Congrats to the Highlands Bluebirds! Big questions for them entering this season with a new coach and some staff I believe. But once you establish your program to the level that the entire team believes they will win no matter the score or situation, coupled with a good schedule, you wont lose much even if you dont have the best talent your school has ever had or even if it is the state championship game. Well done!

 

Congrats to the Owensboro Red Devils! I know you'd like to redo that second half, but most people on here thought you would get blown out whether they said it or not. Quite the contrary. You represented your school and community really well. I said this after the BG game this year, as I still think Nick Locher was the most under rated QB in the state last year. See ya next year Red Devils! Great Job this season!

 

That kid is good!!!

Highlands couldn't guard Rodney Collier #13 for OHS in a phone booth. OHS stopped going off tackle, to the outside, and the passing game. Highlands totally deserves to win and I give them full credit. I just feel like OHS was a better team but the OHS coaches dropped the ball. I had a person tell me at halftime that the first half was worth the last 10 years of bad play calling. I agreed but I knew there was another half to play. Anytime a team plays not to lose, they typically wind up losing. Hats off to highlands to making the plays, but any comments about "uh oh, they p'd them off or whatever is garbage.

 

In my opinion, OHS should have won this game but it don't change the fact that they didn't. Even some highlands players said they didn't really make any changes. The only changes made in the second half were OHS going away from what was working and I'll never understand why they did that.

 

Are you sure they did not make any changes? If you know so much about the game and were paying attention, you would have seen what Highlands did differently in the second half. Bad play calling is a nice excuse, but Highlands adjustments took away some things for Owensboro in the second half. Go back and watch the tape of each half and see if you notice anything different.

Highlands couldn't guard Rodney Collier #13 for OHS in a phone booth. OHS stopped going off tackle, to the outside, and the passing game. Highlands totally deserves to win and I give them full credit. I just feel like OHS was a better team but the OHS coaches dropped the ball. I had a person tell me at halftime that the first half was worth the last 10 years of bad play calling. I agreed but I knew there was another half to play. Anytime a team plays not to lose, they typically wind up losing. Hats off to highlands to making the plays, but any comments about "uh oh, they p'd them off or whatever is garbage.

 

In my opinion, OHS should have won this game but it don't change the fact that they didn't. Even some highlands players said they didn't really make any changes. The only changes made in the second half were OHS going away from what was working and I'll never understand why they did that.

 

And Owensboro could not stop Highlands at any time in the game right?

One of the LB for Highlands tonite at the celebration reception said in his speech he got tired of hearing the Owensboro crowd chanting "overrated"

 

Note to opposing teams,

 

Do not punch Highlands in the mouth and then laugh at them...

Kinda speaking out of both sides of your mouth. One second you say you give HHS credit for winning and then the next, you say OHS gave it to them!! So should us HHS fans say the same thing about Collins last year?? The better team lost? The better team won. Heck, if HHS doesn't make the the mistakes in the first half that they usually don't, then what? Dropped passes, shanked punts, fumbles without really a cause to fumble, didn't see the interception but the announcers said it was a bad decision by Hoge to try and throw it. My point, if HHS plays the way they normally play (very disciplined and without that many errors), then we aren't really talking about this being close. HHS made several unforced bad plays on offense and that doesn't typically happen with them. They shot themselves in the foot.

 

Now that is not taking anything away from OHS' offense. They shoved it right down HHS' throat and looked unstoppable. They are VERY good and I was VERY impressed with every kid on that team! It was amazing what they did with the kids they had. But if HHS doesn't shoot themselves in the foot, they score right with them in that half. And if you don't think HHS made adjustments at half, then you weren't watching the same game. And it was clear OHS was tired. Go back and watch the game progress in the second half. Look at the penetration HHS was getting. Watch the OHS lineman between plays bending over on their knees. If you don't think the fatigue and adjustments made all the difference in the world, you have OHS goggles on. The second half, the QB couldn't do anything and had no time to throw and that forced bad decisions and play calls that may have been out of the ordinary for them and it cost them. I'm sure the play calling was an attempt to adjust to what HHS was doing in their adjustments. Ans as you watch the game, watch what HHS did different in the second half with their LBs. You'll see what adjustment was made and why the plays weren't coming together like they were in the first half. One of the interviewed HHS kids did say, they didn't make MANY adjustment, but also quit doing the "cutsy" stuff and just played our normal defense. But it was clear they were taking more away with their LBs and getting MUCH more penetration in the second half. So you can say what you want, but explain the penetration, stuffing the run, no time to throw like in the first...fatigue, HHS adjustments or bad play calling for the entire 2nd half? You really think it was the play calling that allowed HHS to get in the backfield?? Stuff the same plays that were working in the first half? OHS scored 0 in the second half and that was all play calling?

 

Again, thought the OHS kids were amazing yesterday, but saying the better team didn't win is crazy!

 

RCC9, I agree with you on this post. I will also say I was shocked that OHS went away from the option pitch to the outside in the second half. I know HHS made some adjustments at the half but it seemed to me like the OHS hardly even tried the pitch outside in the second half and they were gashing HHS with it in the first half.

 

Totally correct about how sloppy HHS was in the first half. I told someone in the first half that HHS picked the wrong week to play their most sloppy game of the year...totally uncharacteristic for them.

