[charlie22]

I would disagree and say it is a special time.

Five straight titles is something only one other program has done. Maybe you can say it is because we have 6 classes now that it is not what it used to be but I disagree.

I think HHS would be THE story this year if not for Trinity's magnificent run.

These kind of runs don't happen all the time, even at HHS or Trinity. Just my take.

Hatz, your point is a valid one: that being winning 5 straight is a rare accomplishments. But I get Blau's point also: Highlands historically has avoided the deep and long down cycles.

To be candid but hopefully without being arrogant, unless some other 4A program steps up big time in the next couple of years, I don't see the cycle turning down for Highlands in the near future. In talking to Dale, I don't think he has any intention of retiring soon. I hear no talk of any assistants thinking of leaving. The program is stacked with talent in the junior and sophomore classes. They will have a ton of experience and starters returning next year on O. We'll lose a lot of starters on D, but there have been a lot of younger, very talented kids that have gotten a huge amount of varsity experience this year due to the blowouts. Obviously anything is possible, and if the players don't stay really focused and committed, I'm sure this post will be pulled up and I'll be made the fool.

No doubt that these are special times at Highlands but I don't see those special times ending soon unless there is some other 4A program out there that has a lot more returning than what I've seen. And when those times end, I doubt it will be a long state championship drought. The program is simply on a completely different level than it was when I played a long, long time ago or as recently as 10 years ago.

As to the question in the OP: yes CovCath should still be considered a serious threat. Wirth has done a great job turning around the mess that Rodenburg left behind (I blame him more than Brossart). Their youth league will pay big dividends. Their players believe. Do I think that will get them over the hump against Highlands in the next couple of years? No I don't. But eventually they will beat Highlands and I think we'll start seeing a lot more close games. A whole lot of CovCath's future success will depend upon how successful Boone, Ryle, Dixie Heights, Simon Kenton and Beechwood are in the future. If those schools have success and kids/parents believe those programs are run the right way, it decreases the chances that kids wanting to play for strong football programs will be funnelled to CovCath.