Twotoplace

BW chewed up Holmes in second quarter on screen passes and left no doubt about the outcome by scoring with one minute left in half to go up 26-0. Holmes played better defensively in second half but just couldn't mount much of a sustained offense other than the one long Scruggs TD run. Very impressed with the soph QB for BW. He's a good one.

Actually, both of Holmes' QBs have done a nice job throwing the long ball accurately, based on what I've seen this year vs. H.C., Lloyd and WV. (I didn't see the Scott loss.) Yes, if BW can pick up the Bulldogs' second-half blitzes, then the opportunity is golden for long pass completions. Holmes' offense may be too reliant on trying to get the ball to Scruggs in open space three plays out of five, but when you got a player that fast and slippery to bring down, you never know when he'll break one.

I'm being serious here. Holmes can do exciting things in its shotgun offense. But first the center has to snap the ball above the ankles, and the QB has to catch the snap without juggling it or fumbling it.

I also expect Beechwood to win by, say, 5 TDs to 3 TDs. Then again, BW might be looking ahead to next week's CovCath game, and Holmes has had a bye week to prepare for this game. According to the L-haus ratings, Beechwood is at 97 and Holmes at 90.

Your analysis is solid. Holmes is still a work in progress in regard to its (blitzing) pass defense.

That's one scenario. Another is that Holmes' speed alters Beechwood's game, forces turnovers, which is what happened last year when Holmes won 33-21 at BW. Playing Franklin Co. last week probably helps BW this week vs. Scruggs.

It's actually a typical non-district schedule for NCC. The opponents -- teams that NCC typically has beaten in the past -- as a group are better this year.

When I watched the replay of the Holmes-Lloyd game on community access cable TV, I was very impressed with Lloyd's medium-range passing game. A couple of fluke plays at the end of the game gave Holmes the W after Lloyd stopped the Bulldogs' 2-point conversion with a couple minutes to go in the game. Win or lose next week, this team certainly is on the rebound.

That's what I'm thinking too. This team has been flying under the radar.

I saw the Holmes-WV game last week. What impressed me about WV was that they battled until the last whistle. Turned a 20-point deficit with 4 or 5 minutes to go in the game into a bit of a nail-biter at the end. I think people sometimes underestimate Holmes. They're not going to beat Highlands or CovCath, but let's remember, they did beat Beechwood and NewCath last year.

This could well be the best year ever for the three Kenton County schools as a group -- Dixie, SK and Scott.

Holmes led 14-0 at half and 21-7 at end of third quarter. Holmes' D played solid game. Had at least three interceptions, including 60-yarder for TD in first half.

Fewer parents being able to afford Catholic school tuition no doubt also is a factor. Miles Simpson is the best prep player I ever saw in Northern Kentucky.

Isn't the game at Lloyd? I think Holmes wins this one.

I agree 100 percent. Six classes of KY football has become boring. Same teams every year. KHSAA needs to look at dividing up teams in perhaps fewer classes based on factors other than enrollment.

Has anyone mentioned Holmes' resurgent kicking game? Could that be a difference maker if Scott's strength up front neutralizes Holmes' speed? You never know. Bulldogs' placekicker converted first six or seven extra points last week, and Scruggs had a booming punt in third quarter (from own end zone past the 50 in the air). Bulldogs still need to work on kickoffs, though.

Loudness is the main problem, yes. On a larger scale, why do we need the recorded "let's get the crowd pumped up" stuff period? Isn't that why we have marching bands and cheerleaders? Let the kids do their thing during lulls in the action. So much recorded noise pollution everywhere these days.

We also ought to put a referendum on the state ballot to ban loud recorded music before and during the games.

I subscribe to the minimalist approach. Less said the better.

I don't begrudge Highlands' success on the football field. I salute the people of Fort Thomas for finding a formula to sustain their metaphor for community success. However, another factor obviously is that because Fort Thomas is an affluent community, this allows the young people (and their parents) to focus on the gridiron from pee-wee through 12th grade knowing that distractions have been minimized. So in that sense, I would take issue with your statement that "winning only comes from the play on the field." It's more than that.

Very impressed with Holmes QB's accuracy, especially on the deep balls.

Crowd gasped when the hit took place. Coach K for HC was upset after play and sought out ref.

This is what happens when a community decides that its metaphor for success is played on a field 100 yards long. This community's identity is defined by TD's and championship banners. Not criticizing. "Just sayin'," as they say on BGP. At Holmes and Mason County, it's basketball (a less expensive sport to fund). At St. Henry, it's cross country. At Harrison County, it's marching band (as I remember their excellent bands from the '90s). Different sports for different towns.

I look for a low-scoring game. 12-7 Holmes.

I believe Tom Thacker is the only person ever to have been on NCAA, NBA and ABA champion teams.