By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Highlands football players made big plays and took advantage of some big breaks in a 38-9 win over Simon Kenton on Friday in Ft. Thomas.
Brycen Huddleston opened the game with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The Bluebirds also scored on a fourth-down pass by back-up quarterback Collin Hollingsworth and a 35-yard fumble return by linebacker Jackson Hagedorn.
Highlands got another touchdown after Simon Kenton’s punter recovered a snap that sailed over his head and turned the ball over on downs at the 10 yard line.
That’s why Highlands was able to come away with the victory even though Simon Kenton finished with a 270-245 advantage in offensive yards.
“That’s really the determining stat in games — big plays,” said Highlands coach Brian Weinrich. “You’ve got to try and make them in all three phases. We felt like we left a couple out there offensively. We’ve got to figure out how to get those done.”
It was the first loss of the season for Simon Kenton (5-1) and the third straight win for Highlands (5-1). The Pioneers had won the last three games between the teams, but they had a tough time moving the ball Friday.
Simon Kenton got its lone touchdown on a 38-yard run by senior quarterback Caleb Farfsing in the first quarter. The Pioneers either punted or turned the ball over on every other offensive possession. The fact that Farfsing and running back Austin Hammack left the game with injuries didn’t help matters.
“It wasn’t a very good night and I take responsibility for it all,” said Simon Kenton coach Jeff Marksberry. “We had a good start to our season, but now it’s back to the drawing board and try to fix some of our mistakes and try to make this team better.”
After he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, Huddleston played linebacker in the Highlands defensive unit that held Simon Kenton well below its 379 yards per game average.
Coach Weinrich said keeping Farfsing in check was the main focus of his team’s defensive game plan.
“We watched film on them and he’s really good,” Weinrich said. “They want the ball in his hands and I can understand why. They have a nice scheme with him and I felt we executed our game plan against it really well.”
When the Bluebirds got the ball at the 10-yard line after the botched punt snap, they were penalized 15 yards for offensive pass interference on the next play. But quarterback Grady Cramer lofted 25-yard touchdown pass to Adam Weyer to give their team a 14-0 lead with 9:41 left in the first quarter.
Farfsing scored Simon Kenton’s touchdown on the next offensive series, but a 33-yard field goal by Highlands senior Nick Bowman extended his team’s lead to 17-7.
Late in the second quarter, officials pulled Cramer out of the game to go through concussion protocol after taking a hard hit to the helmet. Hollingsworth came in to replace him and the left-hander completed five of six passes, including as 4-yard touchdown strike to Austin King that put Highlands ahead, 24-7, at halftime.
The only touchdown in the third quarter came on Hagedorn’s 35-yard fumble return. In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, Simon Kenton tackled a ball carrier in the end zone for a two-point safety and Highlands running back Joe Buten scored on a 69-yard breakaway run.
The Bluebirds have a week off to prepare to their Class 5A district games against Dixie Heights on Oct. 5 and Covington Catholic on Oct. 12. In the latest statewide power ratings, Highlands was right behind defending state champion CovCath.
“We definitely feel great because it shows we’re here,” Huddleston said. “I love it because this team has energy right now. We feel great about this win and we’re going to go in tomorrow and get better and get better next week and be ready for (Dixie Heights).”
Farfsing had 59 yards passing and 84 yards rushing to account for 143 of Simon Kenton’s 270 yards. Cramer and Hollingsworth had a combined total of 152 passing yards for Highlands. The team picked up 93 yards on the ground with Buten getting 69 on his late touchdown run.
There were 17 penalties called in the game. Simon Kenton was flagged 12 times for 122 yards and Highlands had six penalties for 48 yards.
SIMON KENTON 7 0 0 2 — 9
HIGHLANDS 17 7 7 7 — 38
H — Huddleston 90 kickoff return (Bowman kick)
H– Weyer 25 pass from Cramer (Bowman kick)
SK — Farfsing 38 run (Seger kick)
H — Bowman 33 FG
H — King 4 pass from Hollingsworth (Bowman kick)
H — Hagedorn 35 fumble return (Bowman kick)
SK — Safety: ball carrier tackled in end zone
H — Buten 69 run (Bowman kick)
RECORDS: Highlands 5-1, Simon Kenton 5-1.
High school football scoreboard
FRIDAY
Highlands 38, Simon Kenton 9
Boone County 28, Dixie Heights 27
Conner 34, Newport Central Catholic 18
Scott 50, Mason County 0
Holmes 6, Harrison County 0
Bracken County 38, Dayton 7
Covington Catholic 35, Columbus de Sales (Ohio) 14
Nicholas County 28, Brossart 14
Walton-Verona 34, Owen County 0
Frankfort 42, Newport 21
Lloyd 26, Grant County 12
Williamsburg 41, Ludlow 12
SATURDAY
Beechwood vs. Holy Cross at Scott, 11 a.m.