26 minutes ago, RunForest said:

Kicked this horse down the road long enough, lets move on...Excuses are like elbows we all have them.  its history now...

Its a slow news day, no one wants to talk about Cov Cath v Conner.....its easy to poke the Bird instead.

21 minutes ago, TheConch said:

As did I. CovCath dominated, but I refuse to believe HHS lacks talent. 

As mentioned in previous post. When people say they lack talent. They are more talking about they have lacked the top elite type talent like they use to have.  The talent that they use to have that they were clearly the most talented team on the field most Friday nights, especially in NKY. 
 

They definitely still have talent, they just don’t have that huge talent advantage gap they use to have on teams that made them dominant. Now their talent is similar to a few of the other good NKY teams in the area. Which is why their games against a Dixie, Ryle, Cooper, Conner can go either way, because there is not that huge talent differential there use to be.

12 hours ago, Jack of all Trades said:

I asked someone about that last night and thought was this was new 2 year cycle because Highlands played Boyle last year and we’re to host them this year before coaching change.  Honestly am not certain on this.

I think the two year cycle started in 2020. I was told the only changes were the bowl game and McNick. I guess that means all the other teams signed another 2 year cycle for 2022 and 2023. 

Step a way for morning and playing catch up.  In regards to last week, I think Agee and Hummel came to play and got tired of the Cam, Noon, Bottom hype.  This game has a big asterisk as LaFrange was out and Robinson went out in the first series.  Folks they are not going to run a muck otherwise period.   
 

On the talent or potential front I think Bottom, Cam, Benke company needs to produce and show the results of the hype.  Do they have the ability absolutely but there is a lot of blood, sweat and tears that goes to obtain those goals.  Could have Benke been used more for sure.  Get better at the little things b able to block, work with one another.  Welch injury killed the passing game.  McNick had two on Jake wherever he went. We have some great young receivers work hard.  I think you have 3 returning lineman which with strength in offseason should bode well.  Kissee, LaFrange, Surrey are going to be difficult to replace, but I have faith in those next in line.  Carry the stick forward and finish what that group started!

13 hours ago, TheConch said:

Highlands had more talent than CovCath on the field last week. They have more DUDES. They seemed to have struggled where to put them or how to get the ball to them, which comes down to coaching. They are going to be tough to compete with in the next couple years if they figure that out. 
 

CovCath is very down on talent this year compared to years prior. They have no stud, no one that is taking over a game. They are in adjust, survive, and advance mode and have been all year. 

Really? It wasn’t competitive at the line of scrimmage. Wilson is an FBS guy, Jones has a good FCS offer already and I can see him maybe getting a MAC/Sun Belt offer this off-season. Dietz and Sullivan are both big, good high school players that could play college ball at some level. This is all on the line of scrimmage/inside LB. We don’t have the elite HS skill guys like we did 16-19 and the talent level isn’t the same, but we still have some really good players. 

9 minutes ago, Bird Bath said:

Step a way for morning and playing catch up.  In regards to last week, I think Agee and Hummel came to play and got tired of the Cam, Noon, Bottom hype.  This game has a big asterisk as LaFrange was out and Robinson went out in the first series.  Folks they are not going to run a muck otherwise period.   
 

On the talent or potential front I think Bottom, Cam, Benke company needs to produce and show the results of the hype.  Do they have the ability absolutely but there is a lot of blood, sweat and tears that goes to obtain those goals.  Good have Benke been used more for sure.  Get better at the little things b able to block, work with one another.  Welch injury killed the passing game.  McNick had two on Jake wherever he went. We have some great young receivers work hard.  I think you have 3 returning lineman which strength in offseason should bode well.  Kissee, LaFrange, Surrey are going to be difficult to replace, but I have faith in those next in line.  Carry the stick forward and finish what that group started!

Can we also add an asterisk to the first game too since CovCath was playing with a shuffled o-line due to injuries. Maybe the Colonels run amok that game too if healthy. Who can say for sure. I can say for sure the final in this one was 38-8.

5 minutes ago, CCHFC said:

Really? It wasn’t competitive at the line of scrimmage. Wilson is an FBS guy, Jones has a good FCS offer already and I can see him maybe getting a MAC/Sun Belt offer this off-season. Dietz and Sullivan are both big, good high school players that could play college ball at some level. This is all on the line of scrimmage/inside LB. We don’t have the elite HS skill guys like we did 16-19 and the talent level isn’t the same, but we still have some really good players. 

I agree with all that @CCHFC.

On Highlands I think if you added a D1 QB and just one more beast up front they would have been dramatically better this year.  In other words, I do think Highlands has talent but the Birds lack elite talent at the present time to push them to the next level.

3 minutes ago, theguru said:

I agree with all that @CCHFC.

On Highlands I think if you added a D1 QB and just one more beast up front they would have been dramatically better this year.  In other words, I do think Highlands has talent but the Birds lack elite talent at the present time to push them to the next level.

Yes and those are the hardest positions to find. Good big guys and QB’s are always the most sought after in recruiting and the NFL draft. 

7 minutes ago, colonel-fan said:

Can we also add an asterisk to the first game too since CovCath was playing with a shuffled o-line due to injuries. Maybe the Colonels run amok that game too if healthy. Who can say for sure. I can say for sure the final in this one was 38-8.

 bad guys won big.  I guarantee you if you watch tape of the first game the Blue Boys could not block LaFrange and I can attest that he didn’t have pads so he could check himself in that game.  Could he do it alone, no but him sitting and Robinson getting hurt the heart of the defense was gone.  Others gave effort sometimes you need your warriors on the field for others to bring it.  If you think I believe it was 38-8 game with those two playing you are crazy.  CCH has walked off too much the last 6 years.  
 

