Highlands prepares for playoffs against Elder

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds football team has not been seriously challenged since the game against Covington Catholic.

That could change this week as the 5-3 Cincinnati Elder Panthers come from across the Ohio River to face the Class 4A top-ranked and unbeaten Bluebirds (8-0). Highlands may be 4-12 all-time against teams from the current Greater Catholic League South. But that has changed in recent years.

The Bluebirds are 2-0 during the 81-2 run since 2007 against GCL South teams and 5-1 against teams from Ohio. That includes a 34-29 win at Elder last year. Quarterback Donovan McCoy came on for the injured Patrick Towles and threw the game-winning touchdown pass to tight end David Christian in Cincinnati last year. That marked the first time in five tries Highlands beat Elder.

Christian is hoping to play for the first time this year. He’s been out with a hamstring injury.

“Everyone is excited,” Christian said. “We just have to go out there (in practice) and keep getting better. We just come in prepared every week. When we’re prepared, we play our best.”

Elder finished 2-8 last year playing without a number of suspended seniors. But the Panthers have a lot on the line coming into this game.

Elder is trying to get into the playoffs for the 14th time in school history. The Panthers have not made it since 2009. They won the state championship in 2002 and 2003 and finished runner-up in 2008. Elder is 27-11 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs all-time.

The OHSAA has six classes overall and Elder is in the largest Division I class. Teams get in based off a point system. Teams get more points by beating teams with more wins, especially against teams from larger classes.

Teams with good records are not guaranteed a spot in the playoffs in Ohio. Rockford Parkway in western Ohio missed out on the Division V playoffs in 2007 despite an 8-2 record for instance because teams with 7-3 records beat teams with better records. The top eight teams per region make the playoffs and Parkway finished ninth in its region.

That’s why Elder has played the likes of Louisville Trinity, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard and Lakewood St. Edward near Cleveland. The Panthers come in with a two-game winning streak with victories over Cincinnati Moeller (17-13) and Cincinnati Winton Woods (28-14). Their three losses are to Trinity, St. Edward and Cincinnati St. Xavier.

“We have a lot of respect for Elder,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands head coach. “We love playing them. They have such a great team. But it is such a state championship atmosphere that it really prepares us for those kind of games. They’re so well-coached and their players are into it on a year-round basis.”

The Panthers enter the game off a 28-14 win over Cincinnati Winton Woods. Running back Chris Schroer led Elder with 210 yards rushing and three touchdown runs of 80, four and a yard. He spun free from a number of defenders in the 80-yard scamper out of the Wildcat formation.

Schroer leads Elder with 778 yards on 142 carries for an average of about 5.5 a touch and 12 touchdowns. Teammate Jimmy White has 364 yards on 75 carries for an average of about 4.85 a touch and four scores.

“Basically, we’re just trying to play smart,” said Nathan Merkle, Highlands junior defensive lineman. “We’re not trying to rush everyone. We’re trying to make sure we know what’s going on and have everyone run to the ball.”

The Panthers are also a threat to throw it out of the Wildcat and Pro-style looks. Quarterback Josh Moore has completed 114-of-175 attempts for 1,335 yards and nine touchdowns. His main targets are Max Mazza with 44 catches for 554 yards and three touchdowns, Joe Ramstetter with 32 catches for 581 yards and nine touchdowns, and Devin Pike with 24 catches for 271 yards.

But Highlands has a number of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Linebacker Thomas Wrobleski leads the Bluebirds with five sacks and four tackles for a loss. Reid Schroder and Matt Gall also have four tackles for a loss. Quentin Murray leads Highlands with three interceptions.

The Bluebirds specialize in making quick adjustments on both sides of the ball. They’ve only trailed against Boyle County, 24-15 at halftime and 7-0 to Covington Catholic. Mueller credits the families for helping the Bluebirds bounce back from adversity.

“I think it says a lot about the character of our guys and the experiences they’ve had in their lives,” Mueller said. “They have been raised to have a vision in their lives. So they know that when something goes wrong, they just have to work through that and good things are going to result. So in a game, when something bad happens, they don’t panic. They just keep on going.”

The Bluebirds will face a 4-3 Panther defense that gives teams a lot of looks. Marc McGeorge has three fumble recoveries to lead Elder.

Highlands will bring its vaunted spread attack to the table Friday. That offense averages 56.9 points, 8.1 touchdowns and 525.75 yards per contest.

Bluebird quarterback Donovan McCoy has completed 91-of-143 passes for 1,520 yards and 20 touchdowns and ran for 423 yards on 66 carries and 10 touchdowns for an average of about 6.4 a carry.

McCoy throws to a number of targets. Luke Turner has 15 catches for 287 yards and three touchdowns for the Bluebirds. Luke Brockett, Nick True and Ryan Greene also have at least 10 catches for Highlands. Greene and Jensen Feggins have four touchdown receptions each for the Bluebirds.

Zach Harris leads Highlands with 639 yards rushing on 78 attempts and 12 touchdowns for an average of about 8.1 a touch. Jaylen Hayes, Colin Seidl, Ryan Donovan and Josh Watson have also rushed for more than 100 yards for the Bluebirds.

Game time is 7:30 p.m. at David Cecil Memorial Stadium.