1900 and some change

Congrats to Highlands on the good showing at the Pit. Tough to beat the Panthers any year but doing it on Senior night is especially difficult.

 

Biggest question yet to be answered: How much was the split the pot worth? :thumb:

 

-CardinalsFan

 

zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Sounds like there was one hell of a game at the Pitt tonight. Hope Houliston is ok. The Birds will end their season undefeated in KY and 1-1 vs out of state opponents when all is said and done. I feel bad for whoever has to play the Birds next because it sounds like they could've played a couple more quarters tonight.b I'm sure Highlands earned some respect in Ohio tonight, hats off to them for taking the trip to the Pit and playing a tough game to the finish.

Not likely.

Great game to watch, both teams made plays and both teams made mistakes. Fumble recovered for a TD hurt the most. Highlands D played their best game of the season IMO. Wrobleski put some scary hits on Elder tonight. Bardo makes plays on D every week. Safety that was not called was a shame. Initial contact was made in the end zone and then ball carrier was knocked down sideways. Elder pep band was entertaining. Autenreib for Elder was on the ball tonite.

I hope Highlands fans are enjoying their crow!

What a game! Certainly disappointed in the outcome but anyone who didn't have fun last night just doesn't appreciate great football. Proud of the Birds. That 3 minute time frame at the start of the second half was a disaster. It looked like the Birds were about to get steamrolled like they've done to so many teams. Playing in the Pit on senior night, give up 13 points in a blink of the eye, getting colder fast; they could have thrown in the towel but they battled every step. That's what championship teams do. If Elder wants success in the playoffs they better get their players in MUCH better shape, given how many end up laying on the ground after a play, their defensive players anyway.

 

Ramsey is the real deal, will be watching his next two years closely. Hope Drew is ok, playing the GCL schools certainly keeps the trainer busy.

I hope Highlands fans are enjoying their crow!

 

Read through this thread and learn how a class program handles a loss. I hope you handle it as well in a couple weeks if it happens to your team.

Not likely.

 

Elder fans I talked to certainly had changed their tune by the end of the game but you are right that respect comes hard in Ohio.

What does class get you?

 

Respect.

Sounds like HHS got better tonight. Big statement made.

 

And the exact reason why Dale schedules these games. It's easy to play a vanilla schedule and go undefeated. But when you beef up your schedule with upper tier teams, it can only make you better. Yeah everyone would love an undefeated year , but if it ends 14-1 for HHS, then I say mission accomplished. Like another HHS said walking out, that was a heck of a lot more exciting than a 77-0 win.

 

Off to JV game. Go Birds! #beatelder

Definitely worth the $7 last night. Wrobleski has some major giddy up and sacrifices is body in every play. I hope he gets daily concussion testing...wow can he hit.

 

Turnover for TD was obvious difference.Ramsay and Cipriani were connecting all night and the big 3rd down conversions allowed the Panthersto hold the ball longer.

 

Feggins was a stud and was drawing double coverage many times. Drew threw some great balls ans on a couple sacs he held a little long but they run so many deep routes it makes it tough for the OL. I thought Harris needed more touches for ball control la in the game...Jmo. Birds love stretching the field though which makes it fun for the fans. Ryan Green means GO...made some fabulous catches as well.

 

On a sidenote I had my first shot of Pappy Van Winkle at the pre-game party in the parking lot. Goooood stufffff!

 

Hope D-Bob is ok and bounces back and everybody heals up for the playoffs.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

CINCINNATI – The Highlands Bluebirds football team has lost some tough ones to the Cincinnati Elder Panthers through the years.

But Friday’s 30-27 defeat at The Pit may be the toughest one to swallow. The vaunted Highlands spread offense received the ball twice down by that score but could not find the end zone like it normally does.

“We got down twice and they came right back,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. “There was no quit whatsoever. We’re disappointed we lost that game, but you saw the character of the Highlands football players right there. It was a game where with every play we could have done something different. But in the end, they beat us by three and they deserved to win the game.”

Highlands matched up better with Elder in the trenches offensively and defensively. But the Panthers (7-2) made a few more plays to beat the Bluebirds (8-1) and gain some important points in the Ohio playoff picture.

