Hoops Preseason: Top Ten Players

1. Ricardo Johnson – Johnson is the unquestioned top player in NKY. He has a great all-around game and will be asked to handle the ball more this year and be a leader on a less experienced team.
   
2. Elijah Pittman – Pittman's size and skill makes him the toughest player to match up with in the area. The Bulldogs will need him to be consistent this year to get through their tough schedule unscathed.
   
3. Jeremiah Johnson – JJ is the "glue" guy for Holmes. He is the best rebounding wing in the area and seems to do all the small things when the Bulldogs need it most. He's also a great defender.
   
4. Mike Gabbard – As far as point guards go, Gabbard sets the standard in this year's crop of players. He plays hard constantly, makes everyone around him better and has all the skills you want from the point guard position.
   
5. Blake Bryan – The most controversial pick on my list is Bryan. Many don't give him the love because he plays at Villa, but Bryan can flat out play. He's a good shooter from the outside and his bounce makes him a good finisher around the rim. Bryan would be one of the top point guards no matter where he played.
   
6. Grant Pangallo – Pangallo is a player that seems to understand what his team needs from him. If it's a night where they're struggling to score, then he will pick up the scoring slack. If his teammates are getting the job done, then he will feed them. This year though, expect to see the 'Breds to need his scoring on a more consistent basis.
   
7. Andy Earls – Earls is one of the bigger bodies in the area and he's added some skill offensively. With the Rebels losing a lot off of last year's team, expect him to take on a bigger role in the offense.
   
8. Demetrius Avery – Avery was really starting to come into his own in the second half of last season. The move to Holmes won't allow his stats to stand out as one of the top players in the area, but his ability and upside put him on this list.
   
9. Jake Geisler – Geisler really matured a great deal last year as a sophomore. Not only can he get it done offensively and on the glass, but he became a force as a shot-blocker on defense. Expect him to get better with each game.
   
10. Jake Thelen – The CovCath big man was showing promise before injuring his elbow last year. After a good showing on the AAU circuit though, expect Thelen to be one of the top scorers and be a huge boost to the Colonels. He could definitely end up much higher on this list.

Ear to the Streets

Ok a lot more great questions came in the past week or two via twitter (@NKySportsBlog) and email (nkysportsblog@gmail.com). Let's get to it...

D1 Prospects

This first topic I got off email from a reader, who says they are big into the recruiting side of things, he asks: Rick, will there be another NKy player to play D-1 football other than the current commits and Miles Simpson?

Well there are no guarantees but if Nick West doesn't play at a D1 school then there is something wrong with the system. I think West could be a factor at a BCS school possibly, but without a doubt he could help out some of the local D1 teams that are a bit smaller (Miami OH, Akron, Western Kentucky, etc). West may not be as physically gifted as some of the top guys, but he has a strong enough arm and his football IQ is as good as I've ever seen.

I also think there is a chance that we may have a surprise guy in this class. Possibly a kid like Wes Smith at Dixie could warrant a late scholarship offer from a D1 school.

Mr. Football Candidates

Another email I got this week was asking me about the Mr. Football award in Kentucky. They wanted to know: Does Miles (Simpson) or Austin (Collinsworth) have a chance at winning the Mr. Football award this year?

This is a tough one. In my opinion despite being an explosive player and putting up good stats on one of the best teams in the state, Collinsworth isn't going to be in the final conversation. In his case being a team player and moving to the position that his team needed him at most this year, may have actually hurt him a little bit.

On the other hand, I think Simpson will be in that final conversation. A few weeks ago, I didn't think Simpson would really be a favorite to win it, but a few ridiculous weeks later and he has pushed his name right back to the top of the list. There are a few kids such as Antonio Andrews and Rees MacShara that are definitely going to be up there with Simpson, but he has as good of a chance as anybody. If Simpson commits to UK though, consider the award his.

NKy State Title

This person hit me up on Facebook and admitted that they were a Simon Kenton fan. They want to know: RickB other than 5A with Highlands what class has the best chance of bringing home a state title?

Well obviously the two obvious guesses are 6A and 1A. You have a really good Simon Kenton team at 6A that isn't a favorite to win state but definitely could make a run at it. Also Beechwood is always dangerous to win 1A even in a down year, because the competition is so watered down.

