article Northern Kentucky Power Rankings: 09-20-2018

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

1) 5A Covington Catholic (5-0) – Cov Cath’s streak of consecutive running clock wins in the state may come to an end on Friday, but not their streak of wins. The Colonels beat 1A Beechwood (2-2) by a score of 49-14. RB Casey McGinness had another phenomenal game, rushing for 195yds and 3 TDs, and receiving for 70yds and 1 TD. QB Caleb Jacob was 17 for 23 passing for 311yds and 3 TDs, while TE Michael Mayer was 93yds receiving with 1 TD, and WR Jack Coldiron was 91yds receiving with 1 TD. Andrew Shelton and Michael Mayer led the defense with 6 tackles each, and Jackson Bland and Daniel Felix each added 5 tackles each. The Colonels will head up to Columbus on Friday to face OH-III Saint Francis DeSales (3-1).

 

2) 5A Highlands (4-1) – Things may have been close at halftime on Friday between Highlands and 3A Lexington Catholic (4-1), but the Bluebirds made their adjustments at the half, and came home with a 44-27 win over the Knights. QB Grady Cramer was 18-26 passing for 271yds and 1 TD, and RB Cooper Schwalbach carried 12 times for 46yds and 2 TDs. WR Hunter Ahfeld had 102yds receiving, and WR Nate Roberts had 92yds and 1 TD. RB Joe Buten had the remaining offensive TD. One of the biggest defensive highlights of the game on a fumble picked up and returned 52yds for a touchdown. The Birds will face off with 6A Simon Kenton (5-0) this week in Fort Thomas.

 

3) 6A Simon Kenton (5-0) – Simon Kenton ticked off their fifth win of the season on Friday with a 46-3 route of 6A Cooper (1-4). QB Caleb Farfsing was 9 for 16 passing for 180yds and 2 TDs, and Farfsing also led the rushing game with 143yds and 3 TDs. WR Jon Sergent had 104yds and 1 TD receiving, and WR Evan Mulberry had 71yds and 1 TD. RB Austin Hammack had 76yds on the ground, while RB Erik Brown had 57yds and 1 TD. LB Clay Cogswell led the Pioneer D once again with 7 tackles, while JJ Courtney & Val Sajlovic had 6 tackles each. The ‘Neers will head to Fort Thomas to take on the 5A Highlands Bluebirds (4-1) on Friday.

 

4) 1A Beechwood (2-2) – The Tigers had a big game on the road for a second straight week, and for a second week fell short, losing 49-14 to 5A Covington Catholic (5-0). Beechwood came out roaring with a first possession TD and keeping the game close at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter, but then things stalled for the Tigers. QB Cam Hergott was 13-26 passing for 130yds and 1 TD, hitting WR John Odom 6 times for 94yds and WR Hank Birindelli twice for 11yds and 1 TD. Beechwood’s running game struggled against the Colonels, with the offense only putting up 50yds on the ground. Defensively, DE Gage Dollenmeyer had a sack in the game, while CB Mason Williams added an interception. The Tigers will take on 2A Covington Holy Cross (0-5) this week on the road.

 

5) 6A Campbell County (4-1) – The Camels added another one in the win column with a 14-0 win over 6A Ryle (1-4) on Friday. QB Andrew Helton was 14-26 passing for 126yds, rushed for 44yds and 1 TD. RB Grant Jolly carried 14 times for 79yds and 1 TD, while WR Reid Jolly led the receiving corps with 8 receptions for 61yds. Reid Jolly also had an interception for the Campbell County defense, as did DB Brady Singleton. The Camels have the week off this week, and will return to action on Sept. 28th against the OH-III Mt. Healthy Owls (1-3) at Mt. Healthy.

 

6) 6A Conner (3-1) – Conner hosted 5A Dixie Heights (0-5) on Friday, and sent the Colonels home with a 21-13 loss. The Cougars running game drove the offense again, with RB Christian Webster rushing for 71yds and 1 TD, and RB Doug Abdon rushing for 56yds and 1 TD, and QB Garrett Coghlan rushing for 48yds and 1 TD. Coghlan also had 5 pass completions good for 81yds. DB Clayton Boyd & DL Chase Kurtz led the defense with 8 tackles each, while LB Tyler Thomas had 7 tackles. The Cougars will face 2A Newport Central Catholic (1-4) at home in Hebron.

 

7) 6A Ryle (1-4) – The Raiders are still hunting for their second win of the season after a 14-0 shutout at the hands of 6A Campbell County (4-1) on Friday. Ryle’s offense struggled to get yardage for a second straight week, with only 151 total yards in the game. Quarterbacks Jake Smith and Keegan Stanken combined for 112yds passing. RB Kyle England was held to 34yds rushing, and the offense only managing to net 39yds on the ground.LB Jackson Saladin led the defense with 11 tackles, including 2 sacks. DB Tyson Keller also had 7 tackles for the Raiders’ D. Ryle has the week off this week, and will return to action on Sept 28th against IN-5A Indianapolis Cathedral (2-3).

 

8) 6A Cooper (1-4) – Cooper came up short for a fourth time this season, losing 46-3 on Friday to 6A Simon Kenton (5-0). The Jags were one of multiple NKY teams to struggle offensively on Friday, only tallying 119yds in the game. RB Anthony Witschey led the offense with 59yds rushing, while backup QB Ty Conner was 3 for 10 passing for 51yds. DL Mike Attabary led the defense with 6 tackles, and LB Bryan Yelton had 5 tackles. Cooper will take this Friday off and will return on Sept 28th against 5A Dixie Heights (0-5).

