[toussaints]

Final from Fort Thomas

Chris Schroer scored five touchdowns and rushed for more than 200 yards for the second straight week and Elder rallied from a seven-point deficit twice in a 38-24 win Friday night at Highlands.

It was the third straight win for the Panthers who now lead this all-time series 5-1.
Highlands’ 28-game winning streak dating back to the final regular-season game in 2010 was snapped and the Bluebirds are now 81-3 since the start of the 2007 season.

Elder took the lead for good on an inspired 19-yard run by Schroer on a 4th-and-1 play with 10:39 remaining in the game for a 24-17 lead. It was his third of the game.
The junior crashed through the line of scrimmage, then stepped over two would-be tacklers before sprinting into the end zone.

That drive was set up by an interception by senior defensive end AJ Burdine at the Highlands 45 in a tie game. Burdine leaped high in the air in the Highlands backfield to grab senior quarterback Donovan McCoy’s pass and took it to the 29 with nine seconds to play in the third.

Schroer later added a 22-yard touchdown for a 31-17 lead with 5:55 to play and a 25-yard touchdown run for the final margin with 1:09 to play.

The Bluebirds led for the second time in the game early in the third quarter. Zach Harris took it in from two yards out for a 17-10 Highlands lead with 6:13 to play in the third.

Elder responded immediately. Schroer tied the game with a 1-yard run that was set up by two Max Mazza catches for 58 yards on the drive. Schroer also had a 4th-and-1 run for a first down earlier in the drive.

The Panthers and Bluebirds played to a 10-10 draw in the first half. Junior kicker Luke Brockett nailed a 26-yard field goal with 3:52 to play in the second quarter to pull the Bluebirds even, but missed a 36-yarder wide left as time expired in the first half.

Highlands led 7-0 early, but the Panthers took the lead with 10 points on consecutive possessions spanning the first and second quarters.

Junior kicker Matt Murray got the Panthers on the board with a 36-yard field goal with 25 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Schroer capped a long Elder drive one possession later with a 3-yard run over right tackle for a touchdown and a 10-7 lead with 6:03 to play before halftime.

Schroer carried 23 times in the first half for 125 yards.

The Panthers looked destined for a game-opening touchdown after easily driving inside the Highlands 10, but senior quarterback Josh Moore was intercepted in the end zone by senior defensive back Quentin Murray three minutes into the game.

McCoy sprinted 63 yards down the right sideline for the game’s first touchdown a few plays later for a 7-0 Highlands lead.

The Bluebirds, ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Class 4A Kentucky state poll and the Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches’ poll, have already locked up the top seed in the Kentucky Class 4A district playoffs, so the loss only ended the long winning streak.

Elder, No. 5 in the Ohio Division I area coaches’ poll, is still fighting for a spot in the Region 4 playoffs and needed the win to amass the highest possible amount of computer points in the system the Ohio High School Athletic Association uses to fill postseason brackets.

Elder 3 7 7 21 --38
Highlands 7 3 7 7 --24

H-McCoy 63 run (Brockett kick)
E-Murray FG 36
E-Schroer 3 run (Murray kick)
H-Brockett 26 FG
H-Harris 2 run (Brockett kick)
E-Schroer 1 run (Murray kick)
E-Schroer 19 run (Murray kick)
E-Schroer 22 run (Murray kick)
H-Brockett 10 pass from McCoy (Brockett kick)
E-Schroer 25 run (Murray kick)

Records: E 6-3, H 8-1.

nky.com - Elder beats Highlands

[HonestJohn]

When you play teams of the same caliber as you are, you don't always win. Highlands shouldn't be in 4A they should be in 6A. They should play with the private schools who also recruit players. There is no doubt they are a great team, but beating up on all the 4A teams in the state accomplishes nothing for them. They should be playing teams that are the same level as they are, not a couple tiers beneath them. I would almost be ashamed to say I won the 4A title if I was associated with this team. It would be like the Lakers bragging about beating Colorado State and capturing a title.

[toussaints]

Highlands has no say in what class they're in, the numbers put them there.

[Jumper Dad]

How does Elder match up in Cincy? Are they the best in Cincy this year, if not where would they rank?

[toussaints]

^ they ranked 5th in the city poll going into this week, but they'll move up after Colerain's beatdown on Lakota West

[sawmill]

I love it. EAT UP. HOW GOOD IS THAT PIE.

