I10 SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2014 /// THE ENQUIRER KENTUCKY

Highlands
2013 record: 13-2 overall, 4-0 district (lost to Collins in the
state championship, 37-34)
Head coach: Brian Weinrich (1st year overall)
Key losses: QB Drew Houlistion, RB Zach Harris, 12 Offen-
sive Linemen, LB Thomas Wrobleski, DB Jackson Bardo, DL
Seth Hope
Key returnees: Sr. QB Beau Hoge (735 PaYds, 11TDs); Sr.
WR Alex Veneman (890 ReYds, 11TDs); Jr. RB Nick Kendall
(285 RuYds, 3 TDs); Sr. DB Andrew Abner; Sr. LB Brady Mur-
ray; Sr. DB Kyle Martin; Jr. K/P Jared Dougherty; Sr. RB Griffin
Urlage (played DB last year)
Top newcomers: Sr. TE Jack Telek, Jr. DL Tyler Robinson
Outlook: The Bluebirds may be moving into a new era
with Brian Weinrich taking over for Dale Mueller, but dont
expect a whole lot to change in Fort Thomas. The perennial
state power still has the talent to challenge for a state title.
The 2014 edition of Highlands doesnt look to have any
deficiencies, but there are some questions that need to be
answered on the offensive side of the ball. The Bluebirds
have plenty of quality depth at the skill positions, but they
will need new big playmakers to emerge. After graduating
12 offensive linemen from last year, theyll also need a whole
new group to jell quickly. Beau Hoge should again give
Highlands one of the most talented quarterbacks in the area,
with senior Alex Veneman likely to fill the role of big-play
wide receiver. In the backfield, junior Nick Kendall showed
promise in limited attempts last year and senior Griffin
Urlage moved over from the defensive side of the ball to add
some more athleticism and firepower to the backfield.
The defense has experience and depth returning, led by a
senior-laden linebacker crew consisting of Brady Murray,
Rocco Pangallo, Patrick Schoepf and Jacob Noe. Senior An-
drew Abner is a standout in the secondary, and will be joined
by fellow seniors Kyle Martin, Grayson Heck and James
Hinkel. Look for junior Tyler Robinson to emerge for a defen-
sive front that includes seniors DJ Mills, Matt Gall and John
Abner.
Covington Catholic
2013 record: 10-3 overall, 2-2 district (lost to Highlands in
the third round of the playoffs, 28-13)
Head coach: Dave Wirth (5th season at CovCath 41-23,
10th overall 68-47)
Key losses: RB Luke Bir, LB Sam Burchell, DB Matthew
Way, ATH Sam Dressman, WR Sam Hatter, DB Austin Ober-
hausen, DB Adam Fischer
Key returnees: Sr. QB Adam Wagner (550 total yards, 6
Tds in 4 gms.); Sr. DB Alex Wagner (1INT, 59 tackles); Sr. DB
Ben Zumdick (53 tackles, 1FR); Sr. OL Sam Murrer; Sr. DL Nate
Bailey (40 tackles, 2 sacks); Sr. WR Lee McClure (335 ReYds, 4
TDs); Jr. QB/ATH Ben Dressman (1,730 PaYds, 911RuYds, 29
TDs); Jr. RB Ben Darlington (391RuYds, 7 TDs); Jr. LB Cameron
Pitzer (80 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 FRs, 2 INTs)
Outlook: There is a palpable buzz around the CovCath
program this year. After impressively battling through injury
turmoil last year to a 10-3 record that included a trip to the
state quarterfinals, the Colonels are hoping to use the
gained experience to take the next step with a healthy roster
in 2014.
Both senior Adam Wagner and junior Ben Dressman
proved to be capable quarterbacks last year after Wagner
injured his knee in the second game of the season against
Dixie. Expect both of them to be on the field together and
getting reps under center, with Dressman possibly filling in
the do-it-all role that his older brother Sam previously filled.
Junior running back Ben Darlington should make a big jump
after getting plenty of experience as a sophomore. A deep
and senior-laden wide receiving corp, led by Lee McClure
who hauled in four touchdowns and accumulated 335 yards
receiving last season, should provide some big play ability on
the perimeter for whoever starts at quarterback. Senior
offensive tackle Sam Murrer - a 6-5, 290-pound lineman who
holds offers from Ohio, Miami and Western Kentucky Uni-
versity - will anchor the Colonels offensive line.
Junior linebacker Cameron Pitzer got a lot of experience
last year and ended up leading the team in tackles. Hell lead
the way on defense, with juniors Ethan Sammons and Lucas
Timmerman joining him at linebacker. Seniors Alex Wagner
and Ben Zumdick were very productive as juniors, and will
again be expected to make plays in the secondary. Expect
the defensive line to be a strength of the team with seniors
Nate Bailey, Chandler Brooks, Chris Holthaus and Luke
Foertsch all having size and experience.
Holmes
2013 record: 5-6 overall, 1-2 district (lost to Ashland
Blazer in the first round of the playoffs, 49-20)
Head coach: Ben Nevels (2nd season at Holmes and
overall, 5-6)
Key losses: RB/DB/KR Jon Scruggs, QB Freddie Wardlaw,
RB Bruce Scruggs, Kamron Griffith
Key returnees: Sr. WR/QB Fred Vickers (285 PaYds, 4
TDs); Jr. QB/WR Desean Brumfield (1,024 PaYds, 12 TDs); Jr.
