Tayden Lorenzen’s 2-point conversion in 2OT pushes Highlands past Frederick Douglass

Tayden Lorenzen, the son of the late Jared Lorenzen, was making his dad proud on Friday night.

Lorenzen’s two-point conversion on Friday night in double overtime was just enough to push his No. 10 Highlands Bluebirds (1-0) to a 21-20 win over the No. 12 Frederick Douglass Broncos (0-1) to open the 2025 Kentucky high school football season.

Following a blocked punt by Douglass as time expired in regulation, it was a 7-7 game entering overtime between these two ranked teams. Lorenzen, who wears #22 just like his dad did at UK, ran in both touchdowns in the extra periods for Highlands, later capping off his performance with the game-winning two-point trot into the endzone.

A class of 2027 recruit, Lorenzen received his first Division I scholarship in May from Miami (OH). He put the entirety of the Bluegrass on notice with his efforts against Frederick Douglass to kick off his junior season.

It was a defensive battle between Highlands and Frederick Douglass to get the night rolling. There was a missed field goal, an interception, a fumble, and several 3-and-outs in the first half. Bluebirds senior quarterback Rio Litmer found junior Cale Harris for the first score of the game to make it 7-0 Highlands right before halftime.

But the Broncos would find paydirt early in the third quarter thanks to a long run from junior Carter Ross. That 7-7 score would hold until we reached the overtime periods, headlined by Lorenzen’s brilliance. Frederick Douglass even scored the first touchdown of overtime before Lorenzen fueled the comeback.