My surprise team though is Holmes at the 4A level. Right now, I think the Bulldogs are about the fourth best team in 4A in the state, but when the playoffs come around anything can happen. All it takes is one of the top teams to get upset or Holmes to be playing well at the right time.

If I had to rank them, I'd say the best chance is 1A with Beechwood just because the talent is so watered down. Then I'd say 6A is next with St. Xavier being the top team in 6A in the state, but Simon Kenton is talented enough to pull an upset or two. Holmes is right behind the Pioneers with the next best chance in 4A.

NewCath Reigns Supreme in 2A

The tide had shifted. NewCath didn't have the numbers. They didn't have the talent. This was the year Holy Cross was waiting for. They had the talent. It was finally their turn.

Except for...well you know...it wasn't.

The Thoroughbreds dismantled the Indians 38-21 Friday night, and they did it with a two-headed monster in the backfield led by sophomore quarterback Brady Hightchew who ran for 217 yards. His partner in crime in the backfield, Chris Kelly, also racked up 159 yards and four touchdowns.

The 'Breds proved yet again, that they are the class of 2A in Northern Kentucky until someone takes it from them. If you read Bob Schneider's quote in the article Ryan Ernst wrote for the enquirer than you'll realize that they understand that as well.

What can be learned immediately from this game is that NewCath was severely underrated coming into this game, and to an extent rightfully so. The 'Breds have played a tough schedule, which is a big reason for their poor record, but it's not the only reason. Their offense has improved leaps and bounds since the beginning of the season, and most of it is due to the maturation of Hightchew.

Hightchew's increased comfortability in the offense has given him a lot of confidence. Using his athletic ability he has proven to be one of the top rushing quarterbacks in NKy and makes defenses pay for over-pursuing Kelly by running counters. While he may not kill you with his arm, he has become at least confident enough to make a big play in the passing game when needed or to keep the defense honest as proven by his 39-yard touchdown to Brian Doyle against the Indians.

What can be learned longterm is that the Indians continue to play not to lose against the Thoroughbreds. They still cannot get over the psychological hump that keeps them from competing with NewCath and Beechwood on a regular basis.

So as Coach Schneider pointed out... NewCath is the champions until someone beats them when it matters.

Holy Cross will have to try again in the playoffs.

Simon Kenton 49 Ryle 29

Posted at TriStateFootball.com

The Simon Kenton Pioneers took a firm hold of first place in class 6A Thursday night with a convincing win over Ryle 49-29.

The Pioneers were ranked No. 2 in Northern Kentucky according to our QueenCityHigh.com rankings and Ryle was ranked No. 3. Simon Kenton also dominated the No. 4 team in our rankings the Conner Cougars 56-14 two weeks ago.

“I think we've proved a point,” Simon Kenton linebacker Austin Baldwin said. “We proved a point against Conner and we'll keep proving points.”

Simon Kenton’s run to the playoffs last year may have been unexpected, but this year the Pioneers have made themselves known as the clear-cut favorites in Northern Kentucky class 6A.

“We talked all week about how we wanted to make a statement,” quarterback Chad Lawrence said. “We wanted to show everyone that we're serious about getting back to state and winning it.”

The Pioneers were led by standout running back Miles Simpson who ran for 275 yards and scored four touchdowns. He also eclipsed the career school rushing record of 3,637 yards set by Daniel Morrison in 2000. Simpson finished the game with 3,821 yards in his career.

CONTINUE READING

TSF Youtube for Postgame Interview and Game Footage

Ear to the Streets

This is a new segment on the blog that I'll probably be doing a little bit more regularly or at least as long as you guys keep sending me questions or asking me for my take on subjects via twitter @rickbroering or @nkysportsblog or email nkysportsblog@gmail.com. Anyways in these segments I'll answer your questions and also address rumors or things I'm hearing around town. So without further ado... Here we go:

Blake Bryan Not Leaving Villa
I wanted to address this topic first, because I don't like rumors like this. Last week I was approached by someone who asked me why Blake Bryan was leaving Villa. I dismissed it, but a day later I saw it on a message board that he was transferring to Newport. I placed a call to a member of Villa's coaching staff and talked to another guy who is around Villa and both of them said the same thing that Bryan was at school that day and had attended Villa's basketball meeting.

