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| G. Michael Graham. Highlands defenders Nathan Merkle (39) and Braden Hicks (9) pursue on defense in Friday’s 28-13 win over Covington Catholic. The Bluebirds travel to Lexington Catholic on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. Class 4A semifinal contest. |
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
Now that
they’ve beaten their arch-rivals for the second time this year, many around
Kentucky have basically anointed another state championship to the Highlands
Bluebirds.
That is
understandable considering the winner of the Covington Catholic Colonel-Highlands
playoff game has finished as state champions or state runner-up 10 times since
1994 when Dale Mueller became Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. The Bluebirds
hope to make it seven straight state championships overall and seven straight
championships the same year following a playoff win over the Colonels.
Highlands beat CovCath for the third straight year, 28-13 in the regional
championship game in Fort Thomas on Friday.
“Like Coach Mueller said earlier (Monday), it’s
sometimes hard to get going on to the next game after you play your
arch-rival,” said Scott Turner,
Highlands senior offensive lineman. “We
have to do that and continue to do the things we’ve been doing all year. That
includes staying aggressive.”
But 12-1
Highlands knows Friday’s opponent will not just hand out a free pass to
Bowling Green, especially on its home field. The Bluebirds head south to face
the 10-3 Lexington Catholic Knights of District 5 on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the
Class 4A state semifinals. The Bluebirds have beaten the Knights, 61-28 in Fort
Thomas last year and 42-21 in Lexington two years ago both in the same round.
Highlands
is 5-1 all-time against Lexington Catholic. The only loss to the Knights came
17-0 in the 2005 regional title game. That marked the last time Highlands has
been shut out.
Both teams
played tough schedules. The Bluebirds played three straight Saturday road games
in September and won all three in addition to losing 30-27 at Cincinnati Elder
in late October. They won 33-26 at John Hardin and 42-25 at Paducah Tilghman
before smashing CovCath, 42-6. John Hardin is taking on Bowling Green again in
the 5A semifinals on Friday and Tilghman is playing host to undefeated Wayne
County in the 3A semifinals.
LexCath lost to Bowling Green (48-21) and Louisville St. Xavier (49-28) to open the
season. Bowling Green carries the state’s longest winning streak at 42 in a
row. The Knights then lost 22-13 at Boyle County on Oct. 4 in the District 5
championship game.
The Knights have won six straight since then. LexCath beat Mercer County, 49-14 in the region
championship last week after Mercer County upset previously undefeated Boyle
County, 31-30 the week before that. Lexington Catholic Head Coach Bill Letton
pointed to a big reason for the struggles in those earlier games.
“All of those teams had much more experience than we
did, especially along the lines of scrimmage,” Letton said. “Playing
them forced our younger kids to compete at a higher level and jump on a fast
learning curve.”
That could
favor the experienced Bluebirds in the trenches. Highlands has experience all
over the field. The offensive line has blocked well allowing the Bluebirds to
put up averages of 52 points and 440.1 yards per game in their spread offense.
“Every play starts with the offensive line,” Mueller said. “If
the offensive line plays well, the play goes well. If the line doesn’t play
well, the play doesn’t go well. The whole game revolves around the offensive
line. You see a quarterback completing a pass from the stands. But almost every
time a quarterback completes a pass, the line is giving him so much protection
and he has time to find the open receiver.”
Highlands
quarterback Drew Houliston has completed 198-of-286 passes for 3,302 yards, 44
touchdowns and just two interceptions. Junior Jensen Feggins has been his
favorite target with 44 receptions for 913 yards and 13 touchdowns. But 10
different Bluebirds have at least 11 catches.
Highlands senior
running back Zach Harris gives teams fits running and catching the ball. He
leads the team with 906 yards on 130 carries and 18 touchdowns and is tied with
Ryan Greene with 29 catches for 463 yards and nine touchdowns. Greene has 413
yards receiving with four scores and junior Alex Veneman has 28 catches for 667
yards and nine touchdowns.
“All of our defenders realize that they will be
isolated (and) tested at some point during the night so we try to keep each one
focused on every play and hope that we can win our share of battles,” Letton said. “This
team has been a really hard-working, dedicated group. They have looked at
themselves critically and tried to correct all of their mistakes.”
Lexington
Catholic could be without its top playmaker in its 4-2-5 defense in senior linebacker
Josh Messmer. He leads the team with 120 tackles, but missed the Mercer County
game because of injury so players like junior linebackers Chase Boling and
Braxton Couch may need to step forward. Couch has 89 tackles with Boiling and
Messer leading the team with three fumble recoveries each. Sophomore defensive
back Davis Rowady leads LexCath with five interceptions. Lexington Catholic has
allowed 277 points, 1,647 yards rushing and 1,997 passing this season.
Highlands
will also face a spread offense out of its 3-4 defense. The Bluebirds allow
averages of 20.3 points and 303.8 yards per contest. The Knights have garnered
525 points, 2,294 yards rushing and 3,184 yards passing this year.
Lexington
Catholic is led by junior quarterback Reese Ryan. Ryan has completed 194-of-304
passes for 2,984 yards, 33 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
“(Ryan) has a cannon for an arm. I remember preparing
for him last year,” said Brian
Weinrich, Highlands Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator. “We actually used a Junior League football
for practice last year just so the (defensive backs) could get used to seeing
the ball in the air that long and that far because we hadn’t played a
quarterback that had the arm strength of him. He really is a challenge. He’s a
frustrating quarterback to prepare for. You have to be careful with him because
you’ll see a play on film where a team will get some pressure on him. But on
the next play, you see the same type of play happen but he gets away and it is
a 50-yard gain after a 10-yard loss. You have to pick what you want to do and
when you want to do it.”
Senior
David Bouvier and sophomore Sam Letton have been his top targets. Bouvier has 70
catches for 988 yards and eight touchdowns. Sam Letton has 41 for 850 yards and
13 scores. But the Highlands defenders face similarly talented players in
practice all the time.
“I think it prepares us well because we know what
we’re going up against,” said Bo
Hebel, Highlands sophomore defensive lineman. “(Ryan) is good at moving around in the pocket. We have to keep him in
front of us. You can’t rush too far upfield.”
Lexington
Catholic’s running game has improved from last year. Senior Marcelis Logan has
rushed for 769 yards and 15 touchdowns on 104 carries and senior Noah Mitchell
has 602 yards on 103 carries with five scores.
The winner
takes on either Collins (11-2) or Owensboro (10-3) in the state championship on
Dec. 7 at Western Kentucky University at 3 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Highlands beat Collins, 41-0 in last year’s 4A title game.
