By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
It may have
been a tough loss for Class 4As top-ranked squad.
But the
Highlands Bluebirds proved they can compete with schools in Cincinnati’s
vaunted Greater Catholic League South.
Highlands
has lost the last two games to the Elder Panthers. But the Bluebirds did win
34-29 at The Pit two years ago. They also beat the St. Xavier Blue Bombers,
12-7 on national television in Fort Thomas in 2009.
“When you play in a place like this, it’s like playing
in a state championship,” said Dale
Mueller, Highlands Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator. “We love playing Elder. We’d play Elder 10 times if we could. There are
not a lot of teams in Kentucky that are as good as Elder.”
The
Bluebirds are 4-14 against GCL South all-time. They are 3-5 against St. Xavier
and 0-3 against the defending Ohio Division I state champion Moeller Crusaders.
Highlands has never faced the LaSalle Lancers. Elder will finish second in the
league with a win over LaSalle on Friday.
Playoff Pairings:
Once again,
Highlands will play host to the Boyd County Tigers in the first round of the
Class 4A playoffs.
The 1-8
Tigers won the one game they had to do so to make the playoffs on Friday. They
edged the Greenup County Musketeers, 25-21. Greenup County has two wins this
year after going winless last year. Boyd County faces Tolsia High School out of
Fort Gay, West Virginia on Friday to conclude the regular season.
Highlands
could meet undefeated 9-0 Johnson Central in the third round of the playoffs.
The Golden Eagles rolled to a 42-7 win at Ashland Blazer on Friday in the
District 8 title game. Johnson Central goes to Belfry on Friday in a battle of unbeaten
to conclude the regular season.
Other Class 4A News:
The other
undefeated team in Class 4A is the Boyle County Rebels. They beat Mercer
County, 14-0 on Friday to conclude District 5 action. The Rebels figure to
enter the postseason undefeated as they play host to one-win Whitley County on
Friday. Highlands would travel to Boyle County in the state semifinals if both
win their regions.
But Boyle
County may need to beat district rival Lexington Catholic (6-3) again in the
third round of the playoffs. The Knights may have to go to Russell Springs and face
8-1 Russell County in the second round of the playoffs. The Lakers have one
loss to Class 5A’s second-ranked Pulaski County Maroons, 49-21 on Sept. 13.
Highlands
beat the Maroons in the Class 5A state semifinals in 2009. Pulaski County beat
county rival Southwestern, 40-24 to finish undefeated in the regular season for
the first time in school history.
A few teams
Highlands could see in the state championship game are a pair of 7-2 teams in
Collins and Owensboro. Highlands beat Collins in last year’s title game and
beat Owensboro to win the 1999 and 2000 state championships. Simon Kenton and
Central Hardin are the only two teams to beat Collins with Warren Central and
Bowling Green the only two teams to beat Owensboro. Collins and Owensboro won
Districts 3 and 1 respectively.
Freshmen/Junior Varsity Updates:
The
Highlands Junior Varsity is still undefeated at 6-0. The Bluebirds beat Elder, 42-21
at home Saturday and finishes with Scott County at 11 a.m. on Nov. 2.
The
Highlands Freshman beat beat Cooper, 18-6 recently to move to 5-4. The Bluebirds finish the season against Boone County.
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