[Frozenbird]

First half to Highlands. Second half to Lexington Catholic. Good game.

[BM82]

Wow what a game. Let's start by giving credit to Ft.Thomas on the victory tonight. The first half they were clicking on offense, and forced two early LC turnovers on defense. Once the clock started running at 36-0 I think most people thought the game was over. LC played their butts off in the second half and I think all observers will tell you that Highlands had reasons to be concerned. Ultimately the clock and the early deficit came back to bite LC. When you are facing a quality opponent you can not beat yourself with turnovers and penalties. Credit to the Knights for fighting back to make the score 28-36, but the Bluebirds made enough plays to hold them off. Great game from two great programs, nothing but the best to both teams moving forward.

[Tommy2tone]

What in the world did LC do to get back in game?

[bo67]

LC got back into the game by making half time adjustments. And Highlands defensive coach when pressured can't make the counter adjustments. And he's the next head coach. Good luck!!!! Mueller need to step in when this happens.

[kybred]

The running clock worked in Highlands favor. The clock kept running in the second half as LC made a run at FTH. LC got back in the game in the second half by an interception, recovery of an onsite kick, and throwing the ball down the field for big gains. FTH put little pressure on the LC quarterback giving him time to get the ball down field.
Congrats to FTH on the win and congrats and lots of respect to LC for not quitting at the half.

[E's Army]

Highlands just keeps winning.

[PaytoPlay]

36 points is too few for a running clock. The KHSAA needs to look at this again. The old rule was superior.

[Rebel55]

I think 36 is good, but I'd like for the clock to stop if a team was to get the score back under a 36 margin.

[sstack]

LC got back into the game by making half time adjustments. And Highlands defensive coach when pressured can't make the counter adjustments. And he's the next head coach. Good luck!!!! Mueller need to step in when this happens.

LC had no time to throw in first half and HHS stopped pressure on QB in second half and gave him too much time to throw. Dale needs to stop worrying about blowing teams out, just like WC game he calls off the dogs too early. You know nothing about HHS D coach if you are bashing him! Great coach.

[bo67]

Why stop pressuring the QB? Why go away from what's working? If it's not broke. Don't try to fix it. And I do know the little ass clown.

[bo67]

This is the way Dale works. He really trusts his coaching staff. He runs the offense and calls all the plays. He lets the defensive coach just do his thing. Hell, Dale doesn't even watch the game hardly when the defense is on the field. He's with the offense talking and making adjustments through out the game. He has no idea what the defensive coach is doing most of the time. Calling off the pressure was not his idea. He probably did wonder. What the hell is going on??? At some point when this starts happening. He's the head coach and needs to step in. Rather than let it continue. When he leaves. That guy will be the next head coach. That's when that program will start heading south. Mark my word.

[sstack]

This is the way Dale works. He really trusts his coaching staff. He runs the offense and calls all the plays. He lets the defensive coach just do his thing. Hell, Dale doesn't even watch the game hardly when the defense is on the field. He's with the offense talking and making adjustments through out the game. He has no idea what the defensive coach is doing most of the time. Calling off the pressure was not his idea. He probably did wonder. What the hell is going on??? At some point when this starts happening. He's the head coach and needs to step in. Rather than let it continue. When he leaves. That guy will be the next head coach. That's when that program will start heading south. Mark my word.

Sounds like you have a personal dislike of the coach. You are correct about Dale does not step in on the D side, but I am sure he has a say at half if they are going to call the dogs off or not. I just do not understand taking your foot off teams neck in 2nd half and giving them hope? They should have tried to bury LC in first 10 mins of 2nd half. How about Dale's coaching in 2nd half? He shut down the O way too early. How come I do not hear you criticizing Dale?

[sstack]

By the way, LC should be embarrassed by lack of fan support for their team tonight! The stands were empty, has it been that way all year!

[Can you dig it?]

By the way, LC should be embarrassed by lack of fan support for their team tonight! The stands were empty, has it been that way all year!

Agree completely! Could a fanbase be so jaded that they think the state semi-finals are just another game? I wonder what kind of crowd would have showed up in BG if that comeback had been successful? Suddenly everyone in town is an LC fan, or just the parents and a few classmates?

