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http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/201...ext|Sports

Johnson Central was able to put up more of a fight in the first half than most teams Highlands has rolled past this season, but the end result was the same – a Bluebirds wipeout to extend a 17-game winning streak.
Highlands got five rushing touchdowns by senior running back Jake True and beat the Eagles 67-20 Friday night in a Class 4A second-round playoff game at David Cecil Memorial Stadium in Ft. Thomas.
The Bluebirds’ last loss was a 28-26 final Week 10 last season at Ryle, but Highlands then easily won five straight to claim its fourth straight Class 5A state title. It has been more of the same this season with only Covington Catholic and Cincinnati Elder challenging. Highlands beat Elder 34-29 late in the season and got past CovCath 42-37 early in the season.
The Bluebirds will host Covington Catholic next Friday at 7:30 p.m. in a regional final between two cross-town rivals.

“Our offense is really on fire right now,” True said. “We’re looking to keep that up and take it all the way to state. We’re going to blow right by CovCath because their D can’t stop our O.”

The Colonels, who beat Ashland Paul Blazer on the road Friday to advance, were immediately on the Bluebirds’ minds.

“It will be my last game here regardless and you want to go out on top,” Bluebirds senior quarterback Patrick Towles said. “You want to go out and send a message to them that they aren’t anywhere close.”

Johnson Central was somewhat close in the early-going, but the high-powered Highlands offense simply crushed the Eagles. Highlands outgained Johnson Central 583-239 and 433 of those yards came through the air. Towles, a University of Kentucky recruit, completed 25 of 33 passes for 407 yards and a touchdown.

“We spread the ball around. It went really well,” Towles said. “We’re the kind of offense that can go 100 yards and score in five seconds. That’s what’s most dangerous about us is we can score whenever we need to.”

Johnson Central senior running back J.J. Jude is the state’s all-time leading rusher and entered the game with 8,539 yards during his career. But the Bluebirds held Jude to 94 yards on 23 carries. Eagles sophomore quarterback Zach Gound went for 99 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns.

“Last year we played these guys and we only put up three touchdowns so we definitely wanted to come out and perform,” Towles said. “With their offense, they can really control the ball. They’re dangerous and their best defense is keeping our offense off the field.”

Gound briefly kept the Eagles in the game with a 22-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, but the Bluebirds scored six straight touchdowns to erase any doubt that remained. The only question was whether True would get to five scores. And the senior did after a long fumble return out the Birds on the 1 early in the fourth quarter.

“Me and the other running backs were kind of arguing back and forth who should take it in after (the defense) took it to the 1. Coach (Dale) Mueller let me take it in.”

True finished with 57 yards on 10 carries. Sophomore running back Zach Harris added 46 yards on eight carries and a touchdown and junior running back Colin Seidl ran for two touchdowns.

Sophomore Luke Brockett was 5-for-6 on point-after attempts while filling in for senior kicker Carter New who was not in pads and was wearing a boot on his right foot during the game.

“Just a little ankle sprain,” New said. “I’ll be good to go next week.”