leatherneck

Big congratulations to both teams. Birds, you got it done and are moving on to Louisville. Simply fantastic. Colonels, you had a great season; an historic season. A big tip of my Highlands' hat to the coaches, players, administration and fans of the Whitley program. Keep it going next year and do not be content with what was accomplished this year. I want to make a point of specifically pointing out the welcome we were given by the Whitley school administation. They were very gracious hosts. And I love the football field facility layout. Their AD was just fantastic to work with. If Mike isn't on here, I hope folks on here from Whitley will again let him know how appreciative we are to him and the Whitley school system. Thank you. But back to the Birds for a moment (and then I have to go walk the dogs) I'm very proud of the way you have played tough and responded to good football teams during the playoffs, with the last two being on the road. There's one more little road trip left this year. Christian County is the real deal and they aren't going to be content to just make it to PJS. They are in it to win it. They like every other team you've faced this year will be really up to play you. Focus starting immediately on winning state. You can celebrate and enjoy last night's win after the state game. Good luck Birds.

I'd also add Pulaski and Letcher Central as decent teams that Whitley has played this year. But still, I don't see Whitley's schedule as comp with Highlands.

I think Whitley has a very fine football team and can beat Highlands if Whitley plays its A game and gets some breaks, but I have to tell you that I don't agree that Highlands and Whitley have played comparable opponents. Which of your opponents do you think match up with: Colerain Lexington Catholic Bryan Station Madison Central Louisville Central Johnson Central. I see one very good team on Whitley's schedule (Bell) and a pretty decent Rockcastle County team. Other than that, I see Whitley's schedule as very average.

Working "hard enough" isn't the issue is it? The issue is: are they working as hard as the coaches and kids at X and T? If not, then they are falling behind those programs. And make no bones about it, all coaches do not work as hard as every other coach; all players do not work as hard as every other player; all lawyers do not work as hard as every other lawyer, etc. etc. All coaches and players may work hard hard but not as hard as those at other progams. Those that work harder than the rest have a tendency to be the most successful.

Roller will be just fine. He's a tough hard working kid that will pour his heart and soul into his rehabilititation. In the months that he can't yet be running, he'll be lifting and strengthening his upper body. He'll wear a brace to protect his knee next year, but I expect him to be every bit the player that he would have been without the knee injury, only with a much stronger upper body. And there is a big difference between Brandon's and Josh's injury: Josh's occurred his senior year, Brandon's occurred his junior year. Brandon will have his entire senior year to show the college folks "he's back" and I have zero doubt that he'll be back better than ever. If I've learned one thing about the many Rollers I've had the pleasure to get to know, they are tougher than new leather. I truly feel sorry for the running backs on the other team we play in our first game next year because Brandon is going to be out to prove to everyone that he's better than ever. And I believe in the young man and his ability to do just so.:thumb:

I don't know much about these two teams but if Hearsay says JH is going to win, then I'm going with JH to win. The man knows his Western Ky football.

I wouldn't on here or any where else in public. No good reason to do so. It comes across as arrogant and as disrespectful to the kids on the other teams. But I privately share my thoughts with some other Highlands fans.

First of all the thread isn't about what kids are likely to go D1. It was about the top (current) juniors which is something complete different than who can play D1 football. Second, as others have pointed out, the Bardo kid, when given his shot to show his qb stuff, will really suprise some people with his D1 potential. Not only is the kid very talented throwing and running the ball, he has what D1 schools want: and that is height. Welz, Grubbs and Hogue also have height which may get them some serious attention from D1 schools. Combs and Schlosser do not have that height which is unfortunate, but there's nothing that can be done with that. Nonetheless they are both very talented junior offensive linemen that have played a major contributing role in the Birds' success this year and will do so again next year. They do not fall in the category of likely to go D1, but they (and others) belong in the category of top (current) juniors in my opinion.

