“Was there anything that didn’t happen in that game?” Highlands Head Coach Bob Sphire asked.
Charlie Noon’s 268 all-purpose yards keyed Highlands to victory over Ryle Friday night at Borland Stadium in Union, 57-46, in a wild one that had just about everything a football game has to offer.
“Charlie Noon and Carson Class made some huge plays for us but Charlie…whew. When we made the decision to move him from the quarterback position, it was because we knew we could use him in so many ways to help our football team. When you play quarterback, you have to put him on the shelf a little bit and protect him. So now, we can turn him loose and just go play, go play…What a massive game he had.”
His total yardage encompassed 20 rushing, 102 receiving, 73 kickoff, and 73 punt return yards, respectively.
Perhaps it was fitting that the Raiders shot off fireworks after its touchdowns because the game featured more than its share of them in the seesaw-like first half. Ryle struck first with senior Kaden Gardner’s 44-yard touchdown reception two minutes into the opening quarter. The Bluebirds countered with a short field goal to make it 6-3, but its special teams never let Ryle get into a rhythm throughout the game.
Early in the second quarter, Ryle quarterback Logan Verax’s pass bounced off the shoulder pads of his intended receiver and Highlands cornerback Lincoln Hicks setup the Bluebirds ensuing score, catching the deflected ball out of the air. With good field position at the Raiders’ 24-yard line, quarterback Brody Benke hit Davis Hinegardner with a short pass and Hinegardner eluded Ryle defenders 24 yards to the end zone to put the ‘Birds up by one, 20-19.
Then on its own 35, the tandem of Carson Schwalbach and TreVaughn Woods sacked Verax for a three-yard loss, forcing a Raiders punt. On first-and-10 from their own 35, Noon then found the end zone from 65 yards out, taking a handoff left and outracing defenders to cross the goal line and give Highlands a 27-19 advantage.
The Raiders punted to Noon following their short possession and the senior standout made them pay once again, his return gaining 36 yards deep into Raiders’ territory. However, the Bluebirds were unable to convert the opportunity into points, as Benke was intercepted by Abram Cusick on a ball intended for running back Cameron Giesler that was thrown behind him and into the waiting hands of Cusick.
The Raiders then pieced together a solid drive, with Jayce Hardens’ 16-yard reception giving Ryle some life. But it did not last long. Luke Lown’s reception gained 20 yards, but Verax’s keeper lost yards, followed by an offensive holding penalty and an incomplete pass. Out of a timeout, Noah Hodge intercepted Verax, returning the ball 80 yards, and the ‘Birds stretching their lead to 34-19.
Verax bounced back on the Raiders next drive headed into halftime, calling his own number around the right side on first down for an 11-yard run to kickstart their possession. Then, scrambling to his left, he found Luke Lown for a 13-yard completion and another set of downs. Two incomplete passes and a false start penalty made it third-and-long for Ryle, but Verax hit Harden for 13 yards to the Bluebirds’ 32-yard line. With time ticking away, Verax spotted Gardner inside the five and double covered but he came down with the football, anyway, as the three players fell to the ground simultaneously after the completion.
After spiking the ball to stop the clock, Verax bulled his way into the end zone from a yard out to pull his team to within nine after a failed extra point, 34-25.
Out of the break, Highlands lengthened its lead thanks to its defense and special teams. Receiving the second half kickoff, Ryle’s Verax was unable to find running room on first and second down. Then the ‘Birds defense forced the junior quarterback to fumble, and they recovered in Raiders territory. The Highlands drive appeared to be stifled but they caught Ryle off guard when punter Carson Class pulled the ball down and raced through the left side 47 yards for a touchdown. Following Davis Burleigh’s extra point, the Bluebirds led, 41-25.
After the Raiders three-and-out possession and deep within their own territory, the fourth down snap sailed over the punter’s head and out of the end zone for a safety and two additional points for the ‘Birds, 43-25.
Highlands looked to build upon their second half momentum, and they did so on their ensuing drive. Taking advantage of the short kick, the Bluebirds began in Raiders’ territory. Benke found Luke Schneider over the middle for 11 yards.
After Noon’s 22-yard carry put the ‘Birds inside the Ryle 10, Dawson Hosea’s carry pushed Highlands to the four. Benke’s keeper stretched their lead to 25, 50-25.
As the third quarter wound down, the Raiders were able to find the end zone with junior Grady Reynolds catching his first touchdown pass of the game.
However, the ‘Birds special teams again played a vital role in the possession game with Noon’s speed, beginning another drive at the Raiders 25-yard line. Hosea’s five-yard touchdown stood a few plays later after a facemask penalty on Ryle was assessed on the kickoff. The ‘Birds increased their lead to 25, 57-32. The Raiders added two late touchdowns by Jake Steffen to edge closer, but Highlands held on, 57-46.
Sphire was proud of the way his team fought against a tough Raiders team but stressed it needs to finish, overall. “Play until someone hands you the trophy,” he told his assembled team during postgame. “I was disappointed in the second half, I felt there was a little bit of the mentality of the game being over before it was over and wanting to be satisfied when we’re up 25, and not having that killer instinct. We’ve got to learn how to win better.”
Sphire added that he knows the type of character guys he has on his team by the way it responded after their loss in Bowling Green to South Warren to open the season. “They came in on their own on Sunday to look at video with the staff. We meet every Sunday as a staff to get ready for the next game and they showed up on their own because they were so ticked off. They wanted to prove that’s not the team they were that everybody saw that day.”
Highlands (3-2) returns to Fort Thomas next Friday to face Dixie Heights, while Ryle (3-2), faces fellow 6A downstate foe, Louisville St. Xavier. Raiders’ quarterback Verax finished the night with 407 passing yards on 27-51 attempts.