Case closed. Blake Bryan isn't going anywhere.

Top 5 QB's in NKY
The next question came from a fan who wanted to know who I thought was the top five quarterbacks in Northern Kentucky. I decided that this made for a good blog post, so I saved it for this. Let me preface this ranking by saying that it's tough to come up with what type of criteria to use for ranking high school quarterbacks... College potential? Being a true passer? Most successful? When it came down to it I decided to rank them by who I felt was the best at the high school level. Who did the most for their teams to help them win games. I'd love to hear your guys' rankings so leave them in a comment.

Top 5 QB's
1. Nick West - Conner - The Cougars' senior is like a second coach on the field. No one understands the game better than West at the HS level. West is not only one of the top passers but he is a true dual-threat guy who can really rack up the yardage with his legs.
2. Will Bardo - Highlands - Bardo was well on his way to being an elite level QB before his unfortunate injury against St. X. His strong left arm and track star speed made him another lethal dual-threat guy.
3. Chad Lawrence - Simon Kenton - Lawrence, a junior, has done nothing but improve since he took over the QB job last season. He has given the Pioneers a passing game to compliment one of the top rushing games the area has ever seen led by standout RB Miles Simpson.
4. Brayden Erpenbeck - CovCath - Maybe not the top passer in the area, but his legs made the Colonels competitive early in the season. As the team has started to pick up the spread offense, his ability to throw the ball has really increased.
5. Markel Walker - Holy Cross - The Indians senior is another one who may not be a great passer, but he is by far Holy Cross' top offensive weapon and every other team knows that. He still can single-handedly dominate a game and win it for the Indians.

Brossart Will Get 4th Playoff Spot in 1A
This next topic came through an email from a fan who wanted to know who I thought would earn the fourth playoff spot in 1A if Beechwood, Ludlow and Bellevue had already claimed the first three.

I've been saying this since the beginning of the season and I'm sticking with it. I think Brossart is going to make the playoffs this year. They hit an unfortunate circumstance with the flu and underperformed the past few weeks, but I still think they'll rally to knock off Walton-Verona and Dayton to sneak in.

They have a big hard runner at the RB position in Chris Bowman. They have a strong offensive line led by Brian Weckbach and a few playmakers in the passing game for QB Jesse Orth to throw to in Spencer Brown, Michael Whitford and TE John Schack. Their defense does a good job of controlling the line of scrimmage up front, which is the most important thing in playing defense at the small school level. Finally, they have one of the top young coaches in Matt Reinhart who isn't afraid to go for it and make the calls to let his team win games.

Mark it down. Brossart. Playoffs.

That's all I got. I might get to some other questions and emails soon so stay tuned. Also, be sure to send your questions to nkysportsblog@gmail.com, leave them in a comment here, or on twitter via @rickbroering or @nkysportsblog.

Preview: Ryle at Simon Kenton

Posted at QueenCityHigh.com

Thursday night the No. 3 team in our QueenCityHigh.com NKY Rankings, Ryle, will travel to Independence to take on No. 2 ranked Simon Kenton.

Both teams come into the game 5-1 overall and 2-0 in district play. This game is not just the game of the week, but possibly the game of the year in Northern Kentucky.

Simon Kenton now ranks third in the newest state 6A AP poll and Ryle comes in at eleventh.

The game will start at 7:05 and be broadcast on Fox Sports Net Ohio.

Here's a preview of the matchup:


Ryle Raiders
NKY Class 6A, District 6
HEAD COACH: Bryson Warner
2009 RECORD: 5-1, 2-0

Simon Kenton Pioneers
NKY Class 6A, District 6
HEAD COACH: Jeff Marksberry
2009 RECORD: 5-1, 2-0

CONTINUE READING

Brossart Gets a Pass

The Bishop Brossart Mustangs surprised a lot of people when they started the season 3-0. However, a lot of people questioned the Mustangs' schedule and asked questions such as, "Are they scheduling wins?" My response... "Who are you supposed to schedule when you haven't won a game in two years?" Do you think that had Betsy Lane or Bracken County won that game people around there would be saying, "Well we just scheduled that win?" I highly doubt they would.

