Class 5A playoff football returned to Fort Thomas on Friday night with the Highlands Bluebirds riding a 9-game winning streak, hoping to stretch that to ten and claim a spot in the quarterfinals.
The Birds came out hot, taking Scott County’s opening kickoff into Cardinal territory, but that first drive ended in a fumble and a turnover.
And then the Cardinals punched, not once, but twice, scoring a touchdown on the next drive and then blocking a Highlands punt and returning to the end zone for a 14-0 lead.
Highlands clawed its way back, trailing 14-9 at the half.
The Cardinals took the second half kickoff and took about eight minutes off the clock. On a 4th-and-goal from the Highlands 4, sophomore quarterback Andrew Hickey found running back Thomas Feickert wide open for the score and junior running back Ellis Huguely found Feickert for a two-point conversion pass to put Scott County up 22-9 entering the fourth quarter.
Highlands scored seconds into the fourth quarter on a 4th-and-goal when Brody Benke found junior wide receiver Matteo Matteoli for a touchdown from six yards out. The Bluebirds then drove to their own 46 after Scott County missed a field goal but ultimately lost possession on downs.
Scott County added another touchdown score with 3:12 left in the game.
Highlands answered with a quick scoring drive when Benke scored from 17 yards out with 1:49 left.
The Bluebirds tried an onside kick but Scott County recovered and ran out the clock. Highlands ends its season at 9-3.
“There is no one more disappointed in losing this game other than myself than the players,” said Bob Sphire, Highlands head coach. “That goes for the entire community. We line up at Highlands to play to win. But we also know that the task when we got here a year and a half ago was to rebuilt this program to compete in games like this. I fully expect us to continue to get better.”
The Cardinals outgained the Bluebirds, 286-123 on the ground but Highlands outgained Scott County, 327-322 in total offense. Junior quarterback Brody Benke completed 18 of 36 passes for 204 yards with one touchdown, one interception and rushed for 58 yards on 10 carries. Noon finished with seven carries for 75 yards and carried the ball nine times for 25 yards.”You can’t fake hard work,” said Hayden Sphire, Highlands offensive coordinator. “I think that’s where we’ve progressed. These kids have absolutely worked their tails off for 18 months since we got here. The reason it hurts so bad is because the seniors have put the work in. If you don’t put the work in, then it doesn’t hurt as bad. That was just a really good game between two really good, physical football teams. Somebody had to win.”
