We ran 370 yards last night, which has to be the most in a couple of seasons as a team. I know we reshuffled the OL after the first Highlands game and they had a couple guys out, but that can’t be the only reason for such a big difference in the games. I thought Reid Hummel had the best game of his career last night, we are going to need that level of play from him to make a deep run. Very impressed by him. 

I think since we have started Agee at QB, the team has taken on the identity of his toughness and competitiveness. He had another great game and had turned into the bell cow that we have needed the last 2 years. 

On defense it’s a good combo when you can stop the run with your front 6 or 7 and both of your corners are playing well. That is a recipe for success. 

I liked some of Highlands skill guys and expect the games next year to be more competitive than this one. I’m certainly not going to dismiss them as not being able to beat us next year.

Without looking at any stats, I thought the birds offense was improved last night, compared to the first game.  They had a handful of missed throws/drops that could have resulted in explosive plays.  I'll cite the wheel route to Giesler, as an example.  That was a very well designed play.  Not suggesting the outcome hinged on those plays, but there seemed to be improvement.  Noon is explosive.  Giesler looks like a nice player.  I hope his "noise" is all behind him, now.

Defensively, they were way off compared to the regular season game.  I'm guessing the two key injuries to the front seven played a part.  The more healthy offensive line for CCH really helped, too.  I also understand the sentiment that maybe Coach E was intentionally vanilla in game 1, but, there were a lot of vanilla plays last night that resulted in gashes.

Credit to CCH for coming out of the gate hot and setting the tone on the line of scrimmage.  Reid Hummel was dynamic and it was nice to see big plays from Mason and Wilson in the passing game.  Agee is really something.  The Colonels were very physical in the trenches.

I'm sure the birds will circle the wagons in the offseason.  For the Colonels, keep it going!  As far as this rivalry goes, historically, there's still a big score to be settled.  I realize that each year is a new year and each team is a new team.  My hope is the staff stays on the kids in Park Hills, reminding them of what this rivalry looked like for much of the 20 year period prior to 2016.   But, that's for the offseason.

14 minutes ago, Samcro said:

Without looking at any stats, I thought the birds offense was improved last night, compared to the first game.  They had a handful of missed throws/drops that could have resulted in explosive plays.  I'll cite the wheel route to Giesler, as an example.  That was a very well designed play.  Not suggesting the outcome hinged on those plays, but there seemed to be improvement.  Noon is explosive.  Giesler looks like a nice player.  I hope his "noise" is all behind him, now.

Defensively, they were way off compared to the regular season game.  I'm guessing the two key injuries to the front seven played a part.  The more healthy offensive line for CCH really helped, too.  I also understand the sentiment that maybe Coach E was intentionally vanilla in game 1, but, there were a lot of vanilla plays last night that resulted in gashes.

Credit to CCH for coming out of the gate hot and setting the tone on the line of scrimmage.  Reid Hummel was dynamic and it was nice to see big plays from Mason and Wilson in the passing game.  Agee is really something.  The Colonels were very physical in the trenches.

I'm sure the birds will circle the wagons in the offseason.  For the Colonels, keep it going!  As far as this rivalry goes, historically, there's still a big score to be settled.  I realize that each year is a new year and each team is a new team.  My hope is the staff stays on the kids in Park Hills, reminding them of what this rivalry looked like for much of 1995-2015.  But, that's for the offseason.

Hummel had his best game period!  Love the work there.  I think that is a fair recap.  For Highlands special teams need to be special and I too would look to immediately address this.  I think the birds were young and the defense was missing two that you can’t miss without a change in the outcome.  Would CCH be the same without Jones and Sullivan last night.  That would be a big No.  I like Hodge and hope he continues progression.  Robinson will be back.  I think Fenick will step in to the LaFrange roll and he has been challenged by the departing Senior.  
 

For the Seniors, I know this is not how or what you wanted but remind the troops, season started 1March and OC arrived in June.  Work hard players are made in the off-season.

10 hours ago, Bluebirdbath said:

That is correct, wiser, bigger, stronger...that is what happens in a building program.

Building a program? I thought the talent was already there?

