Bluebirds earn another semifinal victory

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior linebackers Patrick Schoepf (left) and Brady Murray (right) bring down Lexington Catholic wide receiver Andy Thompson (center) in Friday's Class 4A state semifinal game. The Bluebirds won 47-26l

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands wide receiver Alex Veneman (6) makes a tough catch in the first quarter of Friday's Class 4A state semifinal win over Lexington Catholic. The record-setting wide receiver had seven catches for 81 yards and a score.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Many may be tired of seeing them venture to Bowling Green.

But each football team has its own unique story in a town that cares about the players’ success in not just football but many things. The Highlands Bluebirds (12-2 overall) advanced to the state championship for the eighth straight year with a sound 47-26 win over the Lexington Catholic Knights on Friday at David Cecil Memorial Stadium.

Bluebird Notebook: Highlands successfully defends home field

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands quarterback Beau Hoge (7) makes a move in Friday's Class 4A state semifinal win over Lexington Catholic. Hoge ran for 137 yards, three touchdowns and passed for 206 yards in the 47-26 Bluebird win.

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior linebacker Rocco Pangallo (17) pursues Lexington Catholic quarterback Reese Ryan (left) in Friday's Class 4A state semifinal win. Pangallo had two sacks as the Bluebirds moved to 15-1 in state semifinal games since 1995.

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior defensive lineman Daniel Kremer (center) sacks LexCath quarterback Reese Ryan while D.J. Mills (42) closes in. Kremer and Mills had two sacks each and Mills added a fumble recovery in the 47-26 Bluebird win. The Knights had 27 rushes for a negative-46 yards with seven quarterback sacks.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds football team just needed to defend its home field to advance back to the Class 4A state championship game.

NewCath handles mountain state semifinal opponent

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The combination of the visitors’ running game and special teams spelled doom for the hosts on Friday near Pikeville.

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds had two punt returns and saw junior running back Jacob Smith run wild in a 43-16 Class 2A semifinal win over the Shelby Valley Wildcats (11-3).

Thoroughbreds reload for another run at state

Allen Ramsey Photo. Newport Central Catholic post Ben Weyer (44) puts up a shot in the 9th Region semifinals against Covington Catholic last year. The Thoroughbreds return three starters from last year's 29-4 team that hopes to grab that elusive 9th Region title.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

They’ve carried the same preseason title the last few years, but have fallen short of it.

NewCath travels long way for state semifinal game

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

History may favor the visitors.

But the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds football team (7-5) still has to go on a long road trip into the mountains of eastern Kentucky and prove it. The District 6 champion Throughbreds battle the District 8 champion Shelby Valley Wildcats (11-2) from in the Class 2A semifinals on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Shelby Valley is located near Pikeville. The schools are approximately 200 miles and four hours apart.

Highlands diver signs with elite program

Carly Hill at her signing day. 

Submitted Photos. Highlands senior Carly Hill dives in a meet last year. Hill owns the school's 1-meter diving record with 507.8 points and won the individual state crown last year. She recently signed with the University of Louisville.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Carly Hill has had an impressive career for years diving for the Highlands Ladybirds.

Highlands squares off with similar opponent in state semifinals

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior quarterback Beau Hoge (7) eludes Covington Catholic senior defensive back Sam Kathman (22) in Friday's region title game. The Bluebirds face the Lexington Catholic Knights at 6 p.m. Friday in the Class 4A state semifinals.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It may be Black Friday, but it’s also been a Blue and White Friday the previous seven years in Fort Thomas.

The Highlands Bluebirds (11-2 overall) have won seven consecutive state semifinal contests and are seeking another against the same opponent they’ve beaten in the last three in Class 4A in the Lexington Catholic Knights (10-3). Game time is 6 p.m.

Highlands escapes CovCath again

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands junior wide receiver Mitch Cain (16) makes a catch and holds on while CovCath's Sam Kathman (22) tackles him and Ben Zumdick (6) coverges. Highlands won 37-34 to advance to its eighth straight semifinal game.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Some fans may have thought it would not be a good game.

Thus, they did not brave the 28-degree weather to see another Class 4A, Region 4 championship game between the Highlands Bluebirds and Covington Catholic Colonels on Friday at Cecil Memorial Stadium. But the ones that did saw the Bluebirds survive a 37-34 scare.

