Smite the Kitty

Correction to above. Remaining division opponents are Ludlow and Trimble County (not Newport). Also, it was a beautiful night versus DeSales. Oops. My apologies!

Bishop Brossart Mustangs (3-3) at Holy Cross Indians (4-2) Date: Friday, October 9, 2026 Kickoff: 7:00 PM Location: Thomas More Stadium (Crestview Hills, KY) Broadcast: Mixlr / NFHS The non-district tune-ups, long bus rides, and early-season measuring sticks are officially in the rearview mirror. When Friday night arrives at Thomas More Stadium, the real season begins for Bishop Brossart and Holy Cross. Class 1A, District 4 play is officially underway, and with Trimble County and Ludlow lurking down the October schedule, this opener carries massive playoff seeding weight and potential home-field advantage come November. Both squads arrive in Crestview Hills having navigated very different paths over the past two weeks. For Jake Martin's Mustangs, the timing of last week's bye could not have been better. Brossart spent late September grinding through a demanding non-district gauntlet that culminated in a punishing 28-7 battle against Class 3A Louisville DeSales in a driving rain. Seven days off gave the Mustangs what every football team craves at the midway mark: time to heal, rest banged-up joints, and install a dedicated district game plan with fresh legs. Across the field, Curt Spencer's Holy Cross Indians find themselves in unfamiliar territory. After roaring out of the gate to a 4-0 start while suffocating opponents to just 33 total points, the Indians have dropped two straight-surrendering 62 points in the process. Last Friday night was particularly taxing: a four-hour mountain haul to Coal Miners' Memorial Stadium in Baxter through fog and pouring rain. Holy Cross built an early 14-0 cushion and held a 21-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter, only to see Harlan County strike for two touchdowns in the final 7:30 to snatch a 28-21 win. Back on their home turf, the Indians will be playing with desperate urgency to steady the ship. Tale of the Tape: Common Opponents The comparative score lines provide plenty of fodder for debate leading up to kickoff: St. Henry: Holy Cross put on a defensive clinic in Week 1, suffocating the Crusaders 33-7. Two weeks later at Mustang Stadium, Brossart and St. Henry traded haymakers in an offensive shootout that slipped away from the Mustangs, 43-40. Bracken County: Both teams took business trips to Brooksville and handled business cleanly-Holy Cross rolling 41-6, while Brossart methodically pulled away 27-7. Star Power & What the Stats Tell Us 1. The Mustangs' Statewide Headliners Don't look now, but the Bishop Brossart roster features some of the most eye-popping individual production anywhere in the Commonwealth: Brady Boruske (WR/DB): Boruske has been a walking highlight reel. He currently sits at the top of statewide unclassified leaderboards with 36 receptions for 627 yards (17.4 YPR, 3 TDs) and leads the state defensively with 4 interceptions. Add in his 221 return yards, and he affects every phase of the game. What makes Boruske's numbers jaw-dropping is the context: he put up those statewide #1 figures in essentially four-and-a-half games after missing the Nicholas County contest due to a foot injury and having an idle week on October 2. Landon Spaulding (QB): Spaulding ranks among Kentucky's elite dual-threat passers with 1,148 passing yards and 7 touchdowns. When the pocket breaks down, he hurts teams on the ground, pacing Brossart with 356 rushing yards (5.65 YPC) and 4 rushing scores. His 1,504 yards of total offense makes him the engine Holy Cross must contain. Quinten Tischner (LB/WR): Tischner is quite literally Kentucky's tackle king, leading the entire state with 65 total tackles (22 solo, 7 TFL). He couples that sideline-to-sideline pursuit with a critical role in the passing game, catching 23 passes for 233 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tommy Busby (LB): Checking in at #9 statewide in tackles with 42 stops, Busby teams with Tischner to give the Mustangs an inside linebacking tandem that punishes between the tackles. 2. The Holy Cross Ground Punch vs. The Air Vacuum The box score from Harlan County painted a very clear picture of who Holy Cross is right now: The Ground Heavyweights: When Holy Cross runs the football, they can be dominant. They rolled up 250 rushing yards on 32 carries (7.8 YPC) in the rain at Harlan. Dustin Wilson was electric, ripping off 98 yards on 10 carries (9.8 YPC, 1 TD), while junior quarterback Brian Ferguson added 88 yards on 12 carries (7.3 YPC, 2 TDs). On the season, Charles Oglesby still leads the district ground attack with 425 yards (6.6 YPC, 4 TDs). Passing Game Growing Pains: While the ground attack flourished, the passing game was held to just 4-of-14 for 32 yards and 2 interceptions. Division I recruit Max Hunt (6'5", 250 lbs) was bracketed and limited to a single 24-yard catch. When the Indians get behind the sticks or find themselves in obvious passing situations, they become vulnerable. Keys to the Game The Dual-Threat Blueprint: Last week, Harlan County QB Brayden Morris gave Holy Cross fits by doing exactly what Landon Spaulding excels at-scrambling