hhsbirds2010

On the money Qryche. Polls are set up and can leave those deserving out. Maybe the criteria should be, a player whose team played in a minimum of 15 games the past 4 years, and has 4 rings, and/or has one 99 yard TD reception (Buten would make the poll). Gold didn't have the huge number in total yards because he was used as a team player. There were many games where HHS could have thrown to Gold until the final buzzer, but instead he was on the sideline. The HHS defense showed what WR and RB stats really mean against Johnson Central, Louisville Eastern, Harlan County, Christian County, and Beechwood to name a few. No team shut Gold down this entire year and he played against tough teams to get his catches and yards, and many of his catches were very meaningful in the playoffs. I think he will get his opportunity.

Most underrated wide receiver in northern Kentucky this year continues to be Daniel Gold. Polls can be made to be deceiving. Gold had 7 TD receptions this year so doesn't make the cut in the criteria of this poll. Gold made key play after play in many games in Highlands road to the state championship. This is another example of why stats are sometimes worthless. Gold had over 900 yards receiving this year. He sat out from the middle of the 2nd quarter of the Beechwood game when the score got out of hand, sat out for Woodford County and Scott County games, and had 0 passes thrown to him during the Withrow game, yet still had 900 yards in catches, and many big plays. Leading your team to playing in week 15 is a pretty good stat. That being said, Buten pretty much did the same thing.

Well, along with Dixie. I do think these two are the clear favorites at this point in the season.

Larry: It really is time to move on. A serious question: Did you hang a 3-2 curve ball against Highlands that someone drove for a grand slam, or miss a free throw in OT, or drop a pass in a playoff game? C'mon why do you bring up this stuff all day and all night long for over a week now?

I thought this game would be closer. Where was it played? No scoring from Brey for Lloyd??

To those in the small town of Ft. Thomas who in this difficult economy have lost their jobs, but are doing everything in their power to keep their kid at HHS for education and football, I answer your question. You assume that everyone in Ft. Thomas is rich and wealthy. You have made your point! There are 120 kids in Ft. Thomas who earned a state championship ring, and many more from NCC that did the same. Move on with the next subject!

Towles will lead the Birds to victory!

Highlands players do not have an off-season. They work hard year round. Serious commitment is the key.

No offense to Beechwood either, but the teams they have beaten have a combined record of 0-6. And one of those teams (Heritage) lost to Latin in a scrimmage. The only team Beechwood has played with a winning record blew them out. I think it will be a battle. I could be wrong.

Not too misleading. Bellevue had 10 players dress. One sub was fouled out. Most of the fourth quarter one starter was rotated with the four remaining subs. And when there has been the general consensus that the score was run up last year, it is not nonsense to note that the "favor" of running up the score was not returned.

Bellevue 4-0 takes on Beechwood 2-1 Monday night at Bellevue. Does Bellevue remain undefeated or does Beechwood pass the early season conference test? I'm putting my money on the Tigers.

Bellevue totally dominates Dayton from the opening tip. Up by more than 30, they fall back into 2-3 zone for the 4th quarter. Dayton leaves their starters in and continues to press. Dayton does not call the score in to the paper. Zach Norman scores 21 points and adds 10 rebounds, 2 blocks. Branden Hoffmann scores 15, adds 5 rebounds & 5 assists. Bellevue is 3-0 on the young season.

Larry - Any successful organization will create an environment that will attract other like minded successful individuals to join. It happens all the time in business and also occurs at Highlands. The Fort Thomas Independent School District has created an environment that is attractive to students, athletes and families of high achievers. Mothers and fathers enroll their children through legal means in the school system because they know they will get a return on their investment. No recruiting is necessary. The track record and goodwill of the entire school system speak for themselves. It is really no different than what the Patriots do on a much larger scale minus the compensation. The elite professional player wants to play for and is attracted to Bill Bellichek and Robert Kraft because they are winners and do things first class. Men like Mike Brown have difficulty signing the elite player because he doesn't run his operation successfully. Most parents make the move to Fort Thomas when their child is young. Just as you probably chose to move to Union for the modern housing and good school system. Success doesn't work in a vacuum. It takes many like minded individuals working together for a common goal.

