2007 Year in Review:
The Fort Thomas Highlands Bluebirds returned to championship form in 2007, capturing Kentucky's first-ever Class 5A state title and posting a perfect 15-0 season, the program's state-record eleventh undefeated season. The KHSAA adopted a six-class football alignment in 2007, based on student enrollment, and Highlands petitioned and was granted permission to compete in Class 5A, even though the school is the size of a Class 3A program. After moving through the preseason with a 2-0 record against Class 6A power Louisville Male and eventual Class 1A champion Beechwood, the 'Birds went 10-0 during the regular season, defeating two eventual state champions along the way, Class 3A Louisville Central and Class 4A Lexington Catholic. Highlands also knocked off defending state champion Covington Catholic during the regular season. The highlight of the regular season for Highlands was undoubtedly the team's win over Ohio Division II power Trotwood-Madison in the 2007 Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge III, held at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium. The "Herbie" is considered the nation's most prestigious high school football event, and Highlands was the only Kentucky school invited to participate in 2007. The win was especially impressive, given that Trotwood-Madison had several NCAA Division I-A prospects on the team. The Bluebirds ran through the postseason, defeating archrival Covington Catholic 40-0 to win the Kentucky Class 5A, District 5 championship en route to a convincing 28-7 victory over Bowling Green in the Class 5A state title game, the program's 17th official state championship in football. Highlands remained the only team in the entire state of Kentucky to go undefeated in 2007. At the end of the year, Highlands was ranked first, regardless of football classification, in all of northern Kentucky in the northern Kentucky coaches' poll, and second in all of Kentucky, regardless of football classification, by Kenneth Massey. The Bluebirds also cracked the national rankings, finishing 21st in the MaxPreps/CalPreps National Rankings poll. The 'Birds finished 2007 as Kentucky Class 5A champion, Class 5A regional champion, Class 5A, District 5 champion, and NKAC champion. Highlands' junior varsity (JV) team finished 2007 with an impressive 9-1 record and undefeated against Kentucky competition. Highlands' freshman team finished the season 6-4 and northern Kentucky freshman runner-up.
Following the end of the season, Coach Dale Mueller was named Coach of the Year by the Northern Kentucky Football Coaches Association (NKFCA), and offensive lineman/linebacker Ryan Ball was selected as a "Top 24" honoree by the NKFCA. Offensive lineman Alex Hempfling and linebacker Luke Stein were named 2007 first-team Kentucky Associated Press All-State. Quarterback Clay Cecil was named 2007 Kentucky Class 5A, District 5 Player of the Year.
2007 Kentucky Class 5A, District 5 members - final rankings (the top four teams made the state Class 5A playoffs):
1. Highlands, 2. Covington Catholic, 3. Dixie Heights, 4. Scott, 5. Covington Holmes
2007 Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference (NKAC) members:
Highlands, Beechwood, Bellevue, Bishop Brossart, 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
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