Highlands is still an impressive 95-4 since the start of 2007 and 850-226-26 in school history, but is 1-2 against Elder during that time. The Panthers ended a 28-game Highlands winning streak with last year’s 38-24 win in Fort Thomas. Highlands had won 14 straight since then.

The Bluebirds dropped to 1-6 in the all-time series against the Panthers with the lone win coming two years ago at Elder. If Class 4A’s top-ranked Highlands goes on to win another state championship, this will mark the fifth time in school history the Panthers have handed the Bluebirds their lone loss of the season.

This tied the closest margin of victory for Elder. The Panthers nipped the Bluebirds, 21-18 in Fort Thomas in 2006.

Elder outgained Highlands, 384-316 in total offense. The Panthers converted several third-and-longs to keep drives alive that led to scores. They converted 6-of-13 for 46 percent on third-down and 1-of-2 on fourth for 50 percent. The Bluebirds made 6-of-14 on third and 1-of-4 on fourth.

Highlands received the ball at its own 42 with 3:26 left in the game. Zach Harris ran 11 yards to the Elder 47 before going another two. On second down following a holding call that moved Highlands back 15 yards based on the spot of the foul, quarterback Drew Houliston fired one downfield for Alex Veneman.

Veneman appeared to catch it, but the back judge ruled it hit the ground. Pictures and replays confirmed the correct call.

Then on third down, Elder sacked Houliston for a five-yard loss. Houliston came out with an injury at that point and junior Beau Hoge came in at quarterback. The Bluebirds did not convert on 4th-and-28.

Highlands did get the ball back at its own 30 with 57 seconds left when Highlands senior defensive back Jackson Bardo picked off his second pass of the game. His other interception came in the end zone with 1:09 left in the second quarter to stop an Elder drive. But the Bluebirds missed all four pass attempts giving the ball back to the Panthers, who knelt down to end the game.

The Bluebirds never did lead in the game. Elder sophomore quarterback Peyton Ramsey completed 17-of-24 passes for 221 yards. His top targets were Andrew Sportsman with five catches for 113 yads and Austin Cipriani with seven catches for 78 yards. Ramsey also ran for 67 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown.

Highlands did a much better job containing running back Chris Schroer this year. He had 94 yards rushing on 28 carries and a touchdown. He ran for 259 yards and five touchdowns in last year’s game in Fort Thomas.

“They have a really good offense,” Mueller said. “(Schroer) is a heck of a player and their quarterback is a heck of a player. You really can’t key on just one guy with them.”

Houliston finished with 279 yards passing completing 21-of-36 attempts. Jensen Feggins led the Bluebirds with 10 catches for 213 yards and two touchdowns with Zach Harris gaining 77 yards on 15 rushes.

The Panthers did put constant pressure on Houliston. He had nine carries for a minus-40 yards rushing. Houliston had ice put on his shoulder after the game.

Elder led 7-0 after the first quarter. Ramey found tight end Devin Pike for a 4-yard score with 2:59 left in the quarter. The Panthers extended the margin to 14-0 in the second when Schroer scored from two yards out with 9:51 left in the quarter.

But the Bluebirds rallied to tie the game at 14 at halftime. Houliston found Feggins for a 7-yard score with six minutes left in the second on fourth down and Harris scored on a 3-yard draw with 23 seconds left in the half.

The start of the second half hurt Highlands. After the Bluebirds went three-and-out, Ramsey scored on a 35-yard run and on the next Highlands offensive play, Elder senior defensive end Dustin Applegate recovered a Bluebird fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. The Panthers missed the extra-point attempt after the first score.

“It was a draw,” Mueller said of the fumble. “The exchange got messed up.”

But Highlands responded with a score. Harris scored from four yards out to trim the margin to 27-21 with 6:40 left in the quarter.

Elder did drive down and make a field goal with three seconds left in the third. Matt Murray hit a 23-yarder that turned out to be the difference in the game.

Following an exchange of turnovers, Highlands scored with 5:13 remaining. Houliston hit Feggins for a nine-yard score.

