article NKY Power Rankings: 10-25-18

1) 5A Covington Catholic (9-0) – Covington Catholic is one win away from a second straight undefeated regular season after beating the 5A Dixie Heights Colonels 50-8 on Friday to win out the district. QB Caleb Jacob had 166yds passing for 2 TDs in the game, while RB Casey McGinness had 119yds rushing for 4 TDs. RB Luke Stegman also had 61yds and 1 TD rushing. Through the air, TE Michael Mayer had 89yds and a TD on 1 reception, and WR Jack Coldiron had 16 yds and a TD on 1 reception. Kicker Trey Gronotte added a field goal on top of things. Jack Coldiron led the defense with 5 tackles from his position at linebacker, and Andrew Molique had 2 interceptions in the game. The Colonels will look to finish out the regular season against 6A Campbell County (6-3) in Park Hills on Friday.

2) 5A Highlands (7-2) – The Bluebirds hosted 5A Greenwood (2-7) on Friday and easily handled the Gators in a 42-7 route. QB Grady Cramer was an impressive 17-22 passing for 247yds and 2 TDs. RB Cooper Schwalbach led the ground attack with 62yds and 2 TDs on 6 carries, and WR Nate Roberts had 142yds and 2 TDs on 6 receptions. Brycen Huddleston added another return for touchdown to his stat sheet for the year, and DB Jacob Brass added the remaining Highlands touchdown on a 40yd pick-6. Highlands, who finished second in their 3-team 5A district, will finish out the regular season against 6A Boone County (2-7) on Friday in Ft. Thomas.

3) 1A Beechwood (7-2) – The Tigers finished out their sweep of district competition by scoring 60+ points on each of their district competitors. Their final win came against 1A Dayton (0-9) in a 62-6 mauling. QB Cam Hergott was 5-5 passing for 130yds and 2 TDs in the game, and rushed for an additional TD. WR Hank Birindelli led the receiving corps with 52yds, WR John Odom had 51yds receiving and 1 TD, and WR Tyler Donoho had 14yds receiving and 1 TD. Rushing, Michael Hatfield led the Tigers with 63yds and 1 TD, Logan Castleman had 55yds and 2 TDs, and Cole Stammer and Jensen Linder each added a TD. Tyler Donoho also added an interception for touchdown on the defensive side of things. Beechwood will finish out their regular season at home on Friday with their annual match-up against 2A Newport Central Catholic (4-5).

4) 6A Simon Kenton (8-2) – Simon Kenton knocked off 6A Ryle (2-7) on Friday with a 28-7 win for the Pioneers. QB Caleb Farfsing made a return to action after missing a week to injury, and was 7-14 passing for 88yds and 2 TDs, and rushed for another 77yds. Wide receivers Brennan Gangwish and Austin Hammack each had TDs receiving in the game. RB Jon Sergent led the game in rushing with 118yds and 2 TDs. DL Vuk Sajlovic had 11 tackles to lead the defense, while DL JJ Courtney and LB Bryson Pernell had 9 tackles and 2 sacks each. David LeCount also had an interception, and Tyler Parks tacked on a pick-6 for the D. Friday’s win over Ryle finished out the regular season for the Pioneers, and they will return to action on November 2 against 6A Bryan Station (1-8) in the first round of the playoffs.

5) 6A Campbell County (6-3) – Campbell County notched their 6th win of the season with a 35-7 win on the road against 6A Boone County (2-7). QB Andrew Helton was 7-12 passing for 126yds and 3 TDs, and rushed for another 61yds. RB Grant Jolly led the running game with 87yds on 13 carries. WR Brady Singleton had 76yds and 1 TD receiving and WR Reid Jolly had 40yds and 1 TD receiving. DBs Gavin Terhaar and Brady Singleton each had a pck-6 for the Camel defense. Campbell County will finish out their regular season on the road against 5A Covington Catholic (9-0).

