Preview: Highlands at Cooper

It’s a rematch of the 2023 Class 5A state semifinal as Cooper looks to get back to the championship for a second straight year. Highlands is hoping to avenge last year’s hurtful loss to the Jaguars in the postseason. It’s a Blitz 5 Game of the Week that is filled with great storylines.

This will be the fourth time in the last 23 games (since September 22nd, 2023) that these two Class 5A, District 6 schools will face off, in what has morphed into one of the great rivalries in Northern Kentucky. The Jaguars have won the last two in this series with the previous three affairs all being decided by seven points or less. Like the previous three battles, put your money on this one coming down to the last possession.

HIGHLANDS BLUEBIRDS (11-2) at #1 COOPER JAGUARS (13-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., November 29th, 2024
Where: Cooper H.S.
Follow on X: @TSFootball

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Quarterback Rio Litmer has stepped up his game down the stretch for Highlands. The junior has thrown for 2,528 yards and 31 touchdowns. His top two targets are seniors Adam Surrey and Jackson Arnold. Surrey has 54 receptions for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns. Arnold has reeled in 51 balls for 827 yards and nine scores. Sophomore Tayden Lorenzen has found the end zone eight times on 26 catches. Classmate Gabe Williams stars on both sides of the ball with a team leading five interceptions, eight tackles for losses with
495 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns on offense.

Highlands QB Rio Litmer (photo by: Chris Granger/X: @regargc)

Cooper quarterback Cam O’Hara has thrown for 3,070 yards with 45 touchdown passes and only two interceptions. The junior has 113 touchdown passes in his career, 11th most in Kentucky history. He is 32 touchdowns away from the state record. The recipient of 51 of those scoring tosses (22 in 2024) is senior Isaiah Johnson. That is good for eighth most in state history. Balancing out the offense is running back Keagan Maher, who has 1,433 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns (22 rush, three rec). Senior Austin Alexander has 271 tackles and 45.5 sacks in his career. The North Carolina-bound Alexander also has 150 receptions, 2,432 yards receiving and 36 touchdown catches (tied for 26th most in Kentucky history) in a Jaguars’ uniform.

TEAM TRENDS: Highlands has three wins over schools who are in the state semifinals – Class 1A Raceland, Class 3A Lexington Catholic and Class 4A Covington Catholic. The Bluebirds two losses are to state semifinalists, Class 5A Cooper by three points and Class 6A Ryle by six points.

Cooper is 3-0 against state semifinalists with victories over Class 5A Highlands, Class 6A Great Crossing and Class 6A Ryle.

Cooper is the highest scoring team in Class 5A with 583 points (44.8 points per game). Highlands is the second highest scoring team in Class 5A with 518 points (39.8 points per game). They are the only two Class 5A schools to top the 500 point mark this season. Both have scored 42 points or more in each of their last seven games.

HEAD COACHES:
Highlands: Bob Sphire (37-13 at Highlands, fourth year; 316-116 overall, 35th year)

Cooper: Randy Borchers (109-90 at Cooper, 17th year; 117-102 overall, 19th year)

PLAYOFF HISTORY:
HIGHLANDS
State Champion (23) – 2014 (4A), 2012 (4A), 2011 (4A), 2010 (5A), 2009 (5A), 2008 (5A), 2007 (5A), 2004 (3A), 2000 (3A), 1999 (3A), 1998 (3A), 1996 (3A), 1992 (3A), 1989 (3A), 1982 (3A), 1982 (3A), 1981 (3A), 1977 (3A), 1975 (3A), 1970 (3A), 1968 (2A), 1964 (2A), 1961 (2A) & 1960 (2A)

State Runner-up (six) –  2013 (4A), 2003 (3A), 1995 (3A), 1966 (2A), 1963 (2A) & 1959 (2A)

COOPER
State Runner-up (two) – 2023 (5A) & 2012 (5A)

HIGHLANDS’ KEYS TO VICTORY: Closing the deal is about the only thing the Bluebirds haven’t done versus Cooper in the last two meetings. Staying true to the Highlands way is imperative. Confidence and motivation will not be missing from this team on Friday night and that will be a plus.

COOPER’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Stay away from turnovers and the Jaguars will be in this affair from start to finish. The defense and special teams have been able to put points on the board. If they can do that again, it could keep this from being a nip-and-tuck game down the stretch.
 

Prediction: Cooper 28, Highlands 21

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