for 153+ yards and hitting a back-breaking 67-yard touchdown pass when the secondary crept up. Spaulding's ability to extend plays outside the pocket and find Boruske downfield is the biggest matchup challenge Holy Cross faces. Plugging the Gaps on Wilson and Ferguson: Holy Cross averaged nearly 8 yards a clip on the ground last week. Brossart cannot allow Ferguson and Wilson to rip off 20- and 40-yard chunk runs. That puts the spotlight directly on Quinten Tischner (65 tackles) and Tommy Busby (42 tackles) to shed blocks and plug the interior lanes. Turnover Margin & Discipline: Holy Cross was whistled for 11 penalties for 115 yards and threw two fourth-quarter interceptions at Harlan. With ballhawks like Boruske (4 INTs) and Landen Ketron (2 INTs) lurking in the Mustang secondary, giving Brossart short fields on turnovers could tilt the game quickly. The Fresh Legs Factor: Brossart hasn't played in two weeks, allowing bruises to heal and energy levels to spike. Holy Cross just spent eight hours on a bus over the weekend playing a physically exhausting game in wet mud, losing a fourth-quarter lead. Watch the trench battle in the fourth quarter on the Thomas More turf-that's where Brossart's bye-week advantage should show up. District 4 supremacy starts now. Who gets it done Friday night in Crestview Hills? Let's hear your thoughts and score predictions!

Matchup: DeSales Colts (1-4) at Bishop Brossart Mustangs (3-2) Date: Friday, September 25, 2026 Kickoff: 7:30 PM Location: Mustang Athletic Complex (MAC), Alexandria, KY Last Meeting: DeSales 35, Bishop Brossart 7 (2025 at DeSales) The Setup: Coming off an emotional, grit-and-grind 21-20 road triumph over previously unbeaten Nicholas County, the Bishop Brossart Mustangs return home to the MAC this Friday night to host the DeSales Colts out of Louisville. Do not let DeSales' 1-4 record fool you. The Colts play a rugged Louisville slate loaded with Class 5A competition (Oldham County, Nelson County, and Southern) alongside premier small-school programs (Holy Cross and Kentucky Country Day). Fresh off a 22-0 shutout over Southern-where they raced out to a three-score lead in just two quarters before lightning ended the contest at halftime-the Colts roll into Alexandria aiming to duplicate last season's 35-7 win over the Mustangs. Key Storylines & Matchups to Watch: 1. Late-Breaking: Will Record-Setter Brady Boruske Suit Up? The biggest headline heading into kickoff surrounds Mustangs star wideout Brady Boruske. Sidelined in Carlisle last week due to a foot injury, Boruske spent the week in a walking boot and questionable for Friday's game. Even if Boruske is operating at less than 100% or used situationally, his presence on the perimeter alters DeSales' defensive math. Without him, Nicholas County loaded the box to stop the run. With him on the field, the Colts cannot afford single coverage outside, opening up running lanes underneath and restoring Landon Spaulding's primary deep threat. 2. Ground Warfare: Committee vs. Workhorses Brossart's Tandem: With Boruske sidelined last Friday, Coach Jake Martin leaned heavily on running backs Bentley McKinzie (11 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD) and Tommy Busby (8 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD). Combining for 128 hard-nosed rushing yards between the tackles, they chewed up clock and kept the Bluejackets' explosive offense off the field. DeSales' Four-Back Rotation: The Colts spread the touches across a deep stable. Sophomore Max Oliverio (#3) paces the ground attack (119 yards, 4.8 YPC), while junior Dorian Brice (#2) provides downhill, short-yardage muscle (90 yards, 5.3 YPC, 2 TDs). Add in senior Caleb Choate (#5, 5.6 YPC)—who bruised Brossart for 76 yards in 2025-and sophomore Cam Wells (#25, 8.0 YPC), and the Colts have four different ball-carriers capable of moving the chains. The Front Seven: Brossart's defensive front is riding high after denying state rushing leader Jayden Watkins on a game-deciding two-point conversion with 1:38 remaining. Disciplined gap integrity will be critical to forcing DeSales into obvious passing situations where they are far less comfortable. 3. Landon Spaulding vs. The Colts' Two-Quarterback System DeSales: The Colts have split snaps between sophomore Noah Cross (#8) and junior Rylee Embry (#10). While Cross has been the steadier hand (9-of-20, 112 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs), the Colts average roughly 49 passing yards per game on 39% passing, primarily relying on senior target Silas Jones (#4, 24.3 YPC, 1 TD) and screen passes out of the backfield to Brice and Oliverio. Brossart: Mustangs junior Landon Spaulding showed veteran composure down the stretch in Carlisle. Despite an interception at the goal line before the break, he managed the game, connected with Landon Ketron for a score, and walked into the end zone for the decisive two-point conversion. If Boruske is able to go alongside Ketron, Spaulding will have his full complement of weapons against a secondary that surrendered chunk plays early in the season. 