Highlands gives valiant effort in loss to Holmes

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior Brandon Hergott (32) battles Holmes post Marcus Hill (23) in Friday's 9th Region Quaterfinal game at the Bank of Kentucky Center. Hergott scored nine points in the 60-41 Holmes win.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS – They may have hit their main goal playing on this floor.

But the Highlands Bluebirds basketball team hoped to take another step and upset a 9th Region contender in the quarterfinals at the Bank of Kentucky Center on the Northern Kentucky University campus. It was not meant to happen as the Holmes Bulldogs pulled away for a 60-41 victory Friday.

Highlands hopes to keep marching on in playoffs

G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands senior defensive backs Alex Shadle (5) and Jackson Bardo (3) celebrate after Shadle returned an interception for a touchdown in Friday's 70-6 win over Boyd County. The Bluebirds take on Ashland Blazer at 7:30 p.m. in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs on Friday in Fort Thomas.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The fact may not be too relevant to the current players and coaches.

But it still remains. The Highlands Bluebirds football team has not lost to the Ashland Blazer Tomcats since 1954. That happens to be the year that Highlands Head Coach Dale Mueller was born.

While that may not be a mental advantage, the recent Blue and White domination of Kentucky teams may be. Highlands leads the overall series 19-5-1 including a 52-13 decision in Fort Thomas in the second round of last year’s playoffs.

Highlands offense hopes to keep lighting up scoreboards

 

G. Michael Graham Photo. The Highlands Bluebirds stretch during a recent practice. The six-time state champions averaged 52.1 points per game last year and are hoping to keep lighting up scoreboards this year.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

There is a prevailing question about the Highlands Bluebirds offense before every game.

How many touchdowns are they going to score today?

In recent years, the Bluebirds have been lighting up scoreboards like crazy. They scored 781 points last year for an average of just more than 52 points a game to go with 111 touchdowns on their way to a state-record sixth consecutive state championship.

The reason for that offensive efficiency is balance. Opponents never know if they’ll pass the ball like crazy, run it like crazy or throw in a balanced attack. Highlands ran for 4,019 yards and passed for another 3,405 for a grand total of 7,424 for an average of about 495 a contest. The Bluebirds put up more than 600 yards of total offense three times last year in its Shotgun Spread offense. Two of those games came against state semifinalists Scott County and Lexington Catholic.

“It is nice to be able to do a variety of things offensively,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands Co-Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. “The more diverse you are, the more things you can do really well and the tougher it is to defend. If you’re a defensive coordinator, you can say, ‘They like to do this.’ You can gear to stop it. If they do this, they do this and they do this, then it’s a lot harder.”

Highlands showed its offensive efficiency in the Red Zone (inside the opposing 20-yard-line). The Bluebirds scored on 75-of-83 trips there for 90 percent including 71 touchdowns for 86 percent.

Quarterbacks like Donovan McCoy and Patrick Towles have done an excellent job guiding the offense in recent years. Senior Drew Houliston will take on that role this year. He completed 33-of-58 passes for 610 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions backing up McCoy last year. Junior backup Beau Hoge also saw some time at quarterback last year and could make an impact at wide receiver.

“I’m just a different kind of quarterback than Pat (Towles) and Donovan (McCoy) were,” Houliston said. “Pat had a great arms and Donovan was really good at running. I feel like I can put both those together. I’m not trying to be like them. I’m just trying to lead like they did. They both led the (previous) teams to state championship.”

McCoy was the leading rusher and passer last year completing 169-of-267 passes for 2,769 yards, 32 touchdowns and 13 interceptions and rushing for 1144 yards on 163 carries and 22 touhdowns. Highlands also graduated speedster Colin Seidl, Ryan Donovan as well as leading receiver Luke Turner (42 catches for 843 yards and eight touchdowns) and receiver Jac Collinsworth. But Houliston will have plenty of help around him.

Three of the top six rushers from last year return led by seniors Zach Harris and Jaylen Hayes. Harris topped the 1,000-yard pleateau with 1,001 yards rushing on 144 carries and 20 touchdowns and Hayes ran for 602 yards on 58 carries and 10 touchdowns. Hayes bulldozed through three defenders on his way to the end zone in Highlands’ first-round win over Boyd County last year. Juniors Josh Watson and James Grau will back them up.

