Highlands faces 134th different opponent in school history

G. Michael Graham photo. Highlands defensive lineman Seth Hope (82) pursues Cincinnati Elder quarterback Peyton Ramsey in last Friday's game. The 8-1 Bluebirds play host to the 5-4 Warren Central Dragons on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds football team opened the regular season against a team it had never faced before.

Highlands (8-1 overall) will end the regular season against the 134th different opponent in school history when the 5-4 Warren Central Dragons located in Bowling Green come to Fort Thomas on Friday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Warren Central found itself in the same boat with Highlands when it came to making its schedule this year. The Bluebirds at least found one non-district opponent within Campbell County in the Campbell County Camels and another located across the Ohio River in neighboring Hamilton County (Ohio) in Cincinnati Elder. But the Dragons could not schedule any non-district opponents located within two counties away from them.

“It is really sad that once you have success, you have traditional rivals drop your series,” said Mike Rogers, Warren Central Head Coach. “Warren Central and Franklin-Simpson (whom Highlands beat in 2011 Class 4A state championship and is located about 20 miles south of Bowling Green), for example, have played (against each other) for a very long time until this season. It is crazy to not be playing.”

The Bluebirds own a record of 95-4 since the start of 2007 with six consecutive state championships. Since Rogers took over in 2009, the Dragons have gone 40-11 including 22-4 the last two seasons with three consecutive appearances in the Class 5A region championship. All four losses in 2011 and 2010 have come to the District 2 in-county rival Bowling Green Purples.

lThe Bluebirds hope to get back on the winning track following a tough 30-27 loss at Cincinnati Elder on Friday. Highlands has bounced back from defeat in big ways following its other three defeats during the run. The average margin of victory after defeats during that time is 57 points including a 58-13 win at Ryle last year. The Bluebirds have not lost two straight since 2006.

“We bounced back right away,” said Brian Weinrich, Highlands Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator. “You don’t have a choice. You have to get back up and get going. We didn’t get ready for one game. We got ready for an entire season.”

That loss saw Highlands lose quarterback Drew Houliston to a sore right shoulder late in the game. Houliston said it’s a game-time decision if he will play Friday or not. Houliston has completed 157-of-226 passes for 2,702 yards, 35 touchdowns and just two interceptions. But junior Beau Hoge has shown he can run the offense well if Hergott can’t play.

“It’s never a good thing to lose obviously,” said Zach Harris, Highlands senior running back. “We don’t like it. It’s a feeling we don’t get to experience too often. It’s a little humbling every time it happens. It kind of says, ‘We can’t just show up and expect to win every time just because we’re Highlands.’ We have to execute every single play.”

The Dragons come to town with a 5-4 record following a 70-14 win over Logan County last week. They started the year with losses to Madisonville-North Hopkins, Boyle County and Louisville DeSales but won four straight before losing at the two-time 5A champion Purples, 48-14 on Oct. 18. They’ve outscored opponents 301-182.

Rogers said the slow start had to do with turnovers in the first game and inexperience in the offensive and defensive lines. The Dragons run a Wing-T offense that has rushed for 1,997 yards and passed for another 931. Senior quarterback Chris Porter-Bunton has rushed for 466 yards on 74 carries and 11 touchdowns.

Highlands will counter with a 3-4 defense that has allowed an average of 18.9 points and 296.3 yards per game. Joey Cochran leads Highlands with six tackles for a loss and Seth Hope has a team-high 3.5 sacks. Griffin Urlage and Jackson Bardo have two interceptions each and 11 Bluebirds have at least one fumble. Joey Kruse has returned an interception for a touchdown and Grayson Heck has returned a fumble for a score.

Two other Dragons have rushed for more than 400 yards. Senior Rondell Green has rushed for 430 yards on 66 carries and eight touchdowns and Daryen Ross has rushed for 426 yards on 76 carries and two touchdowns.

“We have to be pretty disciplined,” said Jacob Noe, Highlands junior outside linebacker. “You have to read your keys then react to that just like any other offense. It’s the same as when we played John Hardin. John Hardin was really good in the Wing-T. They’re pretty sharp when it comes to their execution of the Wing-T.”

Porter-Bunton can also put the ball in the air. He has completed 52-of-113 passes for 882 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. Green is the Dragons’ leading receiver with 13 receptions for 297 yards and three touchdowns.

The Dragons have players going both directions in their 4-3 defense. Green also plays defensive back and leads the team with four interceptions. That normally favors the Bluebirds who have no players going both directions. Teams have run for 1,186 yards and passed for 931 against the Dragon defense.

“They have a lot of good football players on defense who can get off blocks and make plays,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. “They play their defense different than other so they are somewhat hard to prepare for.”

Highlands averages 50.1 points per game and 425.3 yards per contest. Harris leads Highlands with 570 yards rushing on 79 carries and 14 touchdowns and teammate Jensen Feggins has a team-high 36 catches for 700 yards and nine scores.

“They have a ton of weapons and are extremely well-coached,” Rogers said. “One of the important things that we will have to do is keep our offense on the field and make our drives count with points. Highlands really likes to play up-tempo and we have to kind of take that from them and make them play our game.”

Highlands play host to Boyd County (1-8) to open the playoffs the following week.The Bluebirds have beaten the Lions to open the playoffs the last two years.