By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
High school
football teams normally do not have to find new opponents in the second year of
two-year contracts.
The
Highlands Bluebirds had to find a fill-in opponent in 2012 after Dixie Heights dropped
the second year of a two-year contract. But the Bluebirds found a game with
Scott County.
They find
themselves in a similar situation after Head Coach Brian Weinrich confirmed the
University Christian Fighting Christians of Jacksonville (Fla.) could not
return to Fort Thomas because of financial reasons. Highlands beat the 2012 Class
2A state champions, 47-17 in a nationally-televised game on ESPN to open last
year.
But the
Bluebirds reached out to schools on the mass e-mail program Listserv and another
Florida team contacted them. The Bluebirds are working on finishing the
contract to take on the all-male Miami (Fla) Christopher Columbus Explorers of
Florida’s largest Class 8A.
Christopher
Columbus, a Marist-based belief school, is the lone private school to compete in 8A. The Head
Coach of Explorers is Chris Merritt. Christopher Columbus finished 7-5 last year
losing 34-26 to Coral Gables in the second round of the playoffs.
The
Explorers have two state runner-up finishes in football in 1980 and 1982 since
forming in 1958. Alums of the school include former University of Alabama Head
Football Coach Mike Shula, former Cincinnati Reds player Rob Murphy, and former
Michigan Wolverine quarterback Brian Griese.
Finding
schools to play this late in the year is tough for several reasons. Aside from
schools that have filled their schedules, Weinrich said Kentucky teams that had
openings did not have openings in the Zero week or Week Seven. Weinrich also
noted playing an Ohio team to open the year was not option because Ohio opens
the same week of Week One for Kentucky teams.
Highlands
is hoping to bring the gold back to Fort Thomas after losing 37-34 to Collins
in the Class 4A state championship game last year. The Bluebirds are tied with Louisville
Trinity for most football state championships with 22.
That game
will be one of two Saturday games this fall. The Bluebirds take on Paducah
Tilghman on Saturday, Sept. 20. Highlands played four times on Saturday last
year including three in a row in September.
The schools
will play in Week 7 on Oct. 11 leaving the Zero Week as the bye week for the
Bluebirds. Highlands will open its season at Campbell County on Aug. 29.
