By Matthew Dietz
NKyTribune sports reporter
After falling behind early on the road, the Highlands Bluebirds surged past the Ryle Raiders with a 24-point second quarter and went on to post a 57-46 on Friday in Union.
In addition to scoring a combined total of 103 points, the teams generated 850 total yards of offense in the game that took nearly three hours to complete. During the wild first half, there were eight touchdowns, two field goals, a pick-six, a fumble recovery for a touchdown and a blocked extra point.
Highlands senior Charlie Noon had more than 260 all-purpose yards in his team’s win over Ryle.
Ryle had 452 total yards with 407 coming through the air and the remaining 45 on the ground. Highlands finished with 398 total yards, including 230 rushing yards.
Cameron Geisler picked up 83 yards on 13 carries for the Bluebirds while Charlie Noon had 102 yards receiving and 20 yards rushing. Noon also had a big night on special teams, collecting 146 total yards on punt and kick returns.
The Bluebirds’ offense had no issues against a Ryle defense that came into Friday allowing only 12.7 points per game. But the Raiders struck first on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Logan Verax to Kaden Gardner on a tightly contested catch.
Trailing 12-10 entering the second quarter, Highlands dominated the next 12 minutes of action and opened up a 34-19 lead.
Late in the second quarter, Verax found Gardner again for a 31-yard gain that put the Raiders at the 1-yard line. Two plays later, Verax took it into the end zone to make it 34-25 at halftime.
The Bluebirds continued their positive momentum into the second half, forcing a fumble by Verax on the first possession. Four plays later, Highlands junior Carson Class executed a fake punt for a 47-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 41-25.
Highlands scored on all but one of its possessions in the third quarter to take a commanding 57-32 lead. Two late Ryle passing touchdowns made the final score 57-46.
Ryle defensive back Abram Cusick had two interceptions and a fumble recovery for a touchdown, but the Raiders allowed more points in Friday’s game (57) than they allowed in their first four games combined (51).
Offensively for Ryle, Gardner picked up 130 yards on six catches and running back Jayce Harden had 70 total yards. Verax was 25-for-51 for 407 yards passing with five touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions and lost a fumble in Ryle territory.
In another high-scoring game on Friday, Newport Central Catholic defeated Holy Cross, 49-21, with the teams netting a combined total of 890 yards.
NewCath finished with 520 yards (351 rushing, 169 passing). The team’s rushing leaders were Demetrick Welch with 162 yards and Luke Runyon with 112. Runyon scored on runs of 3, 74 and 17 yards.
Holy Cross had 370 total yards (301 passing, 69 rushing). Donovan Ambrocio connected with Javier Ward on a 66-yard touchdown pass.
High school football scoreboard
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Covington Catholic 31, Beechwood 14
Highlands 57, Ryle 46
Gallatin County 49, Bellevue 6
Boone County 35, Walton-Verona 14
Lloyd 40, Brossart 3
Campbell County 21, Conner 7
Lexington Sayre 14, Dayton 6
Newport Central Catholic 49, Holy Cross 21
Ludlow 20, Carroll County 6
Cincinnati College Prep Academy 30, Newport 22
Scott 50, Grant County 8
