[BlackcatAlum]

Congrats Blue Birds!

[kywldcat01]

You can see this game on replay on nkysports.com.

I was fortunate enough to cover this game and here are a few thoughts:

1. Austin Collinsworth is an absolute stud and his 70 yards td run was unreal. He broke several gang tackles and then just outran everyone. Anytime the Birds needed a first down, they put the ball in his hands and he got it done.

2. Vocke (soph) for Beechwood played very well at the RB position. I was very impressed with how hard he ran after Colosimo went down with an injury.

3. The Birds are going to put up a lot of points offensively but need to sure the defense up in a hurry. Roller was the only one who seemed to be getting things done inside the box. When Highlands' defense does catch up to the offense though, man are they going to be a scary team.

4. Rigdon had some very nice runs and has nice speed. He and Larimore make for a nice 1-2 combo offensively. I was surprised when the Tigers quit throwing the ball his way. He had a few nice catches in a row and then they went away from him?

Lastly, don't be fooled by Beechwood's big loss last week to Dixie....this team was MUCH better tonight than they were last week and are still the favorite to win class A.

[kywldcat01]

A few stats from the game:

Austin Collinsworth: 8 carries, 165 yards (2 tds)
Will Bardo: 15-25 295 yards passing

Collinsworth may be quietly solidifying himself as the best RB in the state. His playmaking ability and speed is second to NOBODY in the state....and that includes Mr. Simpson over at SK.

[OrangenowBlue]

Good job Bluebirds. Rolling as usual. May be more vulnerable than usual but still in the elite group.

[qryche11]

The Birds offensively were obviously testing their passing game with a mix of short and long. Bardo throws a pretty ball and Nick Buten made a few spectacular catches. The 1st TD a 70 yrd bomb he simply outran the DB and Bardo put it right their for him to run under. The 2nd TD was beautiful an over the shoulder catch that couldn't have been handed to him any better. AC just blew by defenders and showed he was the best athlete out there.

Kudos to the Birds offensive line giving Bardo all day to throw. Tyler Fennel had a great game out of the Birds backfield both running and catching.

Beechwood hung tough but was outmanned and couldn't stop the Birds all night. They have a handfull of sophomores who are already playing very good varsity football. Vocke was nervous in the first half but settled down in the 2nd half and ran the ball well. Cory Staten LB and Dane Everett a 6'4 soph DE were in on a ton of plays. Rigdon was dynamite with his legs and arm. He made some big runs and throws to keep drives sustained. Greg Hergott the Beechwood off coordinator had a nice gameplan.

The Bird defense needs to get better. Roller was his usual self blowing up ballcarriers. When Joe Colosimo went out with an injury the poor kid that replaced him (Schuler) got his number called right away and Mr. Roller just slobberknocked him in the backfield as soon as he touched it.

[barnabus_c2001]

Why dont yall just give the title in1a to beechwood thats all i hear there are several good 1a teams in west ky. that will give Beechwood all they want Mayfield and critt. county which ever one of us that come out from down here.

[exFootballer]

I hear the Tigers are down this year, but thats hard to judge against a team like Highlands.... a whole different league

[Can you dig it?]

Why dont yall just give the title in1a to beechwood thats all i hear there are several good 1a teams in west ky. that will give Beechwood all they want Mayfield and critt. county which ever one of us that come out from down here.

I've got a feeling that there's still a good chance that Beechwood is good enough to grant you your wish. We'll probably see in December, as usual.:devilflam

[Strikeout King]

Congrats Highlands

[Stardust]

Highlands quarterback Will Bardo watched film of Beechwood earlier this week and said quite politely that “they didn’t look so great.”


There simply weren’t many highlights in the Tigers’ 40-point loss to Dixie Heights in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown. But when the two-time defending Class 5A champion Bluebirds faced the two-time defending Class 1A Tigers on Friday night, Bardo said it was another story.

“They definitely came out and proved that they were the 1A defending state champs. We knew we had to bring it, so we did,” Bardo said.

