2005 Year in Review:
The 2005 season was a year of ups and downs for the Highlands Bluebirds. Expectations were high for this young team, coming off a state-record 16th football title in 2004. Heading into the season, Highlands possessed a winning percentage of 75.7%, third-highest all-time in the state of Kentucky. The 'Birds began 2005 ranked first in all of northern Kentucky in the northern Kentucky preseason coaches' poll, first in Kentucky Class AAA in the statewide preseason coaches' poll, and second in the entire state, regardless of football classification, in Mike Fields' Top 25 rankings list (behind Class AAAA Louisville Saint Xavier). In addition, HHS was preseason ranked 14th in the entire American Midwest region in the Sporting News 2005 high school football poll. In preseason scrimmage action, Highlands tied the defending Class A champion Beechwood and lost to Class AAAA power Louisville Male. In the first game of the season, Highlands shut out Dixie Heights, a northern Kentucky Class AAAA power and eventual 2005 district champion. The second game was the St. Luke Hospitals Champions Bowl, and featured the top 2004 regular season northern Kentucky Class AAAA team (Conner) and the top 2004 regular season northern Kentucky Class AAA team (Highlands). The 'Birds won this game handily. Highlands also defeated Class AAAA Madison Central and Class AAA Pulaski Southwestern. The Bluebirds swept the district yet again, beating Grant County, South Oldham, and rival Covington Catholic. There were rough spots during 2005, however. Highlands was defeated in convincing fashion by defending Ohio Division I state champion Cincinnati Colerain, a game which was the highlight attraction of the 2005 i-Wireless Fox 19 Prep Classic, held at Paul Brown Stadium, home to the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals. Also, Highlands was beaten by eventual Class AAAA state runner-up Louisville Saint Xavier and eventual Ohio Division III state runner-up Columbus Saint Francis DeSales. Every team Highlands played during the 2005 regular season except one (Conner) made their respective playoffs.
Highlands beat West Jessamine and Franklin County to advance to the regional final playoff game against Lexington Catholic. While the Bluebirds' defense held Class AAA's most potent offense to just 17 points in the game, Highlands' offense was shut out, and thus the 'Birds lost 17-0, ending the 2005 season. Lexington Catholic then went on to win the Class AAA state championship. Therefore, Highlands finished the year with a record of 9-4, and was district champion and NKAC champion. Also, Highlands ended the year ranked first in the final Northern Kentucky coaches' poll, and was ranked sixth in the entire state (third in Class AAA) by national football analyst Kenneth Massey. HHS' junior varsity (JV) team finished the year with a record of 5-4, and Highlands' freshman team went undefeated at 10-0. Senior Ben Guidugli, who was offered and accepted a scholarship to play football for the University of Cincinnati, was named Associated Press first-team All-State (as a receiver).
2005 Kentucky Class AAA, Region 3, District 5 members - final rankings (all four teams made the
state Class AAA playoffs):
1. Highlands, 2. Covington Catholic, 3. South Oldham, 4. Grant County
2005 Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference (NKAC) members:
Highlands, Beechwood, Bellevue, Boone County, Campbell County, Conner, Covington Catholic, Covington Holmes, Covington Holy Cross, Dayton, Dixie Heights, Lloyd Memorial, Ludlow, Newport, Newport Central Catholic, Ryle, Scott, Simon Kenton
TO CONTENTS PAGE