But I digress... Anyways, the Mustangs came back to earth posting back-to-back losses against district competition. They fell to Ludlow 35-14 and then followed that up by losing to Bellevue 45-7.

If you only look at the score of those games then yes it is easy to come to the conclusion that Brossart just is the same team they've been and they only won those games because they scheduled weak opponents. Well the problem with that reasoning is, while their schedule may have given them the opportunity to play some winnable games, those are still teams that the Mustangs wouldn't have beaten the past two years. I've watched three of the Mustangs five games now and I can honestly say they are a much better football team.

I took some flack this week when they lost two games and I had been telling people that they would be competitive with all those teams in 1A (except Beechwood) and actually win a game or two to make the playoffs. I deserved some of it and maybe the Mustangs aren't quite as good as I thought, but I still contend that they are a competitive team in 1A this year.

You have to look at the circumstances they played those last two games under. They lost half of their team to swine flu three weeks ago and had to cancel their game with Elizabethtown. Two weeks ago the whole team had caught it and they canceled the entire week of school and all activities due to a school-wide outbreak of the pandemic. That forced the Mustangs to play that game against Ludlow on Monday night and it also forced them to play with virtually no preparation as they werent allowed to practice for a week and hadn't practiced hardly at all the week before because of how many members of the team were sick.

If you watched the Ludlow game, Brossart did not look outmanned. In fact, after the first quarter it looked like the Mustangs were going to roll the Panthers. They went up 14-0 early and dominated the Panthers offensive line giving up virtually no yardage on defense. However, in the second half when the Panthers came back and then ended up running away with the game 35-14 they did look like a team who just hit a wall. It's pretty understandable really when you think about it. You're talking about a team who didn't practice for two weeks, so not only is conditioning a problem but they were out with the flu which isn't exactly something you recover from 100% in just a few days. Coach Reinhart was quoted after the game as saying that they were a better team than the Panthers, and to be honest when watching the game I felt the same way.

They were pretty clearly dominated in the game against Bellevue and that very well may be because Bellevue is a much better team. The Tigers have a great running back in Ricky Buckler who I knew would be a tough match up for the Mustangs going in to the game. Once again though, you have to look at the circumstances Brossart played this game under before reaching a conclusion that they don't have a chance to be competitive in 1A. The Mustangs played Ludlow on Monday night and then followed that up by playing just four days later on Friday against Bellevue. That is an absurd turnaround for the sport of football. You really can't do much practicing at all on Tuesday because you have to let the guys rest. Then you are left with two days to try and prepare, but you really don't want them going hard on Thursday either because they have to play the next day. That isn't exactly the ideal situations you want to be operating under as a coach preparing for a very tough opponent.

Bottom line is I think Bellevue would beat the Mustangs either way but the Ludlow game I'm not so sure about. Either way the Mustangs would have much better showings against those teams if you play them under normal circumstances... I promise you that. So for now, the Mustangs get a pass and you should still consider them a competitive team in 1A and a threat to make the playoffs. I really think they can still knock off Walton-Verona and Dayton, which would make them a playoff team.

Don't Count Conner Out

Many people saw the score of the Simon Kenton/Conner game last week and immediately went to their computers and started blasting the Cougars and talking about how they can't compete with the top teams in 6A on the internet message boards. Sure, 56-14 wasn't what we expected from a team that was supposed to be right there with the Pioneers challenging for NKy's 6A district. However, a week later they beat Boone, another team in 6A that many saw as a competitor 42-14.

Did it make you feel any different?

Well it should have.

The Cougars got beat... in fact they got embarrassed. However, that doesn't mean that they aren't a top team in 6A that could make noise in the playoffs.

Their 42-14 victory over Boone was a big one that they needed. No, Boone's not as good as Simon Kenton or Ryle this year, but they are a solid team and most importantly they can run the football. Conner's defense needed to prove that they could stop the run and they were able to do that against Boone. Also, Conner has an offense that has put up 30 or more points in five of their seven games. Regardless of who they played, that is a high-powered, potent offense at the high school level.

