It’s only fitting that a Lorenzen would lead the Bluebirds to a postseason victory.
Following in the footsteps of his late father, Highlands legend Jared Lorenzen, sophomore Tayden Lorenzen made plays all over the field—scoring twice on receptions and once on a rush—to fuel Highlands’ dominant 45-0 shutout over Collins in the first round of the KHSAA Class 5A Playoffs.
“It was honestly just fun,” Lorenzen said, “I think my best attribute is versatility and that’s how I play the game. My dad was just a quarterback, but I can catch the ball, run the ball. Wherever it is, I’m going to succeed.”
The Titans entered the game shorthanded, missing their top two quarterbacks. Starter Kade Goodin, sidelined by an injury from a previous game, had been a key playmaker with 22 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing scores on the season.
Jason Hence took the start under center with only eight passes on the season, while Wyatt Shafer eventually stepped in, completing eight passes for 62 yards.
“Two weeks ago he (Shafer) was wearing 59 and playing left tackle. He’s played everything for us,” Collins coach Jerry Lucas said. “Our second string quarterback got a concussion so he was out and Hence was the JV quarterback to start the season and was the only other one that had gotten snaps, so Shafer hadn’t taken a snap at all this season.”
Highlands took full advantage, securing their fifth shutout of the season by holding the Titans to just 55 total yards, including negative seven yards on the ground, and forcing three turnovers.
“I’ve been really pleased with our defense all year,” Highlands coach Bob Sphire said. “Two or three guys during the course of practice this week were asking really good questions. They were taking ownership in the game plan, processing everything really well.”
It was a dominant, all-around performance by the Bluebirds, who balanced their attack with 336 total yards—190 through the air and 156 on the ground.
The run game set the tone early, with Deven James scoring on a nine-yard run, followed by a drive that positioned Logan Nickelman perfectly for a 23-yard field goal.
Rio Litmer closed out the first quarter with his lone touchdown pass of the game, a nine-yard strike to Lorenzen, extending the Bluebirds’ lead to 17-0.
In addition to his touchdown pass, Litmer finished with 115 passing yards.
Backup Cale Harris joined the action with a trick-play touchdown pass to Lorenzen in the second quarter. Jack White and Lorenzen each added scores to close out the first half, giving Highlands a commanding 38-0 lead and initiating a running clock.
“I don’t get to score that many times every game,” Lorenzen said. “It’s also fun when the ball is spread around though, I like to do that.”
The final touchdown came in the third quarter when Harris threw his second scoring pass, a 20-yard dot to Gabe Williams.
Harris added 73 passing yards along with his two touchdown passes.
Adam Surrey led the team on the ground with 50 rushing yards and added 38 receiving yards. Gabe Williams recorded a game-high 58 receiving yards.
Highlands’ journey continues next Friday night in Versailles, where they’ll face Woodford County. The Yellowjackets advanced with a decisive 49-14 victory over district foe Dixie Heights in their first-round matchup.
“Woodford is going to be a load,” Sphire said. “I hope we come and play as well as we can because we’re going to need to. It’s that time of the year where everybody is good, everybody is loaded with athletes.”
BLUEBIRDS 45, TITANS 0
COLLINS — 0-0-0-0— 0
HIGHLANDS — 17-21-7-0— 45
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
(H) James 9-yard run (11:07) Nickelman kick
(H) Nickelman 23-yard field goal (5:12)
(H) Litmer 9-yard pass to Lorenzen (1:36) Nickelman kick
2nd Quarter
(H) Harris 15-yard pass to Lorenzen (9:32) Litmer run
(H) White 33-yard run (2:57) Harris pass failed
(H) Lorenzen 1-yard run (0:16) Nickelman kick
3rd Quarter
(H) Harris 20-yard pass to Williams (2:55) Anderson kick
Game Stats
Passing Yards: Collins 62 (Shafer 8/21, Hence 0/1), Highlands 190 (Litmer 11/15, Harris 4/8)
Rushing Yards: Collins -7 (Shafer 1-3, Delaney 3-2, Lainhart 2-zero, Askew 2-(minus)5, Hence 5-(minus)7), Highlands 146 (Surrey 3-50, White 3-41, James 3-31, Litmer 2-9, Lorenzen 2-6, Williams 1-5, Niemann 1-4, Fennell 1-3, Harris 1-(minus)3)
Receiving: Collins (Hence 5-57, Delaney 2-4, Wooten 1-1), Highlands (Williams 3-58, Surrey 4-38, Arnold 3-25, Lorenzen 2-24, McCarter 1-21, Garrahan 1-12, White 1-12)
Turnovers: Collins 3, Highlands 0
Penalties: Collins 3-25, Highlands 8-90
Records: Collins 5-6, Highlands 9-2