinals on Feb. 21.
 
Seniors Bryce Clark, JonMichael Dragojevic, Joseph Van Beek and junior Seth Dragojevic scored for the Rangers while senior netminder Caden Rupnow racked up 29 saves. Seth Dragojevic tacked on a team-leading two assists while sophomore James McCown and junior Chase Phillips added an assist each.
 
The first period saw the Scots race out to a 2-0 lead, scoring their first goal at the 7:55 mark before adding a second tally with 34 seconds remaining in the period. Clark cut the lead in half midway through the second period. Highland Park added two unanswered goals at the 7:18 and 4:58 mark to take a 4-1 lead.
 
Jesuit's rally began with 3:26 remaining in the second, when Van Beek rocketed home a shot for his sixth goal of the season to cut the lead to two. Heading into the third period trailing by two, JonMichael Dragojevic scored at the 5:43 mark to cut the lead to one before Phillips found Seth Dragojevic to tie the contest at 4-4 with 4:05 remaining in regulation. Highland Park scored the go-ahead goal in the waning seconds despite being outshot, 9-6, by the Rangers in the final 15-minute period to clinch the win and the No. 3 seed in the tournament.
 
The Rangers and Frisco will clash at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21 in the first round of the four-team AT&T Metroplex Hockey League City Championship Tournament. Jesuit is 1-1 against Frisco this season, earning a 6-3 victory on Oct. 18 before dropping a 3-1 decision in the second matchup between the two teams on Dec. 13. Thursday's playoff contest will be broadcast live on JesuitRangers.org.