Highlands 21 Johnson Central 14

BaseballIsLife · 11-19-2010, 09:58 PM

Great game...

Duke45 · 11-19-2010, 10:00 PM

Very good game.

I guess this Highlands team is finally going to get the respect they deserve :eyeroll:.

**RunItUpTheGut** · 11-19-2010, 10:00 PM

Great game by both teams. I believe that as close as anyone will come to beating Highlands. Looks like Highlands will be traveling to Harlan Co. if the score of that one sticks.
Congrats to both teams.

**MVP2** · 11-19-2010, 10:01 PM

Dang, I thought JC was going to pull if off. Congrats Highlands.

*Good season JC, and I'm glad Jude will be back to see next season, he is an amazing player.

**BelfryJustice** · 11-19-2010, 10:02 PM

Great Game. JC had a lot chances.

**Hoot Gibson** · 11-19-2010, 10:02 PM

Great game. Congrats to Highlands on another regional title. JC had its chances but just did not convert. I am already looking forward to a rematch next season.

BaseballIsLife · 11-19-2010, 10:02 PM

Duke45 Wrote:Very good game.

I guess this Highlands team is finally going to get the respect they deserve :eyeroll:.

Johnson Central couldn't have scripted a better game plan against them. Do what you do best and run the ball and chew up as much clock as possible and give your defense plenty of time to rest. They limited Highlands offensive possessions and never allowed them to get into rhythm as such.

JC had the perfect gameplan but Highlands thwarts them again.

**Stardust** · 11-19-2010, 10:02 PM

Have to wonder why both teams did not pass more. The Birds could have put up a lot of points, but Dale never opened it up. Towles was not able to be stopped when he went to the air. Conversely, JC's limited number of passes were right on target. Not until they got to the Red Zone on the final drive did they have their first incomplete pass. Down the stretch, I'd question the clock management for JC. They certainly did not look like they had a plan. For the Birds, they proved they could stop the run, but I'd be concerned against a very good passing team in the final rounds of the playoffs.

**EKUAlum05** · 11-19-2010, 10:02 PM

Championship teams win the close games.... that;s why the Birds have so many full cases. hats off to the Eagles... shame they couldn't have played Highlands from the opposite side of the bracket.

Hatz · 11-19-2010, 10:03 PM

Great Game by both teams.

Towles is a warrior. :Thumbs:

Bad, Bad move burning that last TO after a long first down. Really hurt on their last drive and took any run threat away the last 3 plays.

Congrats Bluebirds. :Thumbs:

BaseballIsLife · 11-19-2010, 10:03 PM

If Johnson Central ever wants to win a state title, they must devote some time to their pass offense and the development of a 2-minute drill. It cost them big time tonight when it counted the most.

BaseballIsLife · 11-19-2010, 10:04 PM

Stardust Wrote:Have to wonder why both teams did not pass more. The Birds could have put up a lot of points, but Dale never opened it up. Towles was not able to be stopped when he went to the air. Conversely, JC's limited number of passes were right on target. Not until they got to the Red Zone on the final drive did they have their first incomplete pass. Down the stretch, I'd question the clock management for JC. They certainly did not look like they had a plan. For the Birds, they proved they could stop the run, but I'd be concerned against a very good passing team in the final rounds of the playoffs.

It is a big gamble by JC to continue to pass it as they just haven't devoted the time to it. They did what they do best and that was to run the ball and chew up the clock to limit HHS's offensive possessions. Great gameplan by JC.

Hilbily · 11-19-2010, 10:06 PM

Very good game and alot of thanks to those who kept us updated throughout! Congrats Highlands and good luck.

nptb17 · 11-19-2010, 10:07 PM

Um they dropped the pass in the endzone that would have put them a extra point away from a tie or a 2 point for the win. Their passing game was good enough tonight for them to win. Someone has to lose.

