Highlands Bluebirds Official Website

KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl

Kentucky Class 4A Playoffs - State Championship

Date/Time: Saturday, December 3 at 3:00PM CT

Location: Western Kentucky University

 

Fort Thomas Highlands defeated Franklin-Simpson 42-14 to capture the 2011 Kentucky Class 4A state championship in football.  On offense, the Highlands rushing attack amassed 324 yards in the game, with quarterback Patrick Towles leading the way with 122 yards on 19 carries.  Running back Zach Harris gained 90 yards on just 10 carries and running back Jake True added 65 yards.  Harris scored three rushing touchdowns in the contest.  Towles threw for 183 yards, one passing touchdown and no interceptions in the title game.  Wide receiver Donovan McCoy led all Highlands receivers with four catches for 69 yards and a touchdown reception.  On defense, defensive back Quentin Murray registered an interception and linebacker Chad Bowden recovered a fumble caused by defensive lineman Kenton Noran on the one-yard line to prevent a Franklin-Simpson touchdown.  Kicker Carter New successfully made all six of his extra point attempts.  Towles was named the title game's Most Valuable Player (his second straight championship game MVP) and Bowden earned the Forcht Group of Kentucky Sportsmanship Award.  With the win, Highlands improved to 4-0 all-time against Franklin-Simpson.  Highlands finished the year as district champion, conference champion, regional champion and state champion.

 

This victory marked Highlands' 21st official state championship in football, tied with Louisville Trinity for the most in Kentucky.  It was also Highlands' fifth straight championship, tying Boyle County for the most consecutive Kentucky state championships in football.  The Bluebirds have now won state championships in four of the six classes in Kentucky prep football, Classes 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A.  Highlands closed out 2011 with a 20-game overall win streak and a 25-game postseason win streak, the longest active postseason win streak in Kentucky.  Over the last five years, the Bluebirds have an overall record of 73-2.    

 

Final:

- Highlands' 2011 varsity record: 15-0 (season complete)

- Highlands' 2011 junior varsity (JV) record: 6-3 (season complete)

- Highlands' 2011 freshman record: 7-3 (season complete)