[Blau Vogel]

LEXINGTON — Kentucky’s all-time record for most high school football state championships is up for grabs after the Highlands Bluebirds downed rallying Lexington Catholic, 49-35, in Friday’s Class 4A state tournament semifinal at Joseph K. Ford Stadium.

The Bluebirds (13-1) bolted to a 42-7 halftime lead against LexCath (10-4). They survived four straight second-half Knights touchdowns and a LexCath fourth-quarter onside kick recovery to remain alive for their seventh consecutive KHSAA crown, which would extend the record they set last season.
Highlands, a three-point loser to Elder in the second-to-last regular-season game, won its 34th consecutive playoff contest and beat a Kentucky opponent for the 45th time in a row behind the passing of senior quarterback Drew Houliston and the determined running of senior tailback Zach Harris.
Houliston threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns, giving Highlands a program record 60 passing touchdowns on the season. That broke the record of 59 set in 2000. Harris ran for 91 yards on 10 carries and scored three touchdowns, giving him 30 TDs on the season.
The duo, aided by a punishing line and abetted by a big-play receiving crew, helped propel the Bluebirds into next Saturday’s 4 p.m. final against Collins (12-2), a winner over Owensboro in Friday’s earlier semifinal.
A Bluebirds win in the championship game at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green would give them 23 KHSAA state titles. With 22, they are currently tied for the most with Louisville Trinity, which was eliminated from last week’s Class 6A tournament with a regional final loss to city rival Male.
Highlands, which outgained LexCath, 450-437, is 6-1 in seven meetings against the Knights. The only loss came 17-0 in the 2005 regional final, which marked the last time the Bluebirds were shut out.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Houliston’s 86-yard TD pass to Alex Veneman and Harris’ 2-point conversion run with 8:09 left in the second quarter gave Highlands a 36-0 lead, and put a running clock on the Knights.

VIEW FROM THE SIDELINE: “We wanted to get a running clock because it’s such a big advantage,” said Highlands coach Dale Mueller. “When we got the running clock, I think we relaxed, and you can’t relax against them.”
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: Houliston upped his passing TD total to 48. He’s been intercepted just twice. Harris has 261 yards on 45 carries in three consecutive state semifinal games against LexCath. He needs three yards to reach 1,000.
FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS: Highlands scored on its first six possessions, with four passing touchdowns by Houliston, who had scoring tosses of 19, 41, 19 and 86 yards.
Highlands outgained LexCath in first-half yards, 401-196, with 337 passing from Houliston and all of Veneman’s 151 yards receiving.
EXTRA POINTS: The Bluebirds beat LexCath for the third year in a row in the semifinals. They won 61-28 last year before defeating Collins 47-0 in the championship game. They beat the Knights 42-21 in 2011. ⬛

Highlands 21 21 0 7 — 49
LexCath 0 7 14 14 — 35

H-Harris 21 run (Dougherty kick)
H-Feggins 19 pass from Houliston (Dougherty kick)
H-Feggins 41 pass from Houliston (Dougherty kick)
H-Hoge 19 pass from Houliston (Dougherty kick)
H-Veneman 86 pass from Houliston (Harris run)
L-Mitchell 44 pass from Ryan (Morris kick)
H-Harris 1 run (kick failed)
L-Bouvier 31 pass from Ryan (Morris kick)
L-Bouvier 2 pass from Ryan (Morris kick)
L-Mitchell 1 run (Morris kick)
L-Bouvier 15 pass from Ryan (Morris kick)
H-Harris 1 run (Dougherty kick)
Records H 13-1, L 10-4.

http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...311290141/

[Blau Vogel]

