G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands junior defensive back Griffin Urlage (20) returns an interception in Friday's win over Campbell County while teammates like Rocco Pangallo (17), Jake Parker (37), Tyler Robinson (50), Joey Kruse (14) and Michael Ayers (36) follow. The Bluebirds battle Bryan Station on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Fort Thomas.
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
This next
opponent should ring a bell.
That’s
because the Lexington Bryan Station Defenders (1-0 overall) are one of just two
teams to come within 10 points of the Highlands Bluebirds football team during
its 30-game playoff winning streak. Tony Guidugli threw a late touchdown pass
to Austin Collinsworth as the Bluebirds escaped the Defenders, 28-22 in the
first round of the 2008 Class 5A playoffs on their way to their second of six
consecutive state championships.
The other
team aside from arch-rival Covington Catholic to seriously challenge the
Bluebirds during that impressive postseason run is Johnson Central. Highlands
edged the Golden Eagles, 21-14 in the regional championship game in 2010 in
Paintsville. The Bluebirds have otherwise outscored the competition by 1,001
points during the streak for an average of just more than 33 points per
contest.
Highlands
enters the game off a 50-8 thrashing of Campbell County. The 2-0 Bluebirds are
89-3 since the start of 2007 and have outscored their first two opponents,
97-25.
However,
Highlands would love to start faster. None of those points have come in the
first quarter. The Bluebirds and Camels were tied after the first quarter.
Highlands trailed University Christian (Fla.), 10-0 at one point before reeling
off 47 consecutive points.
“We need to come out with more intensity,” said Drew Houliston, Highlands senior quarterback. “A lot of that’s on me as the leader of the
offense. Once we start playing some good teams, we might not come back from
such a slow start.”
Injuries on
the offensive line have played a role in the slow start. Highlands senior offensive
linemen Kyle Thurston, Scott Turner and Kendall Kramer did not play against
Campbell County. But the Bluebirds still rotated in 10 offensive linemen into
the game and things clicked in the Highlands no-huddle, hurry-up offense in the
second quarter.
“It’s a whole team thing,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands Head Coach/Offensive
Coordinator. “I could call things a
little more consistent. I’ve been trying to be a little too big play early on.
That is something we’re really going to look at this next game.”
The
Bluebirds have put up 917 yards of total offense and allowed 524. They’ve
scored on all six possessions inside the Red Zone (area between 20-yard-line
and goal line) and held opponents to 2-of-6 in the Red Zone.
Houliston
has completed 39-of-55 passes for about 71 percent for 691 yards, eight
touchdowns and just one interception. Junior Jensen Feggins leads the Bluebird
receivers with eight catches for 113 yards. Senior running back Zach Harris has
a team-high 187 yards rushing on 22 carries and five touchdowns for an average
of 8.5 yards per carry to go with five catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
Both teams
run a 3-4 defense. The leaders for the Defender defense are lineman Jamar
Brooks, defensive back Glenn Spencer and linebacker Dallas Bruton.
The
Highlands defense faces a Bryan Station Wing-T offense that put up huge
offensive numbers in the season-opening win over the 2A Murray Tigers, 47-26 in
the Roy Kidd Bowl at Madison Central.
Ora “Bo”
Johnson quarterbacks the Defenders. He completed 11-of-16 passes for 373 yards
and six touchdowns against Murray. C.J. Walker and Tequan Claitt each snagged
two touchdown passes with LaVelle Cloyd and K-Ci Carmichael nabbing one each.
Bryan
Station trailed Murray, 13-6 at halftime. But Johnson completed 7-of-9 passes
for 312 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Defender rally. Johnson completed
80 and 75-yard touchdown passes to Walker and a 78-yard score to Carmichael.
Carmichael added a 46-yard touchdown scamper.
The
Bluebirds have battled through injuries defensively, but have still held
opponents to 12.5 points per game and 262 yards per contest. Junior defensive
back Griffin Urlage has the only Highlands interception with Joey Kruse, Brady
Murray and Braden Hicks recording two tackles for a loss each and Joey Cochran,
Jake Parker and Matt Gall recovering one fumble each. Hicks and Tyler Robinson
have one sack a piece.
Wing-T
offenses generally do not phase the Bluebirds. They contained University
Christian’s Wing-T attack after the first quarter. The Fighting Christians
motioned guys one way and countered the opposite. But Highlands stayed home and
contained it.
“You have to keep everything in front of you,” said Bo Hebel, Highlands sophomore defensive lineman.
“They like to run a lot of comebacks and
throw the ball a lot. You have to read your keys and not look in the backfield.
You try to stay in your gaps no matter where the ball is at.”
Bryan
Station has not played since beating Murray. The Defenders were scheduled to
play two-time 5A champion Bowling Green on Saturday, but the game was cancelled
because of lightning.
“They’re a good team,” Mueller said. “They
play a lot of guys. They’re a team that’s really trying to be a 6A power. They’re
a team that’s trying to compete with (Louisville) Trinity and St. X (Xavier).”
Bryan
Station is playing a tough schedule to open the season. The Defenders also play
host to Class 4A semifinalist Lexington Catholic on Sept. 13. They compete in
Class 6A, District 7 with Paul Dunbar, Henry Clay and 2012 semfinalist Scott
County.
Game time
is 7:30 p.m. at David Cecil Memorial Stadium. This marks the last home game for
Highlands in September. The Bluebirds hit the road for three straight Saturdays
after this game.
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