By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

CRESTVIEW HILLS – They may be battling adversity right now.

But the heart of the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds football team is one thing that can’t be questioned. NewCath made the host Dixie Heights Colonels earn a 36-7 non-district victory Friday in rainy conditions.

The Thoroughbreds (1-4) just could not control things in the trenches with their injury-riddled offensive and defensive lines like previous weeks in their four-game losing streak. Dixie Heights (3-1) outgained NewCath, 467-97 in total offense on its way to equaling last year’s win total.

“I can’t fault their effort defensively,” said Dan Wagner, NewCath Head Coach. “We battled tooth and nail.”

NewCath played without a dozen players. That included seniors Stephen Brooks, Matt Lenz, juniors Brandon Gray, Jacob Wieland, Logan Neff and sophomores Luke Kues, Nick Tolle and Ethan Craig. But no NewCath players are out for the year.

“We had four kids that could have played if it was a playoff game,” Wagner said. “We can’t afford to run that risk. The doctors recommended we didn’t play them. They should be back next week. We had seven starters on the sidelines. Four are two-way starters.”

The Colonels gained 23 first downs to three for NewCath. Darion Washington led the way with 123 yards on 21 carries and junior quarterback Drew Moore completed 7-of-15 passes for 242 yards. Seth Caple led the way with for the Colonels catching three passes for 106 yards.

“We watched the film and (NewCath) gave Simon Kenton fits,” said Dave Brossart, Dixie Heights Head Coach. “They gave us fits. But that’s how tough they are. They’re well-coached. They’ll be fine come playoffs.”

Both teams turned the ball over the same amount of times. NewCath lost two fumbles and threw an interception and Dixie Heights lost three fumbles.

The Thoroughbreds jumped out of the gate quick. On the second play from scrimmage, NewCath quarterback Mac Franzen completed a 68-yard pass to Tommy Donnelly down to the Dixie Heights 4-yard line. Smith then took a handoff left for a 4-yard touchdown and John Caudill made the extra-point kick to give NewCath its lone 7-0 lead.

But the NewCath offense did not do much after that. Franzen completed 3-of-8 passes and an interception for 101 yards. The Thoroughbreds finished with a minus-12 yards rushing on 32 attempts.

“It was a very good defense,” said Dave Schneider, NewCath Offensive Coordinator. “They overwhelmed us playing with a lot of inexperienced guys in there. But they (inexperienced players) tried their best.”

The Colonels came back and tied the game. Senior wide receiver Cameron Farmer wrestled the ball away from NewCath defensive back Jacob Smith and ran to the NewCath 23 on 3rd-and-31 from the Dixie Heights 9 before Caple scored on a 1-yard run.

The Thoroughbreds proceeded to turn it over twice and the Colonels capitalized on the second one. Washington scored from a yard out to put Dixie Heights up for good at 14-7 at halftime.

Dixie Heights then put the game away in the third quarter. Moore scored from a yard out and Ethan Harrison intercepted a NewCath pass and took it back 43 yards for the touchdown to put the Colonels up 28-7 entering the fourth quarter.

The Colonels scored once more in the fourth. Washington scored on a 17-yard scamper.

The Thoroughbreds started last year 2-4 before managing to reel off nine straight wins on their way to the Class 2A state championship. That team also finished 1-4 against schools in bigger classes.

“We’re pretty much in the same position as last year with a lot of guys out,” said Jack Sutkamp, NewCath senior linebacker/running back. “I think we can pull it together. We’re just going to have to work harder.”

Dixie Heights extended the series lead to 14-7. NewCath had won the previous three meetings including a 37-22 win in Crestview Hills last year.

The Thoroughbreds open District 6 action Friday back in Newport against the Lloyd Memorial Juggernauts (3-2). Game time is 7 p.m.

Volleyball:

Highlands 2, Boone County 0:

The Bluebirds (6-10) opened up the Cake Classic with a 25-15, 25-19 win over the Lady Rebels. They did not win any games in the Cake Classic last year.

That marked the 100th win in the head coaching career of Whitney Mulroney. Mulroney served as head coach at Bishop Brossart before coming to Highlands.

The Bluebirds conclude the Cake Classic on Saturday.

 

Fort Thomas Sports: Dixie Heights hands injury-riddled NewCath 36-7 defeat; Highlands volleyball wins

Dixie is the best team I have seen this year. They have a big, powerful line and several excellent backs, plus Drew Moore.

 

Lol, have you not seen SK or HHS play? Line not near as big as SK, and although 34 is a good player, Powell is better.

Lol' date=' have you not seen SK or HHS play? Line not near as big as SK, and although 34 is a good player, Powell is better.[/quote']

 

Perhaps if he's healthy enough to play. That's up in the air right now.

From what my daughter told me, 9 starters out for this game. :eek: I knew 4 would not play in this game, but 9...WOW.

 

Again, only going off what "daddy's little girl" said.

 

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

CRESTVIEW HILLS – They may be battling adversity right now.