WR/DB Shawndale Mincey (174 ReYds, 2 TDs); Sr. OL/DL Josh
Farmer; Sr. OL/DL Marco Bright; Sr. OL/DL Isaiah Bernal; Jr.
LB/RB Sean Sullivan; Jr. LB/RB Andrew Arnold; Jr. OL/DL Alex
Viancini
Top newcomers: So. SS/RB Salih Abdullah, So. RB/LB
Derrick Barnes
Outlook: Ben Nevels brought energy and excitement to
the Holmes sideline last season in his first year as head coach,
and the buy-in from the Holmes players is higher than its
been in several years. Even still, playing in a district with
Highlands and CovCath makes for a tough road each year,
with 2014 being no exception.
The Bulldogs lost two-way star Jon Scruggs to graduation
off of last years team, but they return a lot of other promis-
ing pieces from a squad that went 5-6.
On the offensive side of the ball it all starts with junior
quarterback Desean Brumfield for the Bulldogs. Brumfield
showed off his playmaking ability last year, but Nevels and
his staff are looking for more consistent play and better
decision-making this season. He should have a handful of
options at the skill positions to give the ball to senior wide
CLASS 4A
DISTRICT 7
By Rick Broering
Enquirer contributor
Holmes High School head coach Ben Nevels encourages
his team. FILE PHOTO
See CLASS 4A DISTRICT 7, Page I14
On the defensive side of the ball, there are
some big shoes to fill with the graduation of
linebacker Sam Burchell and safety Matthew
Way, but once again injuries last season have
made for an easier transition in 2014.
You look at Cameron Pitzer last year and
hes a 6-foot-3, 170-pound soaking wet kid who
made it through all 13 games and actually ended
up playing really great football as a sopho-
more, Wirth said. Fortunately for us, we kind
of got used to the post-Sam Burchell world
while Sam was still here last year. Secondary-
wise I really think were going to reload with
guys like Alex Wagner, Ben Zumdick and Caleb
Summe. Up front, weve got a lot of seniors that
are going to be really good in Chandler Brooks,
Luke Foertsch, Chris Holthaus and Nate Bailey,
and weve got a couple of underclassmen be-
hind them in Luke Shields and Brody Thorson.
Those guys arent as recognizable names but a
year from now they will be.
The talent is in place, and the Colonels look
like one of the top teams in the state, but ulti-
mately they have to hurdle their district rival in
Fort Thomas to reach their goal. The two
squads square off at Highlands on Sept. 26
during the regular season.
Weve got a goal to win a state champion-
ship every year, Roberts said. Nothing less.
Thats why the kids are here. Thats why Im
here. Its not really as much of a Highlands
thing as much as it is they are in the way of us
achieving our goal. We respect them. Theyre a
great football team, but we want a state cham-
pionship, and theyre the main competition. m
Colonels eyeing state title
Continued from Page I9
Hoge says he only plans on using his athlet-
icism, which he showed off last year by hauling
in 21 passes for 354 yards and three touchdowns
at wide receiver. As a backup to Houliston, he
completed 36 of 56 passes for 735 yards and 11
touchdowns.
While he faces the task of jumpstarting the
offense without the three biggest playmakers
from last years roster, including wide receiver
Jensen Feggins who transferred to Warren Cen-
tral where his father is now the head coach,
Hoge expects new faces to step in and replace
the production.
It stinks that Jensen left, because we were
good friends. Ill definitely miss him, Hoge
said. But Alex Veneman will step in and help
fill that role, and I think with Jensen here some
of other guys were holding back a little bit be-
cause they knew we werent going to have to
rely on them as much. Guys like Eric Miller,
Chandler New and Jack Telek are all stepping it
up and should help.
Weinrich said the coaching staff takes pride
in developing its talented signal-callers over the
course of their full career at Highlands.
We coach the sophomore quarterbacks the
same way as the senior quarterbacks, so that
they can be ready when it is their time, Wein-
rich said. We really work hard on our JV sched-
ule. Were playing Trinity, Cincinnati St. Xavier,
Elder and Scott County, so our JV is really im-
portant to us so that our guys can get reps. We
make sure those guys in practice are being
coached the same way as the varsity quarter-
backs. m
Hoge a dual threat at QB
Continued from Page I9
ment.
CovCaths coaching staff wont get too specif-
ic on how each player will be used, but its clear
that they plan on both Wagner and Dressman
playing a big role in the offense. Head coach
Dave Wirth called the situation an open competi-
tion for the starting spot.
Always has been and always will be an open
battle, Wirth said. Bottom line for us is that we
have two guys who are rather good with the ball
in their hands, so theyre both going to be on the
field.
Wirth and his staff take a creative approach to
game planning and figuring out how to use their
weapons.
From the coaching staffs perspective, we
dont say it to be curt, but we dont care whos at
quarterback and whos at running back and whos
at slot, just as long as the guys that are really
good with the ball in their hands are on the field,
Wirth said. One is right-handed and one is left-
handed, so if theyre both in the backfield thats
going to be challenging for people, especially if
were in the middle of the field.
The idea of playing two bonafide quarter-
backs on the field together makes any football
mind immediately rush to the thought of trick
plays. Roberts said the coaching staff plans on
being imaginative.
Im sure well have something up our sleeve
with both of them on the field and doing some
trick play stuff, he said. We look at it as weve
got to be creative and figure out ways to make it
a strength for us and keep them both on the field.
We think its a positive. m
Both CovCath QBs will play
Continued from Page I9