hogstooth

Would love for you to expand on that take! Very bold prediction. No doubt Coach Trosper will have the Cougars ready to go after last weeks performance. Don't think if they do win that it will be by that large of a margin though. I'll take Dixie 23-10.

Conner at Dixie, who you guys picking in this one? Conner is coming off a lackluster performance on the road against a good 6A Ryle squad, and Dixie has one of the best defenses and QB's in NKY after a big win over 6A George Rogers Clark at home.

Holmes by far has one of the best new fields in the state, along with one of the best stadium backdrops as far as scenery to go with it. Holmes has to be a top 5 here.

I'm not convinced Coopers offense will come out of the blocks. I'm sure they will find some footing, but they are a two man show. Dixie gave a blue print for how to contain them and it shows after NCC did the exact same thing. I think by giving too much credit to their offense, you ignore a really good defensive team that held a very underrated Dixie Offense, and NCC team to two low scores.

Absolutely agree about the QB. That young man took his middle school to two championship games in two years (both losses). Maybe not single handedly but he was their absolute best player. Marksberry starts em young and he has a good one in Chase Crone.

There was some talk about the coaching staff not being very good there and some in house drama . Also how it would be another down year for the Colonels. That starting defense has now given up only 13 points in two weeks. Schedule gets tougher but somethings going right over there.

I’m not too down on SK, freshman Chase Crone was throwing tonight and will only improve with time. Patience, they will be ok.

I'm taking New Cath in this one. I know Cooper has the Lee kid, but Dixie held him to 62 total yds rushing/receiving respectively. Dixie provided a good blue print for the Breds to follow.

Holmes loses their starting QB and center in the first quarter, gets stopped on the one yard line, had a D-end drop a sure pick six, given great field position most of the night, and still only lost by two scores? I'll congratulate Boone on the win, but after being shut out at dixie, then an ugly win like this, I'd say there is work to do for sure. Happy for coach Warner though on his first of many.

I agree Dixies O-Line struggled in the run game, but it gave their QB all day to throw. A defensive slug fest that Cooper has to be happy they came out on top in. Dixie relied heavily in the running game on their QB who is an absolute monster. Dixie killed a lot of their own momentum with costly penalties and untimely turnovers. That false start on the third and one from the 1yd line, and the fumble immediately after on 4th was a dagger. Coopers offense looks like it's a two man show but it's just enough to keep the chains moving and their defense showed up when it counted.

First quarter was back and forth. Dixie had a 45yd field goal for their first score. Second score was a punt return where it looked like Dixie only had ten men on the field. Boone put together a couple of drives but never found their footing. Looks like they are a QB away right now from getting rolling. The Dixie QB looked good and was not afraid to lower a shoulder on runs. Late in the game Boone made it down into the 5yd line but the Dixie defense got a turnover on downs. All Dixie in this one. Boone plays at home against Holmes in Game 1, and Dixie is off to play Cooper for the start of the season. 23-0 final score, all Dixie Heights.

Reading through these it hit me hard that Holmes hasn't been mentioned one time. It always seemed to be Cov Cath/Holmes. As an Alumni and knowing the great teams to come out of that school to not have them in the conversation is sad. Has anyone seen their team in the off season and what they look like? Heard Demario Foster didn't transfer to Lloyd which is good, and the Calloway twins were looking better.

I know it's early, but I'm saying Dixie Heights is a team to look for in NKY. Only one win last season. That team was young and kids had a lot of Varsity minutes, yet they were competitive. A senior leader QB 6'5" 205 lbs. Also hearing their kicker may be getting some SEC offers. They have a big scrimmage against Boone County this evening and that should give some indication of if I'm off base. Dixie may be a a dark horse this season.

I was thinking this same thing. With the loss of their D-Coordinator you can return as many players as you want, new is new. I'm not saying they aren't the 6A team in NKY, far from it, I'm saying #4 may be a stretch given a few unknowns and their track record in the playoffs. This being said I do believe they are the top 6A team in the north.

Whomever did the scheduling of these games did a really good job. Interesting matchups here. The Dixie vs Highlands game is a great tilt to finish with.

It was announced last week Coach Rice accepted a Vice Principal position in a Boone County school. Too busy to wear both hats I assume but even as a consultant, will be fine. Shouldn't be too much of a drop off they have coaches that have been in that defensive system a few years and some decent coaching additions on both sides of the ball. Looked good in 7on7 vs. Cooper and Ludlow. Coach Cox I believe did a Grad assistant year coaching at the mount helping receivers. Coach Allonce is a former UC defensive end and looks like he could still put a hand on the ground and kill a QB. Coach Stewart last two seasons at Holmes as a defensive assistant under the new Dayton Defensive Coordinator. I know its early and the pads haven't come on, but it certainly looked like a team that is hungry. Where some say it will be a long season for this team, I say it could be a team to watch for.

Nowhere to go but up for the Colonels. Speaking with someone from the school, scheduling only four home games shouldn't be too bad as Madison Central is their farthest travel game. Not a bad schedule in my opinion. Can't wait to see how this team responds to last years 1 win season.

Thanks for the updates!

How is Turkeyfoot or Holmes 8th graders doing? I haven't seen many of their scores here.

One of his first hires was coach Debrueller, a Dayton Grad, and was the DC at Holmes. He is already making hires who know Dayton, and who knows those types of "disadvantaged" kids and how to coach them. Shouldn't be an issue getting kids out to play for them.

Coach Carr has those Bulldogs on the road to right! Through four games averaging 70 points a game and only giving up 58. Getting contributions off the bench, kids hustling, and five of the next 7 games at home. Still early, a hard district/region to win, but great to see them competitive again.

Enough said? I'm a bit confused. The other comments on here say Holmes didn't play the best game but you are already attributing that to their entire season already? You praise GC as scrappy and well coached and yet Holmes lost by one? Please elaborate on what you observed at the game to lead to this. No where near enough said.

I think safety is a pretty good articulable reason. If there is lightning there should be a place for visiting teams to go. Outside of that, some schools just aren't going to build/add on to their existing facilities to accommodate teams for a couple times a season. I can think of a school in NKY right now that the home and visiting locker rooms are a decent walk uphill to get too. Most visiting teams choose to stay down on the field even in the rain.

Attended their version of "Midnight Madness" yesterday evening. I think what stood out the most (taking into account it was exhibition) is that they have a couple long range shooters and their dunk contest was a thing of beauty. They had a sophomore win it. They look like they have some length, height, and youth. I think Coach Carr may have them back on the road to right sooner rather than later. Tough region (9) to get it right though.

Then which team did you see as being the Dominant team in NKY if it wasn’t Holmes? Just curious. Admittedly I haven’t gotten the opportunity to watch a lot of middle schools in other conferences. Full disclosure I had a son playing for Turkeyfoot so I got to see some teams up close and personal. I just know size, athleticism, and coaching when I see it. And the Holmes squad had the stars aligned for them this year. Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying they would beat anyone in another conference, I’m just saying that squad would go deep in any bracket.