But the heart of the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds football team is one thing that can’t be questioned. NewCath made the host Dixie Heights Colonels earn a 36-7 non-district victory Friday in rainy conditions.

The Thoroughbreds (1-4) just could not control things in the trenches with their injury-riddled offensive and defensive lines like previous weeks in their four-game losing streak. Dixie Heights (3-1) outgained NewCath, 467-97 in total offense on its way to equaling last year’s win total.

“I can’t fault their effort defensively,” said Dan Wagner, NewCath Head Coach. “We battled tooth and nail.”

NewCath played without a dozen players. That included seniors Stephen Brooks, Matt Lenz, juniors Brandon Gray, Jacob Wieland, Logan Neff and sophomores Luke Kues, Nick Tolle and Ethan Craig. But no NewCath players are out for the year.

“We had four kids that could have played if it was a playoff game,” Wagner said. “We can’t afford to run that risk. The doctors recommended we didn’t play them. They should be back next week. We had seven starters on the sidelines. Four are two-way starters.”

The Colonels gained 23 first downs to three for NewCath. Darion Washington led the way with 123 yards on 21 carries and junior quarterback Drew Moore completed 7-of-15 passes for 242 yards. Seth Caple led the way with for the Colonels catching three passes for 106 yards.

“We watched the film and (NewCath) gave Simon Kenton fits,” said Dave Brossart, Dixie Heights Head Coach. “They gave us fits. But that’s how tough they are. They’re well-coached. They’ll be fine come playoffs.”

Both teams turned the ball over the same amount of times. NewCath lost two fumbles and threw an interception and Dixie Heights lost three fumbles.

The Thoroughbreds jumped out of the gate quick. On the second play from scrimmage, NewCath quarterback Mac Franzen completed a 68-yard pass to Tommy Donnelly down to the Dixie Heights 4-yard line. Smith then took a handoff left for a 4-yard touchdown and John Caudill made the extra-point kick to give NewCath its lone 7-0 lead.

But the NewCath offense did not do much after that. Franzen completed 3-of-8 passes and an interception for 101 yards. The Thoroughbreds finished with a minus-12 yards rushing on 32 attempts.

“It was a very good defense,” said Dave Schneider, NewCath Offensive Coordinator. “They overwhelmed us playing with a lot of inexperienced guys in there. But they (inexperienced players) tried their best.”

The Colonels came back and tied the game. Senior wide receiver Cameron Farmer wrestled the ball away from NewCath defensive back Jacob Smith and ran to the NewCath 23 on 3rd-and-31 from the Dixie Heights 9 before Caple scored on a 1-yard run.

The Thoroughbreds proceeded to turn it over twice and the Colonels capitalized on the second one. Washington scored from a yard out to put Dixie Heights up for good at 14-7 at halftime.

Dixie Heights then put the game away in the third quarter. Moore scored from a yard out and Ethan Harrison intercepted a NewCath pass and took it back 43 yards for the touchdown to put the Colonels up 28-7 entering the fourth quarter.

The Colonels scored once more in the fourth. Washington scored on a 17-yard scamper.

The Thoroughbreds started last year 2-4 before managing to reel off nine straight wins on their way to the Class 2A state championship. That team also finished 1-4 against schools in bigger classes.

“We’re pretty much in the same position as last year with a lot of guys out,” said Jack Sutkamp, NewCath senior linebacker/running back. “I think we can pull it together. We’re just going to have to work harder.”

Dixie Heights extended the series lead to 14-7. NewCath had won the previous three meetings including a 37-22 win in Crestview Hills last year.

The Thoroughbreds open District 6 action Friday back in Newport against the Lloyd Memorial Juggernauts (3-2). Game time is 7 p.m.

Volleyball:

Highlands 2, Boone County 0:

The Bluebirds (6-10) opened up the Cake Classic with a 25-15, 25-19 win over the Lady Rebels. They did not win any games in the Cake Classic last year.

That marked the 100th win in the head coaching career of Whitney Mulroney. Mulroney served as head coach at Bishop Brossart before coming to Highlands.

The Bluebirds conclude the Cake Classic on Saturday.

 

Fort Thomas Sports: Dixie Heights hands injury-riddled NewCath 36-7 defeat; Highlands volleyball wins

 

"Daddy's little girl" was in the ballpark. YIKES!!!!

Don't remember NCC starting 1-4 in a very long time. Are numbers down, talent thin, or is there resistance to the new coach? I understand these are tough teams and Dixie, SK, and Campbell are all good. But didnt they lose to Cooper too? I hope they use these experiences to prep for district play.

Don't remember NCC starting 1-4 in a very long time. Are numbers down, talent thin, or is there resistance to the new coach? I understand these are tough teams and Dixie, SK, and Campbell are all good. But didnt they lose to Cooper too? I hope they use these experiences to prep for district play.

 

Yeah you have to go all the way back to 2012 for the last time they went 1-4 in the five non-district games before district play. It turned out okay when they won a state championship so I would not worry too much about reasons.

