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Dixie Heights readies for encore
- Updated: July 20, 2015
Last year was a dream season for the Dixie Heights Colonels. A 13-game winning streak ended in the 6A title game against Louisville Trinity, but head coach David Brossart’s 2014 squad staked their claim as the best Dixie Heights team in the 78-year history of the program.
But, with the graduation of 17 seniors, including do-everything quarterback Drew Moore, rebuilding will be the word in Crestview Hills in the 2015 season.
Moore accounted for 7,500 yards and over 80 touchdowns in his three years as the Colonels quarterback. Luke Zajac ran for over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns in and was a stalwart on defense as a linebacker last fall. Eastern Michigan-bound DT Branden Johnson and leading tackler LB Luke Caple will need to be replaced on defense as well.
The Colonels do return key contributors all over the field, and developing a winning mentality after the last two years will ensure that Dixie Heights is a formidable opponent as they move down to Class 5A, District 5 to challenge defending 5A state champion Highlands as well as perennial power and arch-rival Covington Catholic.
Junior RB Cam Barrett is the leading returning rusher, and should get help from Keagan Butler and Noah Caple carrying the rock. Gunther Faeth, who is the top returning receiver from a year ago. Noah Smedley will be among those competing for playing time at quarterback. The leaders on defense will be DL Jack Lohre, DB Ethan Schulte and LB Caple. Schulte also handles the kicking duties and is a huge plus on special teams.
Class 5A, District 5
2014 Record: 13-2, 4-0 in 6A, District 6, Class 6A state runner-up
Coach: David Brossart (21-14 at Dixie Heights, three years, 48-48 overall, eight years)
TOP RETURNEES
Ethan Schulte, Sr WR/FS/K- Standout on the defensive side of the ball, also was a weapon handling kicking duties.
Noah Caple, Sr LB – The Colonels leading returning tackler will have big senior season.
Jack Lohre, Sr DL – Will be expected to shoulder more of the load up front with the graduation of Branden Johnson.
Cam Barrett, Jr RB/LB – Played extensively in the Colonels backfield as a sophomore, will be a focal part of the rushing attack as a junior, ran for 568 yards and eight touchdowns in 2014.
Keagan Butler, Sr, RB/LB – Ran for a touchdown in limited carries in ’14. Multiple ball carriers are utilized in the Colonels rushing attack, so opportunity will be there for production.
Senior linemen Kenny Morales and Miguel Guzman and depth in the trenches. Classmate Brandon Brown does the same at receiver.
SCHEDULE
Moving down in class doesn’t mean moving down in schedule strength. County rival Scott returns to the schedule for the first time since 2011, and the Eagles are no longer the doormat the Colonels encountered in the past. Milford replaces Turpin as the Ohio non-district opponent. Five of northern Kentucky’s six 6A programs appear on the schedule, including a revenge minded Simon Kenton squad. The Colonels travel to Highlands and Grant County in district, while Covington Catholic will be the only district opponent to visit Rice Mountjoy Stadium.
2014 POST-SEASON REVISITED
The Colonels rolled through their first four opponents in the 2014 6A playoffs before running into the juggernaut known as Louisville Trinity.
The first three opponents were all teams they had beaten in the regular season. Home wins over Tates Creek (46-10) and Ryle (46-21) set them up for a regional title game against county rival Simon Kenton. The Pioneers only lost two games in 2014, but both were resounding losses to Dixie Heights, 36-10 in the regular season game, and 24-0 in the regional final, giving the Colonels their first regional title in school history.
The Colonels then hosted Louisville Ballard in the 6-A state semi-final, and after an early score by the Bruins, the Colonels took control and cruised to a 48-21 win to earn their first ever state title appearance against the Trinity Shamrocks, behind 282 rushing yards and allowing the Bruins only 90 yards of offense.
Dixie Heights started off well in the title game, going up 6-0 on a touchdown run by Moore, but Trinity ran off 47 points in a row to ensure their 23rd state title in school history.
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