Bluebirds find themselves lumped with 10 previous teams

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands junior wide receiver Eric Miller (15) finds a crease for a touchdown against Covington Catholic defenders Ben Zumdick (6) and Drew Demarsh (28) in Friday's Class 4A, Region 4 championship game. The Bluebirds won 37-34 for their 13th straight win over the Colonels.

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior linebacker Brady Murray (18) holds onto  Covington Catholic quarterback Adam Wagner (19) in Friday's region title game. The Bluebirds advanced to the state semifinals for the eighth straight year.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds football team feels fortunate because it held off the pesky Covington Catholic Colonels, 37-34 on Friday.

Thoroughbred football wins another district rematch

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It came down to beating their in-town rivals another time to earn a trip into the mountains of eastern Kentucky.

Where did Mitch Jones sign to play college baseball?

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Coming off a wonderful season, the Highlands Bluebirds baseball team expects some seniors to sign to play at the next level.

What does Highlands need to do to win another region crown against CovCath?

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior linebacker Patrick Schoepf (33) takes down an Ashland ball carrier in the second round of the playoffs on Friday. Highlands faces Covington Catholic for the fourth straight year in the region finals at 7:30 p.m.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The teams own a combined 28 state championships.

But while the Covington Catholic Colonels remain the biggest threat to their Kentucky football dominance, many argue it has not been a rivalry lately. That’s because the Highlands Bluebirds find themselves on the positive side of the longest winning streak in series history.

How can NC record another win against Newport?

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It has a spine-tingling feeling of three years ago.

What local records has a Highlands wide receiver broken and where did Hoge verbally commit over the weekend?

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands wide receiver Alex Veneman (6) hauls in a touchdown pass a few weeks ago against Covington Holmes. Veneman broke the Northern Kentucky record for the most receptions and receiving yards in a season in the Highlands win over Ashland on Friday.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The senior tandem of quarterback Beau Hoge and Alex Veneman for the Highlands Bluebirds football team (10-2) have tormented defenses all season.

How did Highlands hold off the hungry visitors Friday?

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior wide receiver Cashel Coughlin (89) looks for room after a catch in Friday's game against Ashland. The Bluebirds won 30-15 to advance to the region finals.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Many received their wish.

The Highlands Bluebirds football team (10-2 overall) will have another home playoff game Friday when the District 7-4A rival Covington Catholic Colonels (8-4) come to town for the fourth straight year for the Region 4 championship. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Why might Highlands, Ashland not face each other for a while?

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands junior defensive back Cody Stamper (23) and linebacker Conner Welsch (5) tackle Ashland's Jalon Taylor (24) in Friday's second-round playoff game. The Bluebirds won 30-15

Allen Ramsey Photo. The Highlands offensive line including Carson Haas (61) sets up in Friday's game against Ashland.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Like many teams they are facing this year, the Highlands Bluebirds and Ashland Blazer Tomcats may not play again for a while.

The Bluebirds move to Class 5A next year and the Tomcats stay in 4A. The Bluebirds beat the Tomcats, 30-15 in the closest second-round playoff match-up in Fort Thomas in the past three seasons. The Bluebirds dominated the Tomcats last year (56-6) and in 2012 (52-13).

How did NC respond to the huge Lloyd swings?

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The visitors came out with some things unseen on tape.

But once the hosts figured them out, they rolled to another second-round Class 2A victory on Friday. The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds football team (6-5 overall) managed the challenge of beating the Lloyd Memorial Juggernauts, 39-17 a second time this season.

How will the NC girls hoops team be different this year?

Allen Ramsey Photo. Newport Central Catholic senior Michaela Ware (11) scores the game-winning lay-up against Notre Dame in the 9th Region title game last year. Ware is one of two returning starters for the Thoroughbreds.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

NEWPORT – There is no doubt about the void left in the paint for the defending 9th Region champions.

Which Ashland standout do the Bluebirds need to contain in the second round of the playoffs?

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands running back Ben Brach (23) takes the ball right in Friday's game against Boyd County. The Bluebirds battle the Ashland Tomcats in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs on Friday.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds football team welcomes challenges to Cecil Memorial Stadium anytime, especially during the playoffs.

Who does NC face in a playoff rematch?

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It is not necessarily a preferred path.

