Austin Collinsworth was his dominant self on Saturday.
And while the senior running back rushed for 229 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries in Highlands’ 36-7 win over Covington Catholic, he left the game in the third quarter and was out of uniform by the end. He said his hand was “pinched between two helmets”.
“I think it will be fine,” Collinsworth said. “I’ve just got to get it X-rayed.”
He held a bag of ice to the injured thumb during most of the second half.
“I actually couldn’t comment on any injury,” Highlands coach Dale Mueller said. “But I’m not sure (what it is).”
In the first quarter, every break seemed to go in Covington Catholic’s favor. Highlands had excellent scoring chances in the opening period, but fumbled the ball away deep in CovCath territory its first three possessions.
Junior Jordan Streeter coughed the ball up at the CovCath 27 on the game’s opening drive, then Collinsworth fumbled on the Colonels 1 after CovCath went three-and-out and punted.
After another drive without a first down, Highlands took over at the Colonels 44. After driving to the 9 yard line, junior Troy Timmerman recovered a fumble by senior Tyler Fennell and ran it back 91 yards to give CovCath a 7-0 lead with 1:29 left in the first quarter.
That seemed to awaken the Bluebirds’ offense. Sophomore quarterback Patrick Towles was 3-for-3 on the next Highlands drive, and he capped it off with a 31-yard touchdown run.
The Bluebirds missed a field goal after they got the ball back, but they executed a three-play, 36-yard drive to make it 12-7 with 3:50 left in the half.
Collinsworth, who broke off a 51-yard run in the first quarter, had a 27-yard carry and scored the TD on a one-yard dive.
“He’s just such a player,” Mueller said. “He’s a touchdown waiting to happen any play.”
Highlands sophomore Drake Bruns intercepted a pass with 2:19 left to give the Bluebirds another short field, and seven plays later Fennell scored with 22 seconds remaining to give Highlands a 19-7 lead going into the locker room.
“They’re the best team I’ve seen at the end of the first half,” CovCath coach Dave Wirth said. “They put people away, and that’s what they did.”
Meanwhile, Covington Catholic had one first down the first two quarters, resulting in Highlands’ outstanding field position.
The first five minutes of the second half were a microcosm of the game: CovCath got the ball and went three-and-out, gave Highlands excellent position, and the Bluebirds went 51 yards on eight plays to gave them a 26-7 lead and effectively ice the game.
Collinsworth was lukewarm on his team’s overall performance.
“It’s a victory,” Collinsworth said. “I think we probably should’ve beaten them by more, but a victory’s a victory.”
If Collinsworth’s thumb happens to be broken or hurt badly enough to require him to miss time, he would be the second key offensive cog of the Highlands offense missing from the lineup entering the final stretch of the regular season.
The Bluebirds are already without senior starting quarterback Nick Bardo, who is out with an undisclosed injury.
Highlands outgained CovCath, 511-115. The Bluebirds finished with 399 yards rushing and 112 passing, and the Colonels managed just 67 ground yards and 46 more in the air.
“I think I failed in my preparation,” Wirth said. “If you look at the first 18 minutes of play, that’s exactly what we expected, but wherever the bubble burst lies on me and not on the kids.
“I’ve got to find a way to: No. 1, get some offense going, and No. 2, get us to sustain that energy and passion we had the first 18 minutes.”
Towles, who has relieved Bardo after he was injured earlier this season, was 6-for-11 for 112 yards, with senior wide receiver John Drennan accounting for four of those receptions and 91 yards.
“(Towles) has done a phenomenal job stepping up as a sophomore,” Collinsworth said. “He’s always been a great character kid. It’s fun playing with him, it’s fun practicing with him and he’s going to do a great job.”
Senior quarterback Brayden Erpenbeck led all CovCath rushers with 51 yards. He was 7 of 20 passing for 48 yards.
Colonels senior Michael Robinson had four catches for 47 yards.
With the win, Highlands clinches the Class 5A title and home-field advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Now CovCath has to beat Dixie Heights next week to host a first-round postseason game.
HIGHLANDS 0-19-7-10—36
at COVCATH 7-0-0-0—7
C-Timmerman 91 fumble return (Talkers kick)
H-Towles 31 run (run failed)
H-Collinsworth 1 run (run failed)
H-Fennell 2 run (Weinel kick)
H-Collinsworth 4 run (Weinel kick)
H-Fennell 13 run (Weinel kick)
H-Weinel FG 30
RECORDS: Highlands 8-0, 2-0 Class 5A; CovCath 4-4, 1-1
