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I hope so.

Best play of the game for the Cougars was the second half kickoff that landed in the end zone, Ryle had no chance to return it. I was at the game, the Cougars just don’t have the numbers and size to compete. We’ll see how they do against Lloyd this Friday.

The high school season is officially at the halfway point for the regular season. There is one team for sure that is starting to separate itself as a contender for the regional title this year. Dixie Heights (7-0-0) - The Red Colonels have beaten every 9th Region foe they have faced to date. They have a solid team and, in my opinion, deserve this spot Covington Catholic (3-3-1) - The Colonels play a tough schedule but are moved to #2 this week as Dixie beat pre-season #2 and #3. St. Henry (6-1-1) - The Crusaders are having a good year. Only giving up 4 goals while netting 20. They play 2 district games this week Ryle (1-4-1) - The only reason I have them above Conner is they tied Cov Cath. Conner (3-4-1) - The Cougars need to figure some things out. I have a feeling they are going to go on a nice winning streak to get them ready for end of year. Highlands (5-2-0) - The Bluebirds have a big game this week, they are improving Beechwood (2-4-0) - The Tigers are dropped down below the Birds this week in my poll. They just haven't progressed since beating Highlands. Cooper (3-3-1) - I'm not sure sometimes how to rank this team. I'm not sure if they would know how to rank themselves. Newport Central Catholic (3-2-0) - Big week for the young Thoroughbreds this week. They have the chance to move up next week. Holy Cross (3-3-0) - I was surprised by the 1-5 loss to Scott. Boone County (2-3-2) - Rebels are young. Villa Madonna (0-3-2) - Still looking for that first win. Holmes (1-1-0) - Go Bulldogs! Games to Watch Tuesday Covington Catholic @ Boone County - Easy win for the Colonels. Highlands @ Ryle - Game of the day for sure. Can the Birds make a nest on the Raider ship, or will they just crap all over it? We'll see. Cooper @ Newport Central Catholic - I'm assuming the home field advantage of Morscher Field is coming to an end with the building of the new field on campus. I look for Cooper to get their first 9th Region win this week. Villa Madonna @ Holy Cross - Both play on grass fields, I still think the advantage goes to Holy Cross. Wednesday St. Henry @ Dixie Heights - I need to find a way to attend this one. Thursday Covington Catholic @ Cooper - Can the Jaguars get the upset win in Union? I don't think so. Newport Central Catholic @ Conner - I think Conner wants revenge for last year's embarrassing loss to NCC. Games outside the 9th Region Beechwood @ Calvary Christian - Tuesday Lawrenceburg (IN) @ Conner - Tuesday (Senior Night for the Cougars) Bishop Brossart @ Holy Cross - Thursday Great Crossing @ Ryle - Thursday Holmes @ Scott - Thursday (Crazy these two schools are not in the same district or region) Pendleton County @ Villa Madonna - Thursday Simon Kenton @ Beechwood - Thursday Somerset vs Boone County @ Madison Central - Thursday Centerville (OH) @ Covington Catholic - Saturday Cooper @ Ashland Blazer - Saturday Gallatin County @ Conner - Saturday Mason County @ Villa Madonna - Saturday Ryle @ Simon Kenton - Saturday St. Joseph Central Catholic (WV) vs Cooper @ Ashland Blazer - Saturday (2 games in one day)

5 Week left boys! I hope all the seniors playing this year take advantage of this opportunity to play high school soccer. It goes quick...sometimes to quick. We learned last week that Dixie Heights is for real as they hold the Raiders scoreless and get the win and then go into Hebron and get a last second (like literally last second) win on the road 3-2. Conner had their chances to secure this win, then draw, then win, then draw again and eventually lost it. Cov Cath was off against 9th Region foes. Cooper fell to St. Henry. Highlands lay claim to the #1 seed in the two team 36th District. Beechwood got the easy win verses Holmes The chart below is just for 9th Region teams. Forgive any errors...please. The records only show verses 9th Region opponents.

This game was worth every bit of the $8 admission. Conner opened the scoring early as Owen Swaney pounced on a loose ball for the goal in the first 5 minutes. Dixie would counter later off a free kick from Bolte just outside the box making it 1-1 at the half. Conner opened the half with a Cranfield corner that found Noble for the goal. Dixie’s restless pressure found another goal with 9 minutes to go off a corner from Bolte to an unidentified player for the tie goal. Both teams would have a few more chances but as time was expiring Tucker found the back of the goal off a header from a throw I giving the Colonels the 3-2 win. Dixie was at full strength but the Cougars didn’t play Ginn or Mullins which are two important pieces to this Cougar team.

Well done Lexington Sporting Club Maybe the state could rotate the boys and girls championship game between venues, one year boys at LSC and girls at Lou City then switch the following year.

