Friday, October 15, 1999
Prelude to a state crown?
Highlands- Dixie winner will contend
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It's Northern Kentucky's No.1 vs. No.2. In reality, it's probably much more.
When Dixie Heights visits Highlands tonight, football fans might be watching the future state champion. The question is, which is it?
“These could very well be the two best teams in (Class) AAA this year,” Highlands coach Dale Mueller said.
Though Highlands (6-1) and Dixie (6-1) rank 1-2, respectively, in the Enquirer's coaches poll, Associated Press voters remain largely unconvinced by Dixie's success. They rank Highlands first in AAA but Dixie seventh.
Instead, trust the state's two power ratings to confirm this game's weight: The Litkenhous ratings have Highlands and Dixie 1-2, respectively in AAA; the Cantrall ratings list Highlands first and Dixie third, with Bowling Green in between.
Though Highlands has beaten Dixie 18 straight times and hasn't lost to the Colonels in 26 years, Dixie has far bigger goals this fall than just ending this jinx.
“I don't want to put all the clout on, "Beating Highlands makes your year,'” Dixie coach Tom Spritzky said. “Both teams are trying to accomplish the same thing: winning a state championship. Whoever comes out of here in
AAA often does that.”
Usually, that's Highlands or Covington Catholic. Between them, they own nine of the last 12 AAA titles (CovCath five, Highlands four). In the last seven years, their only miss was Highlands' runner-up finish in 1995.
Mueller said Dixie's No.7 state rank is obscenely low.
“Dixie winds up getting overshadowed by Highlands and CovCath, because we've won state titles,” he said. “But they've been pointing toward this year for a long time, and they've got a great team.
“I'll say this: This is Round One of Highlands-Dixie. We'll meet again (in the playoffs); that's the one that counts.”
Highlands has outscored opponents by an average score of 43-19; Dixie has done so by a 42-9 count. Between them, they average nearly 800 yards a game of offense (Dixie 411.4, Highlands 384).
There's a role reversal in at least one sense. Last year Highlands had the guys known on a one-name basis: Lorenzen. Smith. Ulbricht. Gibson.
Now Mueller finds himself rattling off Dixie stars in the same fashion.
“Look at those big names — Schneider, Soden, Blackwell, Unkraut and Unkraut, Stamper, Zeller,” he said. “They're all seniors and at least two-year starters.”
To recap: Andy Schneider is the top receiver (20 catches, 430 yards) and a defensive back; Jason Soden is the tailback (1,139 yards, 18 TDs); Brett Blackwell is a star lineman; Chris Unkraut is the quarterback (1,138 yards, 12 TDs), with twin brother Tom a receiver (15 catches, 327 yards); Scott Stamper is a four- year starter at linebacker; Bob Zeller is another strong linebacker.
Chris Unkraut has thrown just three interceptions; he threw 15 last year. Soden, who gained 841 yards last year, is Northern Kentucky's top rusher by more than 200 yards.
Soden should be a key tonight.
“We can't get in a scoring duel,” Spritzky said. “We have to control the ball and keep it away from them.”
Highlands has the area's most prolific QB, junior Gino Guidugli (1,384 yards, 16 TDs), and slippery tailback Brenden Zenni (695 yards, 13 TDs). Brett Hamblen has 22 catches for 476 yards and six interceptions.
“I've been really pleased with the way our guys have played,” Mueller said. “So many of them are young, but they're improving every week.”
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