Zach Harris had a huge but quiet game and anybody that doesnt think DBob isn't or should not be a leading candidate for Mr. Football is ignorant about talent imo...

 

The kid has crazy numbers every wk not just sometimes. Solid:thumb:

Actually you are wrong, CCH just doesn't have the talent to expose Highlands like PT and JH did.

 

Nossir that was a CovCath team that was beat before they took the first snap and they played scared.

 

The talent is there but the effort and heart was missing.

 

I will give you the 5 man player rotation on every play doesnt help either.

I think most reasonable CCH fans expected this. This after all is potentially HHS best Senior class ever(at least a few Bird fans have said that), and CCH can only make this a competitive game with all their missing playmakers. Even then, probably not going to happen.

 

Isn't the same thing said just about every year? Just sayin

HHS is in a class of their own and shouldn't be challenged the rest of the way. CCH just isn't in the same league and just needs to play their hardest and remember to have fun out there.

Congrats to the Birds on the win! Highlands has a boat load of injuries as well. Today, Hope, Bardo, Schweitzer all left early with injuries...I agree with most of Hellbirds comment above too, but I think they will be challenged again this year. Elder & Warren Central remain in the regular season and playoffs will also provide some.

The big difference is that CovCath has not developed the depth that a championship 4A school should have. Injuries happen a lot. Teams that are able to not have a drop-off are teams that consistently win. Now I think CovCath is getting slightly better in developing that depth since they started having their JR high team but they just are not there yet.

I see, you are taking the Bluebird colored glasses approach.

 

Not sure I understand. I don't follow the HS football forum like I used to. What I am getting from results is that Highlands was much better than CovCath. Some other programs "exposed" Highlands, but still lost. Highlands is the prohibitive favorite to win the state title. The only bump in the road may be at Elder. Am I wrong to think that?

Hardly- it starts coming back the other way next year.

 

Please elaborate. Interested in hearing the reasoning behind this statement.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

PARK HILLS – They picked an excellent Saturday afternoon to turn in their most complete football game of the year.

The Highlands Bluebirds came out determined from the opening kickoff and dominated the host Covington Catholic Colonels, 42-6 to stay undefeated and earn the valuable leg up in the Class 4A, District 7 race. Highlands (6-0) also avoided a potential second-round road trip to eastern Kentucky and could be playing at home in the first three rounds of the playoffs.

“It was a matter of getting focused for the games that count,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands Head Coach. “This is a game that counts for us. In reality, we play a 10-game regular season. But CovCath is The Game. I was really pleased with the way the guys played (Saturday).”

Injury-riddled Covington Catholic (3-2) may once again have to go to Paintsville in the second round of the playoffs just to earn another rematch with Highlands. The Johnson Central Golden Eagles (5-0) are heavily favored to win District 8.

The Bluebirds outgained the Colonels, 358-156 in total offense and garnered 18 first downs to 12 for CovCath. They dominated to the point that the running clock started with 7:11 left in the third quarter. Highlands succeeds by keeping things simple for the players.

“I think in football if you get too much going on in your brain, you can’t react,” Mueller said. “We really try to do that offensively and defensively. We use simple stuff that we can execute.”

A good portion of the home side left in the third quarter. That included the CovCath student section known as the Colonel Crazies.

Highlands saw seniors Drew Houliston and Zach Harris turn in another strong performance. Houliston finished 18-of-22 throwing the ball for 307 yards and three touchdowns.

Houliston completed passes to eight different receivers before sophomore Austin Hergott came in and completed 1-of-4 passes to a ninth receiver. Ryan Greene led the Bluebirds with six catches for 61 yards and Evan Allen had three for 38 yards and a touchdown. Juniors Beau Hoge and Jensen Feggins followed with two catches each for 82 and 65 yards respectively.

Harris rushed the ball 16 times for 101 yards and three touchdowns. All of his touchdowns came in the second quarter as the offensive line blocked well again.

“We’re just improving every day getting better and better,” said Nick True, Highlands senior offensive lineman. “We’re aggressive and keeping our hands back not trying to get swung right away. We’re also moving our feet. That’s what it is. We don’t let up on anything.”

The Colonels entered the game having allowed just 58 points all season. They shut out Henderson County and Boone County.

“It is definitely the last time we (seniors) are playing CovCath (in Park Hills),” Harris said. “So we came out more fired up than ever. We put it on them right from the start. It all took care of itself. We just executed.”

