10 hours ago, BLUEHOUND said:

The RPI system doesn't reward teams for playing games outside the state of KY. This schedule was good enough last year with the wins to be the #1 seed in 5A. 

For KHSAA RPI purposes and the 1A-3A schools especially, beating a 5A or 6A school is huge, but losing a game to any level team is a big minus. When the small schools schedule big schools, they need to think their chances of winning are better than 50/50.

Bump.

On 2/5/2024 at 2:22 PM, FrankNicodemus said:

2023 Outcome

Record: 12-2

The Birds finally in year 3 of the Sphire era got back to being a title contender in 5A, they were a top of several state wide polls during the season including our very own 5A BGP weekly poll several weeks during the year.  The Birds were led by the Middle Tennessee State commit Brody Benke who at the next level will play TE but for the Birds he was QB1, with the ability to run over defenses as well.  The Birds 2 losses were against Cov Cath (35-21) early in the season and then the disappointing heartbreaker of a loss versus Cooper (the rematch) in the State Semifinal game at Fort Thomas (17-15).  Cam Giesler was the leader in rushing for the Birds finally having a season everyone thought he could all along rushing for a total of 1,380 yards and 11 TDs.  Carson Class led the receiving core for the Birds tallying 622 yards receiving with 10 TDs.  Unfortunately, all of those players mentioned will not be with the Birds program next year due to them all being Seniors and graduating.

Highlands 2023 Statistical Leaders

Graduated: Brody Benke (QB) | Cam Giesler (RB) | Carson Class (WR/P) | Matteo Matteoli (WR) | Davis Hinegardner (WR) | Nate Welch (DB) | Dalton Roller (LB) | Christian Stojkovic (LB) | Leo Fenik (LB) | Reed Hellman (LB) | Lincoln Hicks (DB) | Luke Schneider (TE) | Gabe Fassler (C) | Evan Johnson (OL) | Hollon Schweitzer (OL/DL) | Carson Shelton (DL) | Josh Studer (OL/DL) |

Returning Starters/Contributors: Rio Litmer (QB) | Devon James (RB) | Jack White (RB) | Adam Surrey (WR) | Tommy Ferring (WR) | Jackson Arnold (WR) | Max Merz (OL) |

Bullpen: Tayden Lorenzen (QB/TE/LB?) | Gabe Williams (RB) | Teegan Haretuku (OL/DL)

2024 Outlook

The biggest question of the offseason: Who will be the Birds QB1 in 2024?  Will it be (incoming Jr) Rio Litmer who has been hoping for this opportunity for a few years.  Some people thought this past season was going to be his season with Benke out wide as a TE target, apparently things changed in the summer to have Benke coming out strong as QB1 and Litmer took a backseat for the season getting some limited reps throughout the year on some gadget plays or when running clocks were rung, or do we have some controversy brewing with (Incoming Soph) Tayden Lorenzen sitting a year behind Litmer as a QB competitor?  Luckily like Benke, Lorenzen can contribute in several other positions instead of QB if the staff decides to give Litmer the play calling duties at the beginning. Running the ball will easily transition to Devan James, Jack White and the incoming Sophomore phenome Gabe Williams. A lot of graduates from the line will need to be replaced but (Incoming Jr) Max Merz who is already getting looked at, at the next level will be the stud coming back to anchor the OL, look for (incoming Soph) Haratuku to make a similar splash as Merz did this past season on the OL/DL. 

So many other young prospects that are coming up, I’ll let our faithful do more justice than me if they so choose too.  I look forward to a season similar to Cooper had in 2023, there might be some growing pains early with such a So/Jr heavy roster getting plenty of playing time, will it pay dividends in November as it did for the boys from Longbranch?

2024 schedule:

Aug 9 at Male (Scrimmage)
Aug 16 Blue vs. White (Scrimmage)
Aug 23 vs. Lexington Catholic
Aug 30 at Covington Catholic
Sep 6 at Campbell County
Sep 13 at Ryle
Sep 20 vs. Raceland
Sep 27 vs. Cooper (District)
Oct 4 vs. Dixie Heights (District)
Oct 11 at Boone County (District)
Oct 18 at Conner (District)
Oct 25 vs. Scott (District)
Nov 1 – BYE

Way too early to predict record or success, especially how young this team will come out of the gate as.  At the end of the day though, I am so looking forward to hearing the cannon blasting on Friday nights once again!

Let the discussions begin!!!!

Good work. I would add Torin Bryant. A senior this year and 6 feet tall and 250 pounds. He's coming off a knee injury and ACL surgery. Could be one of Highlands' top players but he won't be on any watch lists because of the injury. A two-way lineman and long snapper so he's important. He can play guard, center, defensive tackle and defensive end. Of note, he's been class president and prom king and 4.242 GPA. Definitely a kid to root for.

