CoachStew

I agree he would be a great hire. I think he is a dark horse to keep an eye out for.

I think Highlands has proved themselves through a tougher schedule to get here. They have seen it all and handled it well. This feels like a two score Highlands win pulling away in the third quarter. I see them playing conservatively as they can for the potential re-match on the horizon next week. Side Note: Obviously, whatever Highlands does it is working or they would not be in the position they are in. Litmer has solidified himself at this point as more than a game manager for those that may have doubted him. I was curious when the Birds would start to run the ball more if at all. With what they have up front it is surprising they don’t T-off on teams. I believe Highlands has a unit worthy of being in the final, I just feel like we haven’t seen that aspect of their game yet in its full glory. It will most likely be needed to reach the final game. Anyone else in that head space? Were injuries a thing at some point?

I think Coach Johnson is a class act. Last season when we (Dixie) “Upset” them in round one, he was gracious in defeat. This season he was fired up and gracious in winning. His supporting staff not so much. In the handshake line after the game, there were assistants talking trash to us Dixie Coaches for reasons unknown. It continued even in the post-game team huddles. Obviously, we ignored it, we had seniors to console but I really thought it was odd. As for the announcers, I wonder if they had the same sentiment the week prior when Woodford scored twice (1 throw, 1 run) in the last minutes of a game they just had to run down the clock? I found them to be entertaining though as I watched that game from a hotel in DC Friday night. A very passionate home booth for sure. Congrats to Highlands on a solid team win.

Highlands would have to have a catastrophic breakdown in the secondary to lose this game. Woodford would have to play lights out and also find a way to run the ball to win it. It’s no secret my team (Dixie) wasn’t very good this year. Be it injuries, inexperience, and lack of depth at key spots, we just weren’t. We were one of the worst in 5A in passing defense and it took Woodford two really nice diving catches at the goal line/end zone and a scramble drill TD to get a comfortable lead on us. Highlands doesn’t have the personnel issues we at Dixie had this season. Highlands wins this game comfortably.

that's a good question. Jesse may be on someone's short list somewhere. Ben Nevels at Holmes is an SK alumn. If Noel Rash finds a good spot in the building, may be a good fit. This spot is really interesting for SK and a few coaches looking for a landing at the big whistle spot.

I did not see this coming at all. I wish Coach Lucas all the best he is a solid guy. May be one or two internal candidates I could see stepping up. Not knowing the pillow talk of why he stepped down I'd say a good job to take. Decent supporters group, and good middle school feeders. Being a 6A school and the type of schedule they play, I'd say it would have to be an experienced coach they look to take over.

Now that my season is over, I get to throw out an opinion and vote with you guys. Having studied both teams on film and seeing them up close and personal I am going with Highlands and here is why. When we played the Birds it was right after the Cooper loss in the tropical storm. Up to that point Highlands hadn’t found a footing in their passing game. Lord knows they have now. Highlands schemes based on what you give them to get their receivers to open space. If you are not there to tackle the catch, it’s going to be a long night. In contrast, while Woodford has a good QB and some size and athleticism, the old throw it deep and hope your fastest guys run under the ball and catch it will only work so long. In the run game, it is advantage Highlands. Woodford just can’t run the ball very well which was surprising given the size on their O-Line. Highlands has the biggest and best O-line at the 5A level I have scouted/seen this season. Woodford struggled to get pressure last night on a smaller, young, and inexperienced O-line. Highlands can get up early, then slowly and painfully keep the chains moving in the run game. At each team's best, Highlands still wins by 10 or more points.

First off congrats to Cooper on an undefeated regular season. What a ride for those kids. Wishing them the best of luck and health in the future. Won with class too. We are getting some kids back from injury now and hope that it’s not too little too late. Going in to this game we felt we could create pressures to get #8 uncomfortable and off his mark. While we were able to do that some, the times we didn’t he made us pay dearly. He has a stable of receivers that made catches worthy of any highlight film. While we were able to move the ball ok, those fourth-down stops were heartbreaking. Then turnovers killed us when we showed the slightest bit of momentum and while good teams will make you pay, great teams will bury you. Cooper is a great team and by far the best we have faced all season.

Highlands 1-0 over Cooper Lady Jags tonight.

