Every year since 2007 we've been told about how superior the east is to the west in 4A, yet we had three very competitive championship games from 2008-10 and it sounds like Franklin-Simpson played Highlands as well as anyone else did in the postseason.

 

This is true also. You'll never hear me talking crap on the teams from the west. My Rebels have won two state titles by a combined 10 points. No Sir. I respect the west. No doubt.

I don't think anyone from Highlands doesn't respect those programs but it is a reality in 4A for the next couple of years. It's a legitimate question to ask if there is any team that will be able to compete with Highlands for the next couple of years in 4A.

 

That is one of the things that separates Highlands from 99% of the state. Their program is to be envied, copied and emulated.

 

I saw next year's Highlands junior class absolutely demolish Boyle County as freshman...55-6 I believe was the score. I am not sure what Highlands loses from 2011 but based on what I have seen they shouldn't have any drop off at all. I expect them to maybe be even better as I hear next year's sophomore class is very talented as well. Granted the only senior I am aware of is Donovan McCoy but I am pretty certain that they will have a strong senior class in 2012. Strong enough at the very least anyways.

 

LexCath is returning quite a bit. I know they lose Adam Bush at receiver but they return two running backs, a stud receiver, most of their O-Line(if not all of it) and I believe a lot of their defense as well. They bring back a ton of experience. That being said the 4A title runs through Highlands. Bluegrasscard can answer this question better than I can. I expect LexCath to be markedly better next year.

 

Interesting. This is a 4A Final Analysis thread. Should we start a 2012 4A Outlook thread?

 

You know what, I think you are on to something.

Lex Cath, Ashland, and Cov Cath may argue that point. I am all Highlands but the minute you don't respect those great programs, you lose to one!

 

FSimpson, Lone Oak, Madisonville are all better than Ashland and imo, on equal footing with Boyle Co and Cov Cath. I think Lex Cath may be a little stronger, but, that's even questionable. Like others have said, it's not the strong east vs the weak west, it's Highlands vs everyone else, regardless of geographics. Cov Cath is a big rival and know Highlands tendencies better than any of these other teams, therefore, they may well play Highlands tougher and anyone not drinking the NKy kool-aid, can see that. No disrespect to those other teams in the east, just saying they aren't head and shoulders ahead like Highlands is. Good teams, for sure, but, so are these west teams I mentioned. I actually thought FSimpson moved the ball extremely well, especially early, against Highlands and the score should have been closer. I don't think FS had an answer for Highlands offense, but, noone else has either.

^

 

I agree.

FSimpson, Lone Oak, Madisonville are all better than Ashland and imo, on equal footing with Boyle Co and Cov Cath. I think Lex Cath may be a little stronger, but, that's even questionable. Like others have said, it's not the strong east vs the weak west, it's Highlands vs everyone else, regardless of geographics. Cov Cath is a big rival and know Highlands tendencies better than any of these other teams, therefore, they may well play Highlands tougher and anyone not drinking the NKy kool-aid, can see that. No disrespect to those other teams in the east, just saying they aren't head and shoulders ahead like Highlands is. Good teams, for sure, but, so are these west teams I mentioned. I actually thought FSimpson moved the ball extremely well, especially early, against Highlands and the score should have been closer. I don't think FS had an answer for Highlands offense, but, noone else has either.

 

If FS doesn't retain 4 of their 5 fumbles they put on the ground, this is a major blowout. Any other game at least 3 of those balls get recovered by HHS and then they make you pay. Fortunately for FS that didn't happen. Yeah sure they lost the one on the 1 yard line that cost them dearly but HHS missed a scoring opp at the end of the half. Mueller didn't kick the field goal at the end of half because he knows FS couldn't stop his offense. Now should he of taken the points with a FG....Sure he should of but if you haven't stopped HHS up to that point, then why would Dale take another ave. He was confident that FS wasn't coming back. My opinion unless FS was scoring another 21 points they weren't in this game because HHS wasn't being held to 21. No one did it all year!!!!

If FS doesn't retain 4 of their 5 fumbles they put on the ground, this is a major blowout. Any other game at least 3 of those balls get recovered by HHS and then they make you pay.

Based on what?

 

Mueller didn't kick the field goal at the end of half because he knows FS couldn't stop his offense. Now should he of taken the points with a FG....Sure he should of but if you haven't stopped HHS up to that point, then why would Dale take another ave. He was confident that FS wasn't coming back. My opinion unless FS was scoring another 21 points they weren't in this game because HHS wasn't being held to 21. No one did it all year!!!!

I wasn't at the game, so maybe I can't say for sure, but maybe Franklin-Simpson deserves a little more credit for keepig Highlands out of the end zone at the end of the half.

 

And yes, if Franklin-Simpson scored instead of fumbling at the 1, it's a 42-28 game. That is closer.

FS had one kid that was very good. He ran the ball hard and was in on a ton of tackles. I believe he was. #4. FS surprised me with their overall speed.

FS had one kid that was very good. He ran the ball hard and was in on a ton of tackles. I believe he was. #4. FS surprised me with their overall speed.

I was underwhelmed by Highlands lack of overall team speed. In saying that, Towels is a special player. A player that big and that athletic is why he is a high D1 recruit.

Based on what?

 

I wasn't at the game, so maybe I can't say for sure, but maybe Franklin-Simpson deserves a little more credit for keepig Highlands out of the end zone at the end of the half.

And yes, if Franklin-Simpson scored instead of fumbling at the 1, it's a 42-28 game. That is closer.

 

 

HHS ran out of time not downs. Should they have kicked the FG.....Maybe, maybe not!!!

Based on what?

 

I wasn't at the game, so maybe I can't say for sure, but maybe Franklin-Simpson deserves a little more credit for keepig Highlands out of the end zone at the end of the half.

 

And yes, if Franklin-Simpson scored instead of fumbling at the 1, it's a 42-28 game. That is closer.

 

And when HHS scores at the end of half on 3rd down from FS's 1 it's a 49-28 game. Same results!!!!

If Dale uses his timeouts when he should of the Birds score easily. No I am not second guessing Dale. He let a ton of time run off before he used his first timeout..

I was underwhelmed by Highlands lack of overall team speed. In saying that, Towels is a special player. A player that big and that athletic is why he is a high D1 recruit.

 

First time I've seen/heard anybody say that! Wow!

First time I've seen/heard anybody say that! Wow!

 

I think he was concentrating on the team mangers, they're still developing their speed.

I think he was concentrating on the team mangers, they're still developing their speed.

Well, some of the managers didn't come up through the program. I think one transferred in from Simon Kenton and we got another in a trade with NCC.

HHS ran out of time not downs. Should they have kicked the FG.....Maybe, maybe not!!!

The clock is part of the game ... if Highlands couldn't be stopped, as you posted, the clock shouldn't have mattered.