Thursday night Fox Sports Ohio will cover the highly anticipated matchup of two of the more high-profile teams in Kentucky, when Dixie Heights travels to play Highlands.
The teams played twice last season with Highlands taking both contests, including a playoff win. These teams are led by two of the highest-rated prep quarterbacks in the nation, Zeke Pike of Dixie Heights and Highlands' Patrick Towles.
Zeke Pike: 6-foot-6, 225-pounds. Last season, Pike threw for 2,144 yards, completing 130-235 attempts with 17 touchdown throws. He also rushed for 947 yards and 17 more touchdowns. Pike, a four-star prospect, committed to Auburn last spring after accumulating offers from nearly every major program in America. Pike, rated as the number-five ranked quarterback prospect in America, is a classic drop-back passer, with the ability to move around in the pocket. He will be looking to get Dixie Heights their first win, as they have started off the 2011 season at 0-2.
Patrick Towles: 6-foot-5, 232-pounds. Last season, Towles threw for 2,471 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed 880 yards, scoring 18 times on the ground. Last week, Towles threw for 194 yards and one touchdown, and rushed for 76 yards and three scores, in leading Highlands to an easy win. Towles, a three-star prospect, committed to Kentucky last spring. He also had offers from Vanderbilt, Louisville and Cincinnati. Towles is ranked as the number-41 ranked quarterback prospect in the country. He is similar to Pike, in that he is primarily a pro-style passer, but with the ability to evade the rush and gain positive yards on the ground.