Four downs with Dixie Heights

Year three of Patrick Burke’s tenure at Dixie Heights is where the Colonels expect to get over the hump.

They’ve made strides each year, last year’s stride coming with a playoff win and a very competitive football team.

Now they’ve established their identity under Burke and while the loss of 20 seniors can’t be overlooked, they return their entire backfield that includes some physical running backs and a duel-threat quarterback.

“Last year I felt like we developed what type of program and team we are,” Burke said. “We’re going to be a physical team, downhill running, cause chaos and disruption defensively. We made a step in the right direction, just need to clean some stuff up.”

The Class 5A, 6th District is top heavy, the Colonels looking to continue to progress towards the top and not in the middle half.

FIRST DOWN — RECAP

Finish. One word that was constantly uttered when talking to several members of the Dixie Heights football team and head coach Patrick Burke.

The Colonels finished 5-7 in 2023 in a season of what if’s. Close losses to Simon Kenton, Beechwood, Covington Catholic and Cooper were all by 10 points or less, a couple of those coming down to the final possession or play. Some of those outcomes go the other way and Dixie’s season has a much different outlook.

Despite the close losses in those four games, the Colonels won their first playoff game since 2021 with a 60-14 thumping at Woodford County in the first round of the playoffs. A 40-7 loss to state semifinalist Highlands followed in the second round.

Dixie should field a competitive team once again in 2024, but will be overshadowed by Cooper and Highlands, the two teams they’ll need to beat to be a district champion.

“If we can continue to play tough, hard nosed physical games, I feel we’ll be right there with those two,” Burke said. “We have a challenging schedule that will prepare us and it’s a beautiful thing to have a lot of those teams in your own backyard.”

SECOND DOWN — OFFENSE

The Colonels are going to be a downhill, physical running football team with the capability to keep a defense honest with Armani Gregg’s throwing ability.

Gregg and David Anderson will be featured in the rushing attack along with Lamiego Mutongwiza.

Gregg is entering his third season as the starter at quarterback and has the reps and mental aspect of the game taken care of. Expect his junior numbers of 1,776 passing yards and 22 touchdown passes to go on more of an uptick as he heads into his senior season.

“Reps, reps, reps,” Gregg said. “The big part for me is the experience factor, being in the game, knowing what to do, everything becomes routine.”

 Being able to get positive chunks of yards in the rushing attack should not only help open things up for Gregg, but help control the clock for an inexperienced defense. Anderson ran for 857 yards and 11 touchdowns, Mutongwiza adding 389 yards and four touchdowns.

Gregg’s top targets will be Max Neal, Nolan Goetz, JJ Kriger, Hudson Morris and Nishawn Golsby, a transfer from Lloyd Memorial. Expect to see Anderson all over the field and not just at running back, utilizing his talents out wide and getting him in space.

“It takes a lot to process the different positions, but I’m willing to make take that learning experience to make the team better,” Anderson said.

Paving the way for the skill players along the offensive line will be three year-starter Carsan Hehman, Alijah Elrod, Chase Daniels at center, Brian Pantaleone, Wade Hirth and Aiden Ransom.

THIRD DOWN — DEFENSE

Replacing 11 of their top 15 tacklers, including Brach Rice who took his talents to play at Miami (Ohio) University certainly won’t be easy. Burke will rely on Dominic Storer, Brayden Bryzgot and Nishawn Golsby, a transfer from Lloyd Memorial and TJ Gray to man the back end of the defense.

“You lose a guy like Brach Rice, you don’t replace that caliber of player,” Burke said. “We’ll do some things defensively to fill some holes. Play some guys on offense on defense. Some of the younger guys have grown and developed and we’ll get them enough reps in games that they can step in and play.” 

Max Neal and Nolan Goetz will also provide their skillsets on defense. Neal will be featured in a lot of different positions on defense.

“I’ll play anywhere, corner, outside linebacker, safety,” Neal said. “When guys went down last year, I did the same thing.” 

From there it’s a lot of inexperience with guys that plugged in when they could last season. Burke is hoping guys like Owen Gabbard and Tyler Morehead take a leap after getting some reps last season. They’ll need those guys to learn on the fly with some of the high-powered offenses they’ll face this year.

“We’re looking forward to the challenges and excited to shut them down,” Storer said. “You put yourself on the map when you stop high powered offenses like that.” 

FOURTH DOWN — GOALS/OUTLOOK

A win total hasn’t been discussed in the locker room, but in order for the Colonels to be at the top of the district, the priorities are pretty clear…they must beat Cooper and Highlands in order to do so.

“Our thing is playing to a certain standard, 4-6, A-B,” Burke said. “Go as hard as we can in those 4-6 seconds and in those positions and we’ll be successful. How hard can we play, how disciplined can we play? We need to control our attitude every single snap. Play as fast and physical as we can.” 

SCHEDULE