By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Highlands sophomore quarterback Bryce Armstrong provided 263 yards and four touchdowns with his rushing and passing during a 45-6 win over Cooper on Friday in Ft. Thomas.
The first-year starter completed 8 of 13 passes for 161 yards and two TDs. He also rushed for 102 yards on 11 carries and scored twice. In two games, Armstrong has totaled 318 yards passing and 182 rushing for the 1-1 Bluebirds.
After scoring on its first three offensive possessions, Highlands took a 28-0 lead on a 4-yard interception return by senior linebacker Tayden Lorenzen.
A 57-yard touchdown pass from Armstrong to junior Ben Kuhnhein and extra-point kick by senior Kai Anderson put the Bluebirds ahead, 35-0, and started a running clock.
Cooper’s only touchdown came on a 6-yard run by Cole Ewing in the third quarter. The Jaguars finished with 136 total yards compared to 326 for the Bluebirds.
In the closest games on Friday, Ludlow clipped Holmes, 20-18, Boone County got past St. Henry, 34-31, and Simon Kenton won a scoring battle against Western Brown of Ohio, 34-27.
Campbell County remained undefeated with a 47-14 win over Pulaski Southwestern. First-year quarterback Xander Guy completed 10 of 18 269 yards and four touchdowns in the win. Ayden Earls caught three of his passes for 142 yards and two TDs.
COOPER 0 6 0 0 — 6
HIGHLANDS 28 7 0 10 — 45
H — John Feldbrugge 32 pass from Bryce Armstrong (kick failed)
H — Armstrong 2 run (Tayden Lorenzen run)
H — Colt Kremer 3 run (Kai Anderson kick)
H — Lorenzen 4 interception return (Anderson kick)
H — Ben Kuhnhein 57 pass from Armstrong (Anderson kick)
C — Cole Ewing 6 run (kick failed)
H — Armstrong 16 run (Parker Shaw kick)
H — Shaw 35 FG
RECORDS: Highlands 1-1, Cooper 1-1.
Friday night football scoreboard
Beechwood 42, Indian Hill 0
Nicholas County 40, Bellevue 12
Boone County 34, St. Henry 31
Lexington Sayre 42, Brossart 0
Campbell County 47, Pulaski Southwestern 14
Ryle 36, Conner 21
Highlands 45, Cooper 6
Cincinnati Elder 56, Covington Catholic 20
Dayton 37, Pendleton County 7
Hamilton Badin 42, Dixie Heights 13
Ludlow 20, Holmes 18
Holy Cross 41, Bracken County 6
Lloyd 43, Newport 0
Paintsville 22, Newport Central Catholic 7
Bullitt Central 46, Scott 28
Simon Kenton 34, Western Brown 27