[2dog]

I love it. EAT UP. HOW GOOD IS THAT PIE.

HHS has the guts it takes to play big time schools, how about your school?

[sstack]

I love it. EAT UP. HOW GOOD IS THAT PIE.

You have no cue! Great game against very good team. Highlands had lead or tied until last 10 mins of game. Made two mistakes(int that lead to score and TD called back on penalty) which was difference in the game. Can't make any mistakes when you are the underdog. Other than trinity,will play nobody any better. Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and no pie to be eaten! This game showed me a team ready to stick it to COV CATH in the rematch!

[sawmill]

We see what happens when they play good school.

[Spirit100]

Great game for three quarters. Tied at 17 Birds throw INT on screen pass at end of 3rd qrtr and Elder capitalized. This was the turning point of the game. Elder then scored on a short field.

Up 24-17 Panthers stop the Birds and from that point forward it was a whole lot of #21. This kid is a beast and averaged 7+ yards a carry all night.

Speed kept the Birds in the game through three quarters. However, once the Panthers had an edge....size and strength prevailed.

Congrats to the Panthers. Avenged last years loss and gain harbin buffet points. Bluebirds eat some humble cake and will rebound accordingly.

I'm thankful for having seen a great game. Thanks to both squads for a great effort!

[toussaints]

We see what happens when they play good school.

haha, Elder is a lot better than good

I give props to Highlands for playing Elder. A lot of people look at Elder's schedule and wonder why they play more teams from outside Cincinnati than in. It's simple, nobody wants to play them, which is the same with all the GCL schools. They created a part time job to fill their schedule.

[birdman44]

Should be ashamed to win a state title.....jeez, someone has some suppressed issues.
ashamed to work hard and dominate teams of the same school size?
there is no recruiting, if you are saying that then you are mocking the KHSAA. tell me one recruited player ever and i let you see what a state ring looks like.

and what is this humble pie biz with elder? Elder probably has 3 times as many boys in their school.
and highlands and the panthers matched up well. It was tied 10 to 10 at the half and was a close game well into the fourth.
if anything elder should be ashamed that a way smaller school hung with them like that. (and beat them last year)

hey sawmill, whatever forgettable program you played for cant hold Highlands jock, hows that pie taste?
Oh whats that? i cant hear you over all these RINGS.

[#1 Laker Fan]

Wow! Is all I can say.

[birdman44]

fact check: Elder 900 boys, Highlands 400 boys. so only the double the male athletes.

[sawmill]

I m not the one that got beat down tonight. You guys talk so much sh-- .. eat up. Highlands has a hard time with teams on their level And you guys cant stand that ....go ahead make some excuse why you lost.

[RunItUpTheGut]

I almost got this one dead on but Highlands played close than expected.
However, im not sure any team in the state besides Trinity could beat Elder.
Other than Trinity, Bowling Green, and Highlands, Elder would prolly blow out the rest of the state.
Keep your heads up boys, and finish business as usual....

[Spirit100]

^ Had the difference spot on run...missed the totals by three points!

[sstack]

I m not the one that got beat down tonight. You guys talk so much sh-- .. eat up. Highlands has a hard time with teams on their level And you guys cant stand that ....go ahead make some excuse why you lost.

You keep making yourself sound more ignorant. No one got a beat down, very close competitive game. No one talking sh... ,no blaming the refs, and HHS fans congratulated Elder for being the better team. And HHS kicks the butts of teams on the same level, did you not realize Elder Is twice the size ofHHS and it was a tough game for Elder! Have heard no excuses and I think HHS fans really enjoyed this game.I know I had a blast!

[Frozenbird]

I m not the one that got beat down tonight. You guys talk so much sh-- .. eat up. Highlands has a hard time with teams on their level And you guys cant stand that ....go ahead make some excuse why you lost.

What beat down? Sounded like a close game that turned on a few plays.

[birdman44]

I m not the one that got beat down tonight. You guys talk so much sh-- .. eat up. Highlands has a hard time with teams on their level And you guys cant stand that ....go ahead make some excuse why you lost.

if you mean 4A as our level. Which technically is our level you are extremely wrong. What I can't stand is idiots taking shots at a program for being great. 900 males vs 400 males and we hung with them into the fourth, and beat them last year. These are facts. and i never made any excuses, we lost, it happens to highlands every couple of years.

