The Highlands High School football team received a hero's welcome upon returning home from Friday's loss in the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals.

"The reception was incredible," Highlands coach Sam Albert said. "There were at least 14 or 15 ambulances, fire trucks and police cars lined up with their lights on as we approached the stadium in the buses. There were hundreds of people lining the streets cheering for the kids. They even had fireworks. It was an incredible experience. I will never forget it."

The 36-7 loss to Blackhawk ended a record-breaking season for the Golden Rams.

"Nobody expected us to set a school record with 11 straight victories. Not even me," Albert said. "It's a tribute to this great group of kids and the great coaching staff we have here at Highlands. It's been a wonderful experience for everybody."

Highlands (11-1) qualified for the tournament by winning the Greater Allegheny Conference title. The Golden Rams advanced to the semifinals with wins against Laurel Highlands, 49-14, in the first round and Montour, 35-34, in the quarterfinals.

"We met our match in the semifinals," Albert said of Blackhawk and its longtime coach Joe Hamilton. "Blackhawk is a very good team and we didn't play our best game."

Blackhawk quarterback Zack Hayward completed 18 of 26 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns.

"We just didn't match up well with them," Albert said. "[Blackhawk] has an incredible passing game and our defense against the pass was our Achilles'. We just couldn't stop their passing game."

Highlands actually scored first, as quarterback Jeff Sinclair scored on a 1-yard sneak early in the second quarter. Blackhawk responded with three touchdowns before intermission to take a commanding 21-7 lead.

Hayward threw two touchdown passes in the first half and another in the third quarter as the Cougars dominated the Golden Rams.

"Then we lost Jeff with an injury in the third quarter," Albert said. "He suffered a bruised elbow, which kept him out for the rest of the game. That really deflated us on both sides of the ball. He's played such a big part in our success. It's impossible to replace somebody like Jeff."

Sinclair had an incredible season through the air and on the ground. He completed 89 of 168 passes for 1,262 yards and seven touchdowns.

Sinclair also led the Golden Rams with 1,222 yards and 23 touchdowns on 194 rushing attempts.

"Jeff is such a great leader," Albert said. "This year, he had to work with a group of receivers who had no varsity experience."

His favorite target was Dyllon Powell, a junior receiver who caught 32 passes for 340 yards and one touchdown. Senior wingback Brendan Lucchino and junior receiver Tyler Cole combined for 27 receptions. Lucchino caught 14 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown. Cole had 13 receptions for 219 yards and two touchdowns.

"In my 28 years of coaching, I've never had a team come together and grow as individuals and as a team [as much as these guys did]," Albert said.

Highlands has made three consecutive WPIAL playoff appearances.

"We've had records of 8-3, 8-3, and 11-1 over the past three years," Albert said. "And we had to replace most of the starters on each of those teams.

"We lose our entire backfield and all but one lineman" to graduation, Albert said. "We lose seven starters on offense and five or six on defense."

Also graduating from the Golden Rams backfield is tailback Billy Devlin, who rushed for 753 yards and seven touchdowns on 115 carries.

Sinclair and Devlin are the biggest losses on defense. Devlin, a linebacker, was in on 107 tackles and recorded eight sacks. Sinclair, a safety, was second with 77 tackles.

"The kids are now believing in our program. When it comes their turn, they step into the starting lineup and fill the graduation holes," Albert said.