The Bluebird defense put a lot of pressure on the young CovCath skill position players. CovCath sophomore quarterback Ben Dressman completed 11-of-21 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team with 39 rushes on nine carries. CovCath played without injured starting quarterback junior Adam Wagner and senior running back Luke Bir among others.

“We knew they (CovCath wide receivers) were small but quick so we didn’t want them to get behind the defensive backs,” said Jackson Bardo, Highlands senior defensive back. “We kept the game in front of us, came up and made the plays. That was pretty much the game plan.”

Highlands picked off Ben Dressman twice. Braden Hicks had one on an attempted screen and Griffin Urlage had the other in the end zone with less than 15 seconds left in the first half.

The Bluebirds scored quickly on their first two possessions. Houliston hit Allen from 12 yards in the short corner of the right side of the end zone with 9:37 left in n the first quarter before throwing a nice long pass to Feggins for a 54-yard score with 5:07 left to put Highlands up 14-0. Highlands sophomore kicker Jared Dougherty made all six extra-point attempts.

“You could definitely tell when we were up a couple touchdowns, it was like they were slowly going downhill,” said Thomas Wrobleski, Highlands senior linebacker. “It was a hot day and they were getting tired. We drove it down the field every time and that kills their momentum.”

Highlands put the game away with three scores in the second quarter. Harris scored on 17, 14 and 18-yard runs respectively often bulldozing Colonels on his way to the end zone. The Bluebirds led 35-0 at halftime.

The Bluebirds extended their lead to 42-0 with 7:11 left in the third. Hoge caught a crossing pass and juked several Colonel defenders on his way to a 59-yard score.

The lone CovCath score came with 6:09 left in the game. Sam Dressman took a pass from his younger brother 32 yards to the house. Sam Dressman finished with a team-high five catches for 105 yards.

The Bluebirds play host to the Harrison County Thorobreds (2-4) on Friday continuing District 7 action. Game time is 7 p.m.

 

Fort Thomas Sports: Highlands thrashes CovCath, 42-7

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

PARK HILLS – Head Football Coach Dale Mueller and staff do not buy into the argument that the annual Highlands Bluebird-Covington Catholic Colonel game is not a rivalry anymore.

This comes even after Highlands dominated Saturday’s game, 42-7 to stay undefeated. The 6-0 Bluebirds have won 10 straight against Covington Catholic improving to 93-3 since the start of 2007. The Colonels (3-2) are the team Highlands has beaten the most during this run.

“It’s big, big, big, big,” Mueller emphasized. “Every day of my life, I think about playing CovCath. It’s the whole season. Historically, the CovCath-Highlands winner is winning the state championship. This one isn’t the important one. The one in the playoffs, if and when we play in the playoffs, is the important one.”

Mueller and staff have not forgotten 2006. The Colonels knocked off the Bluebirds, 29-27 when Kurt Bovard caught a fade pass in the left back of the end zone as time expired on Oct. 27 of that year on the last game of the regular season in Fort Thomas. That marked the first time CovCath had beaten Highlands since 2001 and is the only time dating back to 1996 that the Bluebirds have not won a district championship.

The Colonels then beat the Bluebirds, 25-15 in Park Hills on Nov. 11 a few weeks later in the second round of the playoffs before winning their sixth state championship a few weeks later. John Rodenberg, now the Head Coach at Cincinnati Moeller, coached the Colonels to that crown.

The Bluebirds also have not forgotten what happened in 1997 and 2001. Highlands won the regular-season meeting before CovCath won the playoff rematch.

“We just try to keep getting better every day,” said Brian Weinrich, Highlands Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator. “They’re down right now. We know that. We’re not leaving (Park Hills) with any false sense of who we are and who they are. We’re going to play those guys in eight weeks. They’re going to be ready to go.”

Highlands has won all three playoff rematches starting in 2007. The Bluebirds beat the Colonels for the regional championship in 2007, 2011 and last year.

Fourth Most-Common Opponent:

The Colonels are the fourth most-common opponent the Bluebirds have faced since starting their program in 1915. Highlands had faced CovCath and Dayton 60 times each entering the season.

The Bluebirds have only faced Covington Holmes (71 times), Dixie Heights (70) and Newport (66) more than CovCath. Highlands battles Holmes on Oct. 18 in Fort Thomas at 7 p.m.

Bardo update:

Highlands senior defensive back Jackson Bardo left the game during the first defensive series. Bardo said he dislocated his left shoulder and had a sling around it. But Bardo said he hopes to return for the next game.

No Luck against defending champs:

Both CovCath losses have been to defending state champions on Saturdays in Park Hills.

