[BlackcatAlum]

Final

[cuppett777]

CC gave them a game...

[Old School]

This game was a moral victory for Cov. Cath.

[2dog]

Another below average showing by the Birds. Really thought it would be a total blowout. I should have known better. Feel like I need to puke. I'm confident that Smiley will straighten things out though.

[redsfan01]

Congrats Birds. Much closer than expected. CovCath could be very dangerous come playoff time.

[PaintsvilleTigerfan]

Covcath WILL be very dangerous when playoff time comes.

[Pride and Football]

Congrats HHS

[OrangenowBlue]

Sounds like Highlands may be vulnerable.

[BillyB]

Another below average showing by the Birds. Really thought it would be a total blowout. I should have known better. Feel like I need to puke. I'm confident that Smiley will straighten things out though.

I don't understand this post

[Stardust]

I love to say - "I told you so", but "I told you so". After the CCH/Campbell County game, I was convinced the the Colonels were way underrated. I knew that they could compete and that when they match up with the Birds, it will not a be blowout.

Now, this by no means tells me that CCH is in the same class as HHS and I am sure that the Bird detractors are gleeful thinking that the Birds are vulnerable. I don't believe that at all. I believe that HHS is still the best team in 5a by a BIG margin, and likely better than Trinity. I did not attend last nights game, but I am surmising two things: 1. the Colonels are better than many thought; 2. Dale did not show very much to a team that he will face in a few weeks (WHEN IT MATTERS).

Congrats to the Birds, but a nice shout-out to the Colonels as well

[Stardust]

Rival Colonels put scare into No. 1 Bluebirds
BY RYAN ERNST • [email]RERNST@nky.COM[/email] • OCTOBER 15, 2010

Despite its recent lopsided nature, Northern Kentucky’s top rivalry was renewed again Friday night. Rumors of its death, apparently, have been greatly exaggerated.

“It hasn’t been like this for a while,” said Highlands senior defensive back Ty Seidl. “It got me a little nervous to be honest. But this is always a hard-fought game. This time it was just a little closer.”

CovCath hasn’t beaten Highlands since 2006. Heading into Friday night, the Bluebirds had won the previous four meetings in the series by an average score of 41-7.

The latest installment in the rivalry was definitely different.

With 4:32 remaining in the game CovCath trailed 27-13. It faced a fourth-and-goal from the Highlands 4-yard line. That’s when sophomore quarterback Blake Bir found senior receiver Alex Connelly on the other end of a perfectly-placed throw in the corner of the end zone. The extra point cut the lead to 27-20 with time winding down.

CovCath forced a three-and-out, then turned the ball over on Bir’s third interception of the game. The seventh-ranked Colonels, who held Highlands scoreless in the fourth quarter, then forced a punt, and got the ball back with 17 seconds remaining. Bir’s desperation pass from his own 30-yard line was tipped in a crowd and fell incomplete, ending the game.

“That could have been caught behind us,” said Highlands coach Dale Mueller.
“They were in it right up until the last play. It’s a great rivalry. It’s Highlands-CovCath.”

Still, despite the Bluebirds’ recent dominance and their state-best 36-game winning streak, Friday’s result could conceivably be called an upset. It the least, CovCath fans could call it a moral victory.

Not so, according to CovCath coach Dave Wirth.

“There isn’t a moral victory,” he said. “There might be a silver lining, but there isn’t a moral victory. … I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to the public perception of (the rivalry). I only care what the guys in the program think. We knew we were close, but you can’t play good teams and leave all those points on the field.”

Highlands’ defense spent much of the game bending but not breaking. After the Bluebirds scored on an 80-yard screen pass from Patrick Towles to Corey Compton on their first play from scrimmage, they protected the lead when Carter New picked off a pass at the goal line. The Bluebirds also held CovCath to two field goals.

Highlands took a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter on Compton’s second touchdown of the night. Then CovCath slowly chipped away at the lead.

Senior defensive back Paul Ritter opened the second half with a 99-yard kickoff return – his third return for a touchdown of the season – to make it a two-possession game.

“Paul is one of our guys who can match up with what Highlands has athletically,” said Wirth. “You could see that. There were guys right on his tail who couldn’t finish the play. … We got some things going in the second half. We just couldn’t score enough points.”

Highlands answered Ritter’s return with its final score of the night – a 24-yard touchdown pass from Towles to Austin Sheehan.

How close was the game?

Each team finished with 316 yards of total offense.

Highlands lost three fumbles. CovCath threw three interceptions.

Compton led Highlands offensively with 141 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. Towles was 10-of-13 passing for 181 yards and two touchdowns.

The game put Highlands alone atop Northern Kentucky’s Class 5A standings. It also might have rejuvenated a rivalry.

“They came out fired up,” said Mueller. “It was good for us, because we got a win. But I think it was good for them, too.”

[Stardust]

SCORING SUMMARY
CovCath 0 3 10 7 -- 20
Highlands 13 7 7 0 -- 27
H – Compton 80 from Towles (Weinel kick)
H – Towles 12 run (kick blocked)
H – Compton 2 run (Weinel kick)
CC – Talkers 22 field goal
CC – Ritter 99 kickoff return (Talkers kick)
H – Sheehan 24 pass from Towles (Weinel kick)
CC – Connelly 4 from Bir (Talkers kick)
Records: CC 4-4, 1-1; H 8-0, 2-0

[2dog]

I don't understand this post

Can't figure out what is so hard for you to understand. Just my opinion in plain english. Far to many mental errors.

[adopted purple]

I see the mighty Bluebirds may not be as invincible as everyone thought.

[Westside]

I love to say - "I told you so", but "I told you so". After the CCH/Campbell County game, I was convinced the the Colonels were way underrated. I knew that they could compete and that when they match up with the Birds, it will not a be blowout.