Hopefully my fellow Highlands fans are learning that we best take every opponent seriously. Bryan Station and Johnson Central should have taught us that by now. At times, I think some Highlands fans get a little over confident. We think that every year will be like last year and are probably assuming that the semi's this year will be like last year's win against Lincoln in the semi's. And you know what happens when you assume. There are some other very good football teams out in the state not only in 5A but the other classes also. I haven't seen tape on Whitley yet, but until I do and conclude to the contrary, so I'm counting on every opponent we are playing this late in the playoffs to be a very good team and one that we should not underestimate.

Great post Streaker. Totally agree.

Highlands made JC work very hard for their yards and scores. Nothing easy given to the Eagles, so forgive me if I disagree with your statement that the Eagles could score at will. Having said that, I saw from the Eagles exactly what I expected: a very, very tough football team. Just a great group of kids and coaches. Great jobs Eagles and great season. Don't hang your heads at all. You have a lot, a whole lot to be proud of.:thumb: Seniors, take the lessons that Matney taught you about hard work and committment and apply them to the rest of your lives. Those lessons worked for you in football and they will work for you in everything you hope to accomplish in your future. Great job Birds. Way to go for a long bus ride, play an extremely good football team and pull off a solid win. That's what champions do. More about the game later.

Congrats to Tony. Just a super honor to be nominated. Good luck. Here's a good article that provides a little insight into the family tradition of football at Highlands. And in no way is the family mentioned unique; not even close. http://www.ironcladimages.com/kypostpreps/112605_fennells/index.htm.

I haven't seen him play yet this year, but I was extremely impressed with the kid last year. I hope I get the opportunity to watch him play this year because that would mean we'd have won this week against Johnson Central (and LCC would have beat Whitley Co). The kid has size, a great arm and runs very well too. I'm told by good sources that he is a great kid and is very coachable. Highlands benefitted from him having a hamstring problem last year when we beat them in the playoffs.

That was bad wasn't it.

You are right that was a great post that you quoted, particularly the opening line/sentence. I'm sure Matney is playing the lack of respect card to the hilt, in spite of numerous posts to the contrary. If no one ever said anything about a Highlands blow out on here or anywhere else, Matney's Plan would still be the same. That's just part of the coaching game. And I'm sure Mueller is playing the counter card: we're the King of the Hill and JC is going to do everything it can to embarrass us and knock off of the Hill and that this game is more than just about this game. This game is about Highlands, its tradition, and its claim to being the best football program in the entire state. I expect both teams to come out fired up to the max. Which may not necessarily be a positive for either team. Sometimes too much emotion causes kids to lose focus of their assignments and responsibilities.

No disrespect, but I'd guess that there are less than 10 Highlands posters that have actually seen JC play this year. I know of only 5 Highlands fans that have and that includes you and me (and of the 5 that I am aware of, 2 of them don't post on here). So I think its say to say that a large majority of Highlands posters predicting a Highlands win have NOT seen Central first hand. Perhaps I'm wrong and a lot of Highlands posters have seen Central play this year, but I don't think I am. This game is going to be very close. I'll take a one point win in a NY heartbeat without the least bit of disappointment (unlike the BS game). And I do agree with you that JC does have some fast skilled players. Dillon, Welch and Richardson come to mind quickly. No. 1 and No. 5 (sorry, don't know their names) also have very good speed and if given a seam with our defenders out of position just a little, can take it to the house right now. And I like how Matney puts his skilled players in a position to utilize their talents. Welch touches the ball from the backfield, from TE and from the wing. He passes the ball from the TE spot (I'd never seen a tight end aroung pass thrown before the Montgomery game) and catches the ball from all kinds of different positions. Matney is a very crafty and innovative coach. I loved seeing the overbalanced O line which seemed to confuse CovCath early on. When CovCath adjusted to Central running to the strong side, Matney started to run with great success to the short side and utilized the blockers in the backfield to exploit CovCath's shift to the strong side. Just brilliant coaching by Matney. Heck, he even tried the double flea flicker pass against CovCath. :scared: which I'm sure was for the benefit of the Highlands scouts in the stands. I hope these predictions of a big win caused by Highlands speed and our ability to shut down Central's one dimensional O are correct, but I don't think they are. It will be a close, make that very close game in mu opinion based on my observations of Central. And I won't even point out that at least one of the Highlands people that accompanied me to watch Central play was so very, very wrong when he disagreed with me and predicted after that game that CovCath would beat Central. I wouldn't want to embarrass Silver Streaker like that. :D:D Sorry my friend, I just HAD to.:laugh:

Well stated :thumb:

Makes sense. Thx CCH24 also.

