Saturday, December 02, 2000
Father, son hope for Highlands title repeat
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
Dale and Eamon Mueller
(Steven M. Herppich photo)
| ZOOM |
|
When Highlands football coach Dale Mueller sends No.46 into a game, he sees him only as a junior tailback. When Mueller is home, he sees No.46 again — his son Eamon.
Father and son become teacher and pupil for the last time this season when the Bluebirds meet Owensboro for the Class AAA state championship at noon today at old Cardinal Stadium in Louisville.
It's an arrangement that has worked well. Eamon has 1,023 yards and 21 touchdowns rushing this season along with 40 catches for 587 yards and five TDs receiving.
“Friends will joke with me about it,” Eamon said. “They kid around and say, "Coach's kid.'”
As much as Dale tries to conceal it on the sidelines, he couldn't hide his pride during practice this week.
“No way I thought he'd be a starter on the varsity,” Dale said. “End of last year, I thought he'd be our seventh or eighth (running back). He's worked so hard to develop athletically.”
Eamon's start in football was a lot like his teammates': four years on the White team in the Fort Thomas youth program, and watching former Bluebirds Justin Frisk and Steve Lickert lead the team to second place in the state in 1995 and win the title in 1996.
Did the father push his son into football? Eamon said no.
“When I was younger, I played soccer for a while,” Eamon said. “I had more fun playing football. I used to like watching football with my dad at Sycamore and Withrow.”
Highlands is loaded with talent this season. Senior quarterback Gino Guidugli has a thrown for a state-record 48 touchdowns, and senior receiver Brett Hamblen has 1,324 yards and a state-record 27 TDs for the Bluebirds, who are ranked 15th in the USA Today national poll.
But the younger Mueller has contributed significantly, too: He scored nine of his touchdowns in the last four games, and his 38-yard score against AAAA finalist Louisville Trinity in August clinched a 42-29 win.
At 5-foot-7, 163 pounds, Eamon is one of the team's smallest running backs. But he's also one of the toughest to tackle when he hides behind Highlands' large offensive line.
“Eamon I would classify as a shifty runner,” Highlands running backs coach Mike Burns said. “He's got great quickness and great anticipation.”
Said Eamon: “I try to fake people out.”
In addition to winning its 15th state football title, Highlands could become the first Kentucky AAA team to capture three straight championships. Beechwood won four in Class A from 1991-94, and Trinity won three in Class AAAA from 1988-90.
Eamon said a third straight title would be special.
“This is the first year I'm really part of the varsity team,” he said.
Complete prep football coverage at Enquirer.com/prepfootball
Sports Stories
Bengals will have most salary cap room in 2001
SULLIVAN: Mike Brown won't quit
Stadium costs more yet
Mitchell upgraded to 'probable'
Cardinals scouting report
XU aims to make statement at Wisconsin
Reds get reliever Wallace
Notre Dame ousts UC in NCAA volleyball
Father, son hope for Highlands title repeat
