Customers at Fort Thomas Coffee might still be talking about what Highlands’ Tayden Lorenzen and Michael Tincher did Friday.
Lorenzen and Tincher combined for the most spectacular play in Friday’s 45-7 running-clock win over Ashland in the Class 4A second round at David Cecil Stadium – a 100-yard touchdown on Lorenzen’s interception and lateral to Tincher on the second quarter’s final play.
Ashland (7-5) moved the ball to the Highlands 6-yard-line on a pass interference call on Highlands’ Connor Carnohan, Brody Simpkins’ four-yard run and Tanner Stutler’s pass to Dylan Duckwyler. The Tomcats followed with a false start penalty and an intentional grounding flag on Stutler – the result of Highlands’ Jimi Cox’s blitz.
With fourth-and-goal on Highlands’ 28, Lorenzen told Tincher to prepare for a lateral because he was going to intercept Stutler in the end zone.
Things happened exactly as Lorenzen said they would. Because the Bluebirds (10-2) knew Ashland’s Justin Hughes had a high vertical leap, they went with their “LSU” formation – extra defensive backs to prevent a Hail Mary touchdown.
Lorenzen intercepted Stutler about a yard into the end zone, took the ball to the 25 and lateraled to Tincher, who went the final 75 yards for the touchdown.
“I knew if the ball went up, I was going to have to come down with it,” Lorenzen said. “And I also knew that I’m not fast enough to run 100 yards with other people faster than me.”
Highlands coach Bob Sphire didn’t know what was coming.
“I mean it’s one of those things where, when Tayden’s got the ball in his hands, anything could happen,” Sphire said. “And it’s usually good.”
Highlands also won because of a balanced offense every coach loves: 194 rushing yards and 195 through the air. The defense allowed the Tomcats just 185 yards – 69 rushing and 116 passing.
Colt Kremer ran for 72 yards and a touchdown, and quarterback Rio Litmer ran for another 57 and a touchdown to go with his 131 passing yards.
The Bluebirds’ offensive line – Russell Ali, Mason Howard, Andrew Swope, Max Merz and Weston Higgason – frequently dominated Ashland. Howard’s kickout block resulted in the Bluebirds’ first touchdown, Litmer’s 14-yard run.
“I mean, their size and their ability to throw the long ball against us, I thought we did a pretty good job against the run,” Ashland coach Chad Tackett said. “We gave up some big, big passes that kept their drives extended. We just couldn’t get anything established with the running game.”
A pair of Litmer passes set up two other Highlands touchdowns: a 32-yarder to John Feldbrugge that set up a Kremer’s 4-yard score, and a 35-yarder to Lorenzen, a drive Litmer finished with a one-yard plunge.
After Highlands’ defense stopped Ashland about two yards on fourth down, Litmer and Lorenzen connected for an 18-yard score with 4:55 left in the second.
Ashland avoided a shutout when Stutler found Hughes for an 80-yard touchdown. Highlands ended the scoring on Kai Anderson’s 43-yard field goal and Bryce Armstrong’s 64-yard pass to Peyton Klosterman.
Next for the Bluebirds: Corbin in the state quarterfinals next Friday in Fort Thomas. The Redhounds eliminated Lincoln County, 47-14.
Before that, there is a culinary matter to settle – what comestibles Litmer would feed Howard. The choices – steak or pancakes.
“I think I’m gonna make him pancakes next Friday morning,” Litmer said. “And then before the game, I think I might bring him some steak.”
BLUEBIRDS 45, TOMCATS 7
ASHLAND — 0-0-7-0 — 7
HIGHLANDS— 14-21-3-7 — 45
Scoring Plays
First quarter
H-Rio Litmer 14 run (Kai Anderson kick), 6:35
H-Colt Kremer 4 run (Anderson kick), 2:45
Second quarter
H-Litmer 1 run (Anderson kick), 8:06
H-Tayden Lorenzen 18 pass from Litmer (Anderson kick), 4:55
H-Michael Tincher, 75 run on interception and lateral by Lorenzen (Anderson kick), 0:00
Third quarter
A-Justin Hughes 80 pass from Tanner Stutler (Troy Barnett kick), 9:31
H-Anderson 43 field goal, 3:35
Fourth quarter
H-Peyton Klosterman 64 pass from Bryce Armstrong (Anderson kick), 8:18
Records: Ashland 7-5, Highlands 10-2.