Another reason you can't look into that 56-14 score too much is the offense that they run. Yes, it means they are somewhat one dimensional and don't run the ball, but if you're one dimensional it's nice for that dimension to include four or five different playmakers and a quarterback who can improvise if the play breaks down. Their offense is a passing offense and most of the time it has been extremely effective this year. When it is not though, they open themselves up to a lot of quick three-and-outs where they aren't taking time off the clock with incomplete passes. This gives the other team's offense a lot of chances to score and leaves your defense on the field seemingly forever.

The third factor that you have to take into account is these are still high school kids we are talking about. Sometimes they don't perform to their full capabilities, sometimes they let early success go to their head and sometimes they get into a mental funk and can't get out of it. That was seemingly the case in their game against Simon Kenton. They got out to an early 14-0 lead and just quit playing and I think that the players will admit to that themselves.


Bottom line is Conner has one of the top young coaches in Dave Trosper and a great quarterback in Nick West who has enough playmakers on his offense to be dangerous. If you match these two teams up again in the playoffs... just like last year it could be a completely different outcome, so don't count Conner out as a 6A contender just yet.

Why I love High School Sports

Last Friday I made a trip to Fort Thomas not particularly excited to be covering the game between St. Xavier and Highlands. Sure it was on national television and the atmosphere for the game was going to be good, but there was no way that it was going to be a good game. Couple that with the fact that I had to show up ridiculously early to find a parking spot in Fort Thomas and I really wasn't very happy about the whole situation.

I showed up and went through my usual pregame routine. I talked to some of the the other scribes, photographers and coaches and then started snapping pictures of the players in warmups.

Looking at the teams lined up and stretching on either side of the field only furthered my thoughts about the blowout I was about to witness. I mean St. Xavier was so much bigger...

Three hours later I was in the midst of one of the coolest post game celebrations I've ever been around. Families with tradition in the Highlands football program crying on the field, coach Dale Mueller getting doused in water, and the student section jumping up and down screaming while being shown on the big screen above Highlands' sideline was just some of what I witnessed after the huge upset victory for the Bluebirds.

This is why I love high school sports so much.

The Bluebirds weren't bigger, faster, or stronger than the Bombers, but they wanted it and on that particular night that was all that mattered.

I witnessed a David and Goliath story when 5-foot-9, 180-pound Cam Dierig consistently beat 6-foot-8, 305-pound Division-I prospect Matt James. I witnessed the budding of a star when Senior quarterback Will Bardo ran for 135-yards and the Birds' lone touchdown and made some big plays in the passing game when they needed him. I witnessed a kid play his heart out and was most happy about receiving the approval of his uncle in Brandon Roller who finished the game with 11 tackles a sack and an interception. I witnessed a team who lost gracefully and asked the injured Bardo how he was doing and offered him their well-wishes.

That's the beauty of high school sports. There's a place for Cam Dierig to play defenive end. There's family tradition. Most importantly though, you just never know what's going to happen under Friday night lights.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you Highlands and St. Xavier. Thank you for reminding me, in a very cynical world filled with private versus public school debates and recruiting accusations, why high school sports is still the best thing going.

Beechwood 36 Holy Cross 35

Posted on TriStateFootball.com

Holy Cross had done it. Andy Roenker’s interception at the Beechwood 5-yard line gave them the ball back with only 2:24 left in the game, a seven-point lead and Beechwood was out of timeouts. The program’s first ever win over Beechwood was in their grasp… and then the unthinkable happened.

Roenker, the most sure-handed player on the team, carried up the middle on second down and on his way to the turf the ball came loose. The refs pointed Beechwood’s direction and just like that the Indians watched their chances of making history slip away.

It wasn’t over yet though, actually far from it. The Indians called a timeout to regroup and regroup they did. The defense bowed their backs and broke up two pass plays and then took Beechwood quarterback Matt Rigdon down at the line of scrimmage for no gain. Facing fourth and goal from the 10-yard line, Rigdon looked to the guy he’d been going to all night. Joe Colosimo ran across the front of the endzone and Rigdon hit him as he was going to the turf in the side of the endzone for the score.

“It was fourth down and it’s a play we run in practice all the time,” Colosimo said. “I saw Andy Roenker coming out of the corner of my eye and he swatted at the ball and it just landed in my hands.”

That touchdown tied the game up 29-29 and sent it into overtime. The high school overtime rules are much like the college rules where teams alternate possessions from the 10-yard line.

