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Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands sophomore Grant Murray (24) tries to block a punt by John Hardin senior Sean Stevens (left). The Bluebirds won 49-7 to move to 3-0 on the season. |
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
The
two-year series between two teams that have been at or near the top of Kentucky
for seven years ended Friday.
It might be a while before the John Hardin Bulldogs and Highlands Bluebirds football teams meet again. Aside from travel distance, the two programs will be in different classes unlike between 2007 and 2010 when both resided in Class 5A. Highlands is moving back to Class 5A next year and John Hardin is dropping to 4A.
It might be a while before the John Hardin Bulldogs and Highlands Bluebirds football teams meet again. Aside from travel distance, the two programs will be in different classes unlike between 2007 and 2010 when both resided in Class 5A. Highlands is moving back to Class 5A next year and John Hardin is dropping to 4A.
The
Bluebirds have won all three meetings between the two teams. They beat the
Bulldogs, 33-26 in Elizabethtown last year and won the 2009 5A state
championship over them, 35-7.
When now-retired
Highlands Head Coach Dale Mueller made the schedule two years ago, he had to
reach out to other teams across Kentucky because nearby Northern Kentucky teams
would not schedule them. But that changes next year when Highlands plays seven
teams from the northern three Kentucky counties as opposed to just three like
in recent years.
Up next from across the state:
John Hardin
had to drive up Interstate 65 to Louisville then hit Interstate 71 to come
north to Fort Thomas.
That may be
a longer-than-usual drive for teams. But Paducah Tilghman will be making a
longer trip next week. The Blue Tornado (1-3) have to head east on Interstate
24 before spending a few hours on the Western Kentucky Parkway. They hit
Interstate 65 just south of Elizabethtown. It is about 5.5 hours to Fort Thomas
from Paducah.
Scouting Paducah Tilghman:
The Blue
Tornado (1-3) started the season rough with three straight losses to McCracken
County (49-21), Evansville (Indiana) Reitz (35-23), and Mayfield (47-21). But
they took down Graves County, 36-22 on Friday in Paducah.
The Blue Tornado
are implementing the Wing-T offense after running the spread last year. Former
Warren Central Head Coach Mike Rogers came over last year after Randy Wyatt
resigned in the offseason.
Paducah
Tilghman junior quarterback Jessie Dunigan struggled against McCracken County
but has picked things up. The Blue Tornado graduated wide receivers Mikey Davis
and Darius Spivey-Nunn. They like to put running backs like senior D.J.
Sherrill in motion and hand the ball off to them a number of ways.
Sub-Varsity reports:
The
Highlands junior varsity team has played just once so far losing 14-8 to
Campbell County in overtime. Their next game is Monday against Covington
Catholic at 7 p.m.
The
Highlands freshman team is 1-1 after losing 22-12 to Campbell County on
Thursday. The Bluebirds opened with a 12-6 victory over Cooper.
The Highlands
freshmen take on Simon Kenton on Wednesday. Game time is 6 p.m. at Cecil Memorial
Stadium.
Class 4A Report:
Boyle
County remained undefeated at 4-0 with a 48-26 win at Anderson County on
Friday. Chuck Smith returned to coach the Rebels this year after a stint as an
assistant coach for the University of Kentucky ended two years ago. He guided
them to a then-record five straight state championships between 1999 and 2003.
Highlands ended that run with a 22-6 win in the 3A state championship in 2004.
Five teams
in 4A remain undefeated. The other three 3-0 teams are Johnson Central, Franklin-Simpson
and Knox Central.
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