I attended the game, and what a game it was. It was a good HS football game. It would have been a great game if we had pulled it out at the end.

 

I think the most important lesson learned tonight is end of game management. The Birds had the ball in the red zone with just under two minutes left to play and three time outs. We really rushed to get the plays off. I think taking a TO and settling down the team; drying the hands might have made a difference. I also thought we abandoned the run too early; we had time and TOs, we didn't need to go into panic mode.

 

The pass plays that worked against St. X were difficult to execute in a driving rain at the end of the game.

 

Witnessing the 05 and 06 games, it is hard to believe how we shut down their running game. My Columbus friend (and bluebird fan) remarked he hadn't seen DeSales run so many pass plays in a game.

 

Coaches and players will learn from this defeat. The team continues to improve each week. Even with the loss, I feel HHS has taken another step forward in the road to #17.

I think the theory behind playing these teams is to get better by facing tougher competition. They could fumble a punt as easily against a lesser opponent and yes they need to learn from those errors. However HHS will not face a back as good as Anderson, a D-Line as good as Elder, an O-line as good as X and a receiving corp as good as DeSales ( Cov Cath may be close). Playing this competition makes HHS better as a team. Come play off time that experience is huge. It makes no sense to play lesser teams just to be assured a victory, and gain nothing but a W.

I agree with your Crunch.

How would the team improve by pounding another SW Pulaski?

The "L" potentially had much more meaning for DeSales than it did to HHS.

Was that experience huge last year in the playoffs for the 'Birds??? Cause what I remember is Highlands getting shut out at home in the quarterfinals. When was the last time Highlands was shut out at home in the playoffs????

Whats your point? You don't think playing top competition makes you better? Just say it. You started off with an injury arguement that had no merit. Then you have made 2 references to last years team. Do you think playing top competition hurts HHS? If 11-0 against weak opponents is your desire then just say it. I just happen to disagree with your train of thought.

I attended the game, and what a game it was. It was a good HS football game. It would have been a great game if we had pulled it out at the end.

 

I think the most important lesson learned tonight is end of game management. The Birds had the ball in the red zone with just under two minutes left to play and three time outs. We really rushed to get the plays off. I think taking a TO and settling down the team; drying the hands might have made a difference. I also thought we abandoned the run too early; we had time and TOs, we didn't need to go into panic mode.

 

The pass plays that worked against St. X were difficult to execute in a driving rain at the end of the game.

 

Witnessing the 05 and 06 games, it is hard to believe how we shut down their running game. My Columbus friend (and bluebird fan) remarked he hadn't seen DeSales run so many pass plays in a game.

 

Coaches and players will learn from this defeat. The team continues to improve each week. Even with the loss, I feel HHS has taken another step forward in the road to #17.

According to jbill you can't learn from losing to a good team

According to jbill you can't learn from losing to a good team

Well, HHS didn't learn from their mistakes in the Elder game, or else they would have come away with the "w" this past Friday.

Whats your point? You don't think playing top competition makes you better? Just say it. You started off with an injury arguement that had no merit. Then you have made 2 references to last years team. Do you think playing top competition hurts HHS? If 11-0 against weak opponents is your desire then just say it. I just happen to disagree with your train of thought.

Then, I assume you think it would be best if HHS played a regular season schedule against the following: Moeller, Elder, Colerain, Cincy Saint X, Columbus DeSales, Trinity, and Louisville Saint X, before going into district play. I mean, if playing top competition makes you better, why stop at playing only 3 tough opponents??? Why not "man up" and play every game against superior teams? You wouldn't have to worry about wasting time on the PSWs of the world anymore.

 

My point is not that it's bad to play good competition. In fact, you need to do so in order to better assess yourself and make improvements. But there are limits to this, and maybe playing 1 or 2 top-level teams would be a better idea than playing 3 or more in a season, especially for a program the size of Highlands.

Well, HHS didn't learn from their mistakes in the Elder game, or else they would have come away with the "w" this past Friday.

Still don"t agree. These were two completely different games. I am guessing the mistakes you are refering to were the fumbled punts? If so HHS did not lose last night due to a fumbled punt. And just because you fumble once you can't realistically say " well thats a mistake and we will learn from that and not fumble again." Everyone knows a fumble is bad but yet they happen in just about every game. BTW fielding a punt is one of the most difficult plays in football.

Then, I assume you think it would be best if HHS played a regular season schedule against the following: Moeller, Elder, Colerain, Cincy Saint X, Columbus DeSales, Trinity, and Louisville Saint X, before going into district play. I mean, if playing top competition makes you better, why stop at playing only 3 tough opponents??? Why not "man up" and play every game against superior teams? You wouldn't have to worry about wasting time on the PSWs of the world anymore.

 

My point is not that it's bad to play good competition. In fact, you need to do so in order to better assess yourself and make improvements. But there are limits to this, and maybe playing 1 or 2 top-level teams would be a better idea than playing 3 or more in a season, especially for a program the size of Highlands.