**sstack** · 11-19-2010, 10:08 PM

Stardust Wrote:Have to wonder why both teams did not pass more. The Birds could have put up a lot of points, but Dale never opened it up. Towles was not able to be stopped when he went to the air. Conversely, JC's limited number of passes were right on target. Not until they got to the Red Zone on the final drive did they have their first incomplete pass. Down the stretch, I'd question the clock management for JC. They certainly did not look like they had a plan. For the Birds, they proved they could stop the run, but I'd be concerned against a very good passing team in the final rounds of the playoffs.

I have been saying all year, you beat HHS with the pass. JC actually looked good passing the ball, but he refused to go to it more. JC wasted TO's, poor clock management at end, and took to long to get plays called in from the sidelines (QB had to run to the sidelines each time to get the play). If JC scores at the end, I think they would have won by going for 2, Thankfully they didn't.

BaseballIsLife · 11-19-2010, 10:09 PM

nptb17 Wrote:Um they dropped the pass in the endzone that would have put them a extra point away from a tie or a 2 point for the win. Their passing game was good enough tonight for them to win. Someone has to lose.

It is still their passing game that is keeping them from winning it all. When they weren't forced to throw the ball, it was extremely effective when they did because they had been running the ball game. However, as time ticked down in the 4th Quarter, they were forced to throw the ball and it showed just how inept they were at it.

**Hoot Gibson** · 11-19-2010, 10:11 PM

sstack Wrote:I have been saying all year, you beat HHS with the pass. JC actually looked good passing the ball, but he refused to go to it more. JC wasted TO's, poor clock management at end, and took to long to get plays called in from the sidelines (QB had to run to the sidelines each time to get the play). If JC scores at the end, I think they would have won by going for 2, Thankfully they didn't.

The potential game tying pass slipped through the JC receiver's hands in the end zone. If he had made a nice reception we would be having an entirely different discussion. Hardly a reason to scrap the run-oriented offense in favor of a balanced attack.

Hatz · 11-19-2010, 10:12 PM

sstack Wrote:I have been saying all year, you beat HHS with the pass. JC actually looked good passing the ball, but he refused to go to it more. JC wasted TO's, poor clock management at end, and took to long to get plays called in from the sidelines (QB had to run to the sidelines each time to get the play). If JC scores at the end, I think they would have won by going for 2, Thankfully they didn't.

IMO, that was the key. Passing game was a secondary issue. They had time to do their thing but wasted it on a couple of occasions. Those occasions were just enough to take the run threat out of their hands whne they needed it most.

Still a great contest. :Thumbs:

**sstack** · 11-19-2010, 10:13 PM

nptb17 Wrote:Um they dropped the pass in the endzone that would have put them a extra point away from a tie or a 2 point for the win. Their passing game was good enough tonight for them to win. Someone has to lose.

If the kid had more tries during the year, maybe he would have felt more comfortable out there and caught the ball. He was wide open!

BaseballIsLife · 11-19-2010, 10:13 PM

Hoot Gibson Wrote:The potential game tying pass slipped through the JC receiver's hands in the end zone. If he had made a nice reception we would be having an entirely different discussion. Hardly a reason to scrap the run-oriented offense in favor of a balanced attack.

A lot of that could be contributed to the HHS safety who tipped the ball slightly and got a hand up in the reciever's face. He did an excellent job at causing the incompletion and ultimately led to the Highlands win.

2dog · 11-19-2010, 10:14 PM

Congrats to the Birds! Kept Judd under a 100yrds. on 28 carries. Not a good night for Mush Mouth football, opps! I mean smash mouth! It's that arrogance thing again. Just caint hep it!:biggrin:

~~Wideleft01~~ · 11-19-2010, 10:15 PM

If not for the fumble return TD it's a rout IMO. JC wasn't stopping Highlands, Highlands stopped themselves with some questionable play calls and then while Towles was getting taped up. If they go up 21-0, JC has no chance to even get back in the game.

