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.

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.

Bluebirds declaw Lions again to open playoffs

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Nothing came unexpected in this one.

The Highlands Bluebirds football earned another top seed in the playoffs with its 17th district championship in 18 years and that again came with the usual first-round thumping of a visiting fourth-seeded opponent. The Class 4A, District 7 champion Bluebirds destroyed the Boyd County Lions of District 8 for the third straight year, 70-6 on Friday to open the playoffs.

Bluebird Notebook: Many Younger players earn playoff experience

G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands sophomore running back Nicholas Kendall (with ball) breaks free on a 94-yard touchdown run in Friday's 70-6 first-round Class 4A playoff win over Boyd County. Kendall ran for 156 yards on five carries and two touchdowns in the win.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Many younger Highlands players experienced the playoffs for the first time in Friday’s 70-6 thrashing of Boyd County in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.

The Bluebirds led 56-0 at halftime. That helps Highlands build up experience for the future as many played in the second half.

Highlands turns attention to Boyd County

G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands defenders like Patrick Schoepf (33) and Daniel Kremer (22) converge on the ball in Friday's 71-69 win over Warren Central. The Bluebirds open the playoffs Friday against the Boyd County Lions for the third year in a row.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It is normally about daily improvement each and every game and practice.

But the shift changes to taking down the Boyd County Lions this week for the Highlands Bluebirds football team. That’s when you know the playoffs have arrived because a loss means the season is over.