It has been 14 years since Highlands last won a state title. It’s the school’s longest drought between crowns since winning the program’s first of 23 in 1960. The past three seasons under head coach Bob Sphire has seen the Bluebirds make it to the final four twice and the elite eight once. The 2026 squad appears to have enough talent to make another deep playoff run and the veteran leadership to end the futility.
Highlands will lean on its defense early in the season. “Our defensive line is experienced and the linebacking core is the most athletic we have had,” Sphire states. Twins Cooper and Griffin Benke are menacing defensive ends and arguably the best duo at the position in Class 4A. Gabe Williams, one of the area’s best players who doesn’t have an FBS offer, is an assassin in the secondary. Williams also excels as a return man on special teams and a versatile weapon on offense.
It might take a while for the offense to gel. “We lost 4 starters on the offensive line and that may not sort itself out fully until District play begins. Our sophomore quarterback, Bryce Anderson may take some time to get comfortable with the speed of Friday nights, but his talent is undeniable,” Sphire says.
The Bluebirds love to spread the wealth on offense. Anderson will have an array of proven commodities to lean on. Tayden Lorenzen is a beast in the red zone with 34 career touchdowns (22 rush, 12 rec). Lorenzen, Williams and Colton Kremer have combined for 1,684 yards rushing at the varsity level. Highlands returns players that accounted for 79% of its receptions, 80% of its receiving yards and 76% of its touchdown receptions a year ago.
A brutal schedule has the Bluebirds facing seven teams that won at least eight games in 2025 including nemesis and reigning Class 4A state champion, Boyle County. Highlands probably won’t go undefeated during the regular season but they are going to be more than well prepared to handle anything that they go up against in the playoffs. Don’t count this team out in the quest for a state championship.
Class 4A, District 5
2025 RECORD: 10-3, 3-0 Class 4A, District 5
COACH: Bob Sphire (47-17 at Highlands, five years; 326-120 overall, 36 years)
HONOR ROLL
Tayden Lorenzen, Sr, FB/WR/TE, 6-3/235
Verbally committed to: Miami (OH).
2025Honor: KFCA Class 4A, District 5 POY, First Team All-NKY (for a second straight year) & Second Team All-TriState Football (TE) & TSF NKY Offensive Player of the Year Finalist
2025 Stats: 105 PaYds, 2 PaTDs, 541 RuYds, 18 RuTDs, 26 rec., 321 ReYds, 4 ReTDs, 4 Tkls, 1.0 TFL, 1 Int & 25 IRYs
Career Stats: : 292 PaYds, 4 PaTDs, 775 RuYds, 22 RuTDs, 57 rec., 684 ReYds, 12 ReTDs, 4 Tkls, 1.0 TFL, 1 Int & 25 IRYs
Cooper Benke, Sr, DE, 6-5.5/255
Offers from: Army, Air Force, Ball State, Buffalo, Eastern Kentucky, Lindenwood, Middle Tennessee State & Navy
2025 Honors: First Team All-NKY (DL)
2025 Stats: 40 Tkls, 3.0 sacks, 3.0 TFLs
Griffin Benke, Sr, DE, 6-6/235
Offers from: Air Force, Army, Buffalo, Cornell, Eastern Kentucky, Lindenwood, Michigan State, Middle Tennessee State & Navy
2025 Honors: Second Team All-NKY
2025 Stats: 33 Tkls, 3.0 sacks & 10.0 TFLs
Gabe Williams, Sr, RB/DB, 5-9, 185
2025 Honors: 1st Team All-NKY (DB)(for a second straight year) & 3rd Team All-TSF (Second Team in 2024)
2025 Stats: 7G, 254 RuYds, 1 RuTD, 21 rec., 234 ReYds, 343 KR/PRYs, 909 APYds, 31 Tkls, 3.0 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 2 Ints, 78 IRYs & 1 IRTD
Career Stats: 709 RuYds, 5 RuTDs, 31 rec., 412 ReYds, 3 ReTDs, 952 KR/PRYs, 2,054 APYds, 84 Tkls, 12.0 TFLs, 2 FFs, 2 FRs, 5 Ints, 111 IRYs & 1 IRTD
Cale Harris, Sr, WR/P, 6-2/190
2025 Honors: First Team All-NKY (P) (Second Team in 2024)
2025 Stats: 14 PaYds, 29 rec., 331 ReYds, 3 ReTDs, 30.3 on 18 punts, Lng 55, 6 In20
Career Stats: 314 PaYds, 5 PaTDs, 29 rec., 331 ReYds, 3 ReTDs, 33.1 on 43 punts, Lng 55, 21 In20
OTHER RETURNEES
John Feldbruegge, Sr, WR/DB, 5-7/150
2025 Stats: 17 RuYds, 30 rec., 505 ReYds, 5 ReTDs, 63 PRYs, 1 PRTD, 591 APYds, 10 Tkls, 2 Ints & 16 IRYs Career Stats: 26 RuYds, 36 rec., 648 ReYds, 7 ReTDs, 63 PRYs, 1 PRTD, 733 APYds, 11 Tkls, 2 Ints & 16 IRYs
Colton Kremer, Jr, RB/LB, 6-1/200
2025 Stats: 432 RuYds, 3 RuTDs, 14 rec., 215 ReYds,2 ReTDs, 19 KRYs, 666 APYds & 4 Tkls
Andrew Swope, Sr, OL/DL, 6-3/255
Chase Jacob, Sr, WR/DB, 6-1/ 175
2025 Stats: 8 rec., 80 ReYds, 1 ReTD & 103 KRYs
Malakai Anderson, Sr, K, 5-8, 155
2025 Stats: 52/55 XPs, 3/7 FGs, Lng 43 for 61 KPts
Dom Listerman, Jr, TE/LB, 6-0/205
2025 Stats: 6G, 3 rec., 28 ReYds & 6 Tkls
NEWCOMERS
Bryce Armstrong, So, QB, 6-1/195
2025 Stats: 6G, 208 PaYds, 65 RuYds, 1 RuTD, 6 rec., 120 ReYds, 3 ReTDs, 48 KR/PRYs, 262 APYds, 3 Tkls, 1 Int & 29 IRYs
Quinton Simon, So, WR/DB, 5-10/170
2025 Stats: 2G, 3 rec., 74 ReYds & 2 ReTDs as so.
Nick Stojkovic, So, LB, 6-2/220
2025 Stats: 14 RuYds, 2 Tkls & 1.0 TFL as so.
Ben Kuhnein, Jr, WR/DB, 6-2/190
2025 Stats: 1 Tkl & 1 Int
Caleb Atkins, So, OL/DL, 6-4/280
PLAYOFF HISTORY
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)
2026 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/21/26 – at Frederick Douglass (8-5 in 2025) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/28/26 – COOPER (8-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/04/26 – at Campbell County (3-8) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/11/26 – BOYLE COUNTY (14-1) – 7:30 PM Class 4A state champions
Fri – 09/18/26 – at Ryle (10-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/25/26 – HARRISON COUNTY (1-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/02/26 – at Covington County (9-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/09/26 – ELDER (OH) (12-1) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/16/26 – MASON COUNTY (3-8) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/23/26 – at Scott County (9-4) – 7:30 PM
Fri – 10/30/26 – BYE
