article NKY Power Rankings 10-27-15 Sponsored by Orange Leaf Crescent Springs

Thanks to Orange Leaf Crescent Springs for sponsoring the Northern Kentucky Power Rankings. We encourage everyone to patronize our sponsors, and you can visit them at 2311 Buttermilk Crossing in Crescent Springs. Feel free to bring along this premium coupon when you visit!

THE RANKINGS:

10) Lloyd Memorial (2A / 6-3) – It was a bit of a back and forth game on Friday for the Juggs but they managed to pull out a win all the same, beating the 2A Holy Cross in their last district game of the regular season, and finishing second in the district. Lloyd will be on the road for the final game of the regular season, taking on the 4A Harrison County Thorobreds in Cynthiana on Friday.

9) Newport Central Catholic (2A / 5-4) – The Breds have fared well in districts this year, winning the third of their three district games with a 48-8 win over the 2A Newport Wildcats on Friday. It will likely be tough in the postseason, nonetheless, and New Cath will be preparing for their playoff run by testing themselves this week against the 1A Beechwood Tigers, one of New Cath’s biggest rivals.

8) Scott (4A / 8-1) – This season the Eagles have proved that grinding out teams on the ground can still make for a solid game of football, averaging an impressive 39 points per game in the 9 games they have played thus far this season with an offense almost entirely based around the run-game. They finished out their district competition this season undefeated with a 42-6 win on Friday against the 4A Holmes Bulldogs. However, Scott will have their toughest game of the season this week when they host the undefeated 6A Simon Kenton Pioneers in what is likely to be a loss for the Eagles.

6T) Conner (6A / 6-3) – Conner raised a number of eyebrows around Northern Kentucky this week when they held the 6A Cooper Jaguars to a surprising 2 point margin of victory in the Jags' 15-13 win over the Cougars. It’s clear that the Cougars have improved their game as the regular season has progressed this season, but with a few shaky performances along the way and so few mutual competitors to compare them against the likes of 5A Covington Catholic and 1A Beechwood, it’s tough to say exactly where they stand up against them. After finishing third in their district, Conner will be finishing out their regular season against the 4A Mason County Royals on Friday in Hebron.

6T) Beechwood (1A / 8-1) – The Tigers only allowed their district competitors to score 6 points this season, versus their own 180 points scored against the competitors. Their final district win came this past Friday as Beechwood rolled over the 1A Dayton Greendevils 69-l60. Things are looking better and better for Beechwood in the 1A playoffs, but not before they take on the rival 2A New Cath Thoroughbreds this Friday in their final regular season competition.

5) Covington Catholic (5A / 3-6) – Cov Cath finished out district play on Friday by beating the 5A Dixie Colonels 42-14 on the road. The win secures the #2 spot in the district for Cov Cath, behind #1 Highlands, and ahead of #3 Dixie Heights and #4 Grant County. The Colonels are heading to 6A Scott County this week to take on the 8-1 Cardinals in the final game of their regular season.

4) Highlands (5A / 4-5) – Highlands is fighting things out this year and working their hardest to finish out without a regular season losing record. Friday’s win against 5A Grant County was a step in the right direction for the Birds, as they finished out on top of their district and put up their third straight win as they approach the final week of the regular season. This week Highlands will take on the 6A Boone County Rebels in Florence. The 0-9 Rebels will undoubtedly have a tough time against the Birds.

3) Ryle (6A / 7-2) – Ryle traveled to Independence on Friday to take on the 6A Simon Kenton Pioneers. Despite only allowing the Neers a 29 yard advantage on offense, the Raiders were outscored 28-7. Ryle heads to Edgewood this week to take on the 5A Dixie Heights Colonels to finish out their regular season.

2) Cooper (6A / 8-2) – Cooper finished out their regular season on Friday by beating 6A Conner 15-13 on the road. It may have been a surprising final score with the Cooper offense struggling in the air, but even with the continued absence of Torrey Cordell-Armstrong in the backfield, the Jags still managed to put together a solid 225 yards rushing as they finished #1 in their district. Cooper will have the week off as they prepare for the 6A playoffs.

1) Simon Kenton (6A / 9-0) – Only one game remains between Simon Kenton and their second undefeated regular season in 3 years. After beating 6A Ryle on Friday 28-7, the only team standing between the Neers and 10-0 is 4A Scott High School. Scott may be coming in bragging their best regular season on record (8-1), but there’s not much doubting that the Pioneers will be leaving Taylor Mill with a win this Friday.

Player Of The Week:

Ethan Stringer (Beechwood)

Stringer rushed for 148 yards on a mere FOUR carries on Friday, bringing his rushing total to 1,274 yards thus far this season. In nine games, Ethan has averaged an impressive 9.7 yards per carry and 141 yards per game.

Game Of The Week:

Covington Catholic (5A) vs. Scott County (6A)

The 3-6 Colonels have been beaten down by a monster schedule this year, and their final regular season game doesn’t look to be much different. Cov Cath will be hoping they can capitalize on a difficult game played by 6A Scott County last week as they look to see if they can scratch out another win on the road this Friday.

Trending Up/Down:

With most of the mandatory district games taking place in the last few weeks of the regular season, it’s tough to really pinpoint teams’ “upward” and “downward” trends, but 6A Simon Kenton, and 1A Beechwood are looking to have their game together as they approach the post-season, while teams like 4A Holmes, 2A New Cath, and 1A Ludlow look to still be struggling a bit.