1 hour ago, Bird Bath said:

Hummel had his best game period!  Love the work there.  I think that is a fair recap.  For Highlands special teams need to be special and I too would look to immediately address this.  I think the birds were young and the defense was missing two that you can’t miss without a change in the outcome.  Would CCH be the same without Jones and Sullivan last night.  That would be a big No.  I like Hodge and hope he continues progression.  Robinson will be back.  I think Fenick will step in to the LaFrange roll and he has been challenged by the departing Senior.  
 

For the Seniors, I know this is not how or what you wanted but remind the troops, season started 1March and OC arrived in June.  Work hard players are made in the off-season.

Good point. This will this staff's first off season at Highlands.

1 minute ago, TheDeuce said:

Building a program? I thought the talent was already there?

I believe the talent is there. Highlands wins in every sport both male and female. Football should be no different.

7 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

I believe the talent is there. Highlands wins in every sport both male and female. Football should be no different.

If people keep saying it over and over, it will be right eventually I suppose. 

3 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

If people keep saying it over and over, it will be right eventually I suppose. 

I hear you. But the fact is there is talent there. We'll see if a full off season under the new staff has an impact.

CWB - Have the Colonels ever had a winning decade v the birds?  Guessing No.  Maybe a tie in the 90s and close in the 80s?

9 hours ago, Bluesport said:

There were a few Birds fans on this board predicting a Birds win after a win against a Cooper team that obviously declined dramatically at the end of the year-some even predicted a multiple score win while we remained quiet. My only prediction in the prediction thread was "CCH wins."

I appreciate the enthusiasm and banter, but this score doesn't surprise me at all and the game never felt as close as the score. After the 1st TD on the 1st Drive, and then watching the Birds first couple of drives I knew this game was over. Our D played like a bunch of crazed dogs out there, and our O-Line dominated the smaller Bluebirds. It's a 9 game winning streak over 7 years, but would be 14 if the Birds made it far enough in the playoffs for CCH to beat them twice because lets be honest....only a couple of these games have been close. The only 2 I can think of both at Highlands were the rainy game a few years ago, and the one this year the day after Eddie's brother passed away.

I just don't see anything changing, and the game next year is at CCH where CCH has been just blowing the doors off Highlands. Reminds me of CCH showing up to Highlands a decade ago. Last thing: I don't know what the majority of the Highlands faithful think about the new coaching staff other than what I have read on here, but it optically looked like Highlands just tapped out half way through the 3rd and called it a season knowing they were overmatched by a way more physical team who played with a ton more energy after coming off a very physical win against Ryle in a quagmire. They were just beat into submission.

I was just surprised to see that-thought the new coach with bring a little more inspiration to the team this year. Again-with the talent Highlands has returning (and CCH has quite a bit too they just don't peak until this time of year because most of them are 1st time Senior starters after Eddie and staff have developed them), I think the Birds are still a mystery on where they go from here because they are so up and down week to week, and to me that is where the coaches make the difference.

This sums up my thoughts pretty well. 

One more from Wayne Litmer:

3 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

I believe the talent is there. Highlands wins in every sport both male and female. Football should be no different.

Maybe some better athletes no longer choose football? 

Two semi-serious questions from an outsider looking in. 

When, if ever, does a rivalry cease to become a rivalry?  I’m guessing that CCHS-HHS will pretty much always be considered a rivalry, even if one side dominates for an extended stretch.  Too much history to stop calling it a rivalry after just a few years. 

Has HHS become a basketball school?

26 minutes ago, mcpapa said:

Two semi-serious questions from an outsider looking in. 

When, if ever, does a rivalry cease to become a rivalry?  I’m guessing that CCHS-HHS will pretty much always be considered a rivalry, even if one side dominates for an extended stretch.  Too much history to stop calling it a rivalry after just a few years. 

Has HHS become a basketball school?

Covington Catholic is a basketball school and they have no trouble putting top notch football teams on the field. I don't think basketball can derail a football team. 

10 hours ago, Samcro said:

CWB - Have the Colonels ever had a winning decade v the birds?  Guessing No.  Maybe a tie in the 90s and close in the 80s?

As of yet, no.

1960s: Highlands 1 Cov Cath 1
1970s: Highlands 8 Cov Cath 1
1980s: Highlands 8 Cov Cath 5
1990s: Highlands 7 Cov Cath 7
2000s: Highlands 12 Cov Cath 3
2010s: Highlands 11 Cov Cath 5
2020s: Highlands 0 Cov Cath 4