I think you are mixed up. Highlands is a team that is smaller than the teams they completely dominate and is a fraction of the size of the teams they "are the same level with" playing wise. I think a better analogy would be colorado state taking the lakers into the fourth quarter and falling a little short. but CSU beat them last year at the staples center.

what football program you root for sawmill? what is their record against the bluebirds? how many boys you have? if you are from Ky its probably not a winning record (Highlands and Trinity are 1-1 by the way). How many state titles does your school have?
And you didnt name a recruited player? who and when? just give me one.

I am extremely proud of the boys from fort thomas tonight. I don't know what beat down you are talking about.
I wonder who will win state in 4A this year and the next year. hmmmmmm?

[Wise one]

I m not the one that got beat down tonight. You guys talk so much sh-- .. eat up. Highlands has a hard time with teams on their level And you guys cant stand that ....go ahead make some excuse why you lost.

Have a hard time with teams on their level?

According to the KHSAA, Class 4A is their level. This is the second year that the KHSAA has deemed them Class 4a. Who in class 4A has beaten them in the last two years? Nobody, last year's state champion and undefeated in class 4A this year.

Before that the KHSAA said their level was 3A, but Highlands played in Class 5A. Who in class 5A beat them? Nobody, 4 championships in a row.

Highlands is not necessarily at Elder's level either. Elder is Ohio Division I. Ohio calls them Divisions not Classes, with Division I being the top of the six Divisions. In Ohio, Highlands would probably be a small Division II or Division III school. There are 30 teams in Elder's region of Ohio Division I. In Ohio, only the top eight teams in each region go to the playoffs with the top four teams getting a home game in the first round. After that all playoff games in Ohio are on neutral fields. Elder will earn a playoff spot and most likely a home game for the first round.

Highlands gave Elder all they wanted for more than three quarters and then had an INT and a called back TD that were the turning points of the game.

Now exactly who on Highlands level gives them a hard time?

[Spirit100]

Bird and stack... you got sucked into a Boyle County vortex...why waste your time and thoughts.

I was doing a good job holding my tongue until someone decided to show more " we got beat by Highlands " angst!

You carry on like a fool with Lex Cath and Danville fans as well? Go ask someone for a hug...you reap what you sow saw.

[Wise one]

BTW, Elder is now 6-3.

Their losses are to Trinity, Lakewood St. Eds (undefeated and rated #2 in Ohio DI) and Cincinnati St. Xavier (who lost by 1 to Trinity at Trinity). Five of the 6 wins are over teams with winning records, with the other over a team that went into tonight at 4-4. Not a shabby team at all.

[LaFlamaBlanca]

sawmill....you're kidding right? What school do you support? I don't usually like calling people out on here, but when i see posts as simple minded and arrogant as yours, I feel obligated. So please, enlighten us all on the credentials which justify you attempting to bring down a programs such as Highlands. I am going to assume (which i dont normally do) that you are just another sorry victim of a Highlands beatdown because your team wasn't as decidated and didn't value football as much as the men at Highlands do.

[LaFlamaBlanca]

It's posts from sawmill that make me question the overall intelligence of the human race

[Stardust]

We see what happens when they play good school.

And that's because yours is not!

[Stardust]

When you play teams of the same caliber as you are, you don't always win. Highlands shouldn't be in 4A they should be in 6A. They should play with the private schools who also recruit players. There is no doubt they are a great team, but beating up on all the 4A teams in the state accomplishes nothing for them. They should be playing teams that are the same level as they are, not a couple tiers beneath them. I would almost be ashamed to say I won the 4A title if I was associated with this team. It would be like the Lakers bragging about beating Colorado State and capturing a title.

:lame: It's based on total number of students, so obviously HHS has no say in where they are slotted. But the fact that a public school, played a Private School that does recruit, not just from inside their state, but out side it as well, tells me they have more scheduling balls than your school!

[whackem'n'stackem']

I'm an Ohio vs. Kentucky guy myself. Doesn't matter which Ky. team is playing, I'm rootin' for em'. If you heard the things Ohioans say about Ky., you'd rethink bashin' da Birds.

[sawmill]

You guys are too easy. Enjoy the rest of the season hope to cya again. GO Rebels!!!!!!!

[baller4lyfe]

You guys are too easy.

"I was only pretending to be retarded"