[Stardust]

At 5-foot-7, 155 pounds, Colin Seidl is one of Highlands' smallest football players, but he was huge in the Bluebirds' 42-21 victory over host Lexington Catholic in the Class 4A semifinals Friday night.
Seidl returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to get Highlands off to a quick start.
Seidl used his speed to burn Lexington Catholic again early in the second half. After the Knights closed to within 21-14, Seidl returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a TD.
The Bluebirds stayed in control after that to get their 19th victory in a row and 24th consecutive playoff win. They also broke the single-season state scoring record with 807 points, eclipsing the 801 by Highlands' 1998 team.
The Bluebirds, four-time defending 5A champs, will play Franklin-Simpson in the 4A finals next weekend in Bowling Green.
Seidl's kickoff returns were the first for the Bluebirds this season. Lexington Catholic Coach Bill Letton thought they were the difference in the game.
"You take those two plays out, and we're either a possession short or a defensive stop short," Letton said. "But give them credit. They made the blocks and made the plays."
Bluebirds quarterback Patrick Towles, who has committed to Kentucky, had an efficient night. The 6-6, 230-pound senior passed for 108 yards and a TD (all in the first half), and ran 17 times for 120 yards and two TDs.
Lexington Catholic junior quarterback Kyle Bolin, who has committed to Louisville, had an impressive night. He threw for 223 yards and three TDs, and ran for 58 yards.
Adam Bush caught 11 passes for 98 yards and a TD.
Lexington Catholic played Highlands to a virtual standstill through the first 15 minutes.
After Seidl returned the opening kickoff for a score to give Highlands a 7-0 lead, the Knights moved the ball effectively until they got into the red zone.
Lexington Catholic stalled twice — at the Bluebirds' 19 and 22 — and had to settle for field-goal attempts. Jake Pumphrey missed both times.
The Knights' third possession was a charm, however, as Bolin threw a 21-yard TD strike to Adam Bush to tie it.
Highlands dominated the last eight minutes of the half, however, to take a 21-7 lead.
Towles was the play-maker with his legs and his arm.
He drove the Bluebirds 80 yards in seven plays, including a 30-yard pass to tight end David Christian.
Towles and Luke Turner hooked up on a 16-yard TD pass play to put Highlands ahead 14-7.
After the Bluebirds' defense forced a quick three-and-out, Towles went to work again. This time he moved his team 89 yards in seven plays for another score.
Towles had three carries for 45 yards in that drive, and a 20-yard pass to Christian.
Jake True got the TD on a 15-yard scamper through the left side of the Knights' defense.
Lexington Catholic scored on its first possession of the second half, with Bolin tossing a 5-yard TD pass to Noah Mitchell to cut the lead to 21-14. But Seidl quickly regained the momentum for Highlands with his second kickoff return.
"That was big," Towles said. "Lexington Catholic's crowd was getting back into it, but Colin quieted them really quick."


Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/11/25/19732...z1emWgm4m9