RCC9, I agree with you on this post. I will also say I was shocked that OHS went away from the option pitch to the outside in the second half. I know HHS made some adjustments at the half but it seemed to me like the OHS hardly even tried the pitch outside in the second half and they were gashing HHS with it in the first half.

 

Totally correct about how sloppy HHS was in the first half. I told someone in the first half that HHS picked the wrong week to play their most sloppy game of the year...totally uncharacteristic for them.

That is the same thing that puzzled me in the 2nd half. It seemed they went away from what was really succesful for them in the 1st half.

Highlands went to 5 lbers in the second half vs 4 in the first...

 

Difference in the football game imo...Owensboro had no counter for this, None:thumb:

 

The DL for Owensboro was also in the "Seymore technique" the second half as well...not sure if that constitutes whether or not they were tired but I will welcome anyone to watch the noseman and others the second half and make you own assessments...

If Owensboro is a true triple option team which I thought they were, the QB decides on each play where the ball ends up. They didn't change their play calling at all in the second half.

 

Looked to me that HHS widen out their tackles and the QB read became the first option rather than the QB keep or the pitch which was the read in the first half.

Maybe FTTS can cue up some huddle...he knows what I am talking about...:thumb:

I saw a team in OHS that came out in the first half and played loose, fired up and carefree football. I saw Coach Prince call the best half i had ever see him call, doing a GREAT job of mixing in the run and the pass. Highlands had no answer for OHS's total team speed in the first half. Collier was dominating the game on the outside at the WR spot and the Devils were getting around the corner at will. Highlands made mistakes. Lots of mistakes. Turned the ball over, dropped balls, etc......When Highlands scored with 2 min to go in the half, I felt they gained the momentum they needed to come out of the lockeroom and turn the game around in the second half because i agree with most of the Highlands fans......OHS couldnt stop them, they were only stopping themselves. BUT THEN, OHS goes down and scores a touchdown just before half. At the time i thought that was huge. Highlands had no answer for OHS's offense in the first half and being down 21 vs a team that is moving the ball at will???? I thought, maybe OHS is going to win this sucker.

 

Second half, different story. I saw an Owensboro team that came out of the locker room VERY tight. Like they thought to much about hoisting that trophy at halftime. I think that may have been a reflection of the coaches. I'll give all the credit in the world to Highlands. To be down 21 at halftime vs a team that you havent stopped all game and come out of the locker room like the score is 0-0, that takes some moxie. I do think OHS assisted Highlands in the win. You simply cant take your foot off the pedal vs an offense like Highlands that can score it so fast. OHS went away from the option and the stretch run plays that utilized their speed so well in the first half. They COMPLETELY abandoned the pass, until the game was back in doubt. Huge mistake IMO. Rodney Collier, who dominated the first half, didnt see another look until the Devils trailed late in the 4th quarter. Im not going to say the better team lost the game. I think Highlands is the better team. They probably beat OHS 8 out of 10 times they play. BUT, i think OHS could have been the better team on Saturday.......if they hadn't gotten so conservative and tight. Where i come from IF's dont mean anything and the final score on the board when the clock hits zero is all that matters. That made Highlands the better team on Saturday. Even IF OHS could have been. Its a game that i know will haunt Red Devil fans for a long long time. The one that got away.....

Highlands went to 5 lbers in the second half vs 4 in the first...

 

Difference in the football game imo...Owensboro had no counter for this, None:thumb:

 

The DL for Owensboro was also in the "Seymore technique" the second half as well...not sure if that constitutes whether or not they were tired but I will welcome anyone to watch the noseman and others the second half and make you own assessments...

 

"Seymore Technique" bahahaha takes me back to my HS days hearing Charlie Coleman yelling that at our D Lineman.

If Owensboro is a true triple option team which I thought they were, the QB decides on each play where the ball ends up. They didn't change their play calling at all in the second half.

 

Looked to me that HHS widen out their tackles and the QB read became the first option rather than the QB keep or the pitch which was the read in the first half.

 

This! Different reads with different looks.

Owensboro was the best team, if they were playing golf. But when it comes to football, the best team comes through in the clutch.

Congrats to both teams....Highlands converted a 4th and 9 for a TD in the 2nd half (play of the game on their behalf IMO), OHS was driving the ball with a sustained drive (2 or 3 1st downs on the drive)with only 4 minutes to go, can chew up the clock and either win or send to OT..decides on a half back pass....which I haven't seen them run this year....(that was the worst play of the game on their behalf). At worst with good play calling it should have went to OT.

 

Collier was unguardable, as was Barrett @ WR- actually the final drive or 2 he was interfered with (hit early) and no call (Hellbird said the same in the game thread), - I think the next play results in the last INT...this game could have gone either way. OHS quit play action passing until late or it was forced to, that was a HUGE mistake.

 

Highlands converts 2 4th down plays for TD's, but the 2nd one was what got them back into it...all the way across field and 35 yds. Best pass I've seen made this year.

 

OHS had over 400 yds of offense, penalties killed in the 2nd half and Highlands played better defense against the run. Again - no way I do the half back pass when I have moved the ball 30 yards that drive, it's 1st down and I can run the clock down to nothing and win or OT.

91 points, 870 yards, 55 first downs. Bet the refs were tired after that one.