It took the Highlands Bluebirds just three plays and 31 seconds to score the game’s first touchdown and the freight train rolled on from there.
Highlands built a 40-0 halftime lead over Dixie Heights on the way to a 40-7 Class 5A playoff win at David Cecil Memorial Stadium on Friday. Highlands has outscored its first two playoff opponents, 83-7 for an average margin of victory of 38 points.
The Bluebirds outgained the Colonels, 426-6 in first half offense to force the running clock in the second half.
“Getting to the running clock in the first half was huge,” said Bob Sphire, Highlands head coach. “That first series set the tone. Dixie Heights is really not as bad as we made them look.”
The Bluebirds advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2018 and just the second time since driving to the state semifinals in 2015. They will play host to the North Laurel Jaguars (8-4) next week.
Highlands ran its read option well, putting up 423 yards rushing. Cam Giesler ran it 19 times for 209 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Brody Benke ran it 12 times for 194 yards and three touchdowns.
“It’s tough to stop when you have two people that can run all the way down the field,” Giesler said. “It’s really just being patient, allowing time for the play to develop with one cut. It’s a good feeling.”
Giesler and Benke both hit the 1,000-yard rushing milestone for the season with the big games. Giesler has 1,168 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns with Benke rushing for 1,079 yards and 20 touchdowns.
“It was nearly a flawless first half,” said Hayden Sphire, Highlands offensive coordinator. “The offensive line obviously executed at a very high level moving people around, creating massive holes for Brody and Cam to run through. But also, Brody and Cam made some moves out in open space making some guys miss. But really, that’s seven guys. The receivers are doing a phenomenal job blocking downfield and taking care of business. We don’t really have any selfish players.”
The Bluebirds ran the ball so well that they only attempted four passes the entire game. The lone completion came 45 seconds into the second quarter when Benke faked the read with Giesler then threw it to Carson Class on the left side. Class outraced everyone down the sideline for a 41-yard touchdown to put Highlands up 27-0.
The Highlands defense limited Dixie Heights to just 53 yards rushing after the Colonels ran roughshod for 323 yards in the first round playoff win at Woodford County. Quarterback Armani Gregg rushed for 101 yards in that game, but Highlands held him to 62 yards in this one. The Bluebirds also limited Brach Rice to minus-6 yards rushing on two carries and David Anderson to two yards after they ran for 92 and 68 yards respectively against Woodford County.
“We do the pursuit drill every week so we just fly to the ball as fast as we can trying to make sure we get everybody down,” said Josh Studer, Highlands senior lineman. “Everything was clicking. Everyone was doing his job well.”
Dixie Heights tried resorting to the air to make some things happen. Even when Gregg had some extra time, he could not find receivers to throw to and the Bluebirds sacked him. Gregg completed 10-of-19 passes for 72 yards with Rice leading the way with two catches for 26 yards. Rice caught a 23-yard touchdown pass with 1:31 left in the third quarter to prevent the shutout.
“They’re one of the best teams in the state,” Dixie Heights head coach Pat Burke said of Highlands. “We came out and didn’t defend the run the way we needed to. They got on us quick. Coming off the game last week and the mindset we had, I thought we would fare a little better. But they came out hot. We didn’t really have an answer for it. I wish them the best because they’re a phenomenal team. They’re the best offensive line we’ve faced this year. Obviously, that showed in their run game.”
Giesler scored the game’s first touchdown on an eight-yard run. The Bluebirds led 21-0 after one quarter after Benke ran for electrifying 31 and 58-yard touchdowns. After the Class touchdown in the second quarter, Giesler scored on a 58-yard touchdown with five minutes left in the half and Benke scored from eight yards out with five seconds left before the break. Giesler’s second touchdown came after Highlands converted a 4th-and-1 when Benke pushed forward.
“I really love playing on the offensive line,” said Evan Johnson, Highlands senior. “We take a lot of pride in being a physical team. It’s awesome to see our teammates get into the end zone.”
Highlands had two interceptions and Dixie Heights had one. Nate Welch and Class had interceptions for the Bluebirds and Kabanza Mwamba had the pick for the Colonels.
Dixie Heights finishes the season 5-7 on the season winning its first playoff game with Burke as head coach. Dixie Heights graduates 20 seniors off the team that improved its win total by two games from last year.
BLUEBIRDS 40, COLONELS 7
DIXIE HEIGHTS — 0-0-7-0 — 7
HIGHLANDS — 21-19-0-0 — 40
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
(H) Giesler 8-yard run (11:29) Nickelman kick
(H) Benke 31-yard run (7:46) Nickelman kick
(H) Benke 58-yard run (4:05) Nickelman kick
2nd Quarter
(H) Class 41-yard pass from Benke (11:15) pass failed
(H) Giesler, 58-yard run (5:00) kick blocked
(H) Benke 8-yard run (:05) Nickelman kick
3rd Quarter
(D) Rice 23-yard pass from Gregg (1:31) Kohls kick
Game Stats
Passing Yards: Dixie Heights 72 (Gregg 10/19), Highlands 41 (Benke 1/2, Litmer 0/2)
Rushing Yards: Dixie Heights 53 (Gregg 14-62, Anderson 1-2, Rice 2-minus-6, Beach 3-minus-5), Highlands 423 (Giesler 19-209, Benke 12-194, James 4-13, White 2-4, Lorenzen 1-3)
Receiving: Dixie Heights 72 (Rice 2-26, Linville 1-12, Beach 3-36, McGrath 1-6, Kriger 1-7, Mwamba 2-2), Highlands 41 (Class 1-41)
Turnovers: Dixie Heights 2, Highlands 1
Records: Dixie Heights 5-7, Highlands 11-1