Fort Thomas Highlands

Griffin Benke from Highlands looking to help get the Bluebirds back where they belong… @Benke_Griffin, @HighlandsFB, @HSphire, @bigassfans, @LasatersCoffee, @eCampusdotcom

June 13, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

We scour the commonwealth of Kentucky looking for playing talent on whom to report. We don’t always find the 6’6,” 235-pound DEs and Long Snappers, but we found this one. Griffin Benke has to be among the more imposing players across Northern Kentucky playing the high school game today. He plays for one of Kentucky’s more storied programs. Benke runs the 40 in 4.82-seconds, shuttles in 4.7, has a 30-inch vertical, presses 310-pounds, reps the high school rep weight (185-pounds) 28-times, squats 400, and power cleans 245. This kid is being courted by a ton of D-1s from FCS through the Power 4s. First he has to get the Bluebirds back where that program belongs, in the championship winner’s circle. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Quinton Simon from Highlands High (Fort Thomas, KY) is the @bigassfans Kentucky Comfort Creator Feature of the Week @QuintonSimon29, @HighlandsFB, @HSphire, @Highlandspower1, @PrepRedzone, @bigassfans, @eCampusdotcom, @KyHighFootball, @khsaafootball

June 5, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

Quinton Simon is an under the radar guy who only got a couple nights run under the “Friday Night Lights.” Still, with limited opportunity, Simon has proven himself an exceptional talent among ’29 WR/LB/DB/KR/ATH across the commonwealth of Kentucky. One could even say Simon has been keeping it very cool there in the Fort Thomas, KY football scene. Simon was a star on the JV in both football and basketball and figures to mature into an every down, multi-phase threat for the Bluebirds in 2026. Simon sports a 3.77-GPA and at 5’10,” 175-pounds, he will be a tough matchup for plenty of opponents going forward. Coach Bob Sphire will be mighty happy, going forward into the ’26 season, to have an offensive/defensive/special teams (returner) weapon on the roster like Simon. Let’s keep it comfortable out there, Kentucky, and allow us to help you in that regard at Big Ass Fans!

Friday Night Fletch

Bryce Armstrong from Highlands appears to be the ‘next big thing’ among Bluebird players @BryceArmstrong2, @taydenlorenzen2, @HighlandsFB, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans, @eCampusdotcom

April 30, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

There aren’t too many ’29 QBs around Kentucky as athletic as Highlands High’s Bryce Armstrong. Armstrong is a 6’1,” 190-pound rising sophomore who had pretty solid numbers a season ago backing up one of the KHSAA’s better senior signal callers. Rio Litmer has moved along to “greener pastures” and Armstrong looks (to us) to be the likely heir apparent at the position for one of the KHSAA’s more storied and successful programs. Fort Thomas is coming off a 10-3 which saw them defeat some right impressive opponents in 2025. Highlands plays a tough schedule ever year which incudes a rivalry game with Covington Catholic which is a “bucket list” type match-up. Enjoy this look at a young phenom headed straight for stardom as early as the ’26 opener.

Friday Night Fletch

KPGFootball’s Preseason Top-Five (5A) @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball

June 17, 2025 Fletcher Long 2

It is that time of year. It is time to start figuring which teams, entering the ’25 season, figure to factor in the title chase. We have detailed what we think here and it is based on our study of the incoming, ’25 rosters, what players return, what players graduated, and other various factors we have perfected through the years to render such predictions. We plan to do this for all of Kentucky’s six (6) classifications and there is no guarantee we will go in order from the top down, or the bottom to the top. There are good football teams in the KHSAA and there are bad ones and those teams span all of the six classes. Enjoy today’s look at 5A. Keep checking back as we may drop another class any time we feel like it.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: Mark Brown started his career without any guarantees, but fulfilled his contract with the kids he coached @OwensboroSports, @1027TheGame, @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball,@EtownFB, @FULLNELSONFOOT1

