College spotlight: Highlands grads integral part of Lindsey Wilson football success

By Don Owen
NKyTribune reporter

A pair of Highlands High School graduates helped the Lindsey Wilson College football team advance to the NAIA national quarterfinals this season and finish with an 11-1 record.

Sophomore kicker Jared Dougherty and sophomore center Lou Bunning played vital roles for Lindsey Wilson, which captured the Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division title with a 6-0 record. The Blue Raiders tied a single-season program record with the 11 victories.

Dougherty converted nine of his 10 field goals this season, with a long of 48 yards. He was 63-for-72 in extra-point attempts and finished No. 2 on the team in scoring with 90 points. Dougherty earned first-team All-Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division honors for his performance.

Bunning anchored an offensive line that cleared the way for the high-scoring Blue Raider backfield. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Bunning started at center and keyed an offense that generated an average of 459.2 yards per game, including 161.5 rushing yards per contest. Bunning’s performance helped Lindsey Wilson average 48 points per contest.

Bunning earned Academic All-Mid-South Conference honors, which are reserved for sophomores or higher with at least a 3.25 grade point average. He also received NAIA Scholar-Athlete accolades, given to juniors and seniors with at least a 3.5 GPA.

In the first round of the NAIA playoffs, Lindsey Wilson posted a 63-49 win over No. 9 Southeastern (Fla.) University. The fourth-ranked Blue Raiders then hosted No. 5 Southern Oregon in the national quarterfinals and dropped a 34-29 decision at Columbia, Ky.

FOGLE AT EKU: Former Conner High School football standout Cameron Fogle played at Eastern Kentucky University this fall. The senior slot receiver finished with six catches for 36 yards as the Colonels posted a 4-7 record this fall.

A year earlier at EKU, Fogle was fourth on the team with 22 receptions for 246 yards. He also caught two touchdown passes in 2016. He hauled in a season-high six receptions for 54 yards at Tennessee-Martin.

Fogle originally signed with the University of Kentucky out of high school and spent two years in the Wildcats football program before transferring to EKU. It was a perfect fit for Fogle as his father, Jeff, had lettered for EKU’s track & field team years earlier.

During his senior year at Conner, Fogle finished with 55 receptions for 865 yards and seven touchdowns. He also rushed 79 times for 865 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Cougars.

Fogle was named Northern Kentucky Player of the Year in 2012 and also earned honorable mention all-state accolades.

Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com