Brett Hamblen makes a TD catch while defended by Holmesą Jamarcus White (8) and Simar Rice. (Mike Simons photos) | ZOOM |

        Senior quarterback Gino Guidugli threw for eight touchdowns — including three apiece to senior Brett Hamblen and junior Eamon Mueller — on the way to the Highlands' 81-0 win over Holmes at Ellis Stadium Friday night.

        Highlands, The Enquirer's top Northern Kentucky team and the No.1 team in the Class AAA state rankings, clinched the Region 3, District 5 title. By the end of the game, it was hard to imagine what Kentucky team could keep the Bluebirds from winning their third straight state title.

        And harder still to determine what was more impressive: the 684 yards Highlands gained on offense; Guidugli's 396 passing yards; or the Bluebirds defense that held Holmes to just 63 yards.

        “You have to be able to move the ball, and we didn't all night,” Holmes coach John Vander Meer said.

Gino Guidugli celebrates a touchdown pass. | ZOOM |

        Highlands senior linebacker Brent Grover said if Friday wasn't the Bluebirds' best effort on defense, it was close.

        “We tried to force them to drive, and we thought we could stop that,” Grover said. “We just didn't want to give up any big plays.”

        Said Highlands coach Dale Mueller: “I don't think we can get much better.”

        Going into Friday, Holmes thought it had the speed to stay with Highlands' receivers. It seemed that way on the opening kickoff, when the Bulldogs pinned the Bluebirds on their own 10-yard line on the opening kickoff.

        But 13 seconds later, Hamblen to streaked down the right sideline, caught Guidugli's pass between Holmes' Simar Rice and Jamarcus White, and took it in for the score — a play that covered 90 yards.

Eamon Mueller is hit by Robert Campbell (up) and Kevin Kendall. | ZOOM |

        “We wanted to come out and set the tone the first play,” Hamblen said. “Their defense was set up perfectly for that play. The line gave Gino plenty of time.”

        And Holmes never recovered.

        Two plays into Holmes' first possession, Rice fumbled and Hamblen recovered. Five plays later, Guidugli completed a 6-yard pass to junior Eamon Mueller for a touchdown.

        A 23-yard reverse by Hamblen and Guidugli's 19-yard pass to Mueller made it 28-0 after one quarter. It was the second straight game that Highlands had scored that many points in 12 minutes.

Holmes' Simar Rice is pursued by Nick Taylor. | ZOOM |

        Holmes seemed on the verge of scoring Holmes when senior Antwan Curry intercepted Guidugli's pass and took the ball 46 yards to the Highlands 6. But Highlands blocked junior Jeffrey Hughes' 19-yard field-goal attempt with 4:11 left in the first quarter.

        Junior kicker Derek Chuke seemed to be the only Bluebird who had problems on offense — he missed three conversion kicks.

        Highlands' halftime statistics added up to numbers any team would love to have for a game. The Bluebirds ran 12 times for 172 yards and had 507 yards of total offense, and the defense held Holmes to just 35.

        Highlands ....... 28  25  14  14-81

        Holmes ....... 0   0   0   0— 0

        High—Hamblen 90 pass from G. Guidugli (Chuke kick)

        High—E. Mueller 6 pass from G. Guidugli (Chuke kick)

        High—Hamblen 23 run (Chuke kick)

        High—E. Mueller 19 pass from G. Guidugli (Chuke kick)

        High—Donelan 8 pass from G. Guidugli, (Chuke kick)

        High—E. Mueller 20 pass from G. Guidugli (kick failed)

        High—Hamblen 37 pass from G. Guidugli (kick failed)

        High—Hamblen 3 pass from G. Guidugli (kick failed)

        High—J. Guidugli 9 pass from G. Guidugli (Chuke kick)

        High—Behymer 21 run (Chuke kick)

        High—Klingenberg 4 run (Haas kick)

        High—Scarlato 10 run (Haas kick)

        Records: High 8-1 (4-0 Class 3A, Region 3, District 5), Holmes 7-2 (3-1)

Enquirer.com/prepfootball"

Sports Stories

Next week's Cincinnati games Cincinnati football scores How top 10s fared N.Ky. football scores Ohio football scores Kentucky football scores Indiana football scores Some playoff spots will go down to final weekend Week 9 Notebook Anderson 47, Turpin 13 Batavia 44, Clermont Northeastern 14 Beechwood 41, Ludlow 0 Bellevue 22, NewCath 20 CHCA 46, Lockland 0 Cincinnati Country Day 44, New Miami 6 Colerain 35, Princeton 7 Dayton 13, Holy Cross 7 Dixie Heights 29, Conner 26 Edgewood 56, Franklin 7 Fairfield 17, Hamilton 0 Glen Este 21, Mason 10 Highlands 81, Holmes 0 Hillsboro 67, Western Brown 7 Hughes 27, Woodward 8 Lakota West 41, Lakota East 14 LaSalle 27, Purcell-Marian 6 Lebanon 55, Norwood 0 Lemon-Monroe 25, Fenwick 21 Lloyd 17, Russell 14 Loveland 33, Kings 14 Madeira 27, Finneytown 7 Mariemont 37, Taylor 7 Moeller 44, Roger Bacon 14 New Richmond 37, Bethel-Tate 6 Newport 37, Bath County 8 Northwest 56, Amelia 23 Reading 37, Deer Park 8 Ross 42, Little Miami 23 St. Xavier 42, McNicholas 14 Summit CD 54, Landmark Christian 0 Sycamore 23, Milford 16 Talawanda 53, West Carrollton 12 Walnut Hills 34, Aiken 0 Warren Harding 24, Elder 19 Western Hills 57, Mt. Healthy 8 Williamsburg 70, Hillcrest 0 Winton Woods 26, Harrison 18 Withrow 44, Taft 0 Wyoming 20, Indian Hill 0