The Colonels also lost to Cincinnati Moeller, 45-7 on Sept. 7. The Crusaders, the alma mater of CovCath Head Coach Dave Wirth, won the largest Ohio Division I championship last year.

Highlands Alumni Head Coach updates:

Several Highlands alumni aside from Mueller serve as head coaches around the state.

Chris Wolfe, a 1990 Highlands alum, has the Louisville Male Bulldogs undefeated at 5-0 following a 40-0 over Louisville Ballard on Friday.

Male came into the season tied with Massillon Washington for the third-most wins in program history in the country. The Bulldogs now have 826 wins and are seeking their first state championship since 2000.

But things become tougher for Male in a few weeks playing in the rugged Class 6A, District 4 with state powers Trinity and St. Xavier. After facing Meade County on Friday, Male goes to St. Xavier on Oct. 11.

Three other Highands alums coach in Northern Kentucky. Steven Lickert (Class of 1997) leads the Campbell County Camels down U.S. 27 in Alexandria. The Camels are 3-2 after a bye week. They lost to Conner, 13-12 on Sept. 20.

“I absolutely love to see other guys I’ve coached go on to coach high school and college football,” Mueller said. “Some of the guys on our staff are guys that I’ve coached. It means a lot.”

Jeff Barth (Class of 1995) coaches the young Walton-Verona Bearcat program that started in 2008. The Bearcats are 5-1 following a 48-21 victory over Carroll County on Friday. The Bearcats (10-3 last year) won Class 2A, District 5last year before losing to Newport Central Catholic, 49-14 in the Region 3 championship last year.

Kevin Siple (Class of 1979) coaches the Grant County Braves. The Braves are struggling at 1-4 this year playing in the rugged Class 5A, District 5. They lost 41-20 at Walton-Verona on Sept. 21 in a battle of Highlands alums.

Mueller even said many of his former players at Cincinnati Withrow are also coaching.

Valdosta update:

The Valdosta Wildcats of South Georgia are the only team in the country that has more wins in school history than Highlands. Valdosta owns 23 state championships and six national championships.

The Wildcats (4-1) lost for the first time on Friday, 14-10 to 1-6A rival Camden County. Valdosta is 880-210-34 with the loss and Highlands is 848-225-26 in its history.

The Wildcats are in their 101st season in school history. They started their program two years before Highlands in 1913.

District 7 update:

Covington Holmes and Harrison County both lost on Friday. Holmes is 3-2 following a 40-7 loss to Beechwood and the Thorobreds are 2-4 after a 50-20 loss at Williamsburg.

Highlands faces Harrison County on Friday. Game time is 7 p.m.

Around Class 4A:

Only two undefeated teams remain in Class 4A aside from Highlands.

They are two names familiar to the Bluebirds in Boyle County and Johnson Central. Both opened district play Friday.

The Rebels (6-0) won 42-6 at Taylor County to open District 5 action. They take on Lexington Catholic (4-2) in Danville on Friday. The only two losses for the Knights came 48-21 to Bowling Green and Louisville St. Xavier (49-28) to open the season.

Out East, the Golden Eagles (5-0) opened District 8 action with a 69-14 win over Boyd County. Johnson Central leads Class 4A averaging 59.4 points per game. The Golden Eagles have scored at least 36 points in all their games.

Three more one-loss teams follow them. They are Owensboro (5-1), Collins (4-1) and Russell County (4-1). Highlands beat Collins for the state championship last year.

Highlands junior varsity, freshman team updates:

The Highlands junior varsity team is undefeated at 3-0. The Bluebirds downed Lexington Catholic, 42-19 on Sept. 16. They take on Covington Catholic on Monday at 6 p.m.

 

Fort Thomas Sports: Bluebird Notebook: Highlands still not taking CovCath lightly

HHS is in a class of their own and shouldn't be challenged the rest of the way. CCH just isn't in the same league and just needs to play their hardest and remember to have fun out there.

 

Last I checked you still have Elder on you schedule and if you don't think that is a challenge you are out of your mind.

After the results the last two weeks no sane human being could possibly buy into this Oscar Mayer Bologna.

 

Just going by what I heard. Raiderbird is one of them so yell at him

How many years in a row have we heard this now?

 

None. Everyone hasacknowledged HHS was the better team the last 7 years?

Isn't the same thing said just about every year? Just sayin

 

Who's saying?

Please elaborate. Interested in hearing the reasoning behind this statement.

 

My only point is this is a great HHS class. The next 3 are good not great classes for them as are CCH's. it's a toss-up who wins the next 3 years.