Congrats to HHS! They won, they were the better team and I am rather positive they will win their 7th straight state title!

 

I am so very, very proud of this CovCath Football team. The season didn't end as I would have liked but our kids played their hearts out and to see them crying on the turf at HHS after the game was over, is something that I will always remember.

 

The "D" played a great game but just once this season, I would have loved to see us being totally healthy. No, I am not offering any excuses but it hurts seeing kids you have grown to love and admire struggling with injures. Burchell had a monster of a game but on one foot, Nelms too played great with injures to his leg. Alex Wagner was week to week with his ankle and maybe a couple of HHS might have wondered why Matthew Way didn't return punts or kickoffs but he was playing the game with one hand, as he hurt his thumb in the Rowan County game. Did any of the HHS fans notice Zumdick out? He was after ten games the second leading tackler on the team! It just would have been fun seeing everybody play just once, on the field this season.

 

I also think that your QB had a better game than some of you think, remember CovCath held the UK bound Conner QB to almost nothing this season.

 

Our offense struggled last night, there is no denying this fact but again and this again is no excuse, I would have loved to have seen a healthy Luke Bir, Sam Dressman and Adam Wagner playing together this season more than in the one Boone County game.

 

I must say, that maybe our kids aren't angels but the sportsmanship or lack of it by #30 of HHS bothered me. Now I am not saying that to rag on the kid or team but if Dale doesn't see on the films the young man actions on the turf and doesn't have a rather stern talk with the young man, I will be terribly disappointed. HHS is too good of a program and Dale is too good of a head coach to allow one of his, to act like that!

 

Again congrats to HHS and am looking forward to hearing the scores of their next two games.

 

Maybe CovCath didn't win the state championship but I don't think anyone will disagree with me, that CovCath is the second best 4A team this season in the Commonwealth!

 

Hang your hat on a meaningless game where his line was not even intact? Love how you use the "injury" card in a one-sided fashion, but not surprised. We all saw what happened in a game that mattered against Conner last season.

-Drew Barker- ‏@D_Barker7 12h

S/O to @Matty_Way25 & Sam Burchell on a great high school career! I love y'all boys and will always have your backs! Boys since day 1! ✊

 

Some may not know that Drew went to Blessed Sacrament though 5th grade. Football games end. Lifelong friendships keep on rolling along.

What a great claim to make after a quarter final loss. Stop the playoffs - we have our winner and runner-up already. Take that Collins, Lex Cath, and Owensboro. What will you say if Highlands loses next week to Lex Cath?

 

What is wrong with people giving their opinions? You have done it as many as 111 times on BGP. If nobody shared their opinions this would be a pretty boring message board.

Very impressed with the toughness covcath showed last night. covcath came to play and made a good game of it. Congratulations on a good year despite the many injuries.

 

As far as the jawing, it is a high emotion game played by emotional young men that have not fully matured yet mentally. Saw a throat slash sign by one team and jawing at the other team by the other team. It's HHS vs covcath. It's the game of the year for both teams. You are going to get what you got on the field. However, after the game they shook hands and patted each other on the back like men.

What will you say if Highlands loses next week to Lex Cath?

 

What will you say when HHS doesn't have another game with a margin less than 21?

Very impressed with the toughness covcath showed last night. covcath came to play and made a good game of it. Congratulations on a good year despite the many injuries.

 

As far as the jawing, it is a high emotion game played by emotional young men that have not fully matured yet mentally. Saw a throat slash sign by one team and jawing at the other team by the other team. It's HHS vs covcath. It's the game of the year for both teams. You are going to get what you got on the field. However, after the game they shook hands and patted each other on the back like men.

I also saw several players hug one another after the game was over. Emotions run hot in this rivalry, but in the end there is a lot of respect for each other. Many of these guys will end up at the same colleges and be classmates, frat brothers, business associates,etc. When they meet in the future it is almost always as friends with a unique connection that is the HHS/ CCHS rivalry. I've seen it many times over the years. Great game fellas!

-Drew Barker- ‏@D_Barker7 12h

S/O to @Matty_Way25 & Sam Burchell on a great high school career! I love y'all boys and will always have your backs! Boys since day 1! ✊

 

Some may not know that Drew went to Blessed Sacrament though 5th grade. Football games end. Lifelong friendships keep on rolling along.

 

He stayed after the game and after CC had a team meeting to say something to Burchell after the game. Taking the length of the gathering and the weather, that spoke volumes about his character and their friendship.

7 kids that mysteriously stepped up to shut down the Highlands passing game? lol.

 

I think you also have to add in that the kids thrown into d positions the first game due to injuries could now be considered seasoned.

 

I haven't read all the posts yet but to answer the one about 76 saddling 30. When you talk trash to an opposing teams bench and forget to stop at the whistle you can expect some payback at his level

 

Good luck Birds. Bring back the title to nky.

Pot meet kettle. Get tired of this nonsense each and every year. If you think CCH is a bunch of choir boys in every sport then you are sadly mistaken. This certainly goes both ways for sure.