4. Finishing Drives Inside the 20 Empty trips inside the red zone come back to bite you against physical opponents. Last week, Brossart was stopped on the goal line on 4th-and-goal and suffered an interception inside the 5-yard line before the half. DeSales capitalized immediately on short fields against Southern last week, punching in three touchdowns in 24 minutes. Crisp execution and putting seven on the board instead of empty possessions will decide this contest. 5. Hidden Yardage & Special Teams Tripp Wilson's daring 23-yard fake punt rumble flipped momentum in Carlisle, showing the Mustangs aren't afraid to take calculated gambles. Meanwhile, placekicking consistency between Ryan Eldridge and DeSales senior kicker John Dietz could tilt a one-possession contest. Can the Mustangs protect home turf and settle the score from last fall, or will the Colts pick up their second straight win? Who takes it Friday night at the MAC, and what is your score prediction?

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: Can Brossart's front seven slow down Jayden Watkins and Nicholas County's ground game to force 3rd-and-long passing situations? Will Nicholas County's secondary be able to limit the explosive downfield strikes from Spaulding to Boruske? Who wins the turnover battle in Carlisle? Who takes this one Friday night, and what's your score prediction?

GAME PREVIEW: Bishop Brossart Travels to Brooksville to Battle Rested Polar Bears Matchup: Bishop Brossart Mustangs (1-2) at Bracken County Polar Bears (0-2) When: Friday, September 11 | Kickoff at 7:00 PM Where: Brooksville, KY Fresh off an explosive, 43-40 shootout against St. Henry, the Bishop Brossart Mustangs hit the road this Friday night for a Week 4 trip south to Brooksville. Both sidelines arrive with plenty to prove: the Mustangs are out to avenge a fourth-quarter heartbreak that spoiled an offensive masterclass, while the host Polar Bears look to cash in on a bye week and secure their first win of the season. The Storylines 1. Brossart's High-Powered Offense Hits the Road If Friday night at the MAC demonstrated anything, it's that Brossart can light up a scoreboard in a hurry. Senior signal-caller Landon Spaulding was virtually unstoppable against St. Henry, piling up nearly 300 passing yards and over 130 rushing yards while accounting for five total touchdowns-including an electrifying 80-yard option scamper. Spaulding's primary target, junior tight end Quentin Tischner, hauled in up to 12 catches for 131 yards and a physical touchdown, proving nearly impossible to bring down in the open field. Bracken County's defense has surrendered 76 points across its first two outings, struggling to contain big plays late in halves. If the Polar Bears can't collapse the pocket around Spaulding and account for Tischner over the middle, the Mustangs could establish control early. 2. A Needed Reset for the Polar Bears Bracken County head coach Jeremy Ahrens was candid about depth, cramping, and injuries during a grueling 41-6 loss to Holy Cross in Week 2, where the Polar Bears had to rotate junior varsity personnel in the fourth quarter. An open week gave Bracken County time to heal, rework their blocking schemes, and scout Brossart in person during their marathon battle with St. Henry. Bracken County will count on that extra week of preparation and fresh legs to match Brossart's physical tempo. 3. Trench Play and Protecting the Ball Bracken County managed only six points over its first two games-an Andrew Kirk touchdown against Holy Cross. To establish drives, the Polar Bears must sustain blocks up front. That won't come easy against a disruptive Mustang front line featuring Charlie Rauch, Atticus Prost, and Beckett Meersman, who consistently wreaked havoc in the Crusaders' backfield with sacks and tackles for loss. 4. Special Teams Swings Both squads know how fast special teams can tilt momentum: Brossart allowed a blocked-punt touchdown against St. Henry, only to answer instantly when Brady Boruske housed an 80-plus-yard kickoff return. Bracken County gave up punt-return touchdowns in consecutive games against Mason County and Holy Cross, though their unit did block a Holy Cross point-after try. Punt coverage and lane containment will be high on both coaching staffs' clipboards. Keys to a Mustang Win Maintain 48 Minutes of Gap Discipline: Brossart led St. Henry for nearly 45 minutes before a fourth-quarter rally-sparked by a heavy dose of Lucas Pate-slipped through their fingers. Coach Jake Martin's squad will look to clean up late-game penalties, shore up perimeter run defense, and finish drives. Control the Clock Behind the Line: When Brossart opened the St. Henry game, they took 7:32 off the clock on an 80-yard ground-and-pound drive anchored by Colin Blau and Isaac Hildebrand. Sustained drives keep the defense fresh and take the home crowd out of the game early. Capitalize on Red-Zone Chances: Points left on the 1-yard line at halftime against St. Henry proved costly. Turning red-zone trips into seven points rather than three or zero will be critical on the road. The Outlook: Brossart brings serious offensive firepower into Brooksville, pairing a dual-threat quarterback with multiple playmakers on the perimeter. If the Mustangs play clean football and win the line of scrimmage, they are well-positioned to head back up Route 27 with a 2-2 record.

