Drunk Johnny

With very little bench going to be tough for Boone to stay with NDA. If Boone can score first it would really help dictate the game, but if the Panda's score first could be a tough night for the Rebels. But then again, it's why they play the game. Also, playing on a Friday night at 7 is a really bad time. Not going to get too many fans outside of parents and aunts and uncles competing against football. Should have moved it to a Saturday noon or early afternoon. IMO

If all of N KY is down, I would like to see when they are doing really well. There are 3 teams in the top 10 of the state, (ND, Ncc, and SK), 2 in the top 25, Highland and St. Henry. Also, Boone County has been banged up all year or they would be in the top 25 as well. Also, Brossart and Campbell County have had a good year. In recent memory has N KY had a better year with so many teams this high in the rankings? I feel this year has been a strong year for teams from N KY.

RJS has a lot of very good points. If a kid is a better baseball or basketball player, or even soccer player for that matter than a football player, they are going to concentrate more on that sport and give up football. 30 plus years ago you could play three sports and still have down time between seasons. Now in the specialized world we live in, with the "if you don't train everyday for this sport someone is going to be better than you and take your sports scholarship for college", everyone is on this select league play year round outside of the season the sport is in. Football is a very demanding sport as far as time and effort, and if that isn't the kids best sport, the kid doesn't want to devote the time to be either second string or rotate in here and there when they can excel or do better in another sport. Not bashing them, but the days when a kid just wanted to be part of his high school team even if they didn't play much or at all are gone. Too many other options out there that don't require that much commitment. I.E. concentrate on one sport, XBOX, internet, or net flix. I think the concussion thing is a very small part.

Does anyone have any details on this game. St. Henry is a good team, but a little surprised since Highlands has been playing very well lately. Nice win for the Crusaders. Yes the nine region tourney looks like it should be wide open this year.

4 - 0

Ncc "brings home the gold" with a 4 to 2 win. Ncc started out sluggish, and with less than three minutes into the game, LCA scores on a nice cross and finish to take the lead at 1 to 0. Usually when a team scores a goal that is a good thing. However, it seemed to ignite the Breds, and within the next two minutes, Ncc would score the first of three goals. In less than an eight minute span, the Breds light up the scoreboard three times to take a three to one lead. LCA would settle the ship, and the score would remain 3 to 1 at the half. The start of the second half, LCA once again scored within the first three minutes to cut the lead to 3 to 2. Both teams would have several changes more during the majority of the second half, but with no success. Ncc was battling fatigue most of the game due the tough game the night before, then it appeared with 10 minutes to go in the game, LCA hit the wall as well. Ncc kept the pressure up from about the 10 minute mark remaining in the game, and scored with about 5 minutes to go to put it out of reach and finish the scoring for the day. The game was very clean, and only a few fouls. The only oddity was the ref must have called 20 hand balls. All were legit, and pretty even on both sides, but I think there was a season's worth of hand balls in one game.

All I can say is WOW what a game. This had the intensity of a state finals. Ncc went out the a two to zero lead with about fifteen minutes left to go in the first half. OC scores with about 10 mintues to go in the half to cut the lead in half, and that is where it would remain at the break. In the second half the game got very physical. However, Ncc clung on to a 2 to 1 lead until with just under 6 minutes to go, OC scores from a beautiful shot from about 20 yards out to tie it on an NCC team that was about running on fumes at that point. Both teams tried one more push to win in regulation, but after 80 minutes the game was even at two's. The game went straight to a shoot out. In the shoot out, Martin for Ncc outduels Klump for OC 3 to 2 between the pipes, and Ncc advanced to the finals tomorrow against LCA who also won in a shoot out. This game was very physical with many fouls called, and 2 yellow cards. One yellow went on a OC player, and the other on the OC coach. The OC coach decided with 10 minutes to go in the game he wanted to have a rather LOUD discussion with the ref at the middle of the field on the sideline. The ref in no mood for chit chat promptly pulls out a yellow card and back to game action they went.

Yellow card makes a very good point. If you are playing a team that has more talent, then the game plan has to change. What good does it do to try and open it up and get smoked 7 to 1. I take my chances being down 1 to 0 against the best team in the state with under 10 minutes to go, and see if I can generate some offense to tie it up and send it to OT, or a shoot out. Some times you cannot play your regular game due to the opponent.

