Sunday, December 03, 2000
Highlands wins third straight state title
Guidugli throws 3 TD passes in 48-27 win
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
Highlands' Mike Slawter shows off the championship trophy.
(Mike Simons photos)
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LOUISVILLE — It wasn't until Gino Guidugli looked at the trophy that he decided which Class AAA state football title was nicest.
Highlands' senior quarter back threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns Saturday at old Cardinal Stadium to give the Bluebirds a 48-27 win over Owensboro and a third straight championship.
The victory made Highlands the first Kentucky Class AAA team to win three straight titles. It also was Highlands' 15th football championship overall, and its fourth in the last five seasons.
But it wasn't until afterward that Guidugli said the latest title was sweetest.
“It's your senior year, your last time playing with all these guys,” Guidugli said. “It's been a great four years.”
Brent Grover (1) recovers an Owensboro fumble for a touchdown.
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Highlands coach Dale Mueller completed his fifth season in Fort Thomas. He's also played on title teams in the 1970s, but Saturday's game was one of the toughest.
“They got after us on special teams, and I've got a lot of respect for Owensboro,” Mueller said.
The Red Devils gained just 116 yards on offense, but they led 7-6 at one point and returned seven kickoffs for 256 yards and 6 punts for 227.
“You hate to stand here and say we gave them all they wanted, but we did,” Owensboro coach Gordon Powers said. “I'm very proud.”
Despite the snow and temperature in the 20s, Highlands started the game throwing. Guidugli hit senior Kevin Mulroney for 20 on the first snap and 15 more six plays later.
Teammates congratulate Eamon Mueller after a touchdown.
(AP photo)
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“The quick pass was working better because the ball (didn't) hang in the air as long,” Guidugli said. “So we were trying to get it to the receivers and let them make something happen.”
In between, Guidugli and junior Eamon Mueller were the runners. Guidugli's 11-yard run converted one third down and Mueller's 14-yarder set up senior Brett Hamblen's score on a reverse with 9:05 left in the first quarter.
If Highlands thought Owensboro would roll over, the Red Devils dispelled that notion the first time they touched the ball.
Junior Brandon Hanley bobbled the kickoff, but he then took it 63 yards to the Highlands 16. Four plays later, junior Bo Smith plunged in from a yard out, and sophomore Logan Johnson's kick gave the Red Devils their 7-6 lead.
Fans cheer for the Bluebirds.
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Guidugli, who finished the half with 14-of-23 passing for 236 yards, had better thank his linemen for what they did the rest of the quarter. They gave him up to 10 seconds' protection on some plays, which helped him find Mulroney for a 22-yard TD down the right side with 3:09 left in the first.
The Highlands quintet of seniors Marc Mueller, Andy Hill and Mike Raleigh and juniors Billy Evans and Rob Smith then gave Guidugli enough time to find senior Burke Lofland for a 10-yard score and 21-7 lead with 10:38 left in the half. A 10-yard pass to senior Jake Donelan and a 43-yarder to Mulroney set it up.
“I've got to take them out to dinner, I've got to do something,” Guidugli said. “They gave me all sorts of time back there. Rob (Smith) could eat a 5-pound steak.”
Bo Smith led the Red Devils with 1,349 rushing yards, and he was Owensboro's best player Saturday.
Brent Grover and Brett Hamblen sack Owensboro's Cody Holder.
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After exchanging possessions, Smith started left and cut back right. He stiff-armed the Bluebirds' Josh Adams and Clem Fennell near midfield and got a block from junior quarterback Cody Holder on the way to a 60-yard TD with 3:21 left in the half.
Highlands closed the first half scoring on Guidugli's 5-yarder to Mulroney with 1:07 to go. Mulroney finished with seven catchers for 135 yards.
The Bluebirds ended Owensboro's opening drive of the second half when Rob Smith sacked Holder for a 9-yard loss, but Johnson salvaged it with a 29-yard field goal.
After senior linebacker Brent Grover's 49-yard punt put the ball at the Owensboro 2, Highlands made it 34-17 when Grover recovered Hanley's fumble at the 1 and went in with 5:42 left in the third.
“I think (senior tackle) Jeremy Andrasik stripped it, but I'm not sure,” Grover said. “I got the chance to recover it and put it across the goal line.”
Kevin Mulroney scored two TDs.
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There wasn't a lot of defense the rest of the way.
Johnson's field goal closed Highlands lead to 34-20. Eamon Mueller's 6-yard run made it 41-20, but Owensboro junior Justin Miller answered with an 86-yard return for a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff.
Eamon Mueller's 19-yard touchdown run with 5:17 left in the game ended the scoring.
The game had barely ended before Dale Mueller started thinking about 2001.
“The guys are talking already about getting back on Monday and starting lifting again,” Mueller said. “It's a real tribute to how hard the players work.”
Title thrills Highlands fans
Owensboro ....... 7 7 13 0—27
Highlands ....... 14 14 13 7—48
H-Hamblen 7 run (kick failed)
O-Smith 1 run (Johnson kick)
H-Mulroney 22 pass from G. Guidugli (Mulroney pass from G. Guidugli)
H-Lofland 10 pass from G. Guidugli (Chuke kick)
O-Smith 60 run (Johnson kick)
H-Mulroney 5 pass from G. Guidugli (Chuke kick)
O-Johnson 29 field goal
H-Grover 1 fumble recovery (kick failed)
O-Johnson 38 field goal
H-E. Mueller 6 run (Chuke kick)
O-Miller 84 kick return (Johnson kick)
H-E. Mueller 19 run (Chuke kick)
Records: O 13-2, H 14-1
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Highlands wins third straight state title
