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| G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands defenders like Patrick Schoepf (33) and Daniel Kremer (22) converge on the ball in Friday’s 71-69 win over Warren Central. The Bluebirds open the playoffs Friday against the Boyd County Lions for the third year in a row. |
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
It is
normally about daily improvement each and every game and practice.
But the
shift changes to taking down the Boyd County Lions this week for the Highlands
Bluebirds football team. That’s when you know the playoffs have arrived because
a loss means the season is over.
The
Bluebirds and Lions meet for the third straight year in the opening round of
the Class 4A playoffs on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at David Cecil Memorial Stadium.
The Bluebirds won the previous two meetings by a combined 123-21.
The Lions
enter the game 1-9 overall after coming in with 5-5 records the previous two
seasons. They lost 21-16 against the Tolsia Rebels (West Virginia) on Friday.
They are also on their third head coach in three seasons in John Gilliam after
Ray Brooks stepped down after last season.
“Winning the state championship means a lot to us,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands Head Coach/Offensive
Coordinator. “Boyd is working hard. (The
Lions) have had a lot of losses this year. We’re definitely the favorite. But teams
get upset. The best team in the league can get beat by the worst team in the
league. We haven’t won 96 of the last 100 games because we take games lightly,
especially the playoffs. We won’t come out looking past them at all.”
Teams have
outscored the Lions, 373-176. The only time Boyd County has scored more than 19
points in a game came in its lone 25-21 win at District 8 rival Greenup County
on Oct. 25. That win propelled the Lions into the playoffs.
The vaunted
Highlands offense will face a 4-3 Boyd County defense. Mueller said the Lions
run a 4-3 defense that gives multiple looks such as employing a zone defense
one play before going to a man-to-man with no one deep on the next play.
The vaunted
Bluebird spread offense consistently lights up scoreboards having scored
71-plus points three times this year. They average 52.2 points and 445.5 yards
per game and have scored 75 touchdowns. Highlands has scored 39 touchdowns on
45 trips to the red zone for about 87 percent.
Senior
quarterback Drew Houliston has completed 157-of-226 passes for 2,702 yards, 35
touchdowns and two interceptions behind solid protection from the offensive
line. If he can’t go, junior Beau Hoge will go under center. Hoge has completed
29-of-47 passes for nine touchdowns and an interception.
Their
leading target has been Jensen Feggins with 38 catches for 786 yards and 11
touchdowns. Senior Zach Harris has 28 catches for 462 yards and nine touchdowns
and also leads the team with 712 yards rushing on 100 carries and 16 scores.
“We can catch the ball better,” Feggins said. “We
had some drops (in the 71-69 win over Warren Central on Friday) – one for
myself and other teammates of mine. We’re fast enough and our routes are good
enough. Our problem is we try to run before we catch the ball. We need to look
it in more, tuck it, then take off.”
The
Highlands defense wants to bounce back from a tough performance Friday. Warren
Central torched the injury-riddled 3-4 Bluebird defense for a state-record 918
yards of total offense, including 716 on the ground. Highlands hopes to have
players like Griffin Urlage, Thomas Wrobleski and Andrew Abner back this week.
“We were in sound position,” said Braden Hicks, Highlands senior defensive end. “There were just some fundamental things we
needed to fix. We got them fixed this week so we’re looking to have a really
great game.”
Opponents
are scoring at a clip of 23.9 points per game and are averaging 358.5 yards per
game. Seth Hope leads Highlands with seven tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks.
Urlage and Bardo have two interceptions a piece for the Bluebirds.
Senior
Billy McCoy returns to quarterback the Lions. He hands the ball off to a number
of backs such as Jason Smith. Smith had 122 yards on 20 carries to lead the
Lions in the loss Friday. Highlands Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
said Boyd County runs several packages such as the Stack-I and some spread
formations.
Turnovers
hurt Boyd County against Tolisa. The Rebels returned an interception 85 yards
for a touchdown and a fumble 65 yards for a score.
“We have to try to take advantage of (turnovers) when
they happen,” Weinrich said. “If we can get more guys around the ball
and get tighter on our coverage, the fumbles and interceptions can only help
us. The team that gets the most turnovers usually wins the game.”
Highlands
has never lost in the first round of the playoffs since Mueller became head
coach in 1994. The Bluebirds have won 30 straight playoff games by an average
of about 33 points per game during that run of six consecutive state championships.
Biggest Threats to #StairwaytoSeven:
Highlands
is a heavy favorite in the first two rounds.
The region
championship game could be the biggest challenge for Highlands against either
Covington Catholic or undefeated Johnson Central. The Colonels are getting
healthy and saw running back Luke Bir return recently.
But the
Golden Eagles boast a balanced Wishbone backfield. Their three running backs
are seniors Jordan Young, Josh Dillon and junior Daymion Belcher.
Top-ranked
Highlands could then meet undefeated Boyle County in the semifinals. Senior
Seph Burke leads the Rebels with 851 yards rushing and 96 tackles.
But 9-1
Russell County and 7-3 Lexington Catholic could have something to say about
that. Aside from Boyle County, the two Knight losses have come to undefeated
Bowling Green and Louisville St. Xavier. The lone loss for the Lakers came to
Class 5A’s second-ranked Pulaski County Maroons.
Collins
could again come through the other side of the bracket at 8-2 overall. The
Titans return quarterback Lawson Page and running back Deandre Farris. Page has
completed 142-of-233 passes for 2,207 yards, 26 touchdowns and just two
interceptions.
Owensboro
could be the biggest challenge to the Titans. The Red Devils have lost to 5A
powers Warren Central, Bowling Green as well as a one-point 28-27 decision to
Henderson County to conclude the season.
