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Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior defensive lineman DJ Mills (42) tries to tackle Holmes' Andrew Arnold (10) in a recent game. The Bluebirds could be at home four times in the playoffs. |
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
The
Highlands Bluebirds football team could have four home playoff games this
postseason like two years ago.
Class 4A’s top-ranked Highlands (7-2) will play host to either the Boyd County Lions (2-7) or the Rowan County Vikings (1-8) in the first round. The Bluebirds have faced the Lions in the first round the previous three years and could do so again unless Boyd loses at Tolsia (West Virginia) and Rowan beats Montgomery County.
Class 4A’s top-ranked Highlands (7-2) will play host to either the Boyd County Lions (2-7) or the Rowan County Vikings (1-8) in the first round. The Bluebirds have faced the Lions in the first round the previous three years and could do so again unless Boyd loses at Tolsia (West Virginia) and Rowan beats Montgomery County.
Look for
Highlands to again face Ashland Blazer (5-4) in the second round unless
Covington Holmes pulls the upset. The Bulldogs are sure to struggle with
University of Kentucky commit and standout running back Quinton Baker. Baker has 1,264
yards rushing on 136 carries and 14 touchdowns.
But Baker
has yet to face Highlands. Baker was injured two years ago and was sick last
year. The Tomcats have some help as Jake Long has 54 carries for 658 yards and eight
touchdowns.
The third
round is where the Bluebirds could be tested. They could again face Covington
Catholic (5-4) in Fort Thomas. But it’s hard to see undefeated Johnson Central
(9-0) let the Colonels come to Paintsville for a third straight year and leave
with a win. Thus, Highlands could be making a trip to the mountains for the
playoffs for the first time since 2010.
The Golden
Eagles have reloaded their vaunted wishbone rushing attack despite losing all
three starters in the backfield. Bryce Skaggs leads Johnson Central with 62
carries for 812 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Highlands
could then see either Boyle County or Lexington Catholic in the state semifinals
in Fort Thomas. The Bluebirds have beaten the Knights in the state semifinals
the previous three years. Reece Ryan again returns to lead the LexCath attack.
He’s completed 152-of-221 passes for 1,992 yards, 19 touchdowns and six
interceptions.
The state
championship game is a toss-up. But Owensboro is the favorite to come there
because of its 8-1 record. The Red Devils also came a couple aways from beating
three-time defending 5A champion Bowling Green.
On the
other side, Newport Central Catholic could be home for the first three rounds
of the playoffs. The Thoroughbreds could again face Newport for the region championship.
But Walton-Verona will not be an easy out for the Wildcats in the second round.
NewCath
could see a number of different opponents in the state semifinals. The
Thoroughbred have beaten Somerset in that round the past two years but the
Briar Jumpers are winless on the season.
The
Thoroughbreds could again see a number of teams in the 2A title game. That
includes undefeated Christian Academy of Louisville, DeSales or Caldwell
County.
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