Highlands seeks another district victory

 

G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands wide receivers Evan Allen (83) and Justin Weyer (4) celebrate after Allen's first-quarter touchdown against Covington Catholic on Saturday. The undefeated Bluebirds look to move to 20-0 against non-CovCath district opponents on Friday against 2-4 Harrison County. Game time is 7 p.m. in Fort Thomas.

 

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It is not a forgone conclusion because it still has to be proven on the field.

But generally once the Highlands Bluebirds football team takes care of the Covington Catholic Colonels, it cruises to a district crown. The undefeated 6-0 Bluebirds hope to take another step toward their 17th one in the last 18 years on against the Harrison County Thorobreds (2-4) on Friday. The Class 4A, District 7 contest takes place at David Cecil Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m.

Highlands owns an overall record of 93-3 since the start of 2007. That includes an astounding record of 87-1 against Kentucky opponents and 19-0 against district opponents that are not CovCath including the playoffs. The average margin of victory for Highlands against non-CovCath district opponents during that time is about 48 points.

Points have especially come in bunches against the Thorobreds. The Bluebirds beat Harrison County, 68-0 two years ago in Fort Thomas and 69-10 last year in Cynthiana. Those totals are the most an opponent has scored on the Thorobreds in school history.

Harrison County had a new head coach last year in Jim Carr. Carr and staff challenged the Thorobreds last year and many seniors quit as a result leaving Harrison County with just 37 players on the roster, including 21 freshmen. That is a huge reason the Thorobreds finished 1-10 last year. They were the lone team with a losing record last year on the Bluebird schedule.

But the Thorobreds have nearly doubled that number this year with 65 players on the roster listed on the Kentucky High School Athletic Association web site. But they are still young with just 17 juniors and seniors.

More depth has led to already doubling last year’s win total. Harrison County beat Class 3A winless Fleming County (35-7) and Class 2A Gallatin County (34-24) to open the season. But the Thorobreds have dropped four straight and have been outscored 214-148 on the season.

“We are bigger, faster and stronger than last year through our weightlifting program,” Carr said. “We stress that this is a great opportunity to get noticed by college scouts. We stress being focused on doing your job and playing hard.”

The Bluebirds will once again display their vaunted Spread offense. Highlands is averaging 46 points per game and just less than 437 yards per contest. That offense tends to get scarier as the season progresses.

“Offensively, the focus (in practice this week) will be improving our physical skills – getting quicker feet and improving our strength so we can block better at all positions,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. “We will spend a lot of time hitting sleds, running over bags, doing reaction drills, running routes and throwing and cathing footballs.”

Highlands senior quarterback Drew Houliston leads the way completing 108-of-153 passes for 1,854 yards, 24 touchdowns and just one interception. Houliston completed 10-of-13 for 160 yards against Harrison County in the second half of last year’s game after starting quarterback Donovan McCoy completed 18-of-22 for 385 yards and six touchdowns in the first half.

Harrison County plays a lot of even and odd defensive fronts. The Thorobreds brought seven guys after McCoy and Houliston last year. That’s why the wide receivers found a lot of grass on screens. Jensen Feggins and Brandon Hergott caught four passes and two touchdowns each for 129 and 81 yards respectively for the Bluebirds.

“It’s important (the Highlands quarterbacks) have protection and time to get the ball to the wide receivers,” said Brian Condon, senior Highlands wide receiver. “It’s up to us to be able to run our routes fast and sharp and come down with the ball. Speed is everything.”

Carr said the Thorobreds need to do a better job making sure their outside linebackers and secondary get in better position to make tackles in the open field. Opponents have rushed for 1,061 yards and passed for 1,085 against them this year. Junior linebacker Zack Mastin leads Harrison County with 26 tackles.

Zach Harris leads Highlands with 463 yards rushing on 63 attempts for an average of 7.3 a carry and 11 touchdowns. Fellow senior running back Jaylen Hayes has 232 yards rushing on 37 attempts for an average of 6.3 a carry and three touchdowns.

Thirteen different Bluebird receivers have catches. Feggins leads the way with 22 for 364 yards and six touchdowns.

The Highlands 3-4 defense faces a Harrison County offense that has rushed for 997 yards and passed for 1,199. The Thorobreds run I-formation and split backfield sets.

Senior linebacker Joey Cochran leads Highlands with five tackles for a loss and senior defensive lineman Seth Hope has four. Hope, Bo Hebel and Braden Hicks have one sack each. Griffin Urlage leads Highlands with two interceptions with Hicks and Rocco Pangallo making one each. Six different Bluebirds have one fumble recovery each.

“We have to continue to get better at the little things – alignment, technique, base recognition and finishing plays,” said Brian Weinrich, Highlands Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator. “We still had moments of allowing (CovCath) to get yards they didn’t earn. We have to get faster and stronger each day. I know this might sound very much ‘coach talk,’ but this is what we believe in defensively. We don’t really game plan for teams until late in the year. We worry about ourselves.”

Harrison County has players going both directions. Mastin leads the Thorobreds with 411 yards rushing on 64 carries and five touchdowns. Senior Justin Hunter follows with 249 yards on 49 carries with a touchdown and junior quarterback Robbie Stroub has 200 yards rushing on 49 carries with three touchdowns.

“The big key to slowing them down is stopping the run the way (the coaches) teach you,” said Austin Greene, Highlands senior defensive lineman. “It’s a matter of being quick on your feet and using your hands to try to smash the ball carrier.”

Stroub has completed 77-of-142 passes for 1,072 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions. Hunter is his leading target with 372 yards on 22 catches and three touchdowns with sophomore Jovon Williams hauling in 19 catches for 267 yards and two scores.

This marks the eight meeting in school history against Harrison County. The Bluebirds have never lost to the Thorobreds.