May 24, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Mark Brown thought he would build a dynasty at one high school. In the end he built a dynasty which expanded across four (4) high schools and 38-years. Along the way, Brown won over 70% of his games, won 331-times against 140-losses, and took his alma mater, Nelson County, to the 4A title in 1996 in a thrilling 35-34 OT victory over Lexington’s Paul Dunbar High and its legendary HFC, Mike Meighan. It is Nelson County’s only football title in program history. We haven’t a clue what you would call such a record. We would call it a fine résumé. Enjoy this feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay, Series Article No. 50: The near misses, the guys who would likely have been HOFers if they hadn’t moved on to something else @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @LCAEAGLESFB, @mercer_football, @CentreFootball, @HighlandsFB

May 18, 2025 Fletcher Long 4

We all know Phillip Haywood and Dudley Hilton are the two winningest football coaches in the KHSAA history. Haywood at 491 will be tough to catch but Hilton is 30 or so behind him and he’s still going strong. What about the guys who shone like bright, shining stars then moved on to “greener pastures.” Could some of those guys have been “the best?” Perhaps. If there is a short-timer who could be considered, we believe he may be in this particular grouping of three. Enjoy this feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Who could win ‘Mr. Football’ in 2025? What about ‘Diamond Rio?’ @LitmerMario, @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @KyHighFootball, @khsaafootball, @CoachIzzy1, @CoachClay_CLT, @CoachStutzmann, @CoachHuff, @HighlandsFB, @BrodyCook0660

April 28, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

It is the offseason and Summer Drills are literally around the corner. This time of year, we are busy trying to forecast which teams will be in what races and which players may impact the season long, “Mr. Football” race. We love the country band “Diamond Rio” so much we couldn’t help but nickname Rio Litmer “Diamond Rio.” This guy may be slight of frame, but he has a ton of game. Litmer led Highlands to the 5A semis, which would gain you some leverage everywhere but where he is playing. The Bluebirds are hunting title number 24. Will it come this season? Will Litmer take home “Mr. Football?” We shall see! Enjoy the article.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: Dale Mueller from Highlands engineered his way to a spectacular record and 11-titles @KyHighFootball, @NKyTribune, @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball

March 4, 2025 Fletcher Long 4

Dale Mueller is an interesting guy. Not all high school football coaches and teachers are mechanical engineering students from the ivy-league. Of course, not all high school football coaches win 12.5 games a season over 20-years, win titles in 55% of the time they coach at a particular school, or play for titles 70% of the time. There is nothing average or normal about Dale Mueller, which is why he is among the greatest high school coaches this commonwealth has ever known. Enjoy this feature, especially you northern Kentuckians who complain we never cover you.

Friday Night Fletch.

Mario Litmer from Highlands is the @minguabeefjerky Protein-packed Performer of the Week @CoachIzzy1 @CoachAlbin @CoachClay_CLT @CoachSeanReagan @CoachStutzmann @CoachFlemWR @CoachObly @coachklynch @CoachHuff @CoachDoege @aarondobson17 @coachsmitttty @bigassfans

January 15, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Some call him “Mario.” Some just call him “Rio.” All call him special. Litmer is the QB for one of the most high profile programs in Kentucky 5A or at any classification if we are being honest. Litmer is 6’0,” weighs 176-pounds and, at only 16-years of age, completed over 68% of his passing attempts his junior season and finished with a QBR of 128.1. Highlands won 11-games in ’24, made the semis, and have a vital piece back for another run in ’25. Who knows how far this “Mr. Football” candidate can take them.

Friday Night Fletch.

Friday Night Fletch picks the Semi-State Champions; and then there were four- @EddieEviston @Bluecolonels @pths_football @coachthomp9 @coach_marksbury @1776Bank @PrepSpin @KyHighFootball @kyhighs @HLpreps @840WHAS @sfitz_840whas @evans02_Mike @minguabeefjerky

November 20, 2023 Fletcher Long 0

The penultimate in high school football is gaining the inestimable privilege of getting to practice football on Thanksgiving. Well, there are 24 teams left who get this privilege and get to build this life-long memory. Half of the remaining will run out onto Kroger Field and play for a championship. Which 12 will it be? We attempt to answer that for you right here. Friday Night Fletch