[Blau Vogel]

LEXINGTON — Kentucky’s all-time record for most high school football state championships is up for grabs after the Highlands Bluebirds downed rallying Lexington Catholic, 49-35, in Friday’s Class 4A state tournament semifinal at Joseph K. Ford Stadium.

The Bluebirds (13-1) bolted to a 42-7 halftime lead against LexCath (10-4). They survived four straight second-half Knights touchdowns and a LexCath fourth-quarter onside kick recovery to remain alive for their seventh consecutive KHSAA crown, which would extend the record they set last season.
Highlands, a three-point loser to Elder in the second-to-last regular-season game, won its 34th consecutive playoff contest and beat a Kentucky opponent for the 45th time in a row behind the passing of senior quarterback Drew Houliston and the determined running of senior tailback Zach Harris.
Houliston threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns, giving Highlands a program record 60 passing touchdowns on the season. That broke the record of 59 set in 2000. Harris ran for 91 yards on 10 carries and scored three touchdowns, giving him 30 TDs on the season.
The duo, aided by a punishing line and abetted by a big-play receiving crew, helped propel the Bluebirds into next Saturday’s 4 p.m. final against Collins (12-2), a winner over Owensboro in Friday’s earlier semifinal.
A Bluebirds win in the championship game at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green would give them 23 KHSAA state titles. With 22, they are currently tied for the most with Louisville Trinity, which was eliminated from last week’s Class 6A tournament with a regional final loss to city rival Male.
Highlands, which outgained LexCath, 450-437, is 6-1 in seven meetings against the Knights. The only loss came 17-0 in the 2005 regional final, which marked the last time the Bluebirds were shut out.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Houliston’s 86-yard TD pass to Alex Veneman and Harris’ 2-point conversion run with 8:09 left in the second quarter gave Highlands a 36-0 lead, and put a running clock on the Knights.

VIEW FROM THE SIDELINE: “We wanted to get a running clock because it’s such a big advantage,” said Highlands coach Dale Mueller. “When we got the running clock, I think we relaxed, and you can’t relax against them.”
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: Houliston upped his passing TD total to 48. He’s been intercepted just twice. Harris has 261 yards on 45 carries in three consecutive state semifinal games against LexCath. He needs three yards to reach 1,000.
FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS: Highlands scored on its first six possessions, with four passing touchdowns by Houliston, who had scoring tosses of 19, 41, 19 and 86 yards.
Highlands outgained LexCath in first-half yards, 401-196, with 337 passing from Houliston and all of Veneman’s 151 yards receiving.
EXTRA POINTS: The Bluebirds beat LexCath for the third year in a row in the semifinals. They won 61-28 last year before defeating Collins 47-0 in the championship game. They beat the Knights 42-21 in 2011. ⬛

Highlands 21 21 0 7 — 49
LexCath 0 7 14 14 — 35

H-Harris 21 run (Dougherty kick)
H-Feggins 19 pass from Houliston (Dougherty kick)
H-Feggins 41 pass from Houliston (Dougherty kick)
H-Hoge 19 pass from Houliston (Dougherty kick)
H-Veneman 86 pass from Houliston (Harris run)
L-Mitchell 44 pass from Ryan (Morris kick)
H-Harris 1 run (kick failed)
L-Bouvier 31 pass from Ryan (Morris kick)
L-Bouvier 2 pass from Ryan (Morris kick)
L-Mitchell 1 run (Morris kick)
L-Bouvier 15 pass from Ryan (Morris kick)
H-Harris 1 run (Dougherty kick)
Records H 13-1, L 10-4.

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