But the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (5-5) face the task of beating a District 6-2A for the second time this season to move on in the second round of the playoffs. They take on the Lloyd Memorial Juggernauts (8-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Newport Stadium.

What will it take for the Highlands basketball team to succeed this year?

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands junior McKenzie Leight (31) sets up for a free-throw attempt in the 9th Region semifinals against Notre Dame last year. Leigh averaged 8.7 points and 6.6 rebounds for Highlands last year. Leigh is one of all five starters and 12-of-13 players returning from last year's 23-8 team.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The prospects for a big season exist.

Like veteran Head Coach Jaime Walz-Richey would say, it’s a matter of daily improvement and understanding certain qualities that make teams successful.

Richey became the Head Coach in 2002. The Ladybirds have gone 225-133 since then including three district championships and a 9th Region runner-up finish two years ago.

How did the Highlands Cross Country teams make history in the state meet?

G. Michael Graham Photo. The Highlands Ladybirds cross country team three-peated for the third time in school history winning the Class AA state championship on Saturday at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

LEXINGTON – They hoped to bring home both crowns this year.

The Highlands Ladybirds cross country team three-peated as Class AA state champions. But the Bluebirds finished third for the second straight year at the Kentucky Horse Park.

When did Highlands hit running clock against Boyd County?

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior linebacker Rocco Pangallo (17) hits Boyd County running back Christian Braly (21) in Friday's 44-7 win.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

This one always has to come first in the playoffs every year.

But also like those years, the Highlands Bluebirds football team took nothing for granted and handled the overmatched Boyd County Lions, 44-7 on Friday at Cecil Memorial Stadium. District champion and top-seeded Highlands typically demolishes the fourth-seeded team from the other district in this round on its way to long runs in the playoffs.

Might the Bluebirds face the same five playoff opponents like the previous two seasons?

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands junior running back Nick Kendall (center) breaks free for a 44-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of Highlands' 44-7 win over Boyd County to open the Class 4A playoffs on Friday.

Allen Ramsey. Highlands senior wide receiver Alex Veneman (center) catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Boyd County Lions on Friday. Veneman had seven catches for 167 yards and three touchdowns in the Bluebird win.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It may have been old news manhandling another overmatched first-round playoff opponent.

But should Class 4A’s top-ranked Highlands Bluebirds football team (9-2) earn three more playoff games like it has the previous seven seasons, the Bluebirds will not face the same five opponents in the same rounds like the past two seasons. The defending 4A state champion Collins Titans slipped to 4-7 this season and lost 49-43 at Louisville Western on Friday. Collins ended Highlands’ six-year state championship run with a 37-34 win in the final seconds in the 4A title game last year.

Did NewCath post another shutout on the season?

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The odds heavily favored the hosts like they have in many first-round playoff meetings since 2000.

Who are the first-round mismatches for Highlands, NC?

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands junior running back Nick Kendall (8) breaks free for a long gain in a recent game against Warren Central on Friday. The Bluebirds play host to Boyd County to open the Class 4A playoffs on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It looks like the typical first-round mismatches for the top-seeded Highlands Bluebirds (8-2) and Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (4-5) football teams.

Did NC make it three straight over Beechwood?

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds football team (4-5) could not gain that momentum it wanted going into the playoffs.

How sharp were the Bluebirds on Friday?

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands sophomore running back Jared Pulsfort (91) runs behind Lou Bunning (50) and Matt Gall (71) for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands seniors Patrick Schoepf (33) and D.J. Mills (on ground) put pressure on Warren Central quarterback Chance Shanklin in Friday's game in Bowling Green. The Bluebirds won 43-0.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

BOWLING GREEN – Their focus looked so sharp on Friday that if it were a laser, it would burn through steel.

Who can the injured Bluebirds look to as an example?

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior defensive lineman Daniel Kremer (22) pursues Warren Central running back Colin Burnham (44) on Friday. The Bluebirds recorded their second shutout of the season with the win.

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior offensive lineman Lou Bunning (50) gets out front for running back Griffin Urlage (behind). The Bluebirds (8-2) concluded the regular season with a 43-0 shutout on Friday.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

If Friday’s 43-0 domination of host Warren Central served as a clear indication, the Highlands Bluebirds football team (8-2 overall) is out to win one for their injured teammates.