Bravo, fantastic and superb! Great, great post that deserves to be archived in the Classics by itself. :thumb:

You are sooooo bad. It actually made for a great Thanksgiving visiting Log Mountain that year. Unfortunately or fortunately from your perspective, the KHSAA changed the rules and playoff games can no longer be played on Thursday.

Cylde as to the "rebuilt" comment, I'm obviously not close enough to the CovCath program to know whether it did or did not need to be rebuilt. I've read posts on here talking about whether Rodenburg spent much quality time with the JV players. Some say no and some say yes. I don't know. But what I do think may be an indicator of how Rodenburg felt about the upcoming talent is that he left to take the job at Roger Bacon. It was common knowledge that he'd leave CovCath to take the Moeller job, but leave CovCath for Roger Bacon? That really surprised me and may have been an indicator of what he thought was going to be happening in the CovCath program over the next couple of years. If my hunch is correct, it does somewhat support the need to rebuild issue, doesn't it? I look at it as Rodenburg is obviously a smart guy and a great coach, and he left not for his dream job, but for a job that was really surprising, at least to me, unless he saw what was coming.

I don't disagree that this year's Highlands defense is better than the defense on those two years. But how can you be so certain that JC isn't better than DeSales or Rockcastle at running the ball? Have you seen them live? Have you watched much tape on them?

This is going to be a much closer game than some people are predicting. For those saying JC will not be able to move the ball on the Birds simply because JC is too one dimensional, turn your memory banks back to 05 when a big, one dimensional running team called DeSales kicked our fannies up and down the field running the ball. Rockcastle ran the ball down our throats in 02. It can happen. I expect JC to have some success running the ball. They are an exceptional running team. By far the best we'll have played this year other than Colerain (and that game didn't turn out too well for us). If every Highlands defender doesn't wrap tightly when he tackles this week and instead only throws a shoulder in, JC's runners are going to get serious yards after first contact and break some long gains. These boys run hard. They are the hardest running backs we've faced this year. Every body has to wrap and we have to gang tackle. Because I expect JC to be able to move the ball at times, our O has to come out very focused and ready to execute on every possession. I expect JC to blitz a whole lot (particularly from the outside) to try and prevent Tony from getting time to throw the ball deep. Matney's a good coach and he saw what happened to Ashland when Tony was given all day to pass the ball. I expect him to do everything he can to prevent that from happening this week and that means blitz, blitz, blitz. I hope the ref crew quickly gets in control of this game and sets the tone that late hits and shoving will not be tolerated from the get go or else things are going to spiral out of control quickly. This is going to be an emotional game with JC geeked up to gain respect by beating Highlands (I can hear Matney's pregame speech now) and prove to the state that hard nose running game teams can win State, and the Birds are going to come into town fired up to prove that they aren't intimidated by anyone and they can be just as physical as the E. Ky teams. I hope what happened in the Ashland game was not a precursor to this game. As Dale said repeatedly and rather loudly during the Ashland game, "just play football".

I spoke with Bill after the game. He's a class act all the way. His son is a sophomore, correct?

Station did a great job and had a great offensive game plan against Highlands. That being said and kudos being given to Station O coaches, what puzzles me is why they didn't use a lot more of the dump passes, which worked well against Highlands, against JC? While JC has decent speed on D, safe to say its not as good as Highlands. And if the dump passes worked against Highlands, and they did, I'm pretty sure they'd have worked against JC. But instead of spreading the defense from sideline to sideline, from what I remember of the game, Bryan Station seemed to line up toe to toe, with double tight ends, against JC most of the time and try to beat JC at its strength. Bizarre offensive game plan for sure by Station in that game against JC.