 

On talent off-seasons make talent move to elite.  I agree that have talent but some mentioned in this thread was elite.  Hodge, Mayer, etc.  

1 hour ago, theguru said:

I agree with all that @CCHFC.

On Highlands I think if you added a D1 QB and just one more beast up front they would have been dramatically better this year.  In other words, I do think Highlands has talent but the Birds lack elite talent at the present time to push them to the next level.

You can say that about almost any team though. A future D1 QB at the high school level is tough for opponents  to overcome.

3 minutes ago, colonel-fan said:

You can say that about almost any team though. A future D1 QB at the high school level is tough for opponents  to overcome.

Yes and no, you could put a D1 QB on a lot of teams in NKY this year and of course they would be better but it would not be as dramatic as it would be for this Highlands team. 

5 hours ago, TheDeuce said:

Having one D1 athlete, especially at QB, can make all the difference in KY high school football...

The Highlands everyone likes to remember usually had a couple of those at a time. They don't anymore. 

100% agree with your first statement. Beau Hoge covered up a lot of deficiencies on the state title team his senior year; HHS does not come close to winning state his senior year without him. 
 

Your second point I will disagree with. If you truly break down the roster of the HHS state titles teams, very rarely were there multiple D1 players on those teams. I don’t have time this second to do it, but I’ll go through all the rosters from say the last 20 or so years to present that won state and ID those guys. 

On 11/12/2021 at 3:30 PM, Kenny Powers said:

100% agree with your first statement. Beau Hoge covered up a lot of deficiencies on the state title team his senior year; HHS does not come close to winning state his senior year without him. 
 

Your second point I will disagree with. If you truly break down the roster of the HHS state titles teams, very rarely were there multiple D1 players on those teams. I don’t have time this second to do it, but I’ll go through all the rosters from say the last 20 or so years to present that won state and ID those guys. 

@TheDeuceI finally had some time to compile the list. These are the only players who were offered scholarships to Division 1 schools. Bolded teams won state. There is an obvious lack of D1 type talent the last 6-7 years. There are, however, multiple state title teams with very few, if any, D1 players. Hopefully, the D1 quality will come back but this proves that HHS has won many times without those players. 

2000 - Brent Grover (Purdue), Gino Guidugli (UC), Brett Hamblen (UK), Ben Scott (UK)

2001 - Jeff Reinstatler (UC), Rob Smith (Tennessee) 

2002 - N/A 

2003 - Sean Sester (Purdue) 

2004 - Jordan Nevels (UK), Mike Mitchell (Ohio)

2005 - Ben Guidugli (UC)

2006 - N/A

2007 - Luke Stein (Gardner-Webb) 

2008 - N/A

2009 - Austin Collinsworth (Notre Dame), Tyler Grubbs (Miami, OH)

2010 - N/A

2011 - Drake Bruns (UC), Pat Towels (UK)

2012 - N/A

2013 - N/A

2014 - Beau Hoge (BYU) 

2015 - Austin Hergott 

2016 - N/A

2017 - N/A 

2018 - N/A

2019 - Brycen Huddleston ( E. Michigan)

2020 - N/A

2021 - N/A

 

4 minutes ago, Kenny Powers said:

@TheDeuceI finally had some time to compile the list. These are the only players who were offered scholarships to Division 1 schools. Bolded teams won state. There is an obvious lack of D1 type talent the last 6-7 years. There are, however, multiple state title teams with very few, if any, D1 players. Hopefully, the D1 quality will come back but this proves that HHS has won many times without those players. 

2000 - Brent Grover (Purdue), Gino Guidugli (UC), Brett Hamblen (UK), Ben Scott (UK)

2001 - Jeff Reinstatler (UC), Rob Smith (Tennessee) 

2002 - N/A 

2003 - Sean Sester (Purdue) 

2004 - Jordan Nevels (UK), Mike Mitchell (Ohio)

2005 - Ben Guidugli (UC)

2006 - N/A

2007 - Luke Stein (Gardner-Webb) 

2008 - N/A

2009 - Austin Collinsworth (Notre Dame), Tyler Grubbs (Miami, OH)

2010 - N/A

2011 - Drake Bruns (UC), Pat Towels (UK)

2012 - N/A

2013 - N/A

2014 - Beau Hoge (BYU) 

2015 - Austin Hergott 

2016 - N/A

2017 - N/A 

2018 - N/A

2019 - Brycen Huddleston ( E. Michigan)

2020 - N/A

2021 - N/A

 

Thanks for the awesome info!

The one thing I will point out as a Devil's Advocate. As an example, they won in 2008 with no scholarship offers... But Auston Collinsworth and Tyler Grubbs were both on that team, as juniors. 

Same with 2010 Drake Bruns and Pat Towles were both on that team, as juniors. 

Now, I'm not saying you can't win a title with no D1 players, but it greatly increases your chances when you have a couple of them. As your research points out, Highlands simply has not had that level of talent recently. 

2 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

Thanks for the awesome info!

The one thing I will point out as a Devil's Advocate. As an example, they won in 2008 with no scholarship offers... But Auston Collinsworth and Tyler Grubbs were both on that team, as juniors. 

Same with 2010 Drake Bruns and Pat Towles were both on that team, as juniors. 

Now, I'm not saying you can't win a title with no D1 players, but it greatly increases your chances when you have a couple of them. As your research points out, Highlands simply has not had that level of talent recently. 

We are on the same page. I just was trying to debunk the myth (not necessarily perpetuated by you) that HHS has had this revolving door of huge D1 talent and numbers. It just simply isn't true.