Highlands dismantled Beechwood 48-20 in the teams’ first regular-season meeting since 2002
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll...309040028/

[Stardust]

Highlands 7 13 14 14 — 48
Beechwood 0 3 14 3 — 20
H—Buten 70 pass from Bardo (Weinel kick)
H—Buten 38 pass from Bardo (run failed)
H—Fennell 3 run (Weinel kick)
B—Nussbaum 25 field goal
H—Collinsworth 10 run (Weinel kick)
B—Vocke 16 run (Nussbaum kick)
H—Fennell 43 pass from Bardo (Weinel kick)
B—Rigdon 5 run (Nussbaum kick)
H—Collinsworth 71 run (Weinel kick)
B—Nussbaum 34 field goal
H—Quillen 9 run (New kick)
Records: H 3-0, B 0-2
NKY.com

[barnabus_c2001]

Im hoping so can you dig it you can bet we wont kiss beechwoods azz like everyone else seems to do.

[kywldcat01]

Why dont yall just give the title in1a to beechwood thats all i hear there are several good 1a teams in west ky. that will give Beechwood all they want Mayfield and critt. county which ever one of us that come out from down here.

Beechwood may have lost the past two weeks but I can guarantee you they won't see two class A teams as good as Highlands or Dixie. They get the publicity for a reason...back to back state champs speaks for itself. They'll be in Western Ky come December.

[barnabus_c2001]

Better bring your lunch gonna be an all day job.

[Stardust]

Better bring your lunch gonna be an all day job.

What will?

[whackem'n'stackem']

The birds did what they should have done. Put the ball in the air and give Bardo as many snaps as possible. They used Collinsworth sparingly. The game could have been a total blowout. Highlands toyed with the Tigers. Watching the game, you had the feeling that they were in total control and followed the "air it out" gameplan. Dale is smart. He knows that part of the game needs some suring up before St. X. comes to town. I was a bit concerned with the Birds D. If opposing teams can control the ball with sustained drives that chew up the clock, they may have a chance at beating Highlands. St. Xavier will score alot against the Birds D. No doubt about it. I predict a shootout with turnovers deciding the outcome of that game. With the defensive showing friday night, the Birds will be on their heels against St. X.

[tradition]

The birds did what they should have done. Put the ball in the air and give Bardo as many snaps as possible. They used Collinsworth sparingly. The game could have been a total blowout. Highlands toyed with the Tigers. Watching the game, you had the feeling that they were in total control and followed the "air it out" gameplan. Dale is smart. He knows that part of the game needs some suring up before St. X. comes to town. I was a bit concerned with the Birds D. If opposing teams can control the ball with sustained drives that chew up the clock, they may have a chance at beating Highlands. St. Xavier will score alot against the Birds D. No doubt about it. I predict a shootout with turnovers deciding the outcome of that game. With the defensive showing friday night, the Birds will be on their heels against St. X.

Maybe they were only showing exactly what they only wanted to hhhow.

[whackem'n'stackem']

put simply: Defense is defense. After 3 weeks, the Birds have shown their cards defensively. The 08' Birds were a much better team defensively. We'll see much closer games as the 09' playoffs progress. With teams amped up each week for the Birds, their offense will have little room for mistakes come December....

[qryche11]

One huge contributor on D is out of the lineup, Brenden Sullivan, who is an absolute beast. The kid is huge and has the killer instinct. Someone told me he is out 3 months. Can anyone confirm?

[nky]

Highlands held off in this one. They didn't want to put to much on film. Did what was needed that's all. Beechwood will still be a force in 1A

[RepeatRings]

With Rich Brooks, UK's Head Coach, flying in to see the game, you think any players laid back... hardly.:dontthink

[nky]

With Rich Brooks, UK's Head Coach, flying in to see the game, you think any players laid back... hardly.:dontthink

didn't say the players. Dale didn't pour it on like he could have because he didn't want to put to much on film for others to see

[tradition]

One huge contributor on D is out of the lineup, Brenden Sullivan, who is an absolute beast. The kid is huge and has the killer instinct. Someone told me he is out 3 months. Can anyone confirm?