CONTINUE READING

Predictions - 9/11/09

Another Friday. More Great Matchups. Here's what will happen:

Boone Co. at Anderson
The Rebels are trying to get back on the winning track after losing to Scott County last week, but don't expect it to be this week. Anderson is bigger up front and has just as good of a running game as Boone does, plus they have a much better defense. Boone is ranked No. 6 in the QueenCityHigh poll Anderson is No. 5 in Ohio's Division I poll on QueenCityHigh... When in doubt go with the Ohio school. One thing is for certain... This game will fly by with the way both teams run the ball so frequently.

Final Score: Anderson 35 Boone 14

Dayton at Lloyd
This week's Kentucky Lottery game of the week... Somebody's gotta win. Both teams are at 0-2. Both are struggling so far. Lloyd has played the tougher competition and is at home... plus their name is the JUGGS.

Final Score: Lloyd 21 Dayton 7

CovCath at Campbell County
This could potentially be the game of the week. The Colonels are still in search of their first win after falling to Lasalle this past week. Meanwhile the Camels are riding high after coming from behind to beat Roger Bacon in the final minutes of the game. The Camels have a no huddle spread offense that Michael Kremer ran to perfection last week. Look for him to get WR Andrew Eshman involved early and watch RB Austin Johnson to make some big plays on the screen pass. CovCath meanwhile has proved that their best offense is QB Brayden Erpenbeck tucking and running on broken plays. When it comes down to it I see this being a shootout but CovCath won't be able to stop the Camels offense.

Final Score: Campbell County 45 CovCath 35

Highlands at Withrow
Withrow has some good athletes, but they lack the depth and discipline to compete with a team like Highlands. Keep an eye on the Bluebirds defense though as they are still trying to get all those guys on the same page.

Final Score: Highlands 45 Withrow 6

Holy Cross at Beechwood
This is another awesome game. It's a tough one to call because Holy Cross is the more talented team and has looked a whole lot better in the first two weeks. The Tigers have played much better competition though and have the mental edge on the Indians knowing that they've never lost to Holy Cross. The Indians have three playmakers in the backfield in QB Markel Walker, and RB's Andy Roenker and Brayson Smith. Expect the Indians to pound Roenker up the middle and then try to let Walker make the plays on the edge. Walker is also always a threat to make a big play when flushed out of the pocket as well. The Tigers meanwhile are going to play the field position game and hope that RB Cameron Vocke has a big game. I expect this one to be close and it will come down to the coaching staffs making the right calls.

Final Score: Beechwood 21 Holy Cross 17

Cooper at Holmes
These teams are both riding high after opening up the season 2-0. The Cooper Jaguars have found their offense in the form of RB Dvontae Bradley. Bradley has been unstoppable in the first two weeks and expect them to have another big game against a Holmes team that struggles to stay disciplined on defense. Holmes has been a little more balanced on offense. RB's Damien Oden and Greg Clemons have taken turns having huge weeks. Jesse Jenson has also proved to be a weapon running the ball as well. The key is going to come down to who wins the battle up front on both sides of the ball. Whoever gets the push up front offensively to give the RB's holes and slows down the other team's rushing attack will win.

Final Score: Holmes 28 Cooper 21

Dixie at Conner
Another awesome game in a loaded week. This one is going to be all about the offenses. They both have wide open offenses that are extremely fun to watch. I think this one comes down to two things. 1. The Coaches. Whoever is able to keep their offense unpredictable and moving the ball will have the edge. 2. Nick West. This sort of goes along with coaches because essentially that's what West is on the field. He has the ability and freedom to make reads and change plays like no other quarterback in the area. That should be the difference in this one.

Final Score: Conner 49 Dixie 35

Notre Dame Hires Former WNBA'er

Ryan Ernst is reporting today that Notre Dame Academy has hired their replacement for departed Cheryl Darpel. The Pandas have decided on former Xavier Musketeer and Los Angeles Sparks player Nicole Levandusky.

Levandusky played on Xavier's 2001 Elite Eight team and then played a season in the WNBA. She averaged 1.5 points per game in 5.2 minutes of action with the Sparks.

Xavier announced two days ago that Levandusky will be inducted into the Xavier Athletic Hall of Fame.

