Significance of the Highlands-Elder game

[jbwill2]

What is everyone's take on the significance of the Highlands-Elder game this Friday? Obviously, it has no direct impact on Highlands qualifying for the postseason. With respect to Highlands' goal of winning the Class 4A state title this year, the only tangible downside I can identify with this game is the potential for injuries to key players, and this risk exists every week, regardless of opponent. So, in many ways this game does not appear to carry a great deal of weight for Highlands.

 

However, in some ways this game appears to carry a high level of significance. Highlands has shown over the past 5 seasons that it can be consistently very successful in winning games and capturing state titles. From the beginning of the 2007 season until now, Highlands has lost just two games in total, and only one of those two losses came against a Kentucky opponent (a regular season two-point loss to Ryle, in 2010). Aside from the level of dominance in Kentucky exhibited by Highlands over the past several years (I think it is clear that only Trinity has stood ahead of Highlands in Kentucky in terms of what has been accomplished in the recent past), Highlands has also made major progress in competing with out-of-state programs. From 2007 onwards, Highlands has posted a record of 5-1 against Ohio competition. Over that span of time, Highlands has defeated Trotwood-Madison, Cincinnati Withrow (twice), Cincinnati Saint Xavier and most recently Cincinnati Elder. Highlands' sole out-of-state loss over the past five years was a 15-point loss to Cincinnati Colerain at Colerain during the second week of the 2008 season. Highlands has a history of playing strong out-of-state competition, but it has only been recently that Highlands has had great success in these games. Prior to last year's win at The Pit, Highlands had never defeated Elder, despite having played Elder in years (most notably 1999, 2000 and 2004) when Highlands had strong teams. Even though Highlands did lose to Colerain by a score of 33-18 in 2008, when one compares this to how Highlands had previously played Colerain at a neutral location (a 45-14 defeat in 2005), it is clear that real progress has been made in how Highlands has stacked up with Colerain.

 

With all this being said, what is the significance of this game against Elder Friday night? It seems that Elder is playing very good football at this point in the year, unlike last season. If Highlands loses, is it a big deal for the program or its fans? What if the game is not close... is that a big set-back for where Highlands wants to be as a football program? What if Highlands wins... and thereby improves its recent W-L mark to 3-0 against teams from the vaunted GCL-S, and 6-1 against all Ohio competition? A lot of observers (especially out-of-state high school football enthusiasts) wrote off last year's HHS win against Elder as being more about Elder having a mediocre team with significant off-the-field baggage (which led to several suspensions for the HHS game) than it being a solid, well-deserved victory for HHS. With Elder being much improved this year (and having recently defeated Moeller at Moeller) the same argument could not be made, in the event Highlands wins again.

 

So, what is the significance of the upcoming Highlands-Elder game?

Edited October 14, 2012 by jbwill2

[Voice of Reason]

I believe in most people's minds in this area, Highlands is not a GCL level team. The St. X win is the only one that bursts that perception. Last year's Elder win and all those other wins over Ohio teams are not significant wins in positioning Highlands as a GCL level team. A win over this year's Elder team will rank just below the win over St. X. in significance for Highlands. A loss, and most people are still going to look at the win over St. X. as a fluke 1 time out 10 outcome and they will look at Highlands as a great 4A program but not really on the same level as the top tier teams like the GCL, Colerain, Trinity, etc.

[jbwill2]

^ So, if that is what a loss would signify, what would a Highlands win signify?

[Voice of Reason]

^ So, if that is what a loss would signify, what would a Highlands win signify?

 

It doesn't emphatically say Highlands really is a GCL level team but that they are getting close. I would put the reactions this way.

 

A loss - "See, just like we thought, they just aren't THAT good."

 

A win - "Hmmm, are they THAT good? Could Highlands compete in the GCL?"

[jolmstead]

Highlands peer programs are going to be inside the 275 loop or, in a comparable metropolitan area. HHS should be playing a GCL caliber schedule. Other than T, X and maybe BG, there is no one in KY capable of making HHS break a sweat. Doesn't the fan base get a little bored beating PC, HC and Holmes 70 - 0 every year?

[Voice of Reason]

Highlands peer programs are going to be inside the 275 loop or, in a comparable metropolitan area. HHS should be playing a GCL caliber schedule. Other than T, X and maybe BG, there is no one in KY capable of making HHS break a sweat. Doesn't the fan base get a little bored beating PC, HC and Holmes 70 - 0 every year?

