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

jared-lorenzen-son-tayden-receives-first-division-i-football-scholarship-offer — Highlands tight end Tayden Lorenzen (22) reacts after a play in the first half against Pulaski County at Highlands High School Nov. 22, 2024 - © Katie Stratman for The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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

Lorenzen’s two-point conversion 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 on his jersey just like his dad did at UK, ran in both touchdowns in the extra periods for Highlands, later capping off his terrific 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) and camped at Kentucky in June. He put the entirety of the Bluegrass State on notice with his efforts against Frederick Douglass to kick off his junior campaign.

FINAL | HS 🏈 (2 OT)

Highlands 21, Frederick Douglass 20

TAYDEN LORENZEN! OH MY GOODNESS! HE WINS IT! pic.twitter.com/O8BCc0vvxb
— Josh Kalb (@joshua_kalb) August 23, 2025

#FQTop3 alert!

Tayden Lorenzen with a walk-off winner for Highlands.

RT/LIKE to make it No. 1 on the #Fox19FinalQuarter @HighlandsFB @FOX19 @taydenlorenzen2 pic.twitter.com/Txw7YeXcXB
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) August 23, 2025

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.

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

It’s been a little over six years now since Jared’s passing, but we know he was smiling while watching Tayden shine at his alma mater on Friday night.