[Stardust]

Highlands on Friday night once again proved its dominance on the Northern Kentucky football scene.


Next, the Bluebirds will try to enhance their image on a regional and national stage.

“It’s an exciting time,” said Highlands middle linebacker Brandon Roller. “To be a high school football player, and to have the kind of opportunity that we have, that’s special.”

• Photos: Bluebirds 36, Rebels 14


Highlands cruised to a 36-14 victory over Boone County at David Cecil Memorial Stadium, improving its record to 5-0 heading into next week’s nationally-televised home game against Cincinnati power St. Xavier.

The Bluebirds, playing without star running back Austin Collinsworth, led 36-7 at halftime. Highlands coach Dale Mueller wouldn’t disclose Collinsworth’s injury, but said it was minor and he will play against St. X.

“He could have played this week,” Mueller said.

Highlands didn’t appear to need him in the early going. The Bluebirds scored on their first five possessions utilizing an increasingly effective passing game. Senior quarterback Will Bardo threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Nick Buten on the game’s third play from scrimmage.

After the Rebels evened the score on a 61-yard touchdown run from Charles Quainoo, the Bluebirds went back to work. Jordan Streeter gave Highlands the lead for good on a 34-yard touchdown pass. Bardo then hit John Drennan for a 47-yard touchdown pass.

“We’re just getting better and better each game,” said Bardo, who finished 10-of-21 passing for 245 yards and three touchdowns. “We’re really starting to connect on more passes. … We could have done more with (Collinsworth) in the game. But we still felt confident.”

Streeter and Tyler Fennell carried the running load in Collinsworth’s absence, combining for 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Buten finished with three catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns.

Boone County, which had limited opportunities in Highlands territory, came up short on one of its biggest possession of the game. Trailing 29-7 midway through the second quarter, the Rebels drove to the Highlands 3-yard line. On fourth-and-goal, Mark Snyder sacked Boone quarterback Nate Alford to end the threat.

“We had our chances and we missed them,” Boone County coach Rick Thompson. “Hopefully we can learn from it and grow from it and we move forward.”

Highlands responded with a 12-play scoring drive, its last of the game, during which it converted three third downs.

The Bluebirds outgained Boone County 396 yards to 286. Quainoo led the Rebels with 174 yards on 31 carries.

With the victory, Highlands extended its winning streak against in-state opponents to 32 games.

While the Bluebirds took care of business south of the river, St. Xavier was making its own statement just north. The Bombers, ranked No. 2 in the Enquirer city coaches’ poll, beat Louisville Trinity 43-13.

Trinity, which leads Kentucky in all-time state titles, trailed 43-0 at the half.

According to Roller, that was good news for the Bluebirds.

“We’d rather it be that way,” Roller said. “We want them to be the top dog when they come in here. We want them to be No. 1.”

This Friday’s game between St. Xavier and placeHighlands at David Cecil Memorial Stadium will be broadcast nationally by CBS College Sports Network (CSTV). The game time has been moved up to 6:30 p.m. to accommodate the broadcast.

Boone Co. 7 0 0 7 -- 14
Highlands 22 14 0 0 -- 36
H – Buten 58 pass from Bardo (Weinel kick)
BC—Quainoo 61 run (Palmateer kick)
H – Streeter 34 run (Weinel kick)
H – Drennan 7 pass from Bardo (Fennell run)
H – Fennell 25 run (Weinel kick)
H – Buten 27 pass from Bardo (Weinel kick)
BC – Brown 4 pass from Thompson (Palmateer kick)
Records: BC 1-3, H 5-0