wanttowin

Birds win 20-19. Final

Great game by the Birds defense. Only St. X offensive score was when they started at Birds 5 after bad snap on punt at end of first half as referenced above. St. X also ran back opening kickoff to around Birds 30 and came away with no points (with a missed field goal after the offense did not advance it much past the return) and recovered an onside kick to start second half and were held to one first down on series and punt. I don't recall the Tigers meaningfully threatening to score (didn't advance deep in Birds territory) otherwise. ST. X special teams played well (including the very well disguised and executed onside kick mentioned above) although they did have a roughing the punter penalty in the second half that extended a long Highlands drive that ultimately ended in a TD I believe as well as the missed field goal (don't recall distance--perhaps 30-35 yards or so). In last three games combined (St. X, Dixie and Boone) Birds defense has given up a total of 2 touchdowns both of which came from drives that started inside Birds 20.

The final score was 28 to 14.

Actually last year the large school freshman had two divisions (East and West) and had a four team playoff (#1 East vs. #2 West and vice versa) with winners playing in the championship game following week. Highland and CovCath finished 1 and 2 respectively in the East division and both won their first round games to meet in the championship game (won by Highlands).

Congratulations Birds! Impressive game and great overall team effort. I agree with the discussion above regarding a number of players who had special games including Hergott and the three headed running attack of Harris, Wrobleski and Hayes. One name I don't believe I have seen in this thread so far is Drew Houliston who not only did a great job running the team as QB but I believe had two interceptions as well. Defense was impressive especially in the second half holding a good offense to one touchdown and no other meaningful threats for scores. Also, the often overlooked special teams were truly special and a huge advantage for the Birds. i would guess around a 200 yard differential in return yards for the game. 80 yard punt return by Hayes for the first score of the game (which swung momentum in birds favor), another kickoff ran back (I believe by Wrobleski but could have been Green) after Colonels touchdown near the end of second quarter inside Colonel 30 (plus a late hit on play that moved it inside 15 although Colonels D did a good job and stiffened up and did not give up score following that return), as well as a number of other good returns. Also, two of Bobby Plau's low line drive kickoffs also made it to the end zone for touchbacks and to the best of my memory none of the others nor any of the punts were returned for meaningful returns.

That is correct about the set up last year. I am not certain (and somebody please correct me if I am wrong) but it is my understanding that it is not set up in divisions this year but rather the two teams with the best records would meet in the one game championship. If Highlands wins the game tomorrow night I believe that CovCath and Campbell would each have one loss and do not play each other this year so if all three teams win out the remainder of the season I would think it might come down to coin flip between CovCath and Campbell to play Highlands in the championship game. If CovCath wins tomorrow night and all three win out I would assume CovCath and Highlands would meet again in the championship as Highlands would have the head-to-head advantage over Campbell County from beating them earlier this season to break the second place tie.

Yes, Weinel is handling both duties (and quite well).

last touchdown was scored by Donovan McCoy on a keeper

Quote below from game prediction thread now closed * - If you had an earlier schedule, it might have said @ Boone for this game but that was changed. Also, Baby Birds will leave the nest for the 1st time next WED to face Cooper which was originally shown as a home game for HHS). Any other changes in the Frosh schedule for this year (or better yet, can someone post the (updated) frosh schedule for the rest of the year)?

50-22 Birds win. Game not that close. Birds led 30 to 6 at end of first quarter and 37 to 6 at half after Camels ran opening kick back for TD. 50 to 8 in third qtr I believe before Camels scored 2 TDs late in game. I understand that Logan Schneider (sp?) suffered severe ankle injury for Camels (taken off field in ambulance) on first offensive play for scrimmage for Camels. Best wishes to him in his recovery. Good effort for the Birds.

I understand that the Birds may have picked up a JV game at Conner Saturday morning to replace the Beechwood JV cancelled game. Perhaps someone on here can confirm that.

Ben Streeter (Jordan's brother) also had a rushing TD

Highlands won 46-7 (led 27-0 at half I believe).

