Matchup: Bishop Brossart Mustangs (2-2) at Nicholas County Bluejackets (4-0)

Date: Friday, September 18, 2026

Kickoff: 7:30 PM

Location: Carlisle, KY

Series History: Bishop Brossart leads the all-time series 8-7

Last Meeting: Nicholas County defeated Bishop Brossart 30-7 in 2025 at the MAC

The Setup:

Bishop Brossart heads down to Carlisle looking to build on last Friday's dominant 27-7 home victory over Bracken County. The Mustangs' passing attack was in record-setting form behind senior QB Landon Spaulding (300 yards passing, 1 rushing TD) and WR Brady Boruske, who set a new school single-game record with 234 receiving yards and two long scores (70 and 80 yards), while also hauling in two interceptions on defense. Brossart's offense also saw freshman Tommy Busby punch in his first varsity touchdown.

Nicholas County enters the contest riding a perfect 4-0 start under head coach Robert Hopkins, having topped Pendleton County (38-8), Bellevue (40-12), Lewis County (20-6), and Louisville Iroquois (28-14). The Bluejackets play a brand of physical, ball-control football powered up front by the "Big Blue Wall" offensive line (#52 Cash Linville, #78 Dakota Sparks, #69 Frankie Avalos, #55 Bradley Watkins, #59 Kaelen Martin).

Key Players to Watch:

• Bishop Brossart:

  • Landon Spaulding (QB): Now holds the top three single-game passing totals in school history; threw for 300 yards last week.

  • Brady Boruske (WR/DB): Dynamic playmaker who broke the school single-game receiving yardage record (234 yards, 2 TDs) and added two picks against Bracken County.

  • Tripp Wilson (WR): Reliable target who hauled in 4 catches for 53 yards a week ago.

• Nicholas County:

  • Jayden Watkins (RB/LB): Nicholas County's workhorse back who amassed 667 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 93 carries through the first three weeks (including a 335-yard, 4-TD performance against Bellevue). He also leads the Bluejackets' linebacking corps in tackles.

  • Ty Simons (QB/DB): Accurate, poised young signal-caller completing roughly 60% of his passes with multiple defensive interceptions from the secondary.

  • Bentley Crump (WR/DB): Big-play weapon on the perimeter who recorded 4 interceptions in Week 1 against Pendleton County.

  • Front Seven (#52 Cash Linville, #22 Jack Jeter, #88 Maddox Reid, #4 Jacob Saucedo): Aggressive unit that consistently creates disruption and tackles for loss behind the line of scrimmage.

Key Matchup Questions:

1. Can Brossart's front seven slow down Jayden Watkins and Nicholas County's ground game to force 3rd-and-long passing situations?

2. Will Nicholas County's secondary be able to limit the explosive downfield strikes from Spaulding to Boruske?

3. Who wins the turnover battle in Carlisle?

Who takes this one Friday night, and what's your score prediction?

NFHS Video:

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/nicholas-county-high-school-carlisle-ky/gam3a86f4461d

Anyone confirm BB 21 and NC 20 Final?

Just now, Bac2369 said:

Anyone confirm BB 21 and NC 20 Final?

Just verified it.

I look forward to reading about this game.

8 minutes ago, theguru said:

I look forward to reading about this game.

Me too. Nicholas County was 4-0 coming into the matchup.

Final: Brossart 21 Nicholas County 20

Physical contest. Both teams played very hard. Brossart went up 13-0 in the first half on short quick passes that neutralized Nicholas D-line. Teams got settled and at half the score was 14-13 NC if memory serves. Second half was a defensive struggle. Both teams tried to rely on their offensive game plan from the first half but both staffs had made adjustments at half on defense.

good win on the road for Brossart. That game will be good for both teams coming down the stretch. Nicholas is not likely to see a team that wants to throw as often until they play Raceland late in the season. Not sure Brossart will see a team that wants to run the ball right at them the way Nicholas wanted to the rest of the way on their schedule.

the score is a good reflection of the game between former district foes that know each other well.