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Highlands quarterback Clay Cecil totaled close to 200 yards of total offense.

photo by Chris Zaphiris

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Bluebirds Blast Ryle

Highlands rolls 49-21 in season opener

By Ed Letsinger

If preseason polls mean anything then Highlands left no doubt who the No. 1 team in Northern Kentucky is after thumping Ryle 49-21 on the road before a packed house at Ryle High School.

The Bluebirds came into the game ranked No. 1 in the preseason coaches’ poll with Ryle at No. 2 but the game was anything but close on the field.

It was a dominating performance for most of the night. Highlands ended with 472 yards of total offense including 330 rushing and 142 passing.

Doing most of the damage was junior running back Josh Conner, who rushed for 207 yards on 18 carries and scored four touchdowns. Senior quarterback Clay Cecil had a solid all-around game with close to 200 yards of total offense and one rushing touchdown.

Highlands bolted to a 28-0 halftime lead and then put it on cruise control in the second half with the Raiders never getting closer than three touchdowns.

An opportunistic defense led to two quick scores within the first 6 ½ minutes of the game. Highlands’ Ryan Ball intercepted Ryle quarterback Kyle Benke on the opening drive and returned it to the Raiders’ 37-yard line. Five plays later Cecil bolted up the middle for a 19-yard touchdown run with a failed 2-point PAT making it 6-0.

On Ryle’s next possession, a fumble by Josh Morgan was recovered by Highlands’ Zach Hurtt at midfield and Highlands capitalized again. A Cecil 36-yard pass to Trey Jurgens set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Conner. A Conner halfback pass on the 2-point PAT attempt to Will Coleman made it 14-0 with 5:38 remaining.

Conner added two more scores in the second quarter on runs of 19 and 1 and the defense came up with their third turnover of the half on an interception by Joe Fitzgerald to help give the Bluebirds their commanding halftime lead.

Highlands out-gained Ryle 211-96 if the first half with the Raiders punting four times to go with their three turnovers.

Cecil turned the reigns over to junior quarterback Tony Guidugli for the majority of the third quarter and the Bluebirds offense sputtered. A Guidugli fumble on his first drive deep in Ryle territory eventually led to a short punt from the end zone. The Raiders scored seven plays later on a 1-yard touchdown run by Benke on fourth down.

Cecil eventually returned to the game late in the third quarter and the Bluebirds erupted for 21 points in the final quarter. Conner added his fourth touchdown of the night on a run of 80 yards. Zach Hurtt and Clint Crawford closed out the Bluebirds’ scoring with touchdown runs.

Ryle added two scores in the final quarter on a 1–yard touchdown run by running back Adam Schmitz and a Benke 20-yard run. Benke ended the night with 112 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns. The Raiders ended the night with 272 yards of total offense with 176 coming in the second half, but it was too little too late on this night.