On a side note, I appreciated the opportunity to watch the game and not having to drive 3+ hours. However, I've never heard more whining and crying from announcers than what I heard tonight. Especially in the first half. Questioning every spot and every call. Maybe they didn't have a good view from their vantage point, but it was tough to listen too. I even tried turning down the sound and listening to the Highlands broadcast, but it was several minutes ahead of the video feed.

Overall,both teams played hard. Each guy left it on the field. Jude found out he wasn't playing patsies this week like usual. I did love his heart and effort, but he's not going to run for big yards against decent teams. (Covcath was not good). My prediction is Highlands crushes JC the next 3 years.

**Stardust** · 11-19-2010, 10:15 PM

BaseballIsLife Wrote:A lot of that could be contributed to the HHS safety who tipped the ball slightly and got a hand up in the reciever's face. He did an excellent job at causing the incompletion and ultimately led to the Highlands win.

:Thumbs: correct. And it was also JC's clock management that forced them to abandon the balanced attack concept

**Stardust** · 11-19-2010, 10:16 PM

Wideleft01 Wrote:If not for the fumble return TD it's a rout IMO. JC wasn't stopping Highlands, Highlands stopped themselves with some questionable play calls and then while Towles was getting taped up. If they go up 21-0, JC has no chance to even get back in the game.

On a side note, I appreciated the opportunity to watch the game and not having to drive 3+ hours. However, I've never heard more whining and crying from announcers than what I heard tonight. Especially in the first half. Questioning every spot and every call. Maybe they didn't have a good view from their vantage point, but it was tough to listen too. I even tried turning down the sound and listening to the Highlands broadcast, but it was several minutes ahead of the video feed.

Overall,both teams played hard. Each guy left it on the field. Jude found out he wasn't playing patsies this week like usual. I did love his heart and effort, but he's not going to run for big yards against decent teams. (Covcath was not good). My prediction is Highlands crushes JC the next 3 years.

The fumble was a 14 point swing

**Hoot Gibson** · 11-19-2010, 10:17 PM

Here comes the Highlands gloating contingent. Time to take leave of this thread and breathe some fresh air. Highlands played like the top 5 team that they are tonight. Congratulations and good night.

**Stardust** · 11-19-2010, 10:18 PM

Hoot Gibson Wrote:Here comes the Highlands gloating contingent. Time to take leave of this thread and breathe some fresh air. Highlands played like the top 5 team that they are tonight. Congratulations and good night.

Nah, it was going to be just as bad (actually worse) if HHS would have lost.

nptb17 · 11-19-2010, 10:18 PM

If not for Highlands ablilty to tackle Jude, he would have run for 300 yards tonight. Turnovers happen and is part of the game.

**Stardust** · 11-19-2010, 10:21 PM

nptb17 Wrote:If not for Highlands ablilty to tackle Jude, he would have run for 300 yards tonight. Turnovers happen and is part of the game.

I have got to say, that is pretty intuitve. Turnovers happen, and teams have to capitalize on them. JC did their job as well.

~~Wideleft01~~ · (This post was last modified: 11-19-2010, 10:23 PM by Wideleft01.)

Hoot Gibson Wrote:Here comes the Highlands gloating contingent. Time to take leave of this thread and breathe some fresh air. Highlands played like the top 5 team that they are tonight. Congratulations and good night.

Is my opinion gloating? Isn't this an opinion forum? A team with about 10 guys injured came in and won on the road. It took a 60yd fumble return TD for jc to even get in the game. How does anyone think it ends up if that fluke play doesn't happen and Highlands continues the drive and goes up 21-0 and JC starts passing? It doesn't end good for JC IMO.

**Spirit100** · 11-19-2010, 10:25 PM

Well played on both sides of the ball this evening...I have a lot of respect for JC's team and community. Caught the tail end of Highlands audio broadcast and they had nothing but good things to say about the support and hospitality they received from the JC staff...so thank you!

Both teams fought extremely hard and I hate to see this one end....

Highlands will need to find their rythm to advance to state...no room for drop balls...and get back to the counters and off tackle....protect Towles.....

Hope everyone heals well...have a blessed weekend!