I actually like their mix of games right now. Please never assume what I might be thinking . You might strain something:banana:

Here's the bottom line for me: first and foremost, I want HHS to win football titles, including this year. I am all for whatever ethical means it takes to achieve this goal. Secondly, I want HHS to wins games and not lose them. The fact that they rank seventh in the nation in wins and have a very high winning percentage means a lot to me, and I want this to continue.

 

Highlands has won several titles (including at least their last 4) with only scheduling 1-2 top-level out-of-district opponents each of those years. So, does it really make a significant difference in HHS' chances of winning the title if they schedule 3 or 4 of these superior opponents, as opposed to 1 or 2? If it does, then keep scheduling them. But if it doesn't, I'd rather have HHS play only a couple of superior programs and not accumulate the extra losses.

Here's the bottom line for me: first and foremost, I want HHS to win football titles, including this year. I am all for whatever ethical means it takes to achieve this goal. Secondly, I want HHS to wins games and not lose them. The fact that they rank seventh in the nation in wins and have a very high winning percentage means a lot to me, and I want this to continue.

 

Highlands has won several titles (including at least their last 4) with only scheduling 1-2 top-level out-of-district opponents each of those years. So, does it really make a significant difference in HHS' chances of winning the title if they schedule 3 or 4 of these superior opponents, as opposed to 1 or 2? If it does, then keep scheduling them. But if it doesn't, I'd rather have HHS play only a couple of superior programs and not accumulate the extra losses.

JB, DeSales has been a scoring machine this year. 30 pts is, if not their lowest close to it, output for the year. Pretty unrealistic to expect to shut them out. HHS has had several personnel changes over the past few weeks, some planned, some due to injuries. The team is improving. But that improvement has come from the games played against tough competition.

I know the boys were excited to play at PBS.

 

This argument is a mute point. Based on subjective polls (AP, Litkenhaus, etc)the Birds will be the favored team each week, the rest of the season.

 

Next year St. X, Elder and DeSales will be missing from the schedule. So HHS can pound a few teams, possibly have a better win-loss record; and you can pound your chest about all-time wins.

Witnessing the 05 and 06 games, it is hard to believe how we shut down their running game. My Columbus friend (and bluebird fan) remarked he hadn't seen DeSales run so many pass plays in a game.

 

Your friend must have missed the DeSales/New Albany game the week before. DeSales threw all over them.

Who was out tonight? I know Little (knee-season) and Fitzgerald (hand-this game only) were out. Did the center play?

 

I do not give injury reports. Sorry.

 

After seeing Highlands play, I hope they now concentrate on district play after getting hammered in trying to play up so many times this year.

I do not give injury reports. Sorry.

 

After seeing Highlands play, I hope they now concentrate on district play after getting hammered in trying to play up so many times this year.

Thanks for the advice:rolleyes: Next year when Highlands is trying to fill their schedule we will make sure we settle for another sub-par team. In Fort Thomas we have a theory, To be the best you have to beat the best. Why do you think Dale started playing X and Trinity. Wait a minute weren't you guys the 4th nationally ranked team and loaded with players such as Bernard Jackson in 1996. Didn't you guys lose your first game of the year that season. Hmmmm i wonder who it was. And in 1998 when Montrell Jones and company ran into Jared Lorenzens buzz saw in Fort Mitchell. Oh i almost forgot when Trinity tried to play with Gino and gang. I know you guys don't like to dwell on the past. but this is how Highlands measures up their seasons and prepares themselves for the playoffs by playing stiffer competition. We might not win all of the time, but Highlands will play Anyone,Anytime and Anyplace!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the advice:rolleyes: Next year when Highlands is trying to fill their schedule we will make sure we settle for another sub-par team. In Fort Thomas we have a theory, To be the best you have to beat the best. Why do you think Dale started playing X and Trinity. Wait a minute weren't you guys the 4th nationally ranked team and loaded with players such as Bernard Jackson in 1996. Didn't you guys lose your first game of the year that season. Hmmmm i wonder who it was. And in 1998 when Montrell Jones and company ran into Jared Lorenzens buzz saw in Fort Mitchell. Oh i almost forgot when Trinity tried to play with Gino and gang. I know you guys don't like to dwell on the past. but this is how Highlands measures up their seasons and prepares themselves for the playoffs by playing stiffer competition. We might not win all of the time, but Highlands will play Anyone,Anytime and Anyplace!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

:ylsuper: :ylsuper: :ylsuper:

I think the most important lesson learned tonight is end of game management. The Birds had the ball in the red zone with just under two minutes left to play and three time outs. We really rushed to get the plays off. I think taking a TO and settling down the team; drying the hands might have made a difference. I also thought we abandoned the run too early; we had time and TOs, we didn't need to go into panic mode

 

This almost seems ridiculous. If you cant execute and get the first down or TD that is one thing but from the sounds of it... they did not use their timeouts wisely here. Why leave them on the scoreboard? It seems one of the 26 coaches the Birds have could have possibly chimed in with a pertinent piece of information that could have helped them get to PayDirt... I don't know.. maybe its just me the stupid fan typing on BGP. ?