By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
One of the most dramatic games in Northern Kentucky high school football last season was Campbell County’s 24-21 win over Highlands. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Nic Mayer kicked a 30-yard field goal to give the Camels their first win over the Bluebirds in 25 years.
When the two teams meet again on Friday in Ft. Thomas, it will be interesting to see if Campbell County comes out on top once again or if Highlands improves on its 53-10 all-time record in the long-standing series.
Campbell County head coach Steve Lickert, who played at Highlands, had an 0-5 record in games against his former team before last year’s victory. The Camels entered this season with their top three offensive players returning — quarterback Austin Hoeh, running back Alex Dowds and Mayer, who was the team’s leading pass receiver.
Highlands has mostly first-year starters in the offensive lineup this season and head coach Brian Weinrich has put one of his assistants in charge of calling plays. That gives Weinrich a chance to focus on the defensive unit that gave up 40 points or more in seven of the team’s eight losses last year.
Both teams ran the ball well in season-opening victories last Friday. Dowds scored all four of Campbell County’s touchdowns in a 27-23 win over Dixie Heights. Highlands picked up 158 of its 251 total yards on the ground in a 42-22 win over Cooper.
The standout performer for Highlands was junior running back Cooper Schwalbach, who picked up 150 yards on 29 carries and scored four TDs. But the team’s other ball carriers had a net total of just eight rushing yards.
Highlands senior defensive back Joe Steiden set a school record with four pass interceptions against Cooper. Taylor Harrison also picked off a pass and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown that put the Bluebirds ahead, 22-11 in the third quarter. Schwalbach then scored three straight touchdowns to extend the lead to 42-11.
Campbell County trailed, 16-0, at halftime of last Friday’s game against Dixie Heights. The Camels kept the ball on the ground during the second half and Dowds fueled his team’s comeback. He rushed for two touchdowns in the third quarter and two more in the fourth quarter.
That means stopping the run on defense and limiting turnovers on offense will be the main order of business for both teams in Friday’s game that starts at 7 p.m.
All of the high school football teams in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties have games on Friday’s schedule. It will be the first game of the season for four local teams, including defending Class A state champion Beechwood.
Holmes will be playing the first game on its new synthetic grass field Friday and two long-standing rivalries will be renewed in the Dayton-Bellevue and Boone County-Conner match-ups.