Today, 09:12 AM	#1
jbwill2 All American Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North Carolina, but crazy about Ft. Thomas Highlands! Visit my Highlands website at www.highlands-bluebirds.com! Posts: 3,958	Saint Xavier, OH/Highlands Predictions Fort Thomas Highlands hosts Cincinnati Saint Xavier this Friday, September 25 at 6:30PM. The game time was moved up to 6:30PM in order to be televised nationally on CBS College Sports Network (CSTV). Both teams enter the game undefeated and nationally ranked. Given that this is the first time a Highlands football game has ever been televised nationally, that Cincinnati Saint Xavier is ranked first nationally in the current Massey Ratings, and that Highlands is also currently nationally ranked in several rankings/polls, I'd have to say that this may be the biggest game ever to be played at Highlands. Let's hear it. Last edited by jbwill2; Today at 09:37 AM..

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Today, 09:26 AM	#2
malachicrunch All Universe Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,901	Can we get a poll on this one?

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Today, 09:38 AM	#3
Theoldguy All World Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sitting somewhere in the stands at a CovCath game! Posts: 6,163	I as a CovCath fan will be rooting big time for my friends who live on the correct side of the Ohio River, but on the wrong side of the Licking but I just don't see HHS beating Cin St. Xavier. It will be a great game and I think it could be close, but the numbers that X will put on the field will wear down HHS in the fourth quarter. Good luck Bluebirds and I will be rooting for you.......gif]

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Today, 09:53 AM	#4
leatherneck All World Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 7,536	Highlands is obviously a big, big underdog in this game. Hopefully they can keep it competitive.

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Today, 10:04 AM	#5
tdyballgame All State Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,176	Quote: Originally Posted by malachicrunch Can we get a poll on this one? What, a "Homer" poll. That's all it will be. I will admit I will vote for HHS not only because I am a HHS fan (Homer) but also think they can beat them if all things are clicking. And from the looks of things last night, they are on the right track.   People might disagree with how Mueller played his offensive starters for 99% of the game with the exception of Bardo and Collinsworth because of sitting out, but that was a greatway of seeing HHS play against the big boys. Because Boone had some pretty good size. Building up stamina will help next week. They may feel it today but will help in the long run. Same with the defense. They played the majority of the game.   HHS will be the huge underdogs but I still have to go with my "Birds".

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Today, 10:11 AM	#6
mexitucky All American Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hi, I'm Dale, I'm Robert's other son, his biological one. Posts: 4,390	For Highlands it will be like looking into a mirror in a fun house, where you see yourself, only bigger. Same colors, same defense, and same discipline. The only issue is that X will have a lot more players, a lot bigger players, and a team that may be more disciplined defensively seeing that they've given up less than 100 yards in the 1st half the last two games combined (against KY's best big schools.) The one good thing that Highlands has going for it is that this will be the first team that can truly test X's secondary. Colerain can't throw the ball right now, Cathedral's QB wanted to run first, St. X isn't really a passing threat, and Trinity was just getting it's QB back and is waayyy too young for what St. X brings. If Highlands line can give Bardo time to take some chances down field, that'll be their only chance. You can't run on X, and you certainly won't be able to sustain more than 2 drives due to their size, speed, and Specht is probably the best defensive mind in the area. I will say that it is nice that you have a former All-State receiver coming out of the backfield. That may create some mismatches to get get much needed first downs. Now...can Highlands stop their ground game??? If they can't, they don't have a chance.

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Today, 10:35 AM	#7
jarheade5 Rookie Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3	Will Collinsworth be ready for this game? If so will he be 100%

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Today, 11:02 AM	#8
CentreTigers Rookie Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 11	With all due respect (and without seeing Highlands play this season) I can't see this game even being close...even IF highlands is clicking on all cylinders. I watched as Cincy St. X's corners (6'1-6'3" range) pressed and jammed Louisville Saint X's receivers all over the field. I watched the Big Ten sized linebackers run down running backs and quarterbacks that run 4.5-4.6 forty yard dashes. I watched a defensive line dominate the line of scrimmage. I watched an absolutely monstrous and mobile offensive line creating holes that a truck can drive through. And I watched a sophomore running back who runs with power and finesse and can catch the ball. I think I watched the number one team in the country dismantle Louisville Saint Xavier...and they (Cincy St. X) had multiple turnovers in doing so. Oh, they also have a 6'5" quarterback who can throw darts to receivers that are tall and fast. I'm trying to be realistic, as I don't have a dog in the fight, but the Highlands faithful have a serious reality check coming due on Friday night. I'm sure Highlands will have a tremendous season and probably win state but to suggest that Highlands will be in this game is a stretch. You don't struggle to beat Louisville Manual and then go beat the number one team in the country a few weeks later. Just like Louisville Saint X and Trinity found out...play the game...learn from it...and get better. I salute Highlands for taking the challenge. I'm just excited to see how Highlands fares againt this team. We will at least be able to have an educated discussion regarding the best team in Kentucky after this week. All three BIG BOY schools play Cincy Saint X in back to back to back weeks. It should be fun!!

