[Stardust]

The unbeaten Highlands football team, with a fifth consecutive state title in sight, is ready to take center stage in Saturday's Kentucky Class 4A championship game against Franklin-Simpson.

Highlands (14-0), riding a 19-game winning streak, is going after its 21st state championship beginning at 4 p.m. (EST) at Western Kentucky University's Houchens-Smith Stadium. Franklin-Simpson (13-1) has won two state titles, but none in 31 years

"We are very determined, hungry and confident," said Highlands' Dale Mueller, who is looking for his 10th state crown as coach. "Practices have been great and we're ready to go."

The Bluebirds, winners of the past four Class 5A championships, are seeking a title in a fourth different classification, with Class 2A and 3A championship trophies already on display.

"This is awesome to be going back to state," said Highlands senior quarterback Patrick Towles, who is verbally committed to the University of Kentucky. "We're really excited to get to the big show and let the rest of the state know what we can do."

Towles on Thursday was named the Gatorade Kentucky player of the year. He has seen film of three Franklin-Simpson games. "There's not a lot of teams that are used to contending with 60-yard passes down field," Towles said. "We're looking for ways to score on every down against them."

Franklin-Simpson is playing in its first title game since 1983. Although coach Tim Schlosser will be working to minimize any game-day jitters inside a 22,000-seat stadium, the Wildcats have come through as the stage has gotten bigger during their playoff run, with three straight narrow victories, including a 20-15 semifinal win over Collins.

No stage is too big for the Bluebirds, who have seemingly made a trip to the finals a birth rite for young Fort Thomas football players. Highlands, appearing in a state championship game for the 12th time in 17 years, has been flattening everything in its path. The average winning margin in the playoffs has been 40 points. The senior class is aiming for its fourth state title during a near perfect 59-game run that has them sitting at 57-2.

"Our team is built to win, and we can pass it or run it." said Towles, who has lost one game as a starter. He's thrown 41 touchdown passes this season and rushed for 14. In last year's Class 5A final, he rushed for 165 yards and scored five TDs. "You have to always make adjustments when you plays us."

The Bluebirds have a different player at each of the 22 starting positions. Franklin-Simpson uses as many as seven players on both offense and defense. Fatigue could hamper the Wildcats after chasing around Highlands' fleet of receivers, which can look like a warren of rabbits on every play.

http://www.NKY.com