Predictions - 9/4/09

Alright here are my predictions for the games tonight. By the way take a look at last week... Not only was I right on all of them, but the scores were pretty darn close.

Highlands at Beechwood

I don't even need to break this game down. Beechwood is going to get dominated up front on both sides of the ball. Austin Collinsworth will touch the ball five times or less for two or three scores. Streeter will score two or three times and Fennell will also get in on the action. No chance of this one being close.

Final Score: Highlands 56 Beechwood 0



Holmes at Bellevue

This one comes down to Bellevue trying to control the game and be more fundamentally sound, while Holmes will try to overwhelm them with their speed and athletes. Holmes wins out in this case.

Final Score: Holmes 28 Bellevue 14

Lloyd at Conner

Conner should dominate this one as well. Nick West is too much with both his arm and his legs. Expect Coach Trosper to try and get his stud out of the game early after he scores four touchdowns himself.

Final Score Conner 42 Lloyd 12

Cooper at Scott

This is actually a game I have my eye on believe it or not. This one could be a really good matchup. Cooper got their biggest win in the program's history last week against a weak Shawnee team. Scott isn't very good either, but still a bigger school. I think this one goes down to the wire and I look for the Jaguars' newcomer Dvontae Bradley to be the difference in this one with another 200-yard game and multiple touchdowns.

Final Score: Cooper 35 Scott 28

Dixie Heights at Simon Kenton

The most interesting matchup on the slate for this weekend in NKy. Also by far the toughest to predict. Simon Kenton proved to me that they can win this game with or without Miles Simpson last week. They have two solid backs in Sage Powell and Nik Brown who make up for a lot of the missed production when Simpson is out. Dixie's defense has been a huge surprise thus far, but they haven't been tested like they will be tonight. This one is going to come down to Dixie's playcalling. If they are able to mix it up enough to keep moving the ball and stay in the game then they have a shot. Otherwise Simon Kenton could end up running away with this one.

Final Score: Simon Kenton 28 Dixie 21

Other Predictions:
Lasalle rolls over CovCath in a batlle of two bad offenses 21-0.
Roger Bacon squeaks out a win in Camel Country 21-18.
Boone is able to outlast Scott County 28-21.
NewCath gets their first win over Madison Central 14-6.

Friday Links

Here we go:

- Ryan Ernst has an interesting blog post about a question I was wondering - Who is Dvontae Bradley?
- Shannon Russell glorifies a game that ... well... really shouldn't be glorified. - Highlands vs Beechwood
- NKY.com's takes a look at tonight's top games - Top Games at a Glance
- Highlands wasn't a unanimous No. 1 this week in the Enquirer's polls. Who voted for SK? Spritsky? - Highlands not unanimous #1
- Richard Skinner has an awesome article up about how NKY came to be a football powerhouse and the man responsible - Homer Rice Grew NKY Football
- TSF has their look at the weekend games - Weekend Watch Week 2
- TSF's Podcasts page has plenty of postgame interviews from last week - TSF Podcasts
- We also had our weekly live webradio show this morning and our live blog - Listen/Read On-Demand
- Dan Clasgens takes a look at Dixie's great start - Dixie Heights Starts Fast

DIXIE HEIGHTS 47 BEECHWOOD 7

Posted at TriStateFootball.com

The last time the Beechwood Tigers took the field, they walked off of it as state champions. It was a far different feeling for the school this time around.

Dixie Heights (2-0) scored first on a 53-yard touchdown run and never looked back as they cruised to a 47-7 victory in the opening of Saturday’s quadruple header of the Crosstown Showdown at Nippert Stadium.

Wilson added two touchdowns through the air, a 10-yard pass to junior Bobby Leonard and a short-screen pass that classmate Corey Klei turned into a 68-yard scoring play.

Klei also added a 1-yard run as Dixie ran away with things. The senior feels as if the Colonels’ Class of 2010 is destined for great things.

“Our goal is 10-0. Then a perfect 5-0 (in the playoffs),” Klei said. “We have big expectations for our senior class. We start 10 seniors on offense and defense. We are a senior-led team. We expect to be perfect.”

Going undefeated is a tall task, but starting 2-0 is a refreshing change for Dixie... CONTINUE READING


Postgame Interview: Cory Klei - Dixie RB