 

9) 2A Walton-Verona (4-1) – The Bearcats suffered their first loss of the season on Friday, losing 21-38 to 2A Lexington Christian Academy (3-2). QB Garrett Jones was 4-8 passing for 70yds and 1 TD. WR Peyton Smith had 69yds receiving and 1 TD. RB Tyler Wagner led the rushing game with 112yds on 7 carries and 1 TD. Defensively, the team was led in tackles by LB Grant Grubbs with an impressive 16 tackles, and DE Dawson Catlett had 13 tackles. Catlett also tallied one sack and one forced fumble. Walton-Verona will head to 2A Owen County on Friday to take on the 0-4 Rebels this week.

 

10) 2A Newport Central Catholic (1-4) – The Breds were shut out for a second time this season, losing 31-0 to 2A Christian Academy-Louisville (5-0) on Friday. It was an ugly game for New Cath’s offense, with a net of 7 total yards in the game after negative 27 yards rushing wiped out the vast majority of the 34 yards receiving. The CAL offense posted 442 total yards against the New Cath defense, and no further stats have been posted for the game. The Thoroughbreds will face 6A Conner (3-1) on Friday.

 

 

TRENDING UP:

 

2A Lloyd (Previously Un-Ranked) – The Juggs remain un-ranked, but they are knocking at the door of the top 10 in the Northern Kentucky Power Rankings after 2A Walton-Verona and 2A Newport Central Catholic both struggled in their latest games.

 

 

TRENDING DOWN:

6A Cooper (Previously #8) – Although they haven’t quite given up their #8 spot in the NKY Power Rankings, things aren’t looking good right now for the Jags after losing their starting QB last week, and then losing big to the 6A Simon Kenton Pioneers on Friday.

 

 

GAME OF THE WEEK RECAP: WEEK 4

 

1A Beechwood vs. 5A Covington Catholic

 

Despite the recent record in this series, this is still definitely a rivalry. Beechwood came out fast and hard with an 80 yard touchdown drive to following the opening kickoff. The Tigers led the first quarter in offensive yardage, but that was about as far as things went on Friday, with the Colonels dominating the rest of the game and coming away with a 49-14 win.

 

 

GAME OF THE WEEK: WEEK 5

5A Highlands vs. 6A Simon Kenton

 

After this series was renewed in 2015, the Pioneers have beaten the Bluebirds three years straight. With Highlands currently 4-1 and ranked #2 in the NKY Power Rankings, and Simon Kenton currently 5-0 and ranked #3 in the NKY Power Rankings, this is bound to be a great game on Friday at Highlands’ David Cecil Memorial Stadium.

 

 

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: WEEK 4

 

QB Caleb Farfsing (6A Simon Kenton) – Caleb led the Pioneers offense this past Friday in a 46-3 win over the 6A Cooper Jaguars (1-4). Caleb went 9 for 16 passing for 180yds and 2 TDs, and Farfsing also led the ‘Neers rushing game with 143yds and 3 TDs. Heck of a performance!

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

Not many wins this week for the top ten teams. Several losing records too.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

Covington Catholic with 20 straight wins. Best in program history, best in the commonwealth right now.

 

Casey McGinness got national attention last week winning USA Today's Super 25 Top Star award for his 235 total yards and 4 touchdowns. He bested that this week against Beechwood with 265 total yards and 4 touchdowns.

[DRKARK]

I think Lloyd should be top ten but I also understand strength of schedule. IMO I feel they are better than NCC and Walton.

[KentuckyJoe]

I hate to say it but Beechwood would beat SK by a few scores. I don't understand how year in and year out with the size and athletic skill on the SK team they just can't get it done. (Minus a year or two but still couldn't keep up with big schools from the south)

 

Covcath

(Decent drop)

Then

HHS

Beechwood

( A smaller drop)

Campbell

Then just pick out of a hat.

[UK#1fanisback]

I hate to say it but Beechwood would beat SK by a few scores. I don't understand how year in and year out with the size and athletic skill on the SK team they just can't get it done. (Minus a year or two but still couldn't keep up with big schools from the south)

 

Covcath

(Decent drop)

Then

HHS

Beechwood

( A smaller drop)

Campbell

Then just pick out of a hat.

 

Find out next week!

[dadof2]

Find out next week!

 

Even if SK beats Beechwood by7-10 pts, it's still not a good win IMO. A 6A school should never pride itself on beating a 1A school. If SK dominates Beechwood and wins by 28+, it's an impressive win. Any of the Big 6A powers would handle Beechwood easily.

[UK#1fanisback]

Even if SK beats Beechwood by7-10 pts, it's still not a good win IMO. A 6A school should never pride itself on beating a 1A school. If SK dominates Beechwood and wins by 28+, it's an impressive win. Any of the Big 6A powers would handle Beechwood easily.

 

Beechwood can beat plenty of 6A schools.

[dadof2]

Beechwood can beat plenty of 6A schools.

 

Yes, they can beat 6A schools. I'm talking about the top 6A. The ones who SK wants to compare to and be ranked with. Male, Trinity, Scott County, Fred Doug, St. X. Beechwood wouldn't touch any of them within 28 pts. And there is no reason why they should. If they played all of those schools they would go 0-5 most years. Maybe pull out a win every now and then. Again, no shame in that.