First of all, congrats to both teams on a hard fought and entertaining high school football game.  Both teams deserved to win that game.  As for the personal foul call, may have made a difference at the end, but there were anywhere from a half dozen to a dozen calls that were not made and very questionable.  One in fact directly led to a CovCath score.

1 hour ago, CCHFC said:

I hate complaining about personnel because I think the coaching staff is really good, but in coin flip games, maybe these things make a difference. 

1. Highlands secondary was so close to the line of scrimmage a number of times and Cash was probably 0-4 throwing deep vertical routes to our receivers. Our fastest player at that position, Mac Cogswell, was on the sidelines. Mac is probably a mid 4.6 guy and would have been able to separate a little bit better as vertical routes are his game. 

2. 4 down front, a true cover 4 shell on the last drive and our bendy 230 pound D1 edge rusher - Owen Pitzer - is not on the field to rush the passer...was he hurt or tired? Can't happen.

1. At the end of the day the throws have to be within a catchable radius. A WR can have separation and the ball be under or over thrown. 

2. Playing zone on that last TD play was inexcusable. Tayden got a clean release from the line of scrimmage. No bump, no push, nothing. So being in zone didn’t get the safety enough time to roll into the coverage.  Good contract was made with the hit. Tayden made a great catch! The kid had already scored 3 TDs so everyone in the stadium knew where the ball was going except for the CovCath defensive coordinator. 

Charles Bolton Photos: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557544946368

7 minutes ago, DICEMAN said:

1. At the end of the day the throws have to be within a catchable radius. A WR can have separation and the ball be under or over thrown. 

2. Playing zone on that last TD play was inexcusable. Tayden got a clean release from the line of scrimmage. No bump, no push, nothing. So being in zone didn’t get the safety enough time to roll into the coverage.  Good contract was made with the hit. Tayden made a great catch! The kid had already scored 3 TDs so everyone in the stadium knew where the ball was going except for the CovCath defensive coordinator. 

Why set your safety in the end zone? I would tell my safeties to set up on the goal line. If the safety starts on the goal line on that last play, Litmer is either not throwing that ball to Lorenzen, or he throws it earlier and it is broken up by the safety. Anyway, too much room given for a TD pass. Squeeze the passing area down and make any completion happen well short of the goal line.

2 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Why set your safety in the end zone? I would tell my safeties to set up on the goal line. If the safety starts on the goal line on that last play, Litmer is either not throwing that ball to Lorenzen, or he throws it earlier and it is broken up by the safety. Anyway, too much room given for a TD pass. Squeeze the passing area down and make any completion happen well short of the goal line.

I would have never been in a zone defense in this situation.  I would have called man to man. My whole point being Tayden was aloud to release the line of scrimmage cleanly. Wouldn’t happen in man to man.

Now since they decided to play zone, the LB can’t allow a clean release in this situation either. Gotta get some type of bump. This at the very least gives the safety time to roll to the coverage.  I would think the safeties where told don’t allow any one to get behind you.  Zone was the worse defense to be in for this situation

14 hours ago, bigblue96 said:

Highlands won so it may be forgotten, but the play calling after the Gabe Williams punt return was awful.

1st time I’ve watched Highlands intently and agree with everything that has been said about the O-coordinator.  
 

And can someone in the Fort talk to the new student broadcaster and let him know he doesn’t have to scream 1st, 3rd and 4th down every time they come up.  I began hoping every down was 2nd down.  

Hard to knock the play calling on the Birds’ last drive.  It was a thing of beauty.  The Offense was composed and managed that drive and clock impressively.

One of these two teams, I hope my Colonels, will make it to the state title game. I pray for a rematch. My popcorn is ready. The potential rematch will be at David Cecil come playoff time? 

12 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

 

Watching it live, I didn't question the penalty. Watching the clip, borderline call at best.

Regardless, that play didn't decide the game. It was still a catch and first down. Highlands got 15 yards closer to scoring due to the penalty.

The final touchdown pass had to still be made post penalty. It certainly was executed to perfection by the Bluebirds. I had to leave the game early in the 4th quarter unfortunately, so I watched that penalty out of bounds via video. I appreciate the slowed down relplay. The penalty was unfortunate no matter how you feel about it. 

The defensive performance to let the final touchdown score occur is plain inexcusable. Lorenzen is a beast just like his dad was. Much respect. He is hard to stop. The Colonels will have to figure out how to stop him for a potential rematch. 

 

Any team must set their defensive focus on him. When he has the ball in his hands, look out. 

1 hour ago, Oldercoach said:

Hard to knock the play calling on the Birds’ last drive.  It was a thing of beauty.  The Offense was composed and managed that drive and clock impressively.

Obviously the kid learned from the debacle at Boyle County.  

How would the Bird faithful grade the play calling. Just got done watching the 859 stream, and I thought the play calling was excellent as was the execution. 

2 hours ago, BlueBloodedColonel said:

One of these two teams, I hope my Colonels, will make it to the state title game. I pray for a rematch. My popcorn is ready. The potential rematch will be at David Cecil come playoff time? 

Is it possible for the state championship game to be Highlands vs Cov Cath?

1 hour ago, Breds82 said:

How would the Bird faithful grade the play calling. Just got done watching the 859 stream, and I thought the play calling was excellent as was the execution. 

In between the 20’s, I’d give an A-. Put Rio in positions to be successful. Only things I felt were missing were the screen game (usually a Highlands staple in this offense) and some zone/outside runs (lots of stuffed runs up the gut). 
 

In the Redzone, I’d give a C-. Were they able to finish some drives, yes. But you can’t settle for FG’s and turnover on downs (twice) inside the 10. Cov Cath learned after the first drive to pack the box on Lorenzen and Highlands never adjusted from the QB Power. Will just need some variety in the redzone going forward but overall an improvement from recent games IMO. 

3 hours ago, DICEMAN said:

I would have never been in a zone defense in this situation.  I would have called man to man. My whole point being Tayden was aloud to release the line of scrimmage cleanly. Wouldn’t happen in man to man.

Now since they decided to play zone, the LB can’t allow a clean release in this situation either. Gotta get some type of bump. This at the very least gives the safety time to roll to the coverage.  I would think the safeties where told don’t allow any one to get behind you.  Zone was the worse defense to be in for this situation

Would it really matter if they were playing man? If Lorenzen is one on one, he probably still makes that that play. Not many kids able to guard him one on one with a well thrown ball. He’s the best player on the field and made a big play, just like everyone expects out of him, including his teammates.

Personal foul calls like that are “bang bang” judgement calls. Win some of those, lose some of those.  It did not decide the game.  Great football game, kids on both sides left it all on the field.  I wish the outcome was different, but tip my cap to all of the kids that showed us why this is a special rivalry.  Until next time…

10 minutes ago, cricketbird said:

Would it really matter if they were playing man? If Lorenzen is one on one, he probably still makes that that play. Not many kids able to guard him one on one with a well thrown ball. He’s the best player on the field and made a big play, just like everyone expects out of him, including his teammates.

Given the circumstances, only 7 seconds left in the game being only 7 yards yards away. I like my chances playing man coverage where at least I’m in better position to bump or push him vs. being in zone and getting a free release. That would have been a very tough throw for Rio to make.  At the end of the the day Tayden made a great catch.