G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands defenders Joey Cochran (24) and Bo Hebel (55) converge on Paducah Tilghman running back D.J. Sherrill (25) in Saturday’s game in Paducah. The Bluebirds travel to Park Hills on Saturday to face the Covington Catholic Colonels at 1 p.m.
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
It was a
nice, clear summer day in early August.
The
Highlands Bluebirds senior captains led warm-ups before a practice. During that
time, they shouted the familiar “Beat Colonels” phrase.
That’s how
much that annual game against Class 4A, District 7 arch-rival Covington Catholic means to the Bluebirds.
Highlands faces its longtime rival Saturday in Park Hills at 1 p.m.
The two
Northern Kentucky powers have battled for state championships since the 1980s.
Highlands is tied with Louisville Trinity for the most state championships with
22 and CovCath owns six.
“It isn’t all that intense,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands Head Coach/Offensive
Coordinator. “We spend more time and
focus on CovCath. Most weeks in practice are primarily geared to improving as a
team. This week, it’s about CovCath.”
Highlands
has won nine in a row in the series dating back to 2006 during their run of a
state-record six consecutive state championships and 92-3 mark since the start
of 2007. The Colonels are the last team to beat Highlands in the playoffs on
their way to their last state championship in 2006.
Highlands
is 43-17 in the all-time series against Covington Catholic. That includes wins
in both the regular season and playoffs in its title runs in 2007, 2011 and
last year. Last year, Highlands beat CovCath twice in Fort Thomas – 35-21 in
the regular-season and 28-13 in the regional championship.
“We’re going through our normal routines practicing
everything and during the game, I bet everything will get emotional,” said Evan Allen, Highlands senior wide receiver. “When the game starts, our nerves will get
going. But we have mature guys and we know what to do in a big game.”
Highlands
comes into the game undefeated at 5-0 while the Colonels are 3-1. They had a
bye week last week after beating Henderson County, 18-0. CovCath’s lone loss
came to Cincinnati Moeller, 45-7 on Sept. 7. Moeller won Ohio’s largest
Division I state championship last year and is the alma mater of CovCath Head
Coach Dave Wirth.
“We spent very little time last week on Highlands,” Wirth said. “We
just worked on fundamentals and healing up as much as we could. Having two
weeks or two days, it’s all the same preparing for (Highland). It comes down to
making plays on game day, not turning the ball over, forcing turnovers. We know
them. They know us.”
The
Colonels have endured their fair share of injuries. Senior running back Luke
Bir is out for the season with junior quarterback Adam Wagner and senior
linebacker Sam Burchell also missing games because of injuries. Burchell has
yet to play.
The Colonel
defense has still been strong as they have outscored the opposition, 94-58. The
Colonels shut out Boone County and Henderson County. Senior defensive backs
Adam Fischer and Matthew Way lead the Colonels with 27 tackles. Way also has
five interceptions.
CovCath may
return several three-year starters and a four-year one. But the Highlands
spread attack makes teams defend the entire field. Highlands has outscored the
opposition, 234-120 and outgained opponents, 2,147-1,761 in total offense.
Senior
quarterback Drew Houliston continues to put up impressive numbers for the
Bluebirds. Houliston has completed 90-of-131 passes for 1,547 yards, 21 touchdowns
and just one interception.
The
Bluebird offensive line has blocked well for most of the year. Houliston was
sacked six times in the recent road win at Paducah Tilghman. But the Bluebirds
did not allow any in the second half making adjustments to Tilghman’s delayed
blitzes.
Highlands
has seen 12 different wide receivers catch passes. Junior Jensen Feggins leads
the way with 20 catches for 299 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Brandon
Hergott is third on the team with 10 receptions for 156 yards and five
touchdowns.
The
Bluebirds rested senior running back Zach Harris against Tilghman. But he has
362 yards rushing on 47 attempts with eight touchdowns and 14 receptions for
233 yards and five touchdowns.
Highlands
showed its depth in that game at Tilghman. Fellow senior running back Jaylen
Hayes rushed for 154 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns. His season total
is 232 yards rushing on 37 carries and three scores.
Highlands
may have the mental advantage coming into the game. But Wirth never seems concerned
about that.
“We have lots of rivals, not just one,” Wirth said. “So,
when it comes to each one, we don’t care about last year or even next year.
That’s fodder for pre-game parties and press. We only care about this game this
week. So we handle it as we would any other game – just keep fighting, make a
stop, make a play, etc. Our players don’t sign up at CovCath for the sake of
one game. There are several games that get their blood pumping a little faster.
Obviously, Highlands is one of them.”
The
injuries have forced the Colonels to play at lot of sophomores, especially at
the skill position spots in their Spread offense. Sophomore Ben Dressman has stepped in for Adam
Wagner and with classmates Ben Darlington and Ryan McGinness stepping forward
at running back and wide receiver respectively.
“We just have to line up right and take good angles at
the ball hoping they don’t get behind us,” said Griffin Urlage, Highlands junior defensive back. “We want to keep them in front of us on the
screens and play fast and aggressive.”
Ben
Dressman has completed 21-of-34 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Senior
Sam Dressman leads the Colonel rushing attack with 197 yards on 28 carries and
two touchdowns and senior Sam Hatter leads CovCath with eight catches for 120
yards and two touchdowns.
“We are all excited about being involved in such a
tremendous rivalry game,” said Brian
Weinrich, Highlands Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator. “As always, we will continue to improve
each day at everything we do. It should be a fun atmosphere on Saturday.”
The
Highlands defense has bent a couple times this year, but has come through in
many clutch situations. Urlange and Rocco Pangallo lead the Bluebirds with one
interception each. Seth Hope leads Highlands with four tackles for a loss with
Thomas Wrobleski making 3.5 and Brady Murray and Joey Cochran recording three
each. Braden Hicks, Bo Hebel and Hope have on sack each.
CovCath
will become the fourth most common school opponent in school history after this
game. The Bluebirds entered the season having played CovCath and Dayton 60
times in school history. They’ve only faced Covington Holmes (71), Dixie
Heights (70) and Newport (66) more than CovCath and Dayton.