I saw this on Facebook tonight.  Credit to William Hesch and Scott McMurray.

On 7/3/2024 at 8:51 PM, theguru said:

I saw this on Facebook tonight.  Credit to William Hesch and Scott McMurray.

Was that the same Bill Hesch that scored 4 TDs and rushed forever in that State Championship game ?  (memories from 55+ years ago not always perfect)

3 minutes ago, Oldercoach said:

Was that the same Bill Hesch that scored 4 TDs and rushed forever in that State Championship game ?  (memories from 55+ years ago not always perfect)

Correct, in Bill's own words from Facebook:

Life is all about the memories! Recently found this newspaper article dated November 30th 1968 when Highlands High School defeated Elizabethtown to win the Kentucky Class AA high school football state championship. My brother Bob Hesch was an offensive tackle and I played wingback and fullback. Carried the ball 14 times and gained over 100 yards. When a memory!

41 minutes ago, theguru said:

Correct, in Bill's own words from Facebook:

Life is all about the memories! Recently found this newspaper article dated November 30th 1968 when Highlands High School defeated Elizabethtown to win the Kentucky Class AA high school football state championship. My brother Bob Hesch was an offensive tackle and I played wingback and fullback. Carried the ball 14 times and gained over 100 yards. When a memory!

Fun stuff. I know Bill but didn't know this. I'll have to ask him about it the next time we talk.

I don’t think in today’s age any team is scared of other teams even if you are really down you have a certain amount of confidence as a player. It’s just the nature of the beast. How big is Lorenzen?

4 hours ago, Tkinslow said:

I don’t think in today’s age any team is scared of other teams even if you are really down you have a certain amount of confidence as a player. It’s just the nature of the beast. How big is Lorenzen?

6'2 220 

Any reports of how the Bird's did in the 7 on 7 in Hoover?

40 minutes ago, Bluebird said:

Any reports of how the Bird's did in the 7 on 7 in Hoover?

I was not there live so cannot report on individual performances. I did hear that Arnold and Surrey balled out at WR. Overall, the Birds did well. They finished 6-3 overall. Each team played 5 pool play games on Friday and 2 on Saturday morning. They finished 1st in scoring and 2nd in points allowed pitching back to back shutouts to end the day on Friday. 

On Saturday morning they faced one of the top teams in Alabama (Thompson) who touted one of the top Sophomore QBs in the country with 25 offers including Alabama , Ole Miss and Auburn. They were loaded and beat the Birds soundly. 

The Birds finished 3rd in their pool and entered bracket play with the #8 seed out of 32 teams putting them in the Gold Bracket. They won their 1st round game but lost a very close one by 2 points to Hoover, AL in the quarterfinals. Hoover went on to win the tournament. Obviously things are different when the pads come on but they faced excellent talent and got a ton of reps in.

Other KY teams at Hoover - Male finished 2-6-1 losing to CAL in the quarterfinals of the Silver Bracket. CAL finished 6-5 losing in the Finals of the Silver bracket.

The Birds will have 7v7 events at St. Henry and Beechwood this week before heading to EKU this weekend. 

 

1 hour ago, FirstTimeLongTime said:

I was not there live so cannot report on individual performances. I did hear that Arnold and Surrey balled out at WR. Overall, the Birds did well. They finished 6-3 overall. Each team played 5 pool play games on Friday and 2 on Saturday morning. They finished 1st in scoring and 2nd in points allowed pitching back to back shutouts to end the day on Friday. 

On Saturday morning they faced one of the top teams in Alabama (Thompson) who touted one of the top Sophomore QBs in the country with 25 offers including Alabama , Ole Miss and Auburn. They were loaded and beat the Birds soundly. 

The Birds finished 3rd in their pool and entered bracket play with the #8 seed out of 32 teams putting them in the Gold Bracket. They won their 1st round game but lost a very close one by 2 points to Hoover, AL in the quarterfinals. Hoover went on to win the tournament. Obviously things are different when the pads come on but they faced excellent talent and got a ton of reps in.

Other KY teams at Hoover - Male finished 2-6-1 losing to CAL in the quarterfinals of the Silver Bracket. CAL finished 6-5 losing in the Finals of the Silver bracket.

The Birds will have 7v7 events at St. Henry and Beechwood this week before heading to EKU this weekend. 

 

Any idea who the main QB was for them down there?

48 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

Any idea who the main QB was for them down there?

Litmer on the Varsity side. 

On 2/18/2024 at 9:07 AM, VF111 said:

I’m gonna go out on an limb, send a few folks into a frenzy, and say Highlands beats Cooper this year… 

Bump... ?

I had an epiphany the other night when I was eating at Camp Washington Chili.  We are not only going to win the state championship this year, we are going to win it the the next three years.  At least that was the epiphany. ?‍♂️

Seriously, we are going to beat Cooper.

Go Bluebirds!!

#24n24