SK and Ryle should be the best two teams in 6A. Can't see CovCath or Dixie touching the Birds in 5A. Beechwood is easily the class of 1A and NC in 2A. I hope that Holmes has another good year as our only 4A team up this way. Starting the season, I would say the NKY rankings look something like:

1)Highlands

2)Ryle

3)SK

4)Beechwood

5)CovCath

6)Dixie

7)NC

8)Conner

9)Boone

10)Holmes

 

I really don't know much about what Conner, Boone and Holmes have coming back.

While I agree that Highlands is definitely the favorite in 5a in 2010, and also probably the #1 team in NKY, the gap will not be anything like the past 2 years.

 

Love 'em or hate em' you have to respect them. They usually simply re-load instead of re-build. Even though they bring a lot of experience back, I can't see them simply replacing Roller, Collinsworth, Bardo, Grubbs, Drennan, Buten etc.

 

I think until someone beats them they have to be the #1 team, but I also think that Ryle, Covcath, and Dixie all have a chance to knock them off.

 

This year they had no chance!

Highlands and Ryle. They play twice again; 2010 may be the year in which a NKY team has a legit shot at taking away Highlands unbeaten streak...but that is such a long ways away.

For sure, Highlands and Ryle play twice in 2010? Man, I was hoping the two-games-in-the-same-year thing was just a one-year arrangement. Hopefully both teams can fill out their schedules more in 2010.

SK and Ryle should be the best two teams in 6A. Can't see CovCath or Dixie touching the Birds in 5A. Beechwood is easily the class of 1A and NC in 2A. I hope that Holmes has another good year as our only 4A team up this way. Starting the season, I would say the NKY rankings look something like:

1)Highlands

2)Ryle

3)SK

4)Beechwood

5)CovCath

6)Dixie

7)NC

8)Conner

9)Boone

10)Holmes

 

I really don't know much about what Conner, Boone and Holmes have coming back.

 

Beechwood and Cov Cath are both definitely on the comeback. Beechwood has simply seen some lean times as far as players go, and Cov Cath is getting over the pains of a new coaching staff for the second time in three years. Both teams showed well defined improvement from the beginning of their seasons to the end, but I don't see Beechwood pulling ahead of Cov Cath next year. I guess we'll see whenever they meet in Ft. Mitchell.

Highlands undoubtedly and rightly so will be the favorite, but the gap will definitely be closed as Ryle, SK, CCH, and Beechwood will all be extrememly good and in a one game setting anything can happen.

I'd say the fact they return arguably the best RB in NKY (Elliott) and a talented Qb in (Hempel). I don't know what they return in the trenches but I'm sure they have the numbers to compensate any loss from this season.

 

On the O Ryle returns 7 starters. 4 O - linemen. On D they have 6 starters back. IMO this will be the best Ryle team ever. :thumb:

Highlands undoubtedly and rightly so will be the favorite, but the gap will definitely be closed as Ryle, SK, CCH, and Beechwood will all be extrememly good and in a one game setting anything can happen.

 

 

SK loses their entire OL.

SK loses their entire OL.

 

 

The return Patrick, he replaced Pic when he went down. The loss of Miles will be huge but I think they will be solid if they can rebuild their OLine.

Austin Sheehan will make his mark next year as a receiver for Highlands. Tremendous football speed and runs great routes.

I would say with all of the sophomores getting all that experience this year at Beechwood and having Cory Crane and Zach Larimore back on the field for next year will make make Beechwood at the top of 1A.

While I think we'll be very good next year on defense, your 7 returning starters on defense comment is not really correct. Roller, Alford, Rosenhagen, Dierig, Snyder and Johnson are seniors. Those 6 started unless they were injured. That leaves 5 returning starters, not 7. Figured I better point that out before some non-Highlands fan tears you a new one. :thumb:

 

The good news on defense is that some returning players got a lot of playing time, particularly at the lb spots. We will be set at the lb and db spots (with Abner, Seidl and Bruns returning in the defensive secondary). What we really have to work on is the D line. Hopefully the kids vying for those positions realize right now the opportunities waiting them if they work their tails off this off season, which started this past Saturday.

 

Same is true for the O line. There are 3 interior positions opening due to graduation. To win state next year, we are going to have to capably fill those spots. I have faith in the kids and Coach Turner that by mid season next year, we will have another very good O line. Towles has the qb spot locked assuming he works real hard during the off season. RB position opens up widely also. But with Streeter, True, McGurn and perhaps McCoy, to name a few, there is plenty of talent available to fill those spots. Like all other open positions, I think the RB spots will be filled by those that work the hardest between now and 2 a days. We should be solid at the WR position with Gold, Carson and Gall. Nienaber picked up some valuable experience at the tight end spot this year. If Hollinsworth works hard to put on some muscle and mass, I can see him being a very good TE next year also.

 

As always, there are going to be several of those kids that weren't on the radar this year, that due to hard work and committment, are the surprise players next year. To me, that's one of the most enjoyable things about watching Highlands football: seeing the kids that, having watched them play the prior year, you didn't think they'd do much this year, and then they come out, play exceptionally well and surprise the heck out of you.Bottom line is that Highlands should again be very, very good next year. As good as this year? Well, that's a question and challenge for next year's team to answer.

 

I think there will be several surprises next year... and I agree, that is part of the fun each Spring. Who has stepped it up a tad during the off season and steps onto the field sporting that D-1 calibre frame.

I would say with all of the sophomores getting all that experience this year at Beechwood and having Cory Crane and Zach Larimore back on the field for next year will make make Beechwood at the top of 1A.

 

I would not count on either of them. One wants to pursue baseball and the other has a terrible injury.

I think there will be several surprises next year... and I agree, that is part of the fun each Spring. Who has stepped it up a tad during the off season and steps onto the field sporting that D-1 calibre frame.

Any chance of some current Highlands freshman players seeing varsity PT next year? If so, who?

I think there will be several surprises next year... and I agree, that is part of the fun each Spring. Who has stepped it up a tad during the off season and steps onto the field sporting that D-1 calibre frame.

Here we go, that D-1 crap again.

Here we go, that D-1 crap again.

 

:confused::confused: