G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands defensive back Jackson Bardo (3) tackles Covington Catholic wide receiver Logan McDowell (18) in the first quarter. Highlands beat Covington Catholic, 42-6 to extend its winning streak to 10 games over its big rivals.
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
PARK HILLS –
Head Football Coach Dale Mueller and staff do not buy into the argument that the
annual Highlands Bluebird-Covington Catholic Colonel game is not a rivalry
anymore.
This comes
even after Highlands dominated Saturday’s game, 42-6 to stay undefeated. The 6-0
Bluebirds have won 10 straight against Covington Catholic improving to 93-3
since the start of 2007. The Colonels (3-2) are the team Highlands has beaten
the most during this run.
“It’s big, big, big, big,” Mueller emphasized. “Every day of my life, I think about playing CovCath. It’s the whole
season. Historically, the CovCath-Highlands winner is winning the state
championship. This one isn’t the important one. The one in the playoffs, if and
when we play in the playoffs, is the important one.”
Mueller and
staff have not forgotten 2006. The Colonels knocked off the Bluebirds, 29-27
when Kurt Bovard caught a fade pass in the left back of the end zone as time
expired on Oct. 27 of that year on the last game of the regular season in Fort
Thomas. That marked the first time CovCath had beaten Highlands since 2001 and
is the only time dating back to 1996 that the Bluebirds have not won a district
championship.
The
Colonels then beat the Bluebirds, 25-15 in Park Hills on Nov. 11 a few weeks
later in the second round of the playoffs before winning their sixth state
championship a few weeks later. John Rodenberg, now the Head Coach at
Cincinnati Moeller, coached the Colonels to that crown.
The
Bluebirds also have not forgotten what happened in 1997 and 2001. Highlands won
the regular-season meeting before CovCath won the playoff rematch.
“We just try to keep getting better every day,” said Brian Weinrich, Highlands Assistant Head
Coach/Defensive Coordinator. “They’re
down right now. We know that. We’re not leaving (Park Hills) with any false sense
of who we are and who they are. We’re going to play those guys in eight weeks.
They’re going to be ready to go.”
Highlands
has won all three playoff rematches starting in 2007. The Bluebirds beat the
Colonels for the regional championship in 2007, 2011 and last year.
Fourth Most-Common Opponent:
The
Colonels are the fourth most-common opponent the Bluebirds have faced since
starting their program in 1915. Highlands had faced CovCath and Dayton 60 times
each entering the season.
The
Bluebirds have only faced Covington Holmes (71 times), Dixie Heights (70) and
Newport (66) more than CovCath. Highlands battles Holmes on Oct. 18 in Fort
Thomas at 7 p.m.
Bardo update:
Highlands
senior defensive back Jackson Bardo left the game during the first defensive
series. Bardo said he dislocated his left shoulder and had a sling around it.
But Bardo said he hopes to return for the next game.
No Luck against defending champs:
Both
CovCath losses have been to defending state champions on Saturdays in Park
Hills.
The
Colonels also lost to Cincinnati Moeller, 45-7 on Sept. 7. The Crusaders, the
alma mater of CovCath Head Coach Dave Wirth, won the largest Ohio Division I
championship last year.
Highlands Alumni Head Coach updates:
Several
Highlands alumni aside from Mueller serve as head coaches around the state.
Chris
Wolfe, a 1990 Highlands alum, has the Louisville Male Bulldogs undefeated at
5-0 following a 40-0 over Louisville Ballard on Friday.
Male came
into the season tied with Massillon Washington for the third-most wins in
program history in the country. The Bulldogs now have 826 wins and are seeking
their first state championship since 2000.
But things
become tougher for Male in a few weeks playing in the rugged Class 6A, District
4 with state powers Trinity and St. Xavier. After facing Meade County on
Friday, Male goes to St. Xavier on Oct. 11.
Three other
Highands alums coach in Northern Kentucky. Steven Lickert (Class of 1997) leads
the Campbell County Camels down U.S. 27 in Alexandria. The Camels are 3-2 after
a bye week. They lost to Conner, 13-12 on Sept. 20.
“I absolutely love to see other guys I’ve coached go
on to coach high school and college football,” Mueller said. “Some
of the guys on our staff are guys that I’ve coached. It means a lot.”
Jeff Barth
(Class of 1995) coaches the young Walton-Verona Bearcat program that started in
2008. The Bearcats are 5-1 following a 48-21 victory over Carroll County on
Friday. The Bearcats (10-3 last year) won Class 2A, District 5last year before
losing to Newport Central Catholic, 49-14 in the Region 3 championship last
year.
Kevin Siple
(Class of 1979) coaches the Grant County Braves. The Braves are struggling at
1-4 this year playing in the rugged Class 5A, District 5. They lost 41-20 at
Walton-Verona on Sept. 21 in a battle of Highlands alums.
Mueller
even said many of his former players at Cincinnati Withrow are also coaching.
Valdosta update:
The
Valdosta Wildcats of South Georgia are the only team in the country that has
more wins in school history than Highlands. Valdosta owns 23 state
championships and six national championships.
The
Wildcats (4-1) lost for the first time on Friday, 14-10 to 1-6A rival Camden
County. Valdosta is 880-210-34 with the loss and Highlands is 848-225-26 in its
history.
The
Wildcats are in their 101st season in school history. They started their
program two years before Highlands in 1913.
District 7 update:
Covington
Holmes and Harrison County both lost on Friday. Holmes is 3-2 following a 40-7
loss to Beechwood and the Thorobreds are 2-4 after a 50-20 loss at
Williamsburg.
Highlands
faces Harrison County on Friday. Game time is 7 p.m.
Around Class 4A:
Only two
undefeated teams remain in Class 4A aside from Highlands.
They are
two names familiar to the Bluebirds in Boyle County and Johnson Central. Both
opened district play Friday.
The Rebels
(6-0) won 42-6 at Taylor County to open District 5 action. They take on
Lexington Catholic (4-2) in Danville on Friday. The only two losses for the
Knights came 48-21 to Bowling Green and Louisville St. Xavier (49-28) to open
the season.
Out East,
the Golden Eagles (5-0) opened District 8 action with a 69-14 win over Boyd County.
Johnson Central leads Class 4A averaging 59.4 points per game. The Golden
Eagles have scored at least 36 points in all their games.
Three more
one-loss teams follow them. They are Owensboro (5-1), Collins (4-1) and Russell
County (4-1). Highlands beat Collins for the state championship last year.
Highlands junior varsity, freshman team updates:
The
Highlands junior varsity team is undefeated at 3-0. The Bluebirds downed
Lexington Catholic, 42-19 on Sept. 16. They take on Covington Catholic on
Monday at 6 p.m.
The
freshman team is 2-3. The Bluebirds beat Conner on Sept. 25, 13-12. Highlands
takes on Boone County at 6 p.m. on Oct. 3.
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