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Today, 11:04 AM	#9
Clyde All World Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 9,677	When my son's team played X years ago they dressed close to 100 players and only one or two were sophomores.

Love to see Highlands win but think Cincy X wins this game by 3 TD's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henry we are still friends right? :D:D

I have a bad feeling about this game. Birds will play hard till the final whistle and their passing game should allow them to open up the field, but Coach Specht has a ton of horses...

I'm a bit worried about the outcome of this game.

I love loyalty. However, the 12 that have voted for HHS have me scratching my head.

I'm picking HHS because I'm a "homer". Hellllloooo!!!! Oh and the fact that I do believe they have a chance if and only if everything is clicking for them. After watching the Birds last evening, I think they have a chance. HHS will have most if not everybody back from injury and will be ready to go.

 

I also said I had hoped St. X comes in undefeated because that means there will be no excuses and like others said, BGP can use this as a measuring stick. Of course only if you get into that.

 

I say Birds 21 - Bombers 14. :thumb:

 

Raiderbird, you have to believe!!!!!!!!

I love loyalty. However, the 12 that have voted for HHS have me scratching my head.

Come on now... are you really surprised? The "Caketown Contingent" love their Bluebirds!!!

 

Frankly, I only see two advantages for Highlands in this game...

 

1. The game is at Highlands.

 

2. Even though (on paper) Highlands is ranked about as highly as any opponent Saint X will face this year, other than Elder, I really believe that Saint X looks at this game against HHS as a "down" game in their schedule, especially when considering what Saint X just got done doing to the top Class 6A KY schools. Perhaps the Saint X players and coaches have a hard time focusing on this game, whereas the HHS coaches and players view this as the Super Bowl.

 

I realize that Trinity may be down some this year compared to previous seasons, but what Cincy Saint X just did to the Shamrocks is alarming, and frankly very humbling to Kentucky prep football in general, as Trinity is the class of Kentucky prep football. It's really mind-boggling and certainly does not bode well for the Bluebirds.

I'm picking HHS because I'm a "homer". Hellllloooo!!!! Oh and the fact that I do believe they have a chance if and only if everything is clicking for them. After watching the Birds last evening, I think they have a chance. HHS will have most if not everybody back from injury and will be ready to go.

 

I also said I had hoped St. X comes in undefeated because that means there will be no excuses and like others said, BGP can use this as a measuring stick. Of course only if you get into that.

 

I say Birds 21 - Bombers 14. :thumb:

 

Raiderbird, you have to believe!!!!!!!!

 

Why does HHS have a chance? I'm not saying they do not. I'm just curious as to what part of the matchup gives them a chance. I don't think they're going to be able to run very effectively. I think their only chance offensively is through the air.

This will be a tremendous atmosphere for both teams to showcase their talents. I really think the Birds have a chance to pull this off. I would not be surprised to see Bardo's number called 15-20 times. This will keep the Bombers defense a little more honest.

I don't have anything to really contribute to this thread besides GO BLUEBIRDS!!!!

Is the game already sold out?

 

Where will the TV crew broadcast from? The school side of the field?

I will be rooting for Northern Kentucky. I think the country is going to have a front row seat to see just how much of a margin there is between the best in Cincinnati and the best in NKY.

Why does HHS have a chance? I'm not saying they do not. I'm just curious as to what part of the matchup gives them a chance. I don't think they're going to be able to run very effectively. I think their only chance offensively is through the air.

 

Because the passing game IMO is what wasn't really clicking on all cylinders but after last night, I think that will give them a chance. And when Bardo can run with it and add Collinsworth into it, then there is a chance. Add the bruinsing Fenell to the mix, another chace. Watching the Birds lineman and receivers do some great downfield blocking last night, then there's a chance. With the way the kicking game is coming around, there's a chance. The way the d-lineman and linebackers are playing right now, I think there's a chance.

 

Hey, I said I am a "homer" so there is no way I would pick against the Birds. Oh and HHS has nothing to loose. Because if they would loose, everybody will say they were suppose to, right? But when they win, then a whole different story. Go ahead, try some. The Kool Aid is great!!!!

I'm picking HHS because I'm a "homer". Hellllloooo!!!! Oh and the fact that I do believe they have a chance if and only if everything is clicking for them. After watching the Birds last evening, I think they have a chance. HHS will have most if not everybody back from injury and will be ready to go.

 

I also said I had hoped St. X comes in undefeated because that means there will be no excuses and like others said, BGP can use this as a measuring stick. Of course only if you get into that.

 

I say Birds 21 - Bombers 14. :thumb:

 

Raiderbird, you have to believe!!!!!!!!

 

I love the Birds but I'm a realist...I think the offense can hang for a while but the defense is another story..JMO

I posted my vote for Highlands because I think it is brilliant Highlands kept Collinworth out of the Boone game. He obviously wasn't needed. So why in the world would you want to put this kid in harms way a week before the biggest game in his life? You don't!

 

I have no idea if there is a shred of truth to it (the feigned slight injury rumor) but I would not be the least surprised if Collinsworth is perfectly healthy, has been, and the powers that be just want to make sure he stays that way until next Friday's kickoff! Good luck Bluebirds!