G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands defensive back Grayson Heck (32) leaps over Harrison County kicker Taylor Bolin (14) while Joey Cochran (24), Nathan Merkle (39) and Brady Murray (18) pave the way for a 65-yard fumble return for a touchdown in Friday’s 77-0 win over Harrison County. Highlands moved to 7-0 overall and 94-3 since the start of 2007 with the win.
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
It can be
tough to wait sometimes from an egotistical standpoint.
But many
talented sophomores and even juniors are finding themselves in that position on
the deeply talented Highlands Bluebirds football team. One of them is sophomore
backup quarterback Austin Hergott. Hergott could start on many varsity teams
around the country.
Hergott did
not see action in Friday’s 77-0 win over Harrison County. With Cincinnati Elder
on the horizon, Highlands Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Dale Mueller wanted
to get junior Beau Hoge some repetition with the skill position players. But
Hergott and his teammates still practice hard in case someone goes out with an
injury.
“It can be rough (waiting) at times,” Hergott said. “But
you have to fight through it and know that you’re going to play for one of the
top programs in the whole nation. That’s all worth it your senior year.”
Current
Highlands starting quarterback Drew Houliston found himself in the same
situation two years ago. He backed up Patrick Towles and Donovan McCoy as a
sophomore then backed up McCoy last year. Hoge backed up McCoy and Houliston
last year.
Resting up:
Highlands
recorded its first shutout of the year without several key players. On defense,
Seth Hope, Avery McDaniel, Thomas Wrobleski and Jackson Bardo did not play. On
offense, Highlands rested wide receiver Evan Allen.
“We’re not healthy now,” said Brian Weinrich, Highlands Assistant Head
Coach/Defensive Coordinator. “So we have
a lot of guys out there getting a lot of confidence. I’m not sure how many of
the guys could have played. We’re gaining some depth now.”
Another Milestone in Sight:
The next
victory for Highlands will be the 850th in school history. The Bluebirds are
849-225-26 since the program began in 1915.
Only one
other program has that many wins in school history. That is Valdosta (Ga.). The
Wildcats are 880-210-34 since starting their program in 1913.
Hitting the 70s:
Highlands
is 94-3 since the start of 2007 with a state-record six consecutive state
championships.
The
Bluebirds hit the 70s for the seventh time during that run. They scored a 70-0
win over Pendleton County last year. Highlands also scored 70 points against
Covington Holmes in 2008 and another 70 against Woodford County in the first
round of the Class 5A playoffs in 2010.
“We had a scrimmage against Trinity where we were down
51-0 at halftime (last year),” Mueller
said. “We just needed to get Beau in.
Those were his first snaps playing quarterback all year.”
But the
Bluebirds did it three times in 2011 with Patrick Towles and Austin Sheehan
when Highlands shattered the state record with 849 points. They scored 71 on
Mason County, 79 on Pendleton County and 77 on Covington Holmes that year.
Defending state champs sock district opponents:
Highlands
was not the only team to put up a lot of points against weaker district
opponents the previous two days.
The defending
Class 5A champion Bowling Green Purples destroyed the District 2 rival Logan
County Cougars, 91-10 on Thursday. The Cougars have scored just 38 points all
season.
The 7-0 Purples
own the state’s longest winning streak with 37 in a row. The state record is 50
straight set by Louisville Trinity from 1988 to 1991.
Defending
Class 1A champion Mayfield knocked off Fulton City, 63-0 on Friday. The
Cardinals are also undefeated at 7-0.
Dougherty ties school record:
Highlands
sophomore kicker Jared Dougherty made 11 extra-point attempts in the win. That
tied the school team record set in 2011.
Bowling
Green made 13 extra-point attempts in the win over Logan County. That broke the
previous record of 12 by Fleming-Neon against Elkhorn City in 2000 and
Lexington Catholic against Owen County in 1999.
But unlike
Dougherty, the Purples used two different kickers. Hunter Hanks made nine and
Lee Ramsey four for Bowling Green.
Record vs. Harrison County:
The
Bluebirds improved to 8-0 all-time against the Thorobreds with the win. They’ve
won the previous three meetings by a combined 214-10.
Mueller presented game ball:
Highlands
Principal Brian Robinson presented Mueller with the game ball at halftime for
his 300th career win as a head coach that came in a 33-26 win on Sept. 14 at
John Hardin. Mueller owns a career record of 303-65 and 244-34 at Highlands.
Around District 7:
Highlands
district rivals Covington Holmes and Covington Catholic picked up non-district
wins. CovCath (4-2) rebounded from the Saturday loss to Highlands with a 28-7
win at Beechwood on Thursday. Holmes (4-2) beat Bellevue, 42-36 on Friday.
Around Class 4A:
Region
rival Johnson Central downed southern Ohio power Ironton, 56-14 on Friday. The
Golden Eagles remained undefeated at 6-0 and go to Greenup County this week.
Boyle
County remained undefeated at 7-0 with a crucial District 5 victory over
Lexington Catholic (4-3), 22-13. The Rebels don’t figure to be challenged the
rest of the regular season.