9th Region getting interesting. St Henry with a nice win over the Jaguars.

The Tigers score first in Hebron tonight off a nice through ball on the right side f the field heading towards the scoreboard. The Cougars would claw their way back with Marshall finding Noble for the goal to draw the Cougars even. The game would remained tie going into halftime. Conner would get another goal as Swaney threads the needle to Noble who scored again putting the Cougars up 2-1. That would end up being the final score.

The Colonels get their first win over Ryle in 4 years.

The 2025 High School season continues to steam roll ahead. It will be interesting to see what week 3 brings us. Rankings 1. Covington Catholic (1-3-1) Yes, they drew with Ryle but are still unbeaten in the 9th. 2. Ryle (0-2-1) - They get the draw with Cov Cath but still have not won a game this season. 3. Dixie Heights (5-0-0) - The Red Colonels have two solid wins in my opinion, Bishop Brossart and Cooper. 4. St. Henry (5-1-0) - The All-A winner representing the 9th Region. The Crusaders only loss is against Moller (OH) this year to date. 5. Conner (2-3-1) - The Cougars have been disappointing. They are struggling on defense and offense...can they get a big win this week? 6. Cooper (2-2-1) - Goes 1-2-0 last week. 7. Holy Cross (3-2-0) - Nice win verses NCC 8. Beechwood (1-2-0) - Signature win verses Highlands is their claim to this spot currently. 9. Newport Central Catholic (2-1-1) - They could be ranked anywhere from 7-10 depending how this week goes. 10. Highlands (3-2-0)- Let's see what this week brings, if they are successful, they will move up next week. 11. Boone County 2-2-0) - Got 2 wins last week. 12. Villa Madonna (0-2-2) - Still looking for their first win of the season. 13. Holmes (1-0-0) - They get their first win of the season last week. Games to Watch Tuesday Beechwood at Conner - This is an interesting matchup. The Cougars are stuggling, the Tigers played them tough last year. Still going with Conner. Ryle at Dixie Heights - Game of the day. Dixie is undefeated and have not conceded a goal to a 9th region foe. Ryle will be looking to extend their win streak verses Dixie to 4 games. St. Henry at Cooper - This is another interesting matchup. The Crusaders are waving their All-A championship flag for the visiting Jaguars to see. Thursday Beechwood at Holmes - 35th District seeding game Dixie Heights at Conner - The Red Colonels take on their second 33rd District opponent on Thursday. Last year this game was a 0-0 draw. The Cougars need this win more than Dixie does in my opinion. Highlands at Newport Central Catholic - Can the young Thoroughbreds keep the young Bluebirds grounded? This should be a good game that will result with a winner as it is a 36th District game at the lovely Morscher Field. No 9th Region Saturday games but I've listed below games outside the 9th that may interest some readers. Bishop Brossart at Highlands - Tuesday Moeller (OH) at Covington Catholic - Tuesday (Beat St. Henry 3-0) Simon Kenton at Boone County - Tuesday Bishop Brossart at Boone County - Thursday Simon Kenton at Covington Catholic - Thursday South Oldham at Ryle - Thursday (Beat Cov Cath 1-0, Conner 4-2). Conner at Elder (OH) - Saturday Lafayette at Beechwood - Saturday Newport Central Catholic at Pendleton County - Saturday

As week two comes to a close, it is time to review what happened. There is one more game to be played before Monday and that is St. Henry vs Holy Cross in the All A finals (I believe it is anyway). The big game of the week saw Covington Catholic and Ryle drawing at 1-1. Dixie Heights put up a 4 banger on Cooper and have yet to concede a goal to a 9th Region opponent. Holy Cross got the best of NCC in the All A and the same with St. Henry over Beechwood beating them twice in less than a week. Here is the 9th Region head-to-head update. Just a reminder that this sheet does not contain games outside of the 9th. I've also combined the score of the two games Beechwood and St. Henry have played.

You have to post the good and the bad…unfortunately this was a bad result for my Cougars. South Oldham jumped in the Cougars early and often building a 4 goal lead. The Cougars would get one back with less than 5 minutes off a quick play direct kick and with less than 20 seconds would do another quick play direct kick for a goal. The Cougars played much better in the second half keeping the Dragons off the scoreboard but ending up in the “L” column.

Final MC 43 Conner 0

Induans score with the PAT. MC 43 Conner 0 9:00 in the 4th

Indians score. Indians 36 Conner 0 Run clock run…

Conner opens the 3rd quarter with a fumble on their 20.

2:56…Cougars fumble in their 2 yard line and the Indians recover in the end zone. Indians 29 Cougars 0

Indians score…extra point good. Indians 22-0 9:53 2nd Quarter

Cougars fumble in their 19…Indians ball. 2nd quarter 10:45

Cougars recover a fumble on their 7 yard line. 0:36 left in the 1st.

