In what resembled a heavyweight boxing match, Friday night’s homecoming bout between host Highlands and Scott County had body blows, flurries and finally a scoring combination that produced a knockout.
And when the final bell sounded at David Cecil Memorial Stadium in Fort Thomas, the Bluebirds had prevailed, outlasting the pesky Cardinals 42-28. The victory came courtesy of their beefy front seven and five touchdowns from Tayden Lorenzen. The versatile junior lined up at quarterback, fullback, tight end and wideout. But it was the wildcat formation in the third quarter that was the difference in this fight.
“When I’m at quarterback, I want everybody on the O-line to block their butts off and give 100% and I try to do the same,” said Lorenzen, who totalled 103 yards on 18 carries, mostly in the second half. “I know my linemen have my back and they’re gonna block just as hard as I run – 100%.”
Bluebirds Coach Bob Sphire said during the midfield, post-game celebration that a few plays here and there turned the tide. Among them were a Highlands fumble recovery after a long first-quarter drive and an even bigger play in the second quarter.
With just seconds left in the first half and the score tied 14-14, Scott County, which came in ranked No. 5 in Class 5A, appeared ready to grab the lead. But senior Isaac Niemann stepped in front of a Cardinal receiver for a pivotal interception.
Knowing the visitors were to receive the second half kickoff, Sphire said that play was “huge.”
“We were actually talking about that on the sidelines – ‘We need to get them off the field somehow because they’re gonna get the ball to start the second half’,” Sphire said.
The Cardinals came out swinging and appeared to have Highlands on the ropes after a 75-yard end-around by junior Jayden Garrett for a 21-14 edge on the first play of the third quarter. And while the Bluebirds were stunned, they responded with an 8-play, 57-yard drive that culminated with the second of Lorenzen’s five scores and a 21-21 tie.
“Our kids never waver, even after that first play in the second half,” Sphire said. “They seem to be able to put it behind them and go play the next play.”
PHOTOS: Slideshow provided by Charles Bolton
Both Lorenzen and Sphire credited the Highlands coaching staff for making key adjustments to contain the end runs the Cardinals had been using to jab away at Highlands. The Bluebirds were able to counter-punch as Cooper and Griffin Benke and Max Merz had tackles for losses on Scott County’s next possession, forcing a Cardinals punt.
And Highlands, which ranks No. 6 in Class 4A, went back to pounding the rock, this time going 70 yards in eight plays. Lorenzen carried the ball four times for 41 yards and scored from five yards out to make it 28-21 with 1:20 left in the third stanza.
Highlands’ early body blows seemed to wear on the Cardinals, who couldn’t move the ball as the third quarter ended with Bluebird senior defensive back Connor Carnohan sacking sophomore quarterback Charlie Ellison. The ensuing punt traveled just 18 yards to set up another barrage – a 9-play, 48-yard drive that saw Highlands’ front seven dominate the line of scrimmage.
“I think we hammered down on what we’re really good at, which is running the ball between the tackles,” Lorenzen said.
That entourage, which includes down lineman Russell Ali, Andrew Swope, Weston Higgason, Max Merz and Mason Howard, along with tight end Brady Carnohan, just had too much power up front.
“They work hard in the weight room,” Sphire said. “They take a lot of pride in what they do.”
BLUEBIRDS 42, CARDINALS 28
SCOTT COUNTY — 0-14-7-7 — 28
HIGHLANDS — 14-0-14-14 — 42
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
(H) Letmer 57-yard pass to Feldbrugge (11:45) Anderson kick
(H) Lorenzen 6-yard run (:24) Anderson kick
2nd Quarter
(SC) Garrett 32-yard run (10:39) Elliott kick
(SC) Ellison 29-yard pass to Owens (3:49) Elliott kick
3rd Quarter
(SC) Garrett 75-yard run (11:43) Elliott kick
(H) Lorenzen 3-yard run (8:02) Anderson kick
(H) Lorenzen 5-yard run (1:20) Anderson kick
4th Quarter
(H) Lorenzen 1-yard run (7:32) Anderson kick
(H) Lorenzen 3-yard run (3:30) Anderson kick
(SC) Tubbs 65-yard run (:49) Elliott kick
Game Stats
Passing Yards: Scott County 29 (Ellison 1/9 1 TD), Highlands 122 (Litmer 8/9, 1 TD)
Rushing Yards: Scott County 404 (Way 20-77, Emong 8-93, Garrett 9-70 2 TD, Tubbs 1-65 1 TD) Highlands 244 (Kremer 16-79, Lorenzen 18-103 5 TD)
Receiving: Scott County 29 (Owens 1-29) Highlands 122 (Feldbrugge 4-75 1 TD, Lorenzen 2-21)
Turnovers: Scott County 3 Highlands 0
Penalties: Scott County 5-30, Highlands 3-25
First Downs: Scott County 12, Highlands 16
Records: Scott County (7-3, 3-1), Highlands (8-2, 3-1)