Just when Highlands seemed set to crush Lexington Catholic, the Knights came roaring back in Friday's 4A State football semifinals.Back, but not all the way back as visiting Highlands held on for a 49-35 victory.The Bluebirds (13-1) will shoot for a seventh consecutive state title next weekend at Bowling Green, taking on Collins in a rematch of last year's finals.Catholic (10-4) also lost to Highlands in the semifinals the last two years.Drew Houliston threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns, leading Highlands to a 42-7 halftime lead."We throw a lot. ... It was there tonight and we just took what the defense gave us," Houliston said. "Last week, we were running it more ... but we've been versatile all year."With a running clock instituted in the second quarter, Catholic was in hurry-up mode when it rallied in the second half.The Knights' Reese Ryan wound up throwing for 365 yards and four touchdowns, including second-half bull's-eyes of 31, 2 and 15 yards to David Bouvier. Bouvier finished with eight catches for 150 yards."That was fun and exciting," Catholic Coach Bill Letton said. "We dug ourselves in too deep a hole in the first quarter with the turnovers and big over-the-top plays. But they made the plays in the first quarter and we spent the rest of the night trying to overcome them. I'm proud of our team."The Bluebirds were simply unstoppable out of the gate, taking the opening kickoff and marching downfield for a 21-yard touchdown run by Zach Harris, then converting back-to-back fumble recoveries into TDs.Griffin Urlage's recovery led to a 19-yard TD pass from Houliston to Jenson Feggins.Brady Murray's takeaway set up a 41-yard Houliston-to-Feggins scoring strike for a 21-0 lead through a quarter.Second quarter, Houliston hooked up with Beau Hoge for a 19-yard TD and Alex Veneman for an 86-yarder.The latter, with a two-point conversion, made it 36-0 and started a running clock."We wanted to get a running clock," Bluebirds Coach Dale Mueller said. "It's such a competitive advantage. If you can get up and get a clock going, it just helps you so much."So we got the running clock and then I think we relaxed as a team. And that's a heck of a football team — you just can't relax on them. They came roaring back, and you've got to give them a lot of credit for it. That's a team that takes their football seriously, and came back and made a game of it."After Catholic scored on a 44-yard pass from Reese Ryan to Noah Mitchell, Highlands countered with a 1-yard run by Harris. Harris finished with 86 yards on 10 carries.The Knights needed only two scrimmage plays to open the second-half scoring — passes of 37 and 31 yards to Bouvier.Malik Guidry's interception set up another Bouvier TD catch, this one for 2 yards.Noah Mitchell's 1-yard TD run with 6:43 left in the game made it a 42-28 game, and the Knights' Carter Gray recovered an onsides kick.That led to Bouvier's 15-yard scoring grab and a 42-35 contest with 3:45 left. Another onsides kick backfired, though, as Brandon Hergott returned the ball to Catholic's 12, setting up a 1-yard Harris TD run with 2:23 left.Had there not been a running clock, the Knights might have had a chance to come all the way back."Never know," Letton said. "But that's the rule as it stands and, unfortunately, we put ourselves in a position to have to fight against it."The teams combined for nearly 900 yards of offense — 450 for Highlands, 437 for Catholic.HIGHLANDS 49, LEXINGTON CATHOLIC 35Highlands 21 21 0 7 — 49Lexington Catholic 0 7 14 14 — 35H—Zach Harris 21 run (Jared Dougherty kick); H—Jenson Feggins 19 pass from Drew Houliston (Dougherty kick); H—Feggins 41 pass from Houliston (Daugherty kick); H—Beau Hoge 19 pass from Houliston (Daugherty kick); H—Alex Veneman 86 pass from Houliston (Harris run); LC—Noah Mitchell 44 pass from Reese Ryan (Donovan Morris kick); H—Harris 1 run (Dougherty kick); LC—David Bouvier 31 pass from Ryan (Morris kick); LC—Bouvier 2 pass from Ryan (Morris kick); LC—Bouvier 15 pass from Ryan (Morris kick); H—Harris 1 run (Dougherty kick).

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/11/29/29612...rylink=cpy

[FBfan4life]

Agree completely! Could a fanbase be so jaded that they think the state semi-finals are just another game? I wonder what kind of crowd would have showed up in BG if that comeback had been successful? Suddenly everyone in town is an LC fan, or just the parents and a few classmates?

Just parents and a few student section. Me? I am just a fan that seats and watch the game and walk the half mile home after. To their defense Lex Cath does come out and packed the stands when rival Boyle Co. comes to town.

