[Stardust]

Class 4A state semifinal: Highlands (13-0) at Lexington Catholic (11-2)
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m. today at Joseph K. Ford Stadium, Lexington.

WHAT TO WATCH: Both teams like to throw the ball, but it was Highlands' ground game that dominated in its win over Covington Catholic last week and it was Lexington Catholic's defense that led the way in its 10-7 win over Boyle County last week. Highlands rushed for 352 yards in its 49-14 win over CovCath after averaging 153 yards per game on the ground in its first 12 games, and has shown it can beat teams passing, running and with defense. Patrick Towles still threw for 242 yards despite missing his top target, Austin Sheehan, who is out for the season with an injury after catching 29 passes for 1,013 yards and eight touchdowns. Highlands needs 37 points to break the single-season state team record for points of 801 held by the 1998 Highlands team and five touchdowns to break the single-season state record for team touchdowns of 113 held by the same Highlands team. That may prove to be a little tougher than usual against a Lexington Catholic defense that has allowed 18 points or fewer in nine of its last 11 games, but Highlands hasn't scored less than 34 points in a game this season and has tallied 42 or more points against 11 of its 12 Kentucky opponents. Lexington Catholic's two losses came to two Class 5A teams that are both still alive in the playoffs and are both undefeated: Bowling Green and John Hardin, which face each other in a semifinal game tonight.

BOTTOM LINE: Highlands is simply a machine that steamrolled its last hurdle, CovCath, on the way to a fifth straight state championship, which after tonight will be a win away.

http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/201...news|text|

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