Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
The
Highlands Bluebirds knew they’d be facing their toughest challenge defensively
this season.
The
Covington Catholic Colonels came into town having outscored their four Kentucky
opponents, 166-6. Senior Colonel quarterback Blake Bir completed 82-of-144
passes for 1,315 yards and 17 touchdowns entering the contest.
But the
Bluebirds contained Bir and company in the 35-21 win. That started with the
offense grinding things out on the ground and keeping the Colonel offense off
the field.
Bir
completed 12-of-17 passes for just 132 yards with one interception and three
touchdowns. Matt Summe led CovCath with three catches for 63 yards.
“We just show up every day and keep getting better,” said Brian Weinrich, Highlands Co-Head Coach. “We’re not worried about stats or points.
They’re buying into what we’re doing. Our guys up front did the job. We got a
lot of pressure (on Blake Bir).”
The
Colonels only rushed for 105 yards on 25 carries. Bir’s brother Luke led the
way with 54 yards on six runs.
“They have so many playmakers,” Weinrich said. “I
love watching their offense on film as a fan. We just tried to play smart,
communicate and get after it.”
The
Colonels enjoyed the lead briefly in the first quarter. Bir found Ethan Egbers
from two yards out on 4th-and-goal with 2:40 left in the first quarter. That
drive was set up when Adam Fischer returned an interception to the Bluebird
23. Highlands’ Ryan Greene saved a touchdown with an open-field tackle on the
return.
The
Colonels later tied up the game in the second on a reverse-throwback pass. Bir
found Matt Summe wide-open on the play to tie the game at 14 with 4:02 left in
the half.
“We just had to adjust to his calls,” said Andrew Abner, Highlands defensive back, of Bir. “He was audibling every play. We have to
stay back (on running plays) until it’s a guaranteed pass then come up.”
The
Bluebirds came back with a big special teams play in the third quarter. The
Colonels muffed a punt and senior Blake Myers recovered for Highlands at the
CovCath 18. The Bluebirds scored minutes later to take a 28-14 lead.
“There’s a rule where you’re not allowed to advance a
muffed punt,” Myers said. “I picked up the ball and remembered that
rule so I stopped. It gave us momentum because it gave us the ball inside their
30 in very good scoring position.”
The
Colonels did score their final touchdown in the third when Bir completed a
3-yard pass to Summe with 5:09 left in the third. CovCath drove to the
Highlands 34 later in the quarter but Quentin Murray picked off Bir’s pass at
the Bluebird 16.
The
Colonels had just one more possession after that. They ended up punting.
Emotional week for Highlands:
The
Bluebirds carried the initials of Janet Hewling on them for the game. Hewling,
87, a long-time Fort Thomas Independent Schools employee, passed away recently.
Hewling is Weinrich’s grandmother and helped raise him.
“She really epitomizes what you like to see in a high
school football player,” said Dale
Mueller, Highlands Co-Head Coach. “She
was such a great worker. She never missed a day. We’re all products of our
environments. But if there’s anybody who is a product of one person, it’s Brian
and his grandmother. Brian is a great husband and father. He’s also a great
servant to the team.”
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