Sully will be back soon, maybe next week. Bad hand.

didn't say the players. Dale didn't pour it on like he could have because he didn't want to put to much on film for others to see

:Thumbs:

[charlie22]

Highlands held off in this one. They didn't want to put to much on film. Did what was needed that's all. Beechwood will still be a force in 1A

Correct, plus Dale has a great relationship with Beechwood's coach, Noel Rash and wants to keep Beechwood on the schedule I'd think for years to come. While in most years you can almost automatically chalk up a win for Highlands, Beechwood is generally a fundamentally sound football team year in and year out, with hard working and disciplined kids. Being close by and with a large following doesn't hurt either.

[Stardust]

Correct, plus Dale has a great relationship with Beechwood's coach, Noel Rash and wants to keep Beechwood on the schedule I'd think for years to come. While in most years you can almost automatically chalk up a win for Highlands, Beechwood is generally a fundamentally sound football team year in and year out, with hard working and disciplined kids. Being close by and with a large following doesn't hurt either.

I agree with this completely.

[cuppett777]

congrats to bluebirds

[sstack]

put simply: Defense is defense. After 3 weeks, the Birds have shown their cards defensively. The 08' Birds were a much better team defensively. We'll see much closer games as the 09' playoffs progress. With teams amped up each week for the Birds, their offense will have little room for mistakes come December....

I think at this point in the year, that last years D was a little better, but it is still early. This D is alot like last years team in that they will give up some big yardage, but are tough to score on in the red zone. I think you are wrong on the "closer games" in the playoffs comment. Highlands has been showing improvement each week. Their running game is right were it needs to be and the passing game just keeps getting better. Collingsworth only carried the ball 8 times and still had big yards and 2 TD's. They basically only used him when they needed a 1st down. His numbers could be off the charts when he starts to get more carries.

[kywldcat01]

I think at this point in the year, that last years D was a little better, but it is still early. This D is alot like last years team in that they will give up some big yardage, but are tough to score on in the red zone. I think you are wrong on the "closer games" in the playoffs comment. Highlands has been showing improvement each week. Their running game is right were it needs to be and the passing game just keeps getting better. Collingsworth only carried the ball 8 times and still had big yards and 2 TD's. They basically only used him when they needed a 1st down. His numbers could be off the charts when he starts to get more carries.

I've been saying this since the beginning of the season. You give AC the ball 15+ times and he'd average close to 200 yards a game. I think the only reason Dale hasn't used him more is because he's working on other things offensively, such as the passing game. When Highlands D starts clicking on all cylinders and comes around, they are going to be a scary team. The offense is improving each week and I expect the offensive output to continue to grow.

[whackem'n'stackem']

Highlands defense is what it is. The weaknesses are apparent. Although their D is sure to improve, so will other teams comparitively. I think alot of people have had delusions of grandeur for this team. Yes, they are potent offensively, but this is not their best team defensively by a long shot. Mark my word, late in the playoffs the pressure will be on the offense b/c the defense is,and will continue to be, suspect. St. X is sure to expose alot. The Birds better focus on the here and now and not chase the wind with National Championship hopes. Teams that think 2 weeks ahead are almost assured of going home prematurely......Let's hope they learn this early in the season rather than later.

[Stardust]

Highlands defense is what it is. The weaknesses are apparent. Although their D is sure to improve, so will other teams comparitively. I think alot of people have had delusions of grandeur for this team. Yes, they are potent offensively, but this is not their best team defensively by a long shot. Mark my word, late in the playoffs the pressure will be on the offense b/c the defense is,and will continue to be, suspect. St. X is sure to expose alot. The Birds better focus on the here and now and not chase the wind with National Championship hopes. Teams that think 2 weeks ahead are almost assured of going home prematurely......Let's hope they learn this early in the season rather than later.

Great post