G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands sophomore defensive lineman Bo Hebel (55) sacks Covington Holmes quarterback Desean Brumfield (18) while Nathan Merkle (39) closes in. Highlands won the game 71-14 to move to 95-3 since the start of 2007.
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
The
Highlands Bluebirds football team has played the Covington Holmes Bulldogs more
than anyone in school history.
The
Bluebirds improved to 50-20-2 all-time against the Bulldogs. The only teams
they’ve beaten more in school history are Dixie Heights (62-8) and Campbell
County (51-9).
Highlands
has outscored Holmes, 205-42 in the recent three meetings. Despite that,
Highlands Head Coach Dale Mueller said the Bulldog program is headed in the
right direction under first-year Head Coach and Simon Kenton graduate Ben
Nevels.
“I’ve always liked the whole Nevels family,” Mueller said. “I
know his three brothers and parents. They’re just a great family and I really
have respect for what he’s doing and like that he’s coaching at Holmes doing
the best he can. I’m not rooting for them when they play us of course, but I
want the best for Holmes. I think he really cares about the guys on the team.
They want to do well.”
Highlands
improved to 102-37 all-time against the current district teams. The Bluebirds
are 44-17 against Covington Catholic and a perfect 8-0 against Harrison County.
Highlands
improved to 95-3 since the start of 2007. The Bluebirds also earned the program’s
850th all-time win since starting the program in 1915. They are 850-225-26
all-time.
The 850
wins ranks second in the country behind Valdosta’s 881-211-34 record. The
Wildcats of south Georgia beat 1-AAAAAA rival Tift county, 31-21 on Friday to
move to 5-2 overall.
Elementary Names Mentioned:
The Highlands
football players name their elementary schools on the new scoreboard before the
game. It is a similar concept to the National Football League players announcing
their colleges and universities. The elementary schools in the Fort Thomas
Independent School District are Woodfill, Johnson and Moyer Elementary.
“(The players) came up with the idea of introducing
our starting lineup,” Mueller said. “They don’t have a university so they say
their elementary school. I think it’s just a lot of fun.”
Mueller moves into Top 20 in Kentucky:
Muller
moved to 245-34 in his 20th season as the head coach at Highlands good for 20th
in Kentucky history.
Mueller’s
win total surpassed former Pikeville and Letcher County Central Head Coach
Hillard Howard’s record of 244-69-1 in 25 years.
Big win for Highlands alum:
Chris
Wolfe, a 1990 Highlands alum, guided the tradition-rich Male Bulldogs to a huge
win Friday. The Bulldogs knocked off Class 6A, District 4 rival Louisville
Trinity Shamrocks, 24-14 to stay undefeated at 8-0.
Male also
edged Louisville St. Xavier, 44-40 the previous week to move to 2-0 in district
play. Male became the first team from the Jefferson County Public Schools to beat
Trinity since Louisville Seneca did it 34-33 on Sept. 19, 2003. The Bulldogs
were also the last team to beat Trinity and St. Xavier in consecutive weeks
since Cincinnati St. Xavier did it in 2009.
Male seems
poised to end St. Xavier and Trinity’s run of winning every large-school
championship since 2000. That marked the last year that Male won its last of
six titles and Bob Beatty’s first year as head coach of the Shamrocks.
Male ranks
second in Kentucky and third in the nation behind Valdosta and Highlands for
the most wins in program history. The Bulldogs own 829 all-time wins. Massillon
Washington (Ohio) ranks fourth in the country with 828 victories.
District
opponents St. X and DuPont Manual also rank in the top 10 for the most wins
all-time in Kentucky. Trinity is not on that list mostly because the program
started in 1955.
Highlands JV/Freshman Results:
The
Highlands Junior Varsity is 5-0 and recently had a game against Covington
Catholic cancelled. They take on Cincinnati Elder at 10 a.m. on Oct. 26.
The
Highlands Freshman team is 4-4 after beating Dixie Heights, 42-27 on Thursday.
The Bluebirds finish the season Thursday against Cooper at 6 p.m.
Boyle County, Johnson Central stay undefeated:
The Boyle
County Rebels and Johnson Central Golden Eagles also won again Friday to
improve to 8-0. Those two plus top-ranked Highlands are the only three
undefeated teams left in Class 4A.
Boyle
County beat Marion County, 50-7 in District 5 action and Johnson Central
destroyed Rowan County, 59-10. Johnson Central faces Ashland Blazer next week
for the District 8 crown.
After those
three, there is one one-loss team in Class 4A. That is the 7-1 Russell County
Lakers. Their lone loss came 49-21 on Sept. 13 at Class 5A’s second-ranked and
undefeated 9-0 Pulaski County Maroons.
The
Bluebirds will face the winner of the Boyd County (0-8) at Greenup County (2-6)
matchup Friday in the first round of the playoffs. The Musketeers have made an
improvement after going 0-10 last year. Highlands dominated the Lions in the first
round of the playoffs the last two years.
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