Now that I have had a chance to get into the film, the difference in this game really did come down to special teams. Our starting kicker has been out since earlier this season so we don’t have a traditional boot. Just doing what we can with what we have. It hurt us on extra points and credit to Connor for stopping our 2-point conversion attempts. Those were the differences in points we needed as time expired. The average drive start for the Cougars was at their 35 to 40 and ours was consistently at the 20. The 57-yard kick was awesome so hats off to that kid. He kicked a 57-yarder in a high school game and that’s amazing no matter who you root for. I spoke with the refs going into halftime they said it was a line drive that cleared the crossbar by about 3 feet but still had another 5 yards of distance. In a game like this, every possession mattered. Connor's run game limited us to one drive in the 3rd Quarter. And although we locked it down in the second half defensively, the interception took a drive away from us in the 4th Quarter when we needed to maximize the time we had left.

Well for starters they met the truck with two gators to drive the equipment up to the sideline. This is huge to start. The field house is a great place for the team to stretch out, they place a cooler of water in there for the team with cups. As soon as the game goes final they are right there for you to tear down the sideline and get your equipment back down the hill. As many kids as we had with crutches and various other injuries (before and after) they even gave those young men a lift to and from the field. Anyone on here who has the privilege of driving equipment to/from games knows what a pain in the rear it is sometimes at certain Schools. Highlands just does it right and I for one appreciate it. I'm not saying other schools are not accommodating, just saying by far the best welcome you will get is in Fort Thomas.

Have to give credit to Highlands players and staff. Great game plan and execution. Going into this game we felt like we needed to make Highlands one-dimensional by stopping the run and we did ok in that regard outside the 75-yard QB run. Full disclosure we did not expect the passing to be as on as they were tonight. Nothing we didn’t prepare for just credit #6 who did well to avoid what little pressure we got and the receivers did well with yards after catch. In short, our secondary was exposed. You’ll have that with one corner a sophomore the other with a high ankle sprain and a safety playing in a cast. We knew Highlands does well against the run but we felt like we could get positive yards with #7 and #26. Then they got hurt and it made us the one-dimensional team. Although we have a QB with a cannon, if the whole stadium knows you’re throwing, it’s going to be a long night. And, this one stings a lot and everyone in our orbit feels it. Two positives I’d like to point out if I may. 1. I drive the equipment for our team to games and although Highlands is a crap place to play as a visiting team, there is not a more accommodating welcome there with help to get your sideline set up and tore down. 2. Appreciate the Bluebird faithful who were checking on #7 after the game it means a lot. We don’t have a status on him yet but we all know it’s bigger than football.

I can’t speak to the offensive side of the ball except to say we have to clean up penalties and that there were opportunities we have to do a better job of capitalizing on. Defensively, 6 plays in the run game, and one in the passing game were the difference. The majority of the yards came on those plays. Kids are kicking themselves for those errors, and we will get that fixed. Couple that with what was a special teams clinic on flipping the field, and you get the win. All credit due to the Blue Colonels, their mistakes didn’t lead to scores for us, and our mistakes gave them the contest. Before anyone in Crestview Hills or surrounding areas grabs their torches and pitchforks the true state of the Union at Dixie is that we are going through growing pains with young players, injury bug hit us early (just part of the game) and, just like the Blue Colonels still finding an identity. And full credit to the three teams we lost against, you will have that when you play the schedule we play. Nobody has given up and we look forward to getting healthy these next two weeks and preparing for district play. Fun fact, one of the benefits of modern technology is that the game of football has evolved from drawing in dirt, to chalk boards, to white boards to now TV and Ipads on the sideline. While we do draw things for a visual reference on the white boards (and often), it is no substitute for showing a kid, on film, in the actual game they are playing, exactly where they took a wrong step and/or misaligned to a formation. Film don’t lie and its why it has been used as early and often in the history of our game. It’s a brave new world what a time to be alive. Best of luck and health to the Blue Colonels going forward.

Tough loss tonight for the red Colonels. Limped into this game after a rough 3 game stretch (now 4). Lots of kids playing in unfamiliar spots due to injury and other kids toughing it out playing through injury. A lot of sophomore contributions all over. I am proud of the young men and the grit they showed tonight. I Love this group. CovCath is a really good team despite their record and for every positive we had, the Blue Colonels had an answer. You know they were not going to fold and go away lightly. Full credit to their kids and staff. Special teams being 1/3 of the game that is absolutely an area where we were beat soundly tonight. Had quite a few missed opportunities and plays you love to have back. Film will NOT be fun for either side lots of humble pie to go around. We have to clean up penalties on offense and shot ourselves in the foot, a lot. We badly need this bye week to get healthy and prepare for a tough district stretch. As an aside, shout out to the crowd they were awesome tonight. The “Pink Out” is a nice touch for a good cause and there was a real sense of community for the whole stadium. What an atmosphere!