Six of the top seven pass-catchers return from last year. Senior wide receiver Luke Brockett leads the way after catching 23 passes for 391 yards and four touchdown last year. Senior tight end Nick True along with wide receivers Brandon Hergott, Ryan Greene and junior Justin Weyer all return along with Hayes. True has verbally committed to Western Kentucky University.

“In the past couple of years, Drew (Houliston) has always been able to throw it to us,” Hergott said. “In terms of chemistry, there are no problems with the receivers and quarterbacks. It’s coming along nice.”

But things for the Highlands offense start in the trenches. Richie Whitford, Jason Thome, Jack Grimm and Mitch Dee graduated. But seniors Matt Farney, Sam Little, Kyle Thurston, Scott Turner, Bryan Saunders, Tyler Schweitzer and Kendall Kramer return to protect the skill position players.

Turner said the offseason conditioning program really helps the offensive lineman. Near the goal line, Highlands likes to line offensive linemen in the full-house backfield to create room for the skill position players to score.

“During practice, you get so out of breathe that when you get into a game, it’s just like second nature,” Turner said. “You don’t think about how tired you are because you’re more tired in practices.”

The high-octane Highlands offense returns to action Aug. 24 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU against the University Christian Fighting Christians of Jacksonville (Fla.). University Christian is the defending Class 2A Florida champion. That’s the second-smallest of eight classes in the Sunshine State.

Highlands beats CovCath for sixth consecutive region crown

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Some argue that the Northern Kentucky football rivalry between the Highlands Bluebirds and Covington Catholic Colonels is not really a rivalry anymore because it’s been one-sided since 2006.

Despite that, the Colonels consistently threaten the supremacy of the top-ranked Bluebirds so Highlands prepares for them intensely. That preparation added up to a second consecutive Class 4A, Region 4 championship over the fifth-ranked Colonels, 28-13 at David Cecil Memorial Stadium on Friday.

Highlands prepares for another big game vs. CovCath

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The date of Nov. 11, 2006 seems like ages ago.

The Highlands Bluebirds ventured to Covington Catholic and fell 25-15 in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs. The Colonels won the state championship weeks later in the final year before the Kentucky football playoffs expanded to six classes.

But since then, it has been all Blue and White. The Bluebirds have racked up seven consecutive over their arch-rivals going 77-2 since that day just more than 70 months ago. This includes two victories last year, 42-39 at CovCath in the regular season and 42-14 in Fort Thomas in the state quarterfinals en route to a fifth straight state championship. Highlands increased its all-time record to 41-17 against CovCath with those two wins.

The atmosphere at David Cecil Memorial Stadium should again be rocking Friday when the two Northern Kentucky football powers meet again. The Bluebirds enter the game with a perfect 4-0 mark and the Colonels come in at 4-1 in the Class 4A, Region 4, District 7 opener for both squads.

Covington Catholic’s lone loss came on Aug. 31, 27-11 at Cincinnati La Salle of the Greater Catholic League South Division. The Lancers used stellar defense to win the game and scored when senior defensive back Jaleel Hytchye intercepted CovCath quarterback Blake Bir and returned it 66 yards for a touchdown.

La Salle forced four Colonel turnovers in that game. Freshman running back Jeremy Larkin returned a punt 65 yards and defensive back Lemuel Weyer picked up a fumble and brought it back another 10 yards for two more Lancer touchdowns.

Playing in big games is nothing new for either squad. During the 77-2 run, Highlands also has huge wins over Greater Catholic League South powers Cincinnati Elder and Cincinnati St. Xavier. The Bluebirds opened the year with huge wins over Boyle County and Scott County. Since losing 60-37 in Fort Thomas on Aug. 24, Scott County has won three in a row over Harrison County (61-6), Madison Central (41-16) and Tates Creek (71-13) to move to 4-1 overall.

“We purposely try to play in big games to get ready for the big games,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands head coach. “So many guys on our team have been playing sports for so long. They’ve been good athletes and have played in championship games so they’re used to playing in big games.”

