Saturday, September 16, 2000
Highlands seeks respect vs. Elder
By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The curiosity factor is the big draw tonight for the Elder-Highlands game. Not to see Paul Brown Stadium, but to see if Highlands is worthy of its hype, and if Northern Kentucky's brand of football matches up with Cincinnati's.
“Everybody's talking about the Kentucky-Ohio rivalry,” Elder senior tailback Kyle Koester said.
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AT A GLANCE
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• What: Elder (1-1) vs. Highlands (3-0)
• When/where: 7:30 p.m. today, Paul Brown Stadium
• Tickets: $14, $10 for students
• Radio: WTSJ-AM (1050)
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Fans are trading barbs on talk radio. They're burning up the message boards at Enquirer.com/prepfootball. They're taunting in the stands.
“Our fans say, "Don't come back to Price Hill unless you win,” Elder senior linebacker P.J. Volker said. “My dad's side of the family is from Kentucky, and they've been saying Kentucky wants respect.”
Highlands (3-0) is among the nation's top 15 teams in eight national ratings. The TonyBianco.com ratings have the Bluebirds third, putting them in range of a mythical national championship.
“We've got that kind of talent,” Highlands senior defensive lineman Ben Scott said. “I knew in the seventh grade that we were going to have a great team when we were seniors.”
Bianco's ratings have Concord (Calif.) DeLaSalle first and West Monroe (La.) second, and he said both those teams likely would have to lose for Highlands to have a chance at No.1.
“They may not get (to No.1),” Bianco said. “But if they go 15-0, I wouldn't be surprised to see Highlands in the top five of everyone's ratings.”
Now forget ratings and talk revenge. Highlands lost 35-14 at Elder last year, its only defeat in its last 32 games.
“We've been looking forward to this ever since winter weights started (two days after last season),” Scott said.
Elder (1-1) can't claim similar motivation. But a victory today could be a big-point gain in the Harbin computer ratings, propelling the Panthers toward the playoffs.
Last year, Elder outscored Highlands 28-0 after halftime. With Koester carrying 42 times for 227 yards and two touchdowns, the Panthers figure they wore down the Bluebirds, who had several two-way players. Elder is a two-platoon team.
“I don't think that was entirely the case last year,” Highlands coach Dale Mueller said. “And we're nearly a two-platoon team ourself this year.”
Highlands has 16 returning starters and Elder only eight. Highlands senior wide receiver/defensive back Brett Hamblen is the game's only two-way starter.
Hamblen, the Enquirer's 1999 Northern Kentucky Player of the Year, has caught 15 passes for 330 yards and nine TDs, returned an interception for a score, and averages 23 yards per kick return.
Highlands senior quarterback Gino Guidugli has thrown for 887 yards and 12 TDs. He takes snaps in shotgun formation and often sends deep five receivers at a time.
“They're kind of scary,” Elder coach Doug Ramsey said. “They can score at any point.”
The 250-pound Koester, who has 303 yards rushing thus far, should again be the workhorse tonight. And new QB Matt Scholl is improving, having thrown for 183 yards and two TDs last week against Western Hills.
“I think stopping Koester is the key to the game,” Scott said.”
Past Ohio-Kentucky border battles
Today's Fearless Predictions
Elder QB looking for improvement
Highlands QB seeks revenge
Sports Stories
Cincinnati football scores
How ranked teams fared
Northern Kentucky football scores
Ohio football scores
Kentucky football scores
Indiana football scores
Today's Cincinnati games
Today's N.Ky. games
 Highlands seeks respect vs. Elder
Past Ohio-Kentucky border battles
Today's Fearless Predictions
Elder QB looking for improvement
Highlands QB seeks revenge
Anderson 31, Mason 7
Batavia 21, Williamsburg 18
Bellevue 33, Rowan County 9
Blanchester 48, Jamestown Greenview 16
Boone County 28, Conner 7
Chaminade Julienne 38, Purcell Marian 13
Cin. Country Day 53, CHCA 7
Colerain 37, Sycamore 0
Fairfield 28, Lakota West 20
Finneytown 34, Deer Park 13
Glen Este 21, Harrison 14
Henry Clay 28, Ryle 10
Indian Hill 27, Mariemont 0
Kings 45, Norwood 10
Landmark 38, Lockland 6
Lebanon 48, Little Miami 6
Lemon-Monroe 53, Dayton Stebbins 0
Lex. Bryan Station 34, Campbell County 6
Lloyd 27, Fleming Co. 17
Loveland 33, Goshen 6
Madeira 26, Reading 12
Canton McKinley 28, LaSalle 21
Miamisburg 27, Edgewood 12
Middletown Madison 20, Carlisle 12
Milford 38, Hamilton 24
Moeller 21, Bethlehem Catholic 6
Mount Healthy 41, Taft 0
N.Ky. high school results
New Richmond 22, Western Brown 8
Nicholas County 49, Ludlow 0
Ohio high school results
Princeton 35, Oak Hills 13
Ross 25, Wilmington 6
Simon Kenton 16, Scott County 14
Summit Country Day 38, N. College Hill 10
Talawanda 20, Dayton Carroll 10
Turpin 35, Northwest 28
Walnut Hills 19, Hughes 0
West Carter 42, Newport 14
Western Hills 40, Woodward 6
Winton Woods 21, Amelia 7
Withrow 33, Aiken 8
Wyoming 37, Taylor 14
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