After a loss to Ryle, and the mounting injuries, what do the Bluebirds need to do to get back to their unquestionable dominance and win their next state championship? I've read from the Bluebird faithful the last few weeks about coming out flat against CovCath. and needing a wakeup call, is this the wakeup call they were needing?

Opinions?

There is no track to unquestionable dominance. It doesn't exist. There are only cycles. Feel fortuanate to be a part of this exceptional streak. Never say never, but a streak like this one may never happen again. U may now truly appreciate victory...Oh and HHS will most likely win the state championship....again

This is the first game the Birds have lost to a northern kentucky opponent since 2006. They remain the prohibitive favorite to win the 5A championship. The consternation over a close victory against Cov. Cath. and a close loss to Ryle is a sign of how strong the program remains.

Well, if the issue is mounting injuries it's hard to do much about that at this stage of the game.

 

Also, when HHS played Ryle (at HHS) earlier this year Ryle led at the half and the keys to HHS' victory were HHS capitalizing on some Ryle miscues in the 3rd quarter. In this game (played at Ryle), Ryle eliminated the miscues and came out with a 2-point victory. Perhaps very little has changed over the course of the year... maybe both HHS and Ryle have been solid teams the whole time and the main difference between this game and the last game was a couple of Ryle miscues in the first match-up.

This team is in deep water b/c of injuries to some of the best players on the team. I said before that they flew into this game on one wing and now the other wing is losing it's feather's fast.....We may be coming to the conclusion of Highlands' dominance of Western Kentucky. Take nothing away from the kids, they play their hearts out each week, but injuries are injuries.

The one thing I did find a bit striking about Highlands tonight is what seemed to be a lack of any meaningful running game outside of Towles (who is obviously very good). Has this been a general problem for them throughout this season? It's probably been a long time since Highlands hasn't had a big-time rushing threat that defenses had to key on.

Avoid Ryle???

All Highlands fans have feared this day b/c now all the butt whipping's that the Birds have handed NKY teams for the past several years now are now coming back to haunt them. I wouldn't be surprised if they open up the Bank of Kentucky center for all the NKY teams to celebrate the Birds losing.

All Highlands fans have feared this day b/c now all the butt whipping's that the Birds have handed NKY teams for the past several years now are now coming back to haunt them. I wouldn't be surprised if they open up the Bank of Kentucky center for all the NKY teams to celebrate the Birds losing.

 

One lost is haunting? I dont think so. There was no hatered in Ryles win over the Birs tonite. I can almost guarantee nobody from Ryle was running around proclaiming that this win was for all the teams that Highlands beat over the years. Ryle won with class tonite and they were the better team and I can assure you that Warner has the upmost respect for Dale and Highlands win or lose. When teams start beating Highlands week in and week out then that will be Haunting, never in our lifetimes.

Consistency on offense, Towels keeping it cannot be their best play if they wanna win it all.

All Highlands fans have feared this day b/c now all the butt whipping's that the Birds have handed NKY teams for the past several years now are now coming back to haunt them. I wouldn't be surprised if they open up the Bank of Kentucky center for all the NKY teams to celebrate the Birds losing.

 

I am sure there are many reveling in the Birds defeat tonight. I am not one of them. I have the utmost respect for the Highlands program and school. So even though they would have tied the Beechwood streak with a win tonight, it was mixed emotions for me. I see Highlands and Beechwood similar in so many ways that I find myself rooting for the Birds. So I say congratulations to Highlands on an awesome, impressive run and a great effort tonight in the face of a lot of adversity. I will be rooting for you throughout the playoffs and hope to see you bring home another title.

 

I also want to say to all the Bluebird posters, you have handled the defeat tonight with a lot of class. Virtually no excuses other than a couple side comments about injuries. You gave the Raiders their due respect and thanked your boys for a great 37 win ride. So congrats to the Bird posters on being classy tonight.

Johnson Central's running game scares me.

Consistency on offense, Towels keeping it cannot be their best play if they wanna win it all.

 

I don't know, he rushed for 148 yards in a little over 13 minutes. Highlands will make adjustments and be ready for the 5A playoffs.

Question: Who was the last team (non-CovCath) to beat HHS in NKY? (outside of RYLE, last night lol!)

Question: Who was the last team (non-CovCath) to beat HHS in NKY? (outside of RYLE, last night lol!)

 

Looks like they lost to Dixie Heights in 2002. So it had been 8 years since the Birds lost to a non-CovCath team from northern Kentucky. Pretty impressive.