By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
PARK HILLS –
They picked an excellent Saturday afternoon to turn in their most complete
football game of the year.
The
Highlands Bluebirds came out determined from the opening kickoff and dominated
the host Covington Catholic Colonels, 42-6 to stay undefeated and earn the
valuable leg up in the Class 4A, District 7 race. Highlands (6-0) also avoided
a potential second-round road trip to eastern Kentucky and could be playing at
home in the first three rounds of the playoffs.
“It was a matter of getting focused for the games that
count,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands
Head Coach. “This is a game that counts
for us. In reality, we play a 10-game regular season. But CovCath is The Game.
I was really pleased with the way the guys played (Saturday).”
Injury-riddled
Covington Catholic (3-2) may once again have to go to Paintsville in the second
round of the playoffs just to earn another rematch with Highlands. The Johnson
Central Golden Eagles (5-0) are heavily favored to win District 8.
The
Bluebirds outgained the Colonels, 358-156 in total offense and garnered 18
first downs to 12 for CovCath. They dominated to the point that the running clock
started with 7:11 left in the third quarter. Highlands succeeds by keeping
things simple for the players.
“I think in football if you get too much going on in
your brain, you can’t react,” Mueller
said. “We really try to do that
offensively and defensively. We use simple stuff that we can execute.”
A good
portion of the home side left in the third quarter. That included the CovCath
student section known as the Colonel Crazies.
Highlands
saw seniors Drew Houliston and Zach Harris turn in another strong performance. Houliston
finished 18-of-22 throwing the ball for 307 yards and three touchdowns.
Houliston
completed passes to eight different receivers before sophomore Austin Hergott
came in and completed 1-of-4 passes to a ninth receiver. Ryan Greene led the
Bluebirds with six catches for 61 yards and Evan Allen had three for 38 yards
and a touchdown. Juniors Beau Hoge and Jensen Feggins followed with two catches
each for 82 and 65 yards respectively.
Harris
rushed the ball 16 times for 101 yards and three touchdowns. All of his
touchdowns came in the second quarter as the offensive line blocked well again.
“We’re just improving every day getting better and
better,” said Nick True, Highlands
senior offensive lineman. “We’re
aggressive and keeping our hands back not trying to get swung right away. We’re
also moving our feet. That’s what it is. We don’t let up on anything.”
The
Colonels entered the game having allowed just 58 points all season. They shut
out Henderson County and Boone County.
“It is definitely the last time we (seniors) are
playing CovCath (in Park Hills),”
Harris said. “So we came out more fired
up than ever. We put it on them right from the start. It all took care of
itself. We just executed.”
The
Bluebird defense put a lot of pressure on the young CovCath skill position
players. CovCath sophomore quarterback Ben Dressman completed 11-of-21 passes
for 156 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team with 39 rushes on nine
carries. CovCath played without injured starting quarterback junior Adam Wagner
and senior running back Luke Bir among others.
“We knew they (CovCath wide receivers) were small but
quick so we didn’t want them to get behind the defensive backs,” said Jackson Bardo, Highlands senior defensive back. “We kept the game in front of us, came up
and made the plays. That was pretty much the game plan.”
Highlands
picked off Ben Dressman twice. Braden Hicks had one on an attempted screen and
Griffin Urlage had the other in the end zone with less than 15 seconds left in
the first half.
The
Bluebirds scored quickly on their first two possessions. Houliston hit Allen
from 12 yards in the short corner of the right side of the end zone with 9:37
left in n the first quarter before throwing a nice long pass to Feggins for a
54-yard score with 5:07 left to put Highlands up 14-0. Highlands sophomore
kicker Jared Dougherty made all six extra-point attempts.
“You could definitely tell when we were up a couple
touchdowns, it was like they were slowly going downhill,” said Thomas Wrobleski, Highlands senior linebacker. “It was a hot day and they were getting
tired. We drove it down the field every time and that kills their momentum.”
Highlands
put the game away with three scores in the second quarter. Harris scored on 17,
14 and 18-yard runs respectively often bulldozing Colonels on his way to the
end zone. The Bluebirds led 35-0 at halftime.
The
Bluebirds extended their lead to 42-0 with 7:11 left in the third. Hoge caught
a crossing pass and juked several Colonel defenders on his way to a 59-yard
score.
The lone
CovCath score came with 6:09 left in the game. Sam Dressman took a pass from
his younger brother 32 yards to the house. Sam Dressman finished with a
team-high five catches for 105 yards.
The
Bluebirds play host to the Harrison County Thorobreds (2-4) on Friday
continuing District 7 action. Game time is 7 p.m.
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