6) 6A Conner (7-2) – The Cougars scratched out another win on Friday by beating 6A Cooper (3-6) by a score of 19-14 in Union. Jared Hicks was 6-17 passing for 31yds at QB, with another 81yds and 1 TD rushing. RB Christian Webster had 110yds and 1 TD on 20 carries. Roy Colton led Conner’s defense with 10 tackles, while Clayton Boyd and Tate Niederman each had 9 tackles a piece. Niederman also added a 70yd pick-6 for a defensive score. Conner will host 6A Frederick Douglass (9-0) this Friday in their final game of the regular season.

7) 2A Walton-Verona (7-2) – Walton-Verona handed out their sixth shutout of the season with a 63-0 win over the 2A Gallatin County Wildcats (1-7). QB Garrett Jones was 4-5 passing for 50yds and 2 TDs. RB Tyler Schrader had a team high 90yds rushing and 1 TD in the game, and RBs Peyton Smith, Micah Alford, Tyler Wagner, Wiley Baker, Tristen Spalding, and Jacob Gaines each scored rushing touchdowns as well. WRs Travis Brauer and Johnny Martin each had a receiving TD as well. LB Grant Grubbs led the Bearcats’ defense with 6 tackles.

8) 6A Ryle (2-7) – The Raiders lost their 7th game of the season on Friday, being beaten 28-7 by the 6A Simon Kenton Pioneers (8-2). QBs Jake Smith and Keegan Stanken combined for 6 pass receptions and 52 yards through the air. RB Kyle England led in yardage for the Raiders’ running game, and Elijah Cusick had 36yds and scored the team’s sole TD in the game. LB Jackson Saladin led the defense with an impressive 16 tackles, including 2 sacks. DB Max Hungler added another sack, and DE Johnathan Coker had an interception. Ryle’s last regular season game will be on Friday against 5A Dixie Heights (0-9) at home.

9) 6A Cooper (3-6) – Cooper took their 6th loss of the season on Friday, losing 19-14 at home to the 6A Conner Cougars (7-2). QB Jeremiah Lee was the man of the game again for Cooper, passing for 47 yards and rushing 19 times for 79yds and 1 TD from his position at quarterback. RB Joe Page also rushed 12 times for 61yds. Jeremiah Lee also scored defensively on a 12yd fumble scoop-and-score. DB Ethan Bosway had 10 tackles in the game, and Joe Poage also had 9 tackles from defensive back. The Jaguars will wrap up their regular season when they host 6A Henry Clay (5-4) on Friday.

10) Newport Central Catholic (4-5) – The Breds put together their third straight win on Friday with a 40-12 win over 2A Newport. QB Paul Kremer had a strong passing performance in the game, going 12-15 for 253yds and 3 TDs. RB Hezekiah Miller rushed 18 times for 118yds and 2 TDs. WR Aubrey Posey had 7 catches for 148yds and 3 TDs, and WR Caleb Jefferson had 3 catches for 67yds and 1 TD. Caleb Jefferson also had 1 interception from the defensive backfield. New Cath will finish out their regular season on Friday in Fort Mitchell against 1A Beechwood (7-2).

TRENDING UP:

2A Newport Central Catholic (Previously #10) – The Breds didn’t move up in the NKY Power Rankings, but have managed to lace together 3 straight wins for the first time this season.

4A Scott (Previously Un-ranked) – The Eagles are not currently in the top 10 of the NKY Power Rankings, but notched off two straight wins by beating 4A Bourbon County (3-6) and 4A Holmes (4-5).

TRENDING DOWN:

6A Cooper (Previously #9) – The Jaguars didn’t drop in the NKY Power Rankings this week, but had their 6th loss of the season at the hands of 6A Conner (7-2).

6A Ryle (Previously #7) – The Raiders fell to #8 in the NKY Power Rankings after losing for a 7th time this season to 6A Simon Kenton (8-2).

GAME OF THE WEEK RECAP: WEEK 9

2A Newport vs. 2A Newport Central Catholic

The Newport Wildcats might have stepped up this season compared to seasons in the recent past, but they were not able to put together enough to overcome crosstown rivals, Newport Central Catholic. The Breds were just too much, and beat Newport 40-12 on Friday.