 

I think that is a good point. If you look at it from a competition point of view, Highlands is clearly better than everyone in N. Ky. CCH and maybe the best 6A team (whoever that is) could challenge Highlands, maybe get a rare win and that is it. I don't think Highlands is a big enough school to play in the GCL. However, it is time to step up the non district schedule another notch and take on those Ohio schools who are just below the GCL. Perhaps an Anderson, Winton Woods, etc.

[Sweeperboy]

I think that is a good point. If you look at it from a competition point of view, Highlands is clearly better than everyone in N. Ky. CCH and maybe the best 6A team (whoever that is) could challenge Highlands, maybe get a rare win and that is it. I don't think Highlands is a big enough school to play in the GCL. However, it is time to step up the non district schedule another notch take on those Ohio schools who are just below the GCL. Perhaps an Anderson, Winton Woods, etc.

 

I believe Dale is doing just that with this yr beginning with the JV. :thumb:

 

I know its not Varsity but he has laid the seed for upcoming seasons just as he started a two platoon system 3 yrs ago in an effort to seperate himself from KY band compete with the OH powers.

I believe you are seeing a master at work, taking an already proven Highlands program to levels that no other KY team has gone before in such a short time.

 

It would not suprise me if Highlands is playing minimum 4 OH teams in 2014 and beating them. JMO.

[sports fan]

The questions is: Is the third or fourth best team in Kentucky better than the sixth or seventh best team in Ohio?

[75center]

I think that is a good point. If you look at it from a competition point of view, Highlands is clearly better than everyone in N. Ky. CCH and maybe the best 6A team (whoever that is) could challenge Highlands, maybe get a rare win and that is it. I don't think Highlands is a big enough school to play in the GCL. However, it is time to step up the non district schedule another notch and take on those Ohio schools who are just below the GCL. Perhaps an Anderson, Winton Woods, etc.

 

I agree. Unfortunately we have to play the district games as scheduled but I too would like to see more of the stronger KY and OH programs on the schedule. It's not going to affect our chance at state and those games are a lot of fun to watch.

[XtraIce]

I think that is a good point. If you look at it from a competition point of view, Highlands is clearly better than everyone in N. Ky. CCH and maybe the best 6A team (whoever that is) could challenge Highlands, maybe get a rare win and that is it. I don't think Highlands is a big enough school to play in the GCL. However, it is time to step up the non district schedule another notch and take on those Ohio schools who are just below the GCL. Perhaps an Anderson, Winton Woods, etc.

 

I agree that Highlands’s size is an school issue when it come to competing with Ohio D I schools year in and year out.

 

Highlands’s current 4A alignment is based on 419 boys (2yr avg - Grades 9 thru 12). If there average was 417 boys they would be in 3A. They are the smallest 4A school and are ranked 110th in the state for the number of boys.

 

The number one ranked HS in Kentucky is St X with 1,453 boys and Trinity is second with 1,357 boys.

 

Ohio considers grades 9, 10 and 11 when making divisions – Cincinnati St X has 1,164 boys (Grade 9 thru 11), Colerain has 822 boys, Elder comes in at 714 boys.

 

Highlands would be in Division III in Ohio based on the number of Boys and how they are classified.

 

Playing one Ohio D I school a year I can see helping the program to prepare for the State Tournament but expecting a school of 419 boys to play a D I schedule year in and year out, is a large challange.

 

I think Dale has done a good job adding a mix of quality teams that offset the district teams that are not.

[wildcat14]

The questions is: Is the third or fourth best team in Kentucky better than the sixth or seventh best team in Ohio?

 

Uh, no!

[Xgrad-JAGdad]

The significance is that Highlands plays a team that will make them better and not waste time on inferior competition. The same question applies to all of Trinity's games (aside from the district games).

[stinkyboy II]

The questions is: Is the third or fourth best team in Kentucky better than the sixth or seventh best team in Ohio?

 

I think you meant is the 2nd best team in Ky better than the 6th or 7th best team in Ohio? We shall see Friday night.

[Whackem'n'Stackem']

In my humble opinion, the Birds find themselves once again in a win-win scenario. If they lose, it's expected. If they win, they may get a few more quality players moving to Fort Thomas in the coming years to join the program. Other the other hand, a game like this is somewhat dangerous playing a physical team like Elder so late in the season. The Birds are no longer 4tds ahead of their rivals, Cov Cath so a key injury here or there could make things extremely interesting in the rematch. X took out Bardo, Elder took out Towles, etc....

[wildcat14]

I think you meant is the 2nd best team in Ky better than the 6th or 7th best team in Ohio? We shall see Friday night.

 

Elder is a good team but maybe not the 6-7 best team in their region, let alone the state. They are fighting to get into the playoffs. If you want to say 6-7 in Cincy then fine but not the state.