Why would a kid want to play for Highlands? Why does almost every HHS freshman football player want to dress varsity after their season is over, knowing that they are going to practice for another whole month, stand on the sidelines in the freezing cold and see limited action? There are a lot of great areas in Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties. But maybe a family wanting to have their child in Ft. Thomas has something to do with Ft. Thomas having a great educational system and a great tradition for football. Maybe it has something to do with the players winning the state championship, arriving home in the middle of the night Sunday morning after a long bus ride home, yet going out on their own Monday after school to lift weights, or maybe going out on their own and catching passes and playing tag football during frigid days in December or hot days in June, or maybe it has to do with the FTJFL and the dedication of parents who coach these kids and give up their Saturday to be at the field, or maybe it has to do with the kids playing football together and against each other since the 3rd grade due to the FTJFL, or maybe it has to do with having the best coaching staff in the state who work for peanuts or nothing because of the satisfaction they get out of seeing these kids develop both on and off the football field due to their hard work, or maybe it has to do with the kids knowing how lucky they really are to have such a good coaching staff, or maybe it has to do with forming lifetime friendships with current players and with past players who call or text them before big games and give them tips on how to become better, or maybe it has to do with fund raisers that the athletic department has, or maybe the player moms and their dedication all year long, or maybe it just is enjoyable to a kid to be boo'd by everyone throughout the Commonwealth and southern Ohio, besides the 27,000 people inside of Ft. Thomas.

Weinel!

After the game, Mueller let the superlatives fly. “This was by far our best game all year long,” he said. “… This is the biggest state championship victory in Highlands history, which makes this the best football team in Highlands history.” Mueller’s wasn’t the only record-breaking performance. Highlands junior quarterback Patrick Towles rushed for five touchdowns – all in the first half. According to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association record book, which goes back to 1987, his performance was a state finals record. 20n10. Congrats to all Birds and all Bird Coaches, and to you Seniors that have 4 state championships. Enjoy and relish your feat. That alone marks you as one of the greatest classes of all time! 21 comes in 11. Lets go Blackjack Birds!

Lead our quick, fast, smart athletes once again PT. You are the cream of the crop! Nothing but positive. Get the job done!

Good information! I hope the HHS coaching staff knows this. How fast is he?

In those two situations, the WR as he always does asked the ref if he was okay prior to the ball being snapped. The ref told him he was lined up offside, so he moved back a step and asked the ref again. At that point the ref did not answer him, he threw the flag because after moving back the second time, he was still lined up offside and had asked the ref to many times. The ball was never snapped. Not to mention that it was a mud field with no hash marks. Awesome call in a state semi-final game!

Is the game at Cawood High school?

Exactly correct! Also add the 4th down big D play by a couple of Birds when you watch the tape. There were some huge plays both on defense and offense in that game for HHS. It's a different perspective being at the game, than watching it at Beef O'Bradys. Also, heard that some HHS players really enjoyed the JC music. Some HHS players that are UK fans, said that during the coin flip and while running onto the field, the music was the same that they play at every UK football game prior to kickoff. I heard they were slapping high fives and really got pumped up when they heard it.

It's a great day to be a Bluebird fan, and an even better day to be a Bluebird player. And tomorrow it will be a great day to be an Audiologist in the Ft. Thomas area.

Defense was awesome! Offense was awesome! This game had tons of key, clutch plays made by this entire team! No ifs ands or buts.

I do not believe Coach Menefee is going to be willing to just take his lumps, at least not at the start of the season. They have several seniors who are decent, and also have size. Tyler Ackerson is only a Freshman however, and probably has a chance to play a great deal. He was starting at quarterback for the football team last I heard, but may be even better at basketball. He is quite the athlete.

Zach Norman shot up over the summer. He looks like he's at least 6'5". He should be a solid contributor as well. And it won't hurt that the football players will have a couple weeks to practice before the season begins.