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Last week, Patrick Towles showcased his arm.

On Friday night, Highlands’ junior quarterback used his legs to lead the Bluebirds to another victor

Towles rushed for 159 yards and four touchdowns as Highlands overcame a sluggish start in a 34-27 win over the battle-tested and pesky Withrow Tigers at David Cecil Memorial Stadium in Fort Thomas.

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Having thrown for five scores in last week’s blowout win against Beechwood, Towles took advantage of an overly eager Withrow defensive front and found open running lanes most of the night as Highlands improved to 4-0 this season.

"He’s a very versatile athlete," Highlands coach Dale Mueller said of Towles. "They were playing great pass defense, and Patrick came through when we needed him."

Towles, who had 99 yards rushing total through the first three games of the season, recorded 40 alone on his first called run play of the game with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. That was the first play of a drive, and setup the game’s first score. Two plays later, Towles sprinted through the middle for a nine-yard TD. The Bluebirds took that 7-0 lead into halftime, and then Towles and running backs Jordan Streeter and Jake True helped Highlands build a big enough lead in the second half to stave off a late surge by Withrow (0-3).

For the second consecutive week, Withrow lost to a defending state champion. After falling 49-35 last week to defending Ohio Division II state champion Winton Woods, the Tigers missed some critical early opportunities in their bid to try to upset Kentucky’s three-time defending Class 5A champions.

"Missed opportunities: That’s been the theme for us so far this season," Withrow coach Doc Gamble said.

On the game’s opening series, Withrow drove to the Highlands 37-yard line before junior running back Trey Rice was stopped for a two-yard loss on fourth down.

Late in the first quarter, Withrow linebacker Iva Durand sacked Towles on consecutive plays, resulting in losses of 15 and 17 yards for Highlands. The last sack nearly resulted in a safety, forcing Highlands senior Adam Weinel to punt from the back of his own end zone.

The punt gave Withrow the ball at the Highlands 31-yard line, but the Tigers couldn’t capitalize on the outstanding field position. On the third play of the series — and first of the second quarter — Highlands senior Austin Abner intercepted Blake Moore’s pass over the middle.

Withrow opened the second half with an onside kick, which Highlands recovered. The Bluebirds needed just three plays and 57 seconds to score — an eight-yard run by Towles.

After the game, both coaches said this is the end of the home-and-home series between the schools. Mueller coached at Withrow from 1985-90, and Gamble was his quarterback for three of those seasons. The series was scheduled when Gamble left Withrow to coach Fairfield. Gamble then returned to his alma mater before the 2009 season. Gamble calls Mueller a mentor and friend, and looks forward to going back to the days of talking to him multiple times a week.

"We’re never playing Withrow again," said Mueller, whose team won 21-0 at Withrow last season. "Those are our best buddies over there."