The Simon Kenton Pioneers were long-accused of "ducking" from the Highlands Bluebirds. The two teams hadn't seen one another on the football field since 1998. Then in 2015, northern Kentucky football fans got their wish and the Neers and the Birds faced off on the gridiron, with Simon Kenton sending Highlands home licking their wounds on the short side of a 42-3 shellacking. Since the series resumed in 2015, the record has been 3-2 in the Pioneers' favor. The 2020 edition will take place on Friday at 7:00pm in Fort Thomas, and will offer the Birds the opportunity to tie the (recent) series record up at 3-3.

Highlands lost a significant bit of their team to graduation, and senior running back Joe Buten is not returning after spending a good deal of both his freshman and junior seasons sidelined by injuries. We will see on Friday who gets the official nod at QB - senior Jake Fahlbusch, or junior Isaac Surrey. Junior RB Griffin Richter returns as one of the most battle-tested members of the offensive unit, and senior Mason South has also been rotating into the backfield after spending last season exclusively as a defensive contributor. South is one of very few returning starters for the Birds' D at linebacker, and senior Bryson Cody has returned to the football team after sitting out his junior year to focus on basketball. Cody was a very talented outside linebacker during his freshman and sophomore seasons at Highlands.

At Simon Kenton, the Pioneers offense has to be smiling about sophomore QB Chase Crone stepping into the first game of 2020 with 12 varsity games under his belt. Last year Crone was Simon Kenton's primary starter and racked up 1740 yards and 14 TDs, plus another 669 yards and 6 TDs rushing as a varsity freshman. The Pioneers are looking to promote a running back to varsity this year since they gradated 3 of their top 5 rushers, and the 2 left returning are both quarterbacks. Two of Crone's favorite receivers from last season will be returning as seniors; Caleb Livers and Trey Little combined for 702 yards and 7 touchdowns last year. On the defensive side, Simon Kenton also had heavy losses to graduation, replacing virtually all of their starters with the exception of LB Nate Walker, who was the team's #3 tackler in 2019, and then DL Jake Huff. Lots of questions remain for the Pioneers' defense, and we'll see how well they have fared in the out-of-the-ordinary offseason leading up to the 2020 season.

I went and looked at Freshman results for these two for the last 3 years. Highlands won against SK all three years so they may have overall more talent so I’m taking Highlands in this one. If SK wins, It will be because of Chase Crone most likely.

This is a tough one. I want to go with Highlands at home, but SK has a potentially great young QB with a year's experience under his belt at the most important position on the field.

I'm gonna stick with my initial lean and say Highlands squeaks this one out.

I think Highlands will be very young, including their QB, but should be an exciting game. I'm hoping the birds come out on top. 

Just now, Ballfan34 said:

I think Highlands will be very young, including their QB, but should be an exciting game. I'm hoping the birds come out on top. 

Is the sophomore going to start? 
 

1 minute ago, NKYPrepSportsFan said:

Is the sophomore going to start? 
 

I'm not 100% positive, but I wouldn't be surprised one bit. IMO I think he is their best option. 

37 minutes ago, NKYPrepSportsFan said:

Is the sophomore going to start? 
 

Charlie Noon?

16 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Charlie Noon?

Yes.  I was asking about the sophomore QB, Noon.  

1 hour ago, NKYPrepSportsFan said:

Is the sophomore going to start? 
 

 

1 hour ago, Ballfan34 said:

I'm not 100% positive, but I wouldn't be surprised one bit. IMO I think he is their best option. 

If he gets the nod, does that say more about his potential or Highlands' issues at QB that they're starting a sophomore?

Just curious.

2 hours ago, DevilMayCare said:

 

If he gets the nod, does that say more about his potential or Highlands' issues at QB that they're starting a sophomore?

Just curious.

Little bit of both. Kid is and will be a stud in the future. Faulbush just started playing QB as a junior. I can’t remember the last time Highlands started a sophomore at QB, maybe Towles ?

If SK can protect Chase Crone and keep him upright, I'd lean towards the Pioneers walking away victorious. I'm not sure in todays age of COVID there will much of a home field advantage for the BlueBirds over in Fort Thomas. With the lack of defensive experience described above, could be a high scoring affair.

It will be interesting to see the ‘birds this game.... Who is at QB?  To what extent will players be playing both ways? If Fahlbusch isn’t the QB how will he be used? Lots of mysteries being revealed game 1. I heard the O Line is the biggest it’s been in years. 

If they can rattle soph veteran QB Chase Crone early and often they should get the W. Go Birds!

So glad football is here! 

PIONEERS   28

BIRDS           35
 

2 hours ago, El Diablo said:

It will be interesting to see the ‘birds this game.... Who is at QB?  To what extent will players be playing both ways? If Fahlbusch isn’t the QB how will he be used? Lots of mysteries being revealed game 1. I heard the O Line is the biggest it’s been in years. 

If they can rattle soph veteran QB Chase Crone early and often they should get the W. Go Birds!

So glad football is here! 

PIONEERS   28

BIRDS           35
 

Any live audio or video for this game? Game time? Thanks in advance!

14 minutes ago, 1963 BIRDS said:

Any live audio or video for this game? Game time? Thanks in advance!

Per Highlands' Twitter account, "The Highlands High School Broadcasting Program will provide a free live stream of every home varsity football game and as many other varsity sports as their staffing will allow."

https://www.youtube.com/user/HHSFilmAndBroadcast/

19 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Per Highlands' Twitter account, "The Highlands High School Broadcasting Program will provide a free live stream of every home varsity football game and as many other varsity sports as their staffing will allow."

https://www.youtube.com/user/HHSFilmAndBroadcast/

Love it!

The Highlands High School Broadcasts have been the gold standard and something every school should be doing.