[Stardust]

Seven different Bluebirds scored as Highlands clinched the top playoff seed in its district with a 57-28 win over Holmes on Friday.

The Bluebirds (8-0), ranked first in the Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches’ poll, are now 8-0 in district play since realignment brought them to Class 4A two years ago. They've won those games by an average score of 62-12.

Highlands next faces Elder in a game that matters to Bluebirds coach Dale Mueller despite its lack of postseason ramifications.

• Take our high school nicknames quiz
• Enquirer's Recruiting Trail blog
• Enquirer high school sports blog
• Check us out on Facebook
• More prep coverage

“For us, (the Elder game) doesn’t mean anything (toward winning) the state championship, which is our ultimate goal, but it is such a state championship-like atmosphere that it really prepares us for those types of games,” Mueller said.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak by the Bulldogs (5-3). Holmes, ranked 10th in the Enquirer poll, still has a shot at the district's No. 2 seed and a home playoff game. They'll need to beat Covington Catholic next week to earn it.

The Bulldogs had allowed only 14 points in their last three games heading into Friday, but their recently stingy defense had no answer for the Bluebirds.

Highlands scored on its first four possessions and led 29-0 at the end of the first quarter. Three of those touchdowns came on the first play of a drive, including a 78-yard run by junior Zach Harris. Harris carried the ball only three times - all in the first quarter - yet still racked up 110 ground yards.

Highlands senior quarterback Donovan McCoy threw for 261 yards and four touchdowns despite playing in only the opening two quarters. That included a 31-yard Hail Mary touchdown as time expired in the first half. The desperation heave was deflected by a Holmes defender, but ended up in the arms of Luke Turner to send Highlands to the break with a 50-14 lead.

The Bluebirds' starters outgained Holmes 418 to 87 in the first half before turning things over to the second string.

“Our guys were ready to play and jumped on them right from the start,” Mueller said. “Then we got to rest some guys (in the second half), so it was a good game for us.”

Three of Holmes' scores came courtesy of Jonathan Scruggs. The junior running back caught a 16-yard scoring pass, returned a kickoff 79 yards and broke loose for a 91-yard touchdown run.

Scruggs finished with 180 yards on 20 carries, helping the Bulldogs put together an improved showing from last year's 77-0 loss to the Bluebirds.

“We’re happy with the effort tonight,” Holmes coach Terry Liggin said. “We’ve still got a long way to go, but we’re going to keep working.”
http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/201...ayoff-seed