 

Actually cch has an incredible choir. HHS apparently has also. Nice job on the anthem

Lol!

 

Delete!

Hang your hat on a meaningless game where his line was not even intact? Love how you use the "injury" card in a one-sided fashion, but not surprised. We all saw what happened in a game that mattered against Conner last season.

 

Not to get sidetracked, but how did last years CCH/ Conner game mean any more last year than it did this year?

That wasn't in reference to you oldtime. I posted after I read earlier post before reading out.

 

People crack me up!

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Another Blue and White victory gave those who say it is not a rivalry anymore another piece of evidence.

But the Highlands Bluebirds football team left their home field for the final time in 2013 knowing it was one of the toughest victories this season. In a similar battle to last year’s Class 4A, Region 4 title game, the Bluebirds knocked off the Covington Catholic Colonels (10-3) by a similar 28-13 score. Highlands improved to 12-1 overall and 99-4 since the start of 2007.

Only two teams have come closer to beating the Bluebirds during their 33-game playoff winning streak. Those two victories came in 2008 in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs in a 28-22 home win over the Lexington Bryan Station Defenders when Tony Guidugli threw a late touchdown pass to Austin Collinsworth and in the 2010 Class 5A Regional title game when Patrick Towles and company edged J.J. Jude and the Johnson Central Golden Eagles, 21-14 in Paintsville.

Highlands has outscored the opposition by 1130 points during the winning streak. That’s an average of just more than 34 points per game.

But unlike the first two playoff games, the Highlands starters played the entire game. The Bluebirds did not hit the running clock for just the first time in the playoffs.

Highlands played a lot more conservative than normal consistently feeding the ball to running backs Zach Harris and Nicholas Kendall on the windy day at David Cecil Memorial Field. Harris finished with 33 carries for 194 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bluebirds still managed offensive balance rushing for 205 yards and passing for 191. They did not throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season.

Highlands quarterback Drew Houliston completed 17-of-26 passes for 191 yards. But he also ran for two more scores.

“Our coaches did a heck of a job preparing us for everything they were going to do,” said Tyler Schweitzer, Highlands senior offensive lineman. “They stunted a lot. But we knew exactly how to block it.”

Houliston’s first touchdown came on the first Highlands possession. On 4th-and-goal from the CovCath 4, Houliston rolled to the right and made it in to give Highlands a 7-0 lead.

“That was big,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. “That was the first time all year we called runs for Drew. He’s scrambled for first downs. Drew did a good job to get it in (the end zone).”

The Bluebirds threw a lot of short passes over the middle and to the sidelines because Covington Catholic played back defensively to make sure Highlands did have success over throwing the ball deep. Ryan Greene and Brandon Hergott had four catches each for 56 and 45 yards respectively with Beau Hoge recording three for 47 yards.

“They were saying they weren’t going to get beat deep,” Greene said. “That really opened up the running game. Drew did a really good job checking down on the shorter routes. We don’t want to end the season with any regrets so we’re going to go all-out the rest of the season.”

The Colonels managed just 217 yards of total offense. They rotated sophomore Ben Dressman and junior Adam Wagner in at quarterback. Wagner and running back Luke Bir did not play in the Sept. 28 meeting that Highlands won 42-6.

Dressman gave Highlands some problems on CovCath’s first drive. He responded to Houliston’s first score with a 51-yard touchdown on a quarterback keeper following a fake to Bir on a read-option with 7:11 left in the quarter. But the Colonels missed the extra-point attempt and trailed 7-6 entering the second quarter.

“(CovCath) executed in the beginning,” said Brian Weinrich, Highlands Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator. “We just settled down and got into a feel for the game. We were caught up in the moment (early). We played pretty well defensively.”

But Highlands contained the read-option after that. Dressman finished with 12 carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns. His second one came with 3:57 left in the fourth.

CovCath rushed for 172 yards and passed for 45. Wagner completed 7-of-10 passes for all the Colonel passing yards.

After missing on a few opportunities in CovCath territory, Highlands put together two drives to finish the first half and extend the lead. Houliston rolled to his left and scored from nine yards out with 4:55 left and Harris scored from two yards out in the full-house backfield with 51 seconds to go.

“They punted out of the end zone and we took it 80 yards in about a minute (on the first Harris score),” Mueller said. “That was a huge drive for us. Once we got up 21-6 on them, we really felt confident in our defense and we were really looking to take some clock so we got more conservative. We felt that was the way to do it.”

The Bluebirds managed to add some distance with another long drive in the second half. Harris finished it with 11:32 left in the fourth quarter on a 3-yard run.

The game had plenty of hard hits. But the officials did a good job separating players as only one personal foul on either team occurred. It came against Highlands in the second quarter.

“Our teammates have our backs,” said Thomas Wrobleski, Highlands senior linebacker. “If they see us getting into it, they’re going to come up and break us apart. We all care about each other. We don’t want to get kicked out of the game.”