Late Surge by St. Henry Spoils Mustang Offensive Fireworks in 43-40 Shootout ALEXANDRIA, Ky. - On an electric Friday night under the lights at the MAC, fans at Munninghoff Family Stadium were treated to an instant Northern Kentucky classic. In a contest that featured lightning-fast scoring answers, heavy physical trench play, and non-stop offensive fireworks, visiting St. Henry edged Bishop Brossart 43-40 in a wild, back-and-forth thriller. The Mustangs controlled tempo and led on the scoreboard for nearly forty-four minutes of action, putting up 40 points behind a stellar dual-threat showcase from quarterback Landon Spaulding and an all-field performance from junior tight end Quentin Tischner. However, a ferocious fourth-quarter rally spearheaded by St. Henry back Lucas Pate allowed the Crusaders to snatch their first lead of the night with just 3:22 remaining. An Explosive Ground-and-Pound Start Brossart (1-2) set the tone right out of the gate with an authoritative opening possession. Methodically marching 80 yards over a grueling 7-minute-and-32-second drive, the Mustangs chewed up the first-quarter clock with six first downs. Spaulding capped off the surgical drive with a 1-yard plunge behind a surging interior offensive line to make it 6-0. Early in the second quarter, Spaulding broke the game wide open. Calling his own number on an option keeper, the senior signal-caller found open turf along the home sideline and took it 80 yards to the house untouched, pushing the Mustang cushion to 12-0. St. Henry capitalized on short field position and a defensive penalty to answer with a red-zone strike, cutting the deficit to 12-6. The Crusaders then turned the tide momentarily on special teams, blocking a Mustang punt and returning it for a score to knot things up at 12-12 before the two-point conversion gave them a brief edge at 14-12. Brossart's offense answered in dazzling fashion. Facing third down, Spaulding connected over the middle with Justin Bezold, who turned on the afterburners and sprinted away from the Crusader secondary for a 69-yard touchdown strike. Ryan Eldridge's PAT sent the Mustangs into the locker room at halftime holding a 19-14 lead after a goal-line stand halted another Brossart push at the Crusaders' 2-yard line as the clock expired. Fireworks in the Third: 33 Seconds of Pure Chaos The Mustangs seized immediate momentum to begin the second half. Following a Crusader fumble recovered by Charlie Rauch, Brossart capitalized on a short field. Spaulding scored his third touchdown of the evening, navigating a 9-yard bootleg around the left edge to extend the lead to 26-14. What followed next was a breathtaking 33-second sequence that had the Munninghoff faithful roaring: St. Henry answered on the very next scrimmage snap when Lucas Pate broke multiple tackles along the right sideline for a stunning 75-yard touchdown gallop (26-20). On the ensuing kickoff, Brossart's Brady Boruske fielded the ball cleanly, found a crease up the hash marks, and electrified the stadium with an 80-plus-yard return for a touchdown (33-20). St. Henry continued to battle back behind Pate, who punched in his second touchdown of the quarter to narrow the margin to 33-28 heading into the final frame. Tischner Powers Brossart; Crusaders Rally Late Opening the fourth quarter, Brossart executed another clutch march. Quentin Tischner, who was a reliable safety valve all evening on intermediate crossers and tight-end flats, delivered the play of the night for