GAME OF THE WEEK: WEEK 10

2A Lloyd Memorial vs. 4A Scott

5-4 Scott versus 6-3 Lloyd. The Kenton County battle of first names. Both teams have had strides forward and stumbles backwards this season, and this game should prove a good challenge for both teams as well. Game will take place on Friday in Erlanger.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: WEEK 9

QB Paul Kremer (Newport Central Catholic) – Kremer had very impressive 12-15 passing in the Breds win over the Newport Wildcats, throwing for 253yds and 3 TDs. He also rushed an additional 5 times for 22 yards in the game.

LB Jackson Saladin (Ryle) – Saladin had an impressive 16 tackles in the Raiders’ game on Friday against Simon Kenton. He had 11 solo tackles, and 5 assists, including 5 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks.

SK is getting healthy at the right time. I like the way the bracket is set up. Things could go their way this year.

SK is getting healthy at the right time. I like the way the bracket is set up. Things could go their way this year.

Good luck. Looks to be a tough road for SK. Henry Clay in round 2 and if fortunate enough to get by them, then it's Frederick Douglass, who might be the overall best team in KY.

SK is getting healthy at the right time. I like the way the bracket is set up. Things could go their way this year.

This is the year!

Good luck. Looks to be a tough road for SK. Henry Clay in round 2 and if fortunate enough to get by them, then it's Frederick Douglass, who might be the overall best team in KY.

Henry Clay looked pretty bad.

SK is getting healthy at the right time. I like the way the bracket is set up. Things could go their way this year.

SK's run ends in Round 3, if they make it that far.

Henry Clay looked pretty bad.

They crushed Scott County and were rolling teams over 4 games until Frederick Douglass killed them. They are really athletic and fast.

They crushed Scott County and were rolling teams over 4 games until Frederick Douglass killed them. They are really athletic and fast.

What was the difference in the Henry Clay team Cov Cath crushed and then the Henry Clay team that destroyed Scott County? Do they have a major strength/weakness that allowed those 2 games to play out so differently? Or do you just chalk the inconsistency up to high school kids being high school kids.

What was the difference in the Henry Clay team Cov Cath crushed and then the Henry Clay team that destroyed Scott County? Do they have a major strength/weakness that allowed those 2 games to play out so differently? Or do you just chalk the inconsistency up to high school kids being high school kids.

The common denominator seems to be Scott County.

On one hand we have the Scott County team that crushed Highlands and beat Moeller (OH) and on the other hand we have the Scott County team that got crushed by Henry Clay and LaSalle (OH).

Crushed Highlands? It was only 28-7. Birds were getting ready to make a run at it.

Crushed Highlands? It was only 28-7. Birds were getting ready to make a run at it.

It wasn't even halftime yet and the score was 28-7, right?

It wasn't even halftime yet and the score was 28-7, right?

Correct. The game was stopped with 3:00 left on the clock in the 2nd quarter immediately before Scott County was to kick off following their fourth touchdown.

Beechwood is on the road this week as well. They only had 3 home games this year.

Crushed Highlands? It was only 28-7. Birds were getting ready to make a run at it.

Can we stop saying that? Highlands lone score was a kickoff return, and had maybe 10 yards of offense. It was more likely to be a running clock, than a run by HHS.

Can we stop saying that? Highlands lone score was a kickoff return, and had maybe 10 yards of offense. It was more likely to be a running clock, than a run by HHS.

I get what you are saying. But it is a real thing that Highlands has done better in the second half this season. Plus there was a load of Highlands drops in the game. Also there was a ton of times Highlands stopped SC and then there was some bogus penalty, that happens every play, that kept some of their drives alive. I think someone speculating one way is about as accurate as speculation the other way. All you can do is look at the film. It’s pretty easy to look at a score and just react. I watched the actual game, Highlands was playing well just made a couple dumb mistakes in 2nd quarter. It was like a Bengals v Steelers game.

I guess I’ll stop saying it if we can also stop just assuming a running clock was coming? Compromise?