mexitucky

Caymon was pulled down just as he entered the box, so it should have been a penalty and a yellow. It was NOT a clear goal scoring opportunity and he was moving to his right, not directly at goal. He was not completely wrong giving a straight red, but he could have given a yellow more easily. It is a matter of perspective at that point and speed.

Sophomore Max Farris records his first career hat trick as Highlands throttled 10 man Holy Cross. Trailing 1-0 on a headed goal by Alex Ford, Holy Cross defender brought down Caymon Stevie in the box and was shown an EXTREMELY harsh straight red. Stevie missed the ensuing penalty, but recovered on Highlands next possession and latched on to a long diagonal pass to the outside of the 18. He passed it back to the edge of the 18 for Farris to one time and curve it out of reach from the goalie. That took the game to 2 nil and it stayed that way through the half. Highlands ramped up the pressure in the second half to put the game to bed. Mikey Penrod scored 12 minutes into the second half on a low screamer from just outside the 18. 1 minute later Carter Holmes dribbled through center defense to go 1 v 1 w/ the goalie to make it 4 to Nil. Farris got his brace 5 minutes later. Adrian Mills followed up with his first varsity goal showing great patience in the box. With 10 minutes to go, Farris added his third to complete the hat trick.

Just one observation from one game, but it sure seems like there is more a "Highlands" look to this group of 7th and 8th grade players. Lots of talent and still tons of room for physical maturity and improvement.

Looks like the Colonels found a line-up that works.

After the 2nd unsportmanslike, Lickert burned a time-out and called the whole team over. He gave them a good "mentoring." I don't see that stuff flying this season.

Continuing our annual dissection of the Maher Rankings and their qualifications, I posted the link. 218 Preseason Boys Maher Rankings – Maher Rankings Highlands plays #14 OH-10 Moeller #17 IN-4 Hamilton Southeast #23 KY-2 Trinity #30 KY-4 Collegiate #31 KY-5 Henry Clay #44 KY-7 Dunbar #47 KY-8 Ryle #69 KY-11 Oldham County That doesn't include South and North Oldham, or CovCath That's a pretty tough schedule.

NewCath is better than last year. They have 4 home run hitters on O, and it will open up lanes for Kelly. The issue is the athleticism of the line. I am interested in watching that come along.

I talked to some key players yesterday. There is a very positive, genuine excitement about their potential. They believe that what they saw Friday was totally fixable with focused practice. That is exactly what you want from your stars. They see the process and vision, and appear to have bought in. For me, that gives me confidence in this group.

They also set the state record for most plays run in a season in 2001. With the Oklahoma type tempo used now all over the state, that had to be smashed.

I don’t think he had a catch, but CovCaths first two possessions were a combined 5 plays, plus a pick 6. Offense really didn’t get that many snaps. As an ILB???? 10 tackles? He smoked a couple NewCath kids. Great motor for any player, let alone a freak athlete.

Safety near the line or an OLB. Couldn’t tell where he came from, but he set a great edge.

He did.

They rotated throughout. 2 series for Jacob then 1 for #12.

Jacob is a better passer. He went for 4 TDS. #12 is a better athlete, but I didn’t think that his arm had the juice. He will be a weapon somewhere though. Kid has wheels.

That was 1/2 way through Steve's Jr. year when Jeff Smith was inserted in as a QB. That was THE defining moment in recent NewCath history.

Steve was an animal running the ball and at linebacker. Eddie had one of the best Sr. years in NewCath history and then the greatest college football career of maybe any QB ever. 44-1 as a starter, 3 NAIA National Players of the Year awards in a row... Side note, they were teammates on Jr. Pro basketball teams and then again at Georgetown College.

Moeller, in fairness, created the most chances. However, Highlands took advantage of a high Moeller back line when Schweitzer found Stevie to put him through about 7 minutes into the first half. Moeller maintained the pressure through the middle to the flanks over and over again and it paid off when they were awarded a free kick on the corner of the 18. The ensuing free kick resulted in a headed goal to level it up. It was more of the same for the second part of the 1st as Highlands and Moeller mixed up their line-ups. The 2nd half was, again, more of the same. Highlands high pressure caused a few errant Moeller passes and they became more dangerous. However, Moeller settled down and again took over possession. Their main objective was to get the ball to the flanks in one-v-ones where they had a lot of talent on the left side, or use their RB to overlap on the other. He was very good w/ the ball. Highlands made a mistake by trying to dribble out of defense and were dispossessed on a crunching tackle that led to a nice shot from #18, I believe. Highlands and Moeller freely subbed again, and it was fairly even until about 5 minutes to go when Highlands seemed to turn it up a little to get a draw. W/ about 10 seconds to go, Elijah Stevie played a through ball to the outside line of the 18 that Max Farris and Moeller's RB went for. Farris beat him, but in the ensuing wrestling match was taken down in the 18 to be awarded a penalty w/ 5 sec. to go. Carter Holmes stepped up and drilled it into the goalie's left corner for the tie. My take away is that Highlands is going to be deep this year. There was very little drop off when subs came in. They also have a good combo of size and speed in all 3 guys in the top line. As one of Moeller's coaches told me, "They have 3 very tall and athletic kids up top. They are going to cause teams a LOT of problems, A LOT." Once these guys gel, and get a couple guys back from injury, they will be right there w/ Ryle and CovCath to not only compete in the 9th, but against anyone in the state...in my humble opinion.

Game ends in a 2 to 2 draw. Goals by Caymon Stevie and Carter Holmes.

They may. I've been away for awhile.

I'd like to see the rationale as well. Maybe if they are responsible for line calls? But even then, many high school coaches won't give their center that responsibility. The QB, I'd bet, calls the protection changes just as much as centers do across the state.

Did you recycle this post from the past five preseasons. I'm going to add Free Throw shooting as in issue this year as well...without having seen a game. How spoiled are we? It is almost like Groundhog's day in a good way, or like watching Rocky VII. Different characters, maybe some surprises, but you have an idea about where it is going to end up.

Losing Barry Sanders isn't close to losing AJ??? I don't know man. Danville isn't close to winning it last year if not for one of the greatest individual performances we'll ever see in all aspects of offense.

I want to see this one. I will never forget listening to Gary Ball call the 4th quarter w/ my Dad in his Dodge Dakota after NewCath's game was over. Made me a CovCath fan for life.

Actually were Co-Champs the first year. The last few....not so much. Roger Bacon and Purcell were the teams to fear.

Highlands scrimmages Moeller tomorrow at Tower Park. Game time is 7:15. Great early test to get rolling into the regular season.