Playoff Outlook for Highlands

Bluebirds Hit Road to Open Playoffs

PHOTO: Ed Harber. Highlands senior defensive lineman Brennan White (99) puts pressure on Cooper quarterback Drew Warth (5).

The Highlands Bluebirds football team (6-4 overall) will travel to face the Conner Cougars (7-2) in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs in two weeks.

Conner came to Fort Thomas on Oct. 4 and won 20-17 on a touchdown pass in the final minutes. Highlands set up the rematch with a 14-7 win at Cooper combined with Conner's 45-7 loss to Covington Catholic up the road in Hebron. Cooper will travel to undefeated Covington Catholic.

CovCath, Cooper and Highlands have their bye weeks this Friday. But Conner plays host to 5-4 Class 6A, District 8 champion George Rogers Clark giving the Bluebirds a chance to see the Cougars play before the playoffs begin.

The fifth team in the district in the Boone County Rebels did not play Friday. The Rebels conclude the season Friday in Florence against winless Campbell County (0-9). Boone County (2-7) has lost seven straight after opening the season with two victories.

This marks the second time in four years the Bluebirds open the playoffs on the road. Highlands lost 52-32 at Louisville Doss to open the Class 5A playoffs in 2016.

Two Undefeated Teams in Class 5A:

Covington is the top-ranked team in the class. Only second-ranked Lexington Frederick Douglass (9-0) is also undefeated in the class.

The Broncos have shut out eight opponents this year. The Colonels have shut out five opponents.

Cross Country Qualifies for State:

The Highlands boys and girls cross country teams both made state Saturday at the Class 2A, Region 4 meet.

The Highlands boys nearly pulled off the region championship finishing tied with Lexington Catholic with 44 points. But the sixth runner finished 20th for the Knights compared to 22nd for the Bluebirds so the Bluebirds took second.

Freshman Sam Hopper finished third to lead the Bluebirds in 16 minutes, 35.99 seconds. Sophomore Sam Jones took fourth in 16:36.06 and junior Will Griffith took seventh in 16:59.38.

The Highlands girls finished third in region running without junior Maggie Schroeder with 67 points. Schroeder won the individual state championship in Class 2A last year. Freshman Alyssa Harris finished fifth to lead Highlands in 19:07.33.

The state meet takes place on Nov. 2. back at Kentucky Horse Park. The Highlands girls run at 11:30 a.m. and the boys run at 12:15 p.m.

Highlands JV Wins Season Finale:

The Bluebirds downed Cooper, 7-0 to conclude the season in Fort Thomas. Highlands finished 5-4 on the season.

Sophomore quarterback Isaac Surrey ran in the game's lone touchdown. Highlands stopped Cooper inside the 10 to win the game.