[sstack]

Have a question for people sitting/standing on visitors side. On LC's last last or second last TD drive, refs called a pass complete at about the 5 that looked like the WR was a yard out of bounce on. I was on home side and even LC fan thought he was out. It also looked like HHS staff did not like the call. Did anybody get a good look at that play? Nice field but not the best stands for viewing a game.

[E's Army]

Bluebirds have just outscored everybody this year. It could catch up with them next week.

[mysonis55]

Whatever works. You can't knock a team that keeps winning.

[bo67]

In response to Dale. I sometimes don't agree with him. But he's far a better coach. Dale can tend to call off the dogs when up. Just start running the ball. I agree with you. Break a scoring record if you have to. Look at the Warren Central game. If Dale did tell him to back off. Well...Common sense tells you to go back to the defense you played in the first half if they are making a run at you. And you are right. I don't like him. Dale and him have completely different personalities. Dale really has people skills and knows how to motivate. The other guy. Does not have those skills. He will be the next head coach. But does not have what it takes to be a head coach.

[Frozenbird]

Take a look at the article here:

http://www.wcpo.com/sports/high-school-s...ff-lexcath

Coach Mueller makes the statement in the interview "I think a lot of it was my fault for relaxing".

[Can you dig it?]

Have a question for people sitting/standing on visitors side. On LC's last last or second last TD drive, refs called a pass complete at about the 5 that looked like the WR was a yard out of bounce on. I was on home side and even LC fan thought he was out. It also looked like HHS staff did not like the call. Did anybody get a good look at that play? Nice field but not the best stands for viewing a game.

Where were you sitting? We were on the LC side on the far left. Couldn't believe the call was a catch.

[sstack]

Where were you sitting? We were on the LC side on the far left. Couldn't believe the call was a catch.

On LC side on about the 10 yard line.

[Can you dig it?]

On LC side on about the 10 yard line.

There was a family in the section next to us, but I didn't pay attention to who it was. If it was you, sorry I missed you. The two guys I was with depend on me to read the close-up stuff, but anything more than ten feet is a struggle anymore.nicker:

[knighted]

Have

a question for people sitting/standing on visitors side. On LC's last last or second last TD drive, refs called a pass complete at about the 5 that looked like the WR was a yard out of bounce on. I was on home side and even LC fan thought he was out. It also looked like HHS staff did not like the call. Did anybody get a good look at that play? Nice field but not the best stands for viewing a game.

I was standing in the end zone so I had a good look at it.....it seemed to me that the receiver had laid out with his knees in bounds but the ball was a foot out of bounds ...which would make this a legal catch seeing how the receiver was still in play when the catch was made. If you didn't have an end zone view you would have thought it was a bad call by the officials.

[BFritz]

I understand running clock in the regular season, but it's stupid in the playoffs and could have cost LexCath the game (depending on how much time was lost before they cut the lead to stop the running clock).

Gotta agree, though, that it does have to be a frightening thought for Highlands when Dale steps down.

Will it be as easy as just "hey, here's my playbook," and they don't lose a step?

How old is he?

[Can you dig it?]

I understand running clock in the regular season, but it's stupid in the playoffs and could have cost LexCath the game (depending on how much time was lost before they cut the lead to stop the running clock).

Gotta agree, though, that it does have to be a frightening thought for Highlands when Dale steps down.

Will it be as easy as just "hey, here's my playbook," and they don't lose a step?

How old is he?

42-7 at the half pretty much cost them the game. Without the running clock, Highlands doesn't get quite so complacent, and Hoge never has a chance to throw the INT that was so key in the "comeback". Ask any of the 10 or so LC fans in attendance and they'll probably say the same thing.nicker:

[knighted]

Sounds like you have a personal dislike of the coach. You are correct about Dale s not step in on the D side, but I am sure he has a say at half if they are going to call the dogs off or not. I just do not understand taking your foot off teams neck in 2nd half and giving them hope? They should have tried to bury LC in first 10 mins of 2nd half. How about Dale's coaching in 2nd half? He shut down the O way too early. How come I do not hear you criticizing Dale?

not that it matters now but LC still had 136 yds passing in the first half so
LC's pass protection in the first half was fine......as far as burying Lex Cath in the first 10 mins of 2nd half......LC received the kickoff and scored on 2 long passes. can't blame it on the coaches all the time guys.