The Woodford County (Versailles, KY) varsity football team will play a neutral playoff game against Highlands (Fort Thomas, KY) on Friday, November 15, at 7:30 p.m.

What: Kentucky High School Football
Who: Woodford County (KY) vs Highlands (KY)
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Bracket: 2024 Kentucky High School Football Playoff Brackets: KHSAA – Class 5A
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

Highlands vs. Woodford County: A High-Stakes Comparison

As the high school football season progresses, the matchups between elite teams become more intense. This season, two prominent teams, Highlands and Woodford County, have stood out, both boasting impressive records and showcasing exceptional talent. Here’s a breakdown of their rankings, records, and team comparisons as they continue their journey toward the postseason.

Team Overview: Highlands vs. Woodford County

Highlands enters this season with a record of 10-2 overall and a district record of 4-1. They have demonstrated strong performances both at home and away, with identical 5-1 records in each category. This consistency has earned them a win percentage of .833 and a district win percentage of .800, scoring an impressive 476 points while allowing just 120 points against them. Highlands’ performance this season highlights their solid defense and efficient offense.

Woodford County, on the other hand, has an even more impressive overall record of 10-1. Their district record stands at 3-1, and their home performance is flawless at 5-0. The team has a win percentage of .909 and a district win percentage of .750. Despite scoring 440 points, Woodford County has allowed 182 points, a notable difference from Highlands’ defensive prowess. They have been exceptional on the field and remain a strong contender in the state.

Scoring Averages

When it comes to scoring, Highlands and Woodford County have different styles of play. Highlands averages 39.7 points per game, with a steady distribution of points across the first three quarters, particularly excelling in the first two quarters, where they score an average of 13.2 and 12.8 points respectively. However, their offense tends to slow down in the second half, averaging just 12.3 points in the final two quarters.

Woodford County, with a slightly higher points-per-game average of 40.0, has a unique scoring pattern. The team starts slow, averaging only 5.3 points in both the first and third quarters. However, they surge in the second quarter, scoring 15 points on average, and finish strong in the fourth quarter with 7.5 points. This ability to ramp up their scoring late in the game has been crucial to their success.

Statistical Comparison

• Rushing & Passing: Highlands excels in rushing, with 146.7 yards per game, compared to Woodford County’s lack of rushing data. They also outperform Woodford County in passing yards, with 188.6 yards per game. This gives Highlands a more balanced offensive attack, combining both rushing and passing effectively. Woodford County’s offensive strategy, however, seems to be more focused on passing, which remains undefined here but has likely contributed to their overall success.
• Receiving & Total Yards: Highlands’ passing game is supported by 185.9 receiving yards per game, contributing to their solid total offensive yardage of 335.3 yards per game. Woodford County, though lacking specific receiving and total yardage stats here, seems to rely on a different offensive formula.
• Defensive Standouts: Highlands averages 48.4 tackles per game, showing their strong defense, and they also boast an impressive 1.4 sacks per game. In contrast, Woodford County’s defensive statistics are less defined, but their ability to limit opponents to lower point totals suggests a similarly effective defense.

Key Players to Watch

• Jack White (Highlands) leads the team in rushing yards, averaging 79.4 yards per game. This makes him a key player in their running game, often setting the tone for their offense.
• Rio Litmer (Highlands) is the team’s passing leader, throwing for 173.8 yards per game, while also totaling 194.6 yards per game when combining his passing and rushing efforts. Litmer’s dual-threat capability makes him a versatile offensive weapon.
• T.J. Hicks (Highlands) stands out on defense with 7.9 tackles per game, providing a strong presence in the defensive backfield.
• Adam Surrey (Highlands) also stands out with an average of 6.6 points per game, contributing to the team’s scoring attack.

For Woodford County, specific individual stats aren’t as clearly defined, but the overall team efficiency suggests they have reliable players across both sides of the ball.

Common Opponents and Record Breakdown

Both teams share common opponents, with Highlands and Woodford County each posting perfect records against teams like Dixie Heights and Collins. In head-to-head comparisons, both teams secured decisive victories in these matchups, signaling that they are evenly matched in their respective regions.

In terms of record breakdown:

• Highlands has a strong in-state record of 10-2, including a 5-1 mark at home and a solid 5-1 record on the road.
• Woodford County has only one loss, a 9-1 in-state record, with a 5-0 performance at home and a 5-1 record on the road.

Conclusion

As both Highlands and Woodford County head into the latter part of their seasons, they remain two of the top teams in Kentucky high school football. While both teams have shown dominance on the field, their different approaches to offense and defense make for a fascinating contrast. Highlands’ balanced offense and solid defense make them formidable, while Woodford County’s explosive second-quarter offense and overall consistency have earned them a near-perfect record. As they continue to build towards the postseason, these two teams will undoubtedly be ones to watch.