Highlands, NC football could see same challengers

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior Beau Hoge (center) catches a touchdown pass in last year's Class 4A semifinal contest at Lexington Catholic. The Bluebirds and Knights could meet in the same round this season.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

When it comes to Classes 4A and 2A in Kentucky, the Highlands Bluebirds and Newport Central Catholic Throughbreds are often mentioned in the state championship breath.

Both teams made it back to the state championships last year and lost after winning the crowns in 2012. The defending champion Collins Titans in 4A and Louisville DeSales Colts in 2A could find their way back to Bowling Green in December. But one never knows until they play the games.

Here are a list of other potential Class 4A and 2A challengers.

Class 4A:

1. Covington Catholic Colonels (10-3 last year):

The Colonels are often considered the second-best team in the class behind Highlands. The Bluebirds have won 11 straight in the series and have lost to CovCath just four times since 1994 including once in the regular season in 2006.

Last year proved to be an exception. CovCath lost to Highlands in the Region 4 championship for the third straight year since the teams dropped to 4A in 2011.

The Colonels suffered a lot of injuries last year and hope to avoid a repeat of them. Senior Adam Wagner returns at quarterback and back-up junior Ben Dressman moved to wingback when Wagner returned from injury giving CovCath experience at quarterback. Dressman threw for 1,730 yards and ran for 910 with 29 total touchdowns. Wagner passed for 400 and rushed for 150 more in three playoff games last year. Their top protector in senior 6-foot-5-inch offensive lineman Sam Murrer returns and is an NCAA Division I prospect.

Defense is normally a strong suit for CovCath and this year appears to be no different. Senior defensive back Alex Wagner and junior linebacker Cam Pitzer anchor the defense.

2. Lexington Catholic Knights (10-4):

Former University of Kentucky quarterback Mark Perry takes over the Knight program. He is just the third head coach in program history.

The two previous head coaches won one state championship each. Bob Sphire led the Knights to the title in 2005 and Bill Letton did it in 2007. Letton took an associate head coach job at Walton (Georgia) and took his son in Sam Letton with him. Sam Letton had 51 catches for 958 yards and 13 touchdowns last year.

Perry has some excellent mentors in college coaches Hal Mumme, Mike Leach, Chris Hatcher and Tony Franklin. Senior Reese Ryan returns at quarterback after throwing for more than 3,000 yards last year. He has scholarship offers from Louisville and Illinois.

“Reese is a really talented quarterback and we feel blessed to come into a situation that has a senior quarterback like him,” Perry said. “We are able to give him a little more responsibility than most quarterbacks in a new system because of the experience that he has.”

The key for LexCath is finding skill players around him and the four returning starters on the offensive line. Last year’s leading wide receiver in David Bouvier graduated.

The defense returns several starters including Braxton Couch on the defensive line and Chase Boling at linebacker. Cody Mitchell and Davis Rowady come back in the secondary. Rowady recorded five interceptions last year.

“The work ethic of this team is something that has stood out to me since become the head coach at Lexington Catholic,” Perry said. “The players are tight-knit group that are committed to becoming the best team they can possibly be.”

Highlands has beaten Lexington Catholic in the state semifinals the last three years. That includes a 49-35 verdict in Lexington last year.

3. Johnson Central Golden Eagles (11-1):

The Golden Eagles recorded an undefeated regular season before losing to Covington Catholic in the second round of the playoffs in Paintsville.

They graduated two solid running backs and Daymion Belcher transferred to Paintsville. But 6-foot-7-inch, 300-pound offensive lineman Tristen Salyer returns to anchor the offensive line. Junior Bryce Workman returns at quarterback and defensive back for Johnson Central.

4. Collins Titans (13-2)

Collins rose to state champions in just four years as a program. The Titans have made the third round of the playoffs in every season as a varsity program.

The Titans graduated nine players that will play college ball. This includes quarterback Lawson Page, running back Deandre Farris and linebacker Masai Whyte.

But the Titans do return senior quarterback Browning Bercherer and junior running backs Pookie Murphy and Bushy Wells. Bercherer threw the game-winning touchdown pass in the state championship game. The Titans still plan to run the spread offense.

The Titans expect more solid line play as juniors Kolton Alvey, Trei Axline, Kyle Gross and Jacob Dale along with senior Wyatt Williamson return. A strong kicker in Blanton Creque also comes back.

5. Owensboro Red Devils (10-4):

Owensboro racked up 3,000 yards of rushing in its read triple-option attack last year. Senior quarterback Nick Locher comes back to run it after rushing for 14 touchdowns and throwing for 17 more last year.

Owensboro lost to Collins in the state semifinals last year. The Red Devils outscored opponents, 141-28 in the first three playoff games.

Class 2A:

1. DeSales Colts (14-1):

The Colts find themselves in the unusual position of defending state champions. The all-male private school in Louisville won its first football title last fall and has the bull’s eye on its back.

“To this point, we’ve kept things normal,” said Harold Davis, third-year DeSales Head Coach. “We’ve prepared the same and will continue toward improving. Last season is over and there were memories made that will last forever. This team needs to focus on this season and be ready to face the challenges that are ahead.”

DeSales must find eight new starters defensively and six offensively. This includes running back Dylan Byrd and quarterback Nathan Rousch.

But the Colts do return senior linebacker Adam Nord and senior defensive end Bryant Pirtle. They recorded 74 and 66 tackles respectively and saw some action in the backfield. Seniors Matt Bledsoe and Ben Price will lead the Colt offensive line.

2. CAL Centurions (10-2):

The Centurions lost to DeSales in the regional title game last fall.

CAL returns senior running back Nick Payne. He ran for 800 yards and 11 touchdowns last fall. Payne should put up similar numbers behind a strong offensive line.

“What I like about this year’s team is that they are a hungry group of guys that are willing to do anything we (coaches) ask of them,” said Stefan LeFors, CAL Head Coach. “The senior class that left us last year really set the bar high with how they approached practice every single day. This year’s senior class has been up to the challenge on raising the bar.”

3. Caldwell County Tigers (12-1):

The Tigers have one of the top quarterbacks in the state in Elijah Sindelar. The Purdue-bound signal-caller has thrown for more than 9,000 yards and nearly 100 touchdowns in his career.

Sindelar has many other solid players returning around him in Caldwell County’s spread offense. That list includes Jaylen Boyd, Dee Cain and Eli Pepper. The Tigers averaged 49 points per game last year and could really explode if they find solid line play.

4. Somerset Briar Jumpers (8-5):

Somerset has been to the state semifinals five straight years and seven of the past nine years. But the Briar Jumpers have only advanced to one state championship during that time in 2009 as a member of 3A.

The Briar Jumpers need a lot of inexperienced players to step forward if they are to make it back to the semifinals. That includes anywhere between five to seven freshmen.

But Somerset does return senior quarterback Castle Hatcher. Wide receiver Chandler Dobbs, running back Brycen McWilliams and tight ends Jacobi Gilmore and Austin Coomer also come back. Those players could also play huge roles defensively.

5. Middlesboro Yellow Jackets (9-3):

Former player Zach Massengill takes over as head coach after serving as Defensive Coordinator at Bourbon County the past two years.

The Yellow Jackets return most of their talent from last year’s team. That includes senior running back Ryan Pittman. Pittman rushed for about 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns last year.

“I like our senior leadership so far and their willingness to learn new systems and new concepts,” Massengill said. “They have worked hard this spring and summer and they have high expectations for our football team.”

Middlesboro lost to Somerset in overtime in the second round of the playoffs last year.