. "...and HRI OAOAOA". (I figure LNs fingers must be tired by now). I wish Trinity would quit ducking the birds too and man up but apparently they won't (note, basically uses your logic) or regularly compete with the comparable size GCL teams (where their record against is what?). Enough with the thread jacking. I would expect a great game Saturday night between two very good frosh teams. Great way for both teams to open their H.S. careers. I wouldn't be surprised to see some St.X v. Highlands varsity games in the near future based on their recent series of Frosh and JV games. Of course, that would still be ducking Trinity according to History but it would a matchup of defending state champions.

As I recall, the Highlands freshman were undefeated for 3 or 4 years before those years. When was the last time CovCath won the freshman game with Highlands?

I would like to see more fans at the game as well for a better game atmosphere but I like the big arena experience before the winner heads to state and anyone who wants to go knows they will be able to get in and get a comfortable good seat. However, more importantly, (and I don't believe I saw this in any of the posts above) I like the fairness of it that all of the regional games are decided on a neutral court rather than the potential for some team to have the home court advantage (which would inure as an additional advantage to a handful of larger schools that already have some numbers advantage in the single class system). Do the other 10th region teams really prefer to have to beat Mason County on its home court every two or three years? (perhaps some think it is okay because of the venue but I expect others see it as an unfair advantage for a team frequently so good it doesn't need any additional help.) I believe I have seen on other threads in the past how many regionals in the state are played on neutral arena courts (typically regional universities like Murray, Morehead, NKU, etc.) and how many are played on high school courts. perhaps someone could post that again.

Thanks for the summary. does anyone have a report (or at least result) on the Highlands-Holmes 8th grade game?

Does Scott play in the freshmen tournament at CovCath or the 10th region freshmen tournament (or both)? I suppose the same question for Simon Kenton (8th Region)?

Good, balanced scoring team effort for the Birds. Lot of depth on this team and it is balanced across the positions well with lots of intechangeable parts. Went 9 deep in this one with 8 experienced seniors and Stewart adding an athletic 6'6" player to that mix. Nice to see Grubbs back and he was important against a big physical Oak Hills team that consistently pounded the ball inside to a couple of big, strong and very capable big men of their own. Also nice to Grote back and thought he looked good--near his mid-season form last year--shooting pull up jumpers with confidence, taking the ball quick and strong to the basket and playing quick aggressive D. Looking forward to see how the Birds fare at home this week against a good slate of three quality teams--Dixie H, Mason Co, and Brossart. Should be a good test and the depth should be helpful on that front as well with the Fri/Sat Mason Co/Brossart back to back games.

CF, Who and when was the last Ohio school with Highlands size enrollment to play Colerain? Any in the last 10 years or so or do they only challenge much smaller schools from other states (or stated another way is Highlands the only small school willing to play teams with one three (Colerain) or four (Cincy St. X) times as many boys recently)? On a separate note, with respect to Highlands playing other Cincinnati schools, Highlands did also beat Cincinnati Withrow this year.

Who were the freshman moved up to varsity?

yes, 30-20 final score. Birds advance to play CovCath in frosh finals. I believe game will be next Thursday at 6:00 at Highlands.

For HHS Austin Sheehan caught two long touchdown passes from Carter New. The first with ten seconds to go in first half for about 35 yards on a fly pattern down the right sideline (with HHS having no timeouts left). The second was a 99 yard touchdown pass in the second half on what appeared to be another fly pattern down the right sideline. Austin did a great job running down that long pass turning on the after burners and stretching to catch that long pass in stride and then went the distance on the first play after a CCH punt to the HHS 1 yard line. Those two long TD passes from New to Sheehan turned out to be the difference in the game. Jake True also had a 50 plus yard run to the Cov Cath one yard line and then walked in (almost literally) two plays later for the third HHS TD.

A Highlands fumble and late interception in the first half (in addition to the punt snap snafu and a 40 yard negative net penalty related to the ejections referenced above) kept the score close in the first half even though Birds dominated statistics and play in first half. Dixie generated very little offense while Highlands moved the ball effectively both by land and air the whole game.

Final score actually 46 to 14 as both teams had a late touchdown in last 3 minutes of game. First touchdown of game came by Dixie after snap over Highlands punter's head and was downed at highlands 1 yard line and Dixie punched it in two plays later. Highlands led 8-6 at half and all Highlands in second half with 3 third quarter TDs.