Highlands will have another round of playoff rewind in the state semifinals this Friday. The only difference is the Bluebirds have to travel to Lexington Catholic (10-3). The Knights knocked off the Mercer County Titans, 49-14. The Bluebirds have beaten LexCath in the previous two 4A semifinal games en route to state championships.

 

FORT THOMAS MATTERS: Highlands goes conservative in region championship win

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

One can have an opinion either way as to whether it is still a rivalry or not.

Many say it is not because the Highlands Bluebirds have won 11 in a row over the Covington Catholic Colonels dating back to a 25-15 Colonel victory in Park Hills on Nov. 11, 2006 when current Cincinnati Moeller Head Coach John Rodenberg roamed the sidelines. Among those that say it is not is former Highlands and current University of Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles. Towles tweeted “No” to former Highlands teammates Blake Newman tweeted, “If you win 11 straight, is it really still a rivalry?” Highlands and CovCath have won a combined 29 state championships.

While that may be a valid argument, the numbers inside the streak show that CovCath is still just as much a threat to dethrone the Bluebirds from their throne as anyone. Highlands has beaten CovCath by an average of 24.6 points to move to 45-17 all-time during the run.

“You have to give CovCath a lot of credit,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. “They played a tough game slowing us down.”

But since Dave Wirth became Colonel Head Coach in 2009, only three of the eight meetings have been separated by more than 15 points. In fact, Highlands edged CovCath, 27-20 in 2010 and the closest call came in Park Hills by a 42-37 count in 2011 when Towles was a senior.

Current Dixie Heights Head Coach Dave Brossart had three rough meetings against Highlands including two shutouts. The Bluebirds beat the Colonels by an average of 38.3 points during Brossart’s two years in Park Hills.

Highlands improved to 26-6 against CovCath since Mueller took over in 1994. CovCath beat Highlands twice in 1994 and 2006. But the other two losses occurred in the playoffs in 1997 in the regional championship and 2001 in the second round.

The year’s senior class of 31 became the third consecutive class not to lose to CovCath on Friday nights in their four years of high school. They finished 7-0 against the Colonels and last year’s class finished 6-0 with Towles’ class going 5-0.

“It definitely adds pressure with every class,” said Seth Hope, Highlands senior defensive lineman. “I’m just glad we weren’t the one to break the streak. It feels great to keep the tradition alive. I never lost to the Colonels and that’s a great thing I’ll be able to say for the rest of my life.”

Another rematch:

Highlands will play the fourth straight rematch from last year’s state championship run. The Bluebirds also beat Boyd County and Ashland at home to open the playoffs.

The Bluebirds will take on the Lexington Catholic Knights (10-3) for the third straight year in the Class 4A semifinals. Highlands smashed LexCath, 61-28 in Fort Thomas last year after doubling the Knights, 42-21 in Lexington in 2011. Lexington Catholic beat Mercer County, 49-14 for the Region 3 title on Friday.

Highlands could also play the same opponent in the state title game. Collins (11-2) beat North Oldham (42-14) for the Region 2 championship, but travels to Owensboro on Friday. Owensboro knocked off Franklin-Simpson, 21-13 for the Region 1 championship.

Seeking record to themselves:

If Highlands wins the next two games to claim its 23rd state championship, the Bluebirds will have the state record for the most championships in Kentucky to themselves.

They are still tied with Louisville Trinity for 22. But Louisville Male and Head Coach Chris Wolfe knocked off Louisville St. Xavier (23-21) and Trinity (31-7) in consecutive weeks.

This will mark the first time since Male’s last title in 2000 that neither Trinity or St. Xavier will win the largest class in Kentucky. No one outside Louisville has won the largest class since Nelson County beat Lexington Paul Dunbar (35-34) in overtime in 1996.

New champ also to be crowned in 3A:

Undefeated Wayne County (13-0) ventured to Louisville Central and took down the Yellowjackets, 17-7 in the regional championship on Friday. Central had won five of the past six 3A crowns.

The only year Central had not won it was 2009 when Paducah Tilghman beat the Yellowjackets, 24-21 in the state semifinals. That marked the earliest exit for Central since 2005.

Wayne County has to head to Paducah Tilghman on Friday in the state semifinals. The Blue Tornado (8-5) have won seven straight since starting the year 1-5 including a 42-25 defeat to Highlands on Sept. 21.

Major opportunity to catch Valdosta:

Highlands has a huge opportunity to gain some ground against Valdosta for the title of most wins in school history.

The Wildcats of South Georgia lost in the first round of the Class AAAAAA playoffs to finish the year at 6-5. They are 882-214-34 since starting their program in 1913.

Highlands improved to 854-226-26 with Friday’s win. The Bluebirds still have 21 more wins than the second-winningest program in Kentucky. Louisville Male is second with 833 all-time wins.

 

FORT THOMAS MATTERS: Bluebird Notebook: CovCath games closer than many think

Not to get sidetracked, but how did last years CCH/ Conner game mean any more last year than it did this year?

 

The win for Conner helped them secure the 2 seed win a 3-way tie.