Conner kicks off and Madison Central return the kick off 90 yards for the touchdown. Conner makes a first down then throw an interception….Indians march down the field for the touchdown. 9:30 in the 1st…Madison Central 15 Conner 0.

The Cougars make the drive to Independence and go back to Hebron with a win. As I suspected, Coach Walker has made a few tweaks to the lineup (which I won't share at this time) that I believe will help the Cougars in the long run towards their march of repeating as 33rd District Champs. The game started with the Cougars scoring early again as Ginn found Noble for the opening goal. The Pioneers play a very high line in the back with their all Region and probably all-state keeper Miles Mullen in the net. This kid has a cannon for a leg and is fun to watch. Simon Kenton generated a few opportunities, but Mullins for Conner turned away all their opportunities. The half would end with Conner 1 Simon Kenton 0. The second half saw the Cougar defense settle in and Simon Kenton had problems generating any shots or movements towards the goal. The Cougars generated a number of chances but did not convert on them until about 2 minutes left when Faulkner found Noble for his second goal on the night giving the Cougars the 2-0 lead and eventually the victory. I like what Coach Walker has done with his changes, and I think they will help the Cougars be a better team. On a side note, the Freshman team for Simon Kenton is legit and will probably contend for the NKY Freshman title this year. The JV game was fun to watch with both teams fighting for a goal and the Cougars finding the net with less than 40 seconds left in the game for the winner.

Fun night watching these two teams go at it at NKU. The Cougars jumped out to an early 1-0 in the first 30 seconds as Faulkner connected with Noble on a through ball for a quick goal. The Bluebirds would even the score on a foul called about 25-30 yards outside the box in the middle of the field and would convert the direct free kick to draw even. Later in the first half the Cougars would have a corner and as bodies were flying around Faulkner got knocked down and penalty was called in the box and Marshall converted to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead. Highlands came out quick to start the second half having a couple of chances to score, but Mullins had his best game of the year to date and turned away a number of potential goals. The Cougars would score again as Cranfield found Noble on another through ball to give the Cougars a 3-1 lead. The Bluebirds are young but have some very talented pieces on the field.

Thanks…I missed that one.

That was a fast week 1. A few teams have a number of questions to answer heading into week 2. We don’t have a lot of 9th Region games this week, only 5 verses each other. Let’s start off with my rankings heading into week 2. 1. Cov Cath - Took care of Conner last week, but lost their next 2 verses good competition. They will remain #1 in my opinion until beaten by a 9th Region opponent. 1-2-0 2. Dixie Heights - The Red Colonels went 3-0, granted the competition wasn’t upper echelon, but they did what they should’ve done. 3-0-0 3. St, Henry - The Crusaders go 2-1 on the week losing to Moller (OH). They beat a tough Beechwood team and smack Great Crossing. 2-1-0 4. Ryle - The Raiders go 0-2 last week but played close to their competition. Big game this week in Park Hills vs the Colonels. 0-2-0 5. Cooper - The Jaguars go 1-1 on the week beating SK then losing to Warren Central. They are scoring goals. 1-1-0 6. Conner - Wow…the Cougars are off to a rough start. Lose to Cov. Cath in a shortened game, then visit the not so friendly confines of Louisville Collegiate to come home with a loss and end up giving away a win on Saturday. My Cougars need to find themselves this week. 0-2-1 7. Beechwood - The Tigers go 1-1-0 on the week getting their first program win verses Highlands. 8. Newport Central Catholic - Beat Boone 3-0 tie SK. 1-0-1 9. Highlands - Beat Boone Co but lose to Beechwood. The Bluebirds are young this year. 1-1-0 10. Holy Cross - Take a 0-3 loss vs Dixie Heights and then get 2 wins against weaker competition. Indians finish the week 2-1-0 11. Boone County - The Rebels go 0-2-0 this week losing to Highlands and NCC. 12. Villa Madonna - Tie Scott but lose 0-5 vs Dixie Heights 0-1-1 13. Holmes - Play their first game this week. Games to watch this week (9th Region only) Monday Conner @ Highlands - Can the Cougars get a win against a young Highlands team. The Cougars need this one. Game is at NKU. NCC @ Villa Madonna - Both teams are use to playing on grass, going with NCC to win. Tuesday Beechwood vs St. Henry - All “A” game. Can the Tigers get an upset win? Thursday Cooper @ Dixie Heights - Will be a good barometer for each team. Hopefully someone gives some updates/post game on here. Ryle @ Cov Cath - This will show us if the Raiders are ready for the next step with their young team. They have talent but Cov Cath is the reigning champs