The best news for Highlands is the Bluebirds come in after playing their most complete game of the year in a 61-3 Homecoming domination of Mason County. Highlands increased its season averages to eight touchdowns, 56 points and 529 yards of offense per contest and also increased its average margin of victory to 32.5 points.

The Bluebirds hope to use their depth to win another big contest. Out of their spread offense, the Bluebirds have run for 1,164 yards and passed for another 952. Quarterback Donovan McCoy leads the balanced attack with 326 yards rushing on 35 carries with nine touchdowns for an average of just more than 9.3 a carry. He’s also completed 58-of-98 passes for 864 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Bluebirds fine-tuned their passing game against the Royals. McCoy completed 33-of-44 passes for 400 yards and six touchdowns. Highlands did not run the ball much until late in the game. The offensive line gave McCoy plenty of time to throw.

Fourteen different receives have catches for the Bluebirds. Luke Turner leads the way with 10 catches for 193 yards and Colin Seidl has nine for 136. Turner, Ryan Greene and Nick True have two touchdown receptions each.

“It throws (defenses) off a lot because they have to worry about the run and the pass,” said Brandon Hergott, Highlands junior wide receiver. “When we’re running up the middle, it makes teams tighten up their defense so we can throw the ball over the top. We go as hard as we can every play. That makes us so successful.”

Highlands ran the ball well against Boyle County and Scott County before reverting to a balanced attack against Louisville Western. The Bluebirds have four guys with more than 200 yards rushing. After McCoy, they are Zach Harris with 320 yards rushing on 50 carries with six touchdowns for an average of 6.4 per touch; Ryan Donovan, 217 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns for just more than 12 yards a carry; and Jaylen Hayes, 208 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns for an average of just more than 12.2 a carry.

Highlands will face a stingy Covington Catholic 3-3 stack defense. The Colonels have blanked three opponents allowing just 33 points this year for an average of 6.6 a contest. Sophomore linebacker Sam Burchell leads the Colonels with 41 tackles and senior defensive lineman Dan Hellman has 32. The Colonels have picked off four passes and recovered two fumbles.

“I’ve been real impressed with how they’ve played,” Mueller said. “Each guy is quick on the field and has been doing his job. They’re playing a great as a team. You can see football means a lot to them.”

The Bluebird 3-4 defense squares off against a prolific CovCath spread offense led by Bir. Bir is being recruited by Northwestern University, Duke Univeristy, Indiana University and Mississippi State. Bir has completed 82-of-144 passes for 1,315 yards and 17 touchdowns.

“We just have to keep our depth and keep everything in front of us,” said Griffin Urlage, Highlands sophomore defensive back. “Their receivers are very good and (Bir) is really good. (Bir) has a really good arm and he’s really accurate. We have to know who we’re covering and know our keys.”

Eleven different receivers have catches for CovCath. Junior Evan Braun leads the way with 19 catches for 328 yards with three touchdowns and senior Ethan Egbers has five catches for 305 yards and three touchdowns.

Bir is also dangerous on the ground. He ran some quarterback draws against Campbell County. He has 120 yards rushing on 25 carries for an average of 4.8 per carry.

“It’s difficult when you’re playing a quarterback who can do so many things,” Mueller said. “He throws it short and deep well. He also runs it well so you have to play great team defense.”

The Colonels thought Sam Dressman would emerge as a solid running threat in place of the graduated Gabe Gray. Dressman has just 40 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns. Bir’s younger brother Luke and Bobby Beatrice have carried the load so far running the ball. Beatrice has 214 yards on 42 rushes and a touchdown averaging just more than five per attempt and Luke Bir has 208 yards on 29 carries for an average of just more than 7.1 per attempt. Beatrice and Luke Bir have one rushing touchdown a piece.

The Highlands defense has done a good job recording turnovers all season. The offense constantly turns the turnovers into points. The Bluebirds scored a combined 39 points off turnovers against Boyle County and Scott County.

Blake Schutte leads Highlands with two interceptions. Urlage had one against Mason County last week.

Game time is 7 p.m. in Fort Thomas.