The Bluebirds conclude the season Friday against Warren Central near Bowling Green. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Fort Thomas.

 

Fort Thomas Sports: Elder ends another Highlands winning streak

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It may have been a tough loss for Class 4As top-ranked squad.

But the Highlands Bluebirds proved they can compete with schools in Cincinnati’s vaunted Greater Catholic League South.

Highlands has lost the last two games to the Elder Panthers. But the Bluebirds did win 34-29 at The Pit two years ago. They also beat the St. Xavier Blue Bombers, 12-7 on national television in Fort Thomas in 2009.

“When you play in a place like this, it’s like playing in a state championship,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. “We love playing Elder. We’d play Elder 10 times if we could. There are not a lot of teams in Kentucky that are as good as Elder.”

The Bluebirds are 4-14 against GCL South all-time. They are 3-5 against St. Xavier and 0-3 against the defending Ohio Division I state champion Moeller Crusaders. Highlands has never faced the LaSalle Lancers. Elder will finish second in the league with a win over LaSalle on Friday.

Playoff Pairings:

Once again, Highlands will play host to the Boyd County Tigers in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.

The 1-8 Tigers won the one game they had to do so to make the playoffs on Friday. They edged the Greenup County Musketeers, 25-21. Greenup County has two wins this year after going winless last year. Boyd County faces Tolsia High School out of Fort Gay, West Virginia on Friday to conclude the regular season.

Highlands could meet undefeated 9-0 Johnson Central in the third round of the playoffs. The Golden Eagles rolled to a 42-7 win at Ashland Blazer on Friday in the District 8 title game. Johnson Central goes to Belfry on Friday in a battle of unbeaten to conclude the regular season.

Other Class 4A News:

The other undefeated team in Class 4A is the Boyle County Rebels. They beat Mercer County, 14-0 on Friday to conclude District 5 action. The Rebels figure to enter the postseason undefeated as they play host to one-win Whitley County on Friday. Highlands would travel to Boyle County in the state semifinals if both win their regions.

But Boyle County may need to beat district rival Lexington Catholic (6-3) again in the third round of the playoffs. The Knights may have to go to Russell Springs and face 8-1 Russell County in the second round of the playoffs. The Lakers have one loss to Class 5A’s second-ranked Pulaski County Maroons, 49-21 on Sept. 13.

Highlands beat the Maroons in the Class 5A state semifinals in 2009. Pulaski County beat county rival Southwestern, 40-24 to finish undefeated in the regular season for the first time in school history.

A few teams Highlands could see in the state championship game are a pair of 7-2 teams in Collins and Owensboro. Highlands beat Collins in last year’s title game and beat Owensboro to win the 1999 and 2000 state championships. Simon Kenton and Central Hardin are the only two teams to beat Collins with Warren Central and Bowling Green the only two teams to beat Owensboro. Collins and Owensboro won Districts 3 and 1 respectively.

Freshmen/Junior Varsity Updates:

The Highlands Junior Varsity is still undefeated at 5-0. The Bluebirds battle Elder at 10 a.m. today and finish with Scott County at 11 a.m. on Nov. 2.

The Highlands Freshman finished the regular season at 5-4. They beat Cooper, 18-6.

 

Fort Thomas Sports: Bluebird Notebook: Highlands holds own in tough environment

I heard that the Elder announcers didnt show much class when Houliston got hurt and made a sarcastic comment when Hoge came in to finish like "Good Luck with that" or something. Did anyone hear it on the internet broadcast?

 

Sad if true.

Found a recap, scoring summary, and stats:

 

Highlands Bluebirds at Elder Panthers High School Football on Friday, October 25, 2013 10/25/2013 7:30:00 PM | HS Game Center - Live High School Sports Scores, Statistics and News.

 

It's pretty telling what the difference in the game was. 22 rushes for 33 yards and throwing the ball 45 times tells me that Elder was controlling the LOS and forcing them to throw the ball. On the flip side, Elder had a much more balanced attack. As far as penalties & turnovers, looks like they were pretty much a wash.