The Breds punch their ticket to Frankfort for the quarter finals of the all A in Frankfort. This was a game of two different halves. Ncc came out in the first half and controlled the ball a majority of the time, and about 10 minutes into the game, on the third consecutive corner kick, Albrandt scores to make it 1 to 0. About 5 minutes later Albrandt scores again to push the lead to 2 to 0. About 10 minutes to go in the half, Tolle scores to increase the lead to 3 to 0. That's what the score remained going into half. Not sure what the Brossart coach said at half time, but Brossart came out in the second half and big mo was on their side. Brossart controlled the ball the majority of the second half, and with about 20 minutes to go crack the scoring column with a goal to make it 3 to 1. Ncc comes right back for an apparent goal, but was nullified by an offside call. Brossart had a couple more good scoring changes, but Ncc's defense was up to the challenge, and the final was 3 to 1. This game was clean, only a few fouls and no cards. Had several stops in play due to girls getting "nicked up", but thankfully nothing serious and all returned into the game. If they had a stat for players on the ground, from slide tackles, to diving for the ball or just the turf monster getting them, this would rank right up there near the top. Both teams left it out on the field.

DELETE

Not sure what you are basing this on. Lost to Boone Co. a couple weeks ago. Lost to Dixie last night, and was losing to Ncc 1 to 0 with about 10 minutes left to go in the first half when it got suspended due to weather. Can you expand on why you think this of Campbell County?

Yes only fouls. No penalty kicks.

This was a district game and I stated before the game it would be a one goal game either way and it did not dissappoint. The first half Highlands had control on the ball the majority of the time, but neither team could dent the scoreboard and at the half it was tied at zeros. The second half was back and fourth then with about 25 minutes left to go, Clukey kicks about a 30 yard "bend it like Beckham" shot that finds the back of the net to break the tie. With Highlands controlling the ball it looked like it may hold up. However with around 18 minutes left, a beautiful corner kick finds the foot of Shalk who deposited it the goal for the equalizer. The game stayed that way until about 6 minutes to go in the game, when Kara Zimmerman brought back memories of her cousin Chris Kelly rumbling down the field for a touch for the Bred's, and beat the goalie to a loose ball and scored on a bang bang play what provided to be the final score. Highlands could not mount a serious threat after that. The game was very clean with no cards and only a few penalties. Also, some big time saves for both Eaton and Martin for each team between the pipes.

With Ncc and HHS it is the old "throw the records out the window" when they play each other. Truly depends on which team come out with more energy and gets a few bounces to go their way. Always a one goal game either way and I would expect the same on Saturday.

I will be interested to see how Simon Kenton does against ND. Simon is undefeated and has only given up 2 goals total in 7 games. This will be a big step up in competition.

Don't know what they lost from last year, but saw them about two weeks ago and it looks like they have haven't missed a beat. Pass the ball very well and speed all over the field. Will be a very good test to see how St. Henry stacks up against one of the best teams in the state.

I would agree 100 percent with Johnson Central not having to go through these teams anymore. That is a lot of state championships and strong tradition that they no longer have to content with.

For Newport's sake hopefully he sticks for awhile. It looks as if Newport football is coming back, and some stability at the coaching position would go a long way to keep the team progressing. Last year they showed good strides in improving, (turnovers really hurt them in the regional final against Ncc), but have come a long way from just a few years back.

The freshman team will have some 8th graders on it to fill it out.

It looks as if Ncc will have a varsity, JV, and freshman teams this year. That is a first in a few years that I know of. So it looks as if the numbers are going up. I have not heard of any girls giving up the high school jersey and just playing club from Ncc.

Should be some good games, but I wouldn't read too much into who wins or loses. Some teams are playing to win, and others just to evaluate the talent and not worried about the final score. I am a little surprised there are only 12 teams in the A group. I know coaches can request where to be placed at, but I am wondering if that is all that wanted to be in the A group, or some go moved down to even out the scheduling.

From what I saw this summer with Mason County they are the favorite to win the 10th. If Campbell County gets a good draw in the regional tourney they have a shot to win it. I think Scott and Brossart are not far behind these two.

Conner, Ryle, and Cooper all have some very good freshman and eighth grade talent coming up. Boone going to have to develop some young talent. Going to be a very tough district for the next few years.

Give Holmes a lot of credit. They flat out brought their A game, and it helps when you knock down shots. There is an old saying, "those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it". One again, Ncc plays a team with good talent and quickness, and they only sub one player for a very short period of time. Also, playing man to man tires you out more, and playing even, or from behind takes a toll as well. I don't think it was a concidence that Holmes was getting second and third chances on the offensive glass in the fourth quarter. To beat good teams you must use your bench and keep your players fresh for late in the game to make a run. If Ncc continues this same coaching style, I can pull this post out and paste it for the regional next year as well. And no I do not have a player on the team.

I really feel for these players. Why can't they get a head coach that will last more than one year, two years is almost a miracle. Yes they have Beechwood in their district, but Bellevue is always is a very good 1A team. Is something running these guys off that has other things to do besides on the field? Bellevue goes through head coaches faster than the Cleveland Browns go through quarterbacks. Not good.