Don't remember NCC starting 1-4 in a very long time. Are numbers down, talent thin, or is there resistance to the new coach? I understand these are tough teams and Dixie, SK, and Campbell are all good. But didnt they lose to Cooper too? I hope they use these experiences to prep for district play.

 

NKY 2A is so bad outside of NCC that they will have no problem running the table in district play. They won't be challenged in 2A until the second or third round of the playoffs.

NKY 2A is so bad outside of NCC that they will have no problem running the table in district play. They won't be challenged in 2A until the second or third round of the playoffs.

 

We'll find out next week when they play Lloyd. You are probably right but Lloyd is playing pretty well right now and New Cath seems to have a lot of guys out. Are those injured players back next week for NCC?

Once NCC gets healthy they'll be ok deep into the playoffs and then anything can happen.

We'll find out next week when they play Lloyd. You are probably right but Lloyd is playing pretty well right now and New Cath seems to have a lot of guys out. Are those injured players back next week for NCC?

 

Lloyd on paper appears to be playing well but their schedule has been so weak I can't buy into it. Next week should tell the story.

Nah, SK should beat this team. NCC's starting D gave up 21 points to Dixie and one of those tds was after a fumble on the Dixie 1 yard line by the QB. Dixie took a int to the house and had their first team in against NCC's JV and scored their last TD. 34 looked very proud when he scored on NCC's JV.

 

Couldn't agree with more. And the celebration in the endzone after he did it was quite amusing.

Let me start by saying Dixie is very experienced and very good. All weapons in place. A healthy NCC team and it would have been a heck of a game to watch. No secret that NCC had a sophomore line in the game last night. They got manhandled by the bigger Colonels. No excuses from NCC but they had quite a few players on the sidelines, that being said you have to commend the younger guys for battling to the end. NCC fumbled on their own 1 yard line, threw an INT for a TD and Coach Brossart let his #1 offense in the game the last drive against NCC JV. 21pts given to them. 14-7 at half, very easily could have been 7-0 Breds at half. I commend the Breds coaching staff for playing the "big boys" year in and year out as it will only make them better. Hard to compete with numbers and when you are a small 2A school with 8-9 players on the sidelines it makes it even harder. SK and Dixie are the only teams that really handled the Breds easy. Cooper and Campbell Co were both very winnable games. Good luck to Dixie the rest of the year but I hope your coaches show more class than they did Friday. When the opposition puts their JV team in down 28-7 with 8 minutes to play I think its ok to put your JV in as well, they have pretty much conceeded the game is over. BAD MOVE BY COACHING STAFF but I guess its the first win for this senior class over the Breds so it felt good to get that last TD. Breds players and fans need to stay positive. New season starts next week Lloyd at home. Big district game and it sounds like they will be nice and healthy for that one. TOO SUCCEED YOU MUST BELIEVE.......AND WE BELIEVE!

Let me start by saying Dixie is very experienced and very good. All weapons in place. A healthy NCC team and it would have been a heck of a game to watch. No secret that NCC had a sophomore line in the game last night. They got manhandled by the bigger Colonels. No excuses from NCC but they had quite a few players on the sidelines, that being said you have to commend the younger guys for battling to the end. NCC fumbled on their own 1 yard line, threw an INT for a TD and Coach Brossart let his #1 offense in the game the last drive against NCC JV. 21pts given to them. 14-7 at half, very easily could have been 7-0 Breds at half. I commend the Breds coaching staff for playing the "big boys" year in and year out as it will only make them better. Hard to compete with numbers and when you are a small 2A school with 8-9 players on the sidelines it makes it even harder. SK and Dixie are the only teams that really handled the Breds easy. Cooper and Campbell Co were both very winnable games. Good luck to Dixie the rest of the year but I hope your coaches show more class than they did Friday. When the opposition puts their JV team in down 28-7 with 8 minutes to play I think its ok to put your JV in as well, they have pretty much conceeded the game is over. BAD MOVE BY COACHING STAFF but I guess its the first win for this senior class over the Breds so it felt good to get that last TD. Breds players and fans need to stay positive. New season starts next week Lloyd at home. Big district game and it sounds like they will be nice and healthy for that one. TOO SUCCEED YOU MUST BELIEVE.......AND WE BELIEVE!

 

EXCELLENT POST mister cee. :thumb:

I think I'm still drying out from the game but a few things I did notice.

 

1) NCC kept putting their QB in the shotgun even though the wet ball was causing a lot of problems with snaps.

2) With that said, Dixie had to have atleast 6 mishandled snaps under center that Moore had to fall on.

3) NCC battled until the end and do have some hard nosed players. #5 (Jake Smith?) was all over the field last night.

4) This was the first game of the year that I've been to and Dixie's defense flies to the ball.

5) I have no idea how Farmer wrestled that pass away from the NCC defensive back. Looked like NCC was going to have the pick. Then again, the DB should've just swatted the ball down as it was 3 and very long.

6) The NCC punter had quite a few excellent punts even with the ball being hard to handle.

7) Would've loved to see these two teams play in dry conditions where the offenses could've opened up more.

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