Now, this by no means tells me that CCH is in the same class as HHS and I am sure that the Bird detractors are gleeful thinking that the Birds are vulnerable. I don't believe that at all. I believe that HHS is still the best team in 5a by a BIG margin, and likely better than Trinity. I did not attend last nights game, but I am surmising two things: 1. the Colonels are better than many thought; 2. Dale did not show very much to a team that he will face in a few weeks (WHEN IT MATTERS).

Congrats to the Birds, but a nice shout-out to the Colonels as well

Good call Stardust. When I saw the score I remembered reading that someone said it would be close,

[2dog]

I love to say - "I told you so", but "I told you so". After the CCH/Campbell County game, I was convinced the the Colonels were way underrated. I knew that they could compete and that when they match up with the Birds, it will not a be blowout.

Now, this by no means tells me that CCH is in the same class as HHS and I am sure that the Bird detractors are gleeful thinking that the Birds are vulnerable. I don't believe that at all. I believe that HHS is still the best team in 5a by a BIG margin, and likely better than Trinity. I did not attend last nights game, but I am surmising two things: 1. the Colonels are better than many thought; 2. Dale did not show very much to a team that he will face in a few weeks (WHEN IT MATTERS).

Congrats to the Birds, but a nice shout-out to the Colonels as well

Yep, you nailed it Stardust.

[BFritz]

My boys in blue sounded like they played great, minus a few mental errors.

I couldn't go, but why'd they quit throwing to Connelly? Dude's 6'5 and sounded like he just ate them up, but, on the second to last drive (the one before the Hail Mary), I don't think that they threw to him once.

Anybody know?

[Bob Seger]

Where's all the usual gloaters at this morning? sstack?, whackem?, tradition?

Not as much as a sniff of any of em.

[Can you dig it?]

I see the mighty Bluebirds may not be as invincible as everyone thought.

Who knows?:eyeroll:

[tradition]

Where's all the usual gloaters at this morning? sstack?, whackem?, tradition?

Not as much as a sniff of any of em.

What do you want to know Bob? Stardust pretty much summed it up.

Please find the post where I have EVER GLOATED after a Highlands win.:dontthink

[Can you dig it?]

2. Dale did not show very much to a team that he will face in a few weeks (WHEN IT MATTERS).

:Thumbs:
CovCath is much more "game" than people would like to think. They're going to cause havoc in the early round playoff games.

[Jack Lambert]

If this is any indication as to how good highlands is i bet they dont win a state title this year.

[Can you dig it?]

If this is any indication as to how good highlands is i bet they dont win a state title this year.

Darn. They're going to be disappointed, but I'll let them know you said so.:eyeroll:

[sstack]

Where's all the usual gloaters at this morning? sstack?, whackem?, tradition?

Not as much as a sniff of any of em.

Well, out till 1:30 and back out to Cross Country race at 7:00; not much time to get on until now. I will continue to "gloat" if that is what you want to call it. I just call the games like I see them. What I saw last night was first, another Highlands win. Highlands had way too many penalties and turnovers in the scoring zone. Cov Cath has some big players with talent. Cov Cath took advantage of what I think is Highlands weakness on D; Cov Cath used the short passing game to move the ball. You think Highlands fans are idiots for saying JC needs to pass more to beat Highlands, but if you would have seen tonights game, you would see why so many of us say JC needs to pass more. I felt Highlands did not come out at the half with much emotion and CC ran the kickoff back (did anybody else see the returner with a foot in the endzone?)and let them believe they could win. I also did not like the play calling on offense for Highlands tonight. If Cov Cath plays with the emotion they did tonight, they could make some noise in the playoffs. Still think teams downstate have a long way to go to compete with Highlands except for a couple of teams like BG, JC,

[tradition]

Well, out till 1:30 and back out to Cross Country race at 7:00; not much time to get on until now. I will continue to "gloat" if that is what you want to call it. I just call the games like I see them. What I saw last night was first, another Highlands win. Highlands had way too many penalties and turnovers in the scoring zone. Cov Cath has some big players with talent. Cov Cath took advantage of what I think is Highlands weakness on D; Cov Cath used the short passing game to move the ball. You think Highlands fans are idiots for saying JC needs to pass more to beat Highlands, but if you would have seen tonights game, you would see why so many of us say JC needs to pass more. I felt Highlands did not come out at the half with much emotion and CC ran the kickoff back (did anybody else see the returner with a foot in the endzone?)and let them believe they could win. I also did not like the play calling on offense for Highlands tonight. If Cov Cath plays with the emotion they did tonight, they could make some noise in the playoffs. Still think teams downstate have a long way to go to compete with Highlands except for a couple of teams like BG, JC,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't your foot be in the endzone just as long as the ball doesn't break the plain of the goal line?

[sstack]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't your foot be in the endzone just as long as the ball doesn't break the plain of the goal line?

Good question, I do not know the answer to it. Can anybody help us with this?

[Can you dig it?]

I felt Highlands did not come out at the half with much emotion and CC ran the kickoff back (did anybody else see the returner with a foot in the endzone?)and let them believe they could win.

Yeah, we saw the same thing. Dumb rule. Not sure what it is intended to prevent.

[sstack]

Cov Cath coach and players are saying that they are taking no moral victory from this game, but I have to say that was the biggest celebration I have ever seen by a losing team!

[Old School]

Good question, I do not know the answer to it. Can anybody help us with this?

I'm no expert on the rules, but I always understood that the ball had to break the goalline.

[whackem'n'stackem']

I hate to say it, but the Birds are in for a long November. I don't see the team that played last night in Western Kentucky.