Photo by G. Michael Graham. The Highlands Bluebirds celebrated their 22nd state championship Friday at Western Kentucky University and sixth in a row. The Bluebirds moved to 87-3 during that run.
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
BOWLING
GREEN – This year’s Highlands Bluebirds football team saw Co-Head Coaches Dale
Mueller and Brian Weinrich lose someone close to them.
The
Bluebirds (14-1) dedicated the season to those relatives. Mueller’s mother-in-law
passed away in Ithaca, N.Y. earlier in the week and Mueller did not coach in
Highlands’ 47-0 Class 4A state championship win over the Collins Titans (11-4) on
Friday.
“Even though he’s not here calling the plays, this is
just a well-oiled machine of a coaching staff,” said Donovan McCoy, Highlands senior quarterback. “We could have our three top offensive
coaches go down and we’d still have someone there that could just go in and
call the plays like he would and we’d execute the game plan. That’s how
Highlands works. (Mueller) wasn’t here physically. But he was here spiritually and
emotionally.”
Mueller
handles a lot of responsibilities handling with the offense. The Bluebirds
improved to 237-34 since Mueller came on staff in 1994.
“We met with (Mueller) Wednesday night before he left,” Weinrich said. “We
do what we do and he trusts us. We’re a whole team top to bottom. They’re a
great group of guys. We all rally around each other and we’re there for each
other through everything.”
Highlands
wore the initials, JEH for Weinrich’s grandmother Janet Hewling all season. The
longtime Fort Thomas Independent School District employee passed away prior to
the regular-season meeting against Covington Catholic.
Final Numbers:
The
Bluebirds finished the season with 781 points, 111 touchdowns and 7,424 yards of
total offense. Those averaged about 52 points, 7.4 touchdowns and 495 yards per
contest.
Highlands
also improved to 87-3 since the run of six consecutive state championships
started in 2007. That includes a sparkling record of 82-1 against teams from
Kentucky.
Final game for 25 Seniors:
The
Bluebirds said goodbye to 25 seniors after the win Friday.
Highlands finished
an impressive 58-2 in this class’ four years of high school. That was also the
mark of last year’s class led by Patrick Towles, Austin Sheehan and Drake and
Devin Bruns.
As far as
the skill positions go, McCoy, running backs Colin Seidl, Ryan Donovan and wide
receivers Jac Collinsworth, Luke Turner, David Christian, J.C. Mettens and
tight end Jack Grimm graduate. The offensive
lineman that will graduate are Richie Whitford, Jason Thome and center Mitch
Dee.
On the
defensive side, linemen Gabe Schultz, Austin Peterson, Taylor Fossett, and Trevor
Kraft will graduate. The linebackers to graduate are Reid Schroder, Joe
Paolucci, Jehad Henderson and Connor Poston. The defensive backs that played
their last games Friday are Quentin Murray, Jake Lester, Blake Myers, Ben
Streeter, Blake Schutte and Jake Heck.
Far from Bare:
The graduation
of 25 seniors tends to set programs back. But not Highlands.
“We have a great group of underclassmen that are
keeping (the tradition) going,”
Schroder said. “They’re talking to all
the freshmen and eighth graders keeping them in it and keeping the spirit alive
for Highlands football.”
Drew
Houliston is the leading candidate to take over at quarterback. But Beau Hoge
could push for that spot as well.
They could
throw to a number of receivers such as Ryan Greene, Luke Brockett, Brandon
Hergott, Justin Weyer or even tight ends like Nick True or Jack Telek. Running
backs Zach Harris and Jaylen Hayes will return for their senior seasons next
year.
The
offensive line returns a number of solid players. They will be led by Tyler
Schweitzer, Bryan Saunders, Kendall Kramer and Scott Turner. The offseason
programs generally begin in January.
“They are long and intense, but have a lot of fun with
them,” Saunders said of Highlands’
offseason workouts. “The contributors on
this team survive them. You can’t get where we are without putting in that hard
work.”
Seth Hope
returns to anchor the defensive line along with Nathan Merkle and Matt Gall.
The linebacking crew will be led by Brady Murray, Joey Cochran and Connor
Bleser. The defensive backs will be led by Jackson Bardo, Griffin Urlage and Andrew
Abner.
National Level:
The
Bluebirds entered the season ranked second in the country for the most wins in
school history. The picked up seven victories on the top team in the Valdosta
Wildcats of south Georgia.
Valdosta
has 23 state championships and 876 wins dating back to 1913. Highlands owns 842
victories since 1915. But Valdosta has not won a state title since 1998 playing
in a tough region in the largest of six classes in Georgia.
The
Bluebirds now rank 11th all-time in the country with the most football state
championships in school history. Valdosta ranks 10th. The national leader is Sioux
Falls Washington (S.D.) with 38.
Sioux Falls
Washington and Honolulu (HI.) St. Louis have both won 14 straight state titles.
A title next season would put Highlands among the nation’s elite with seven in
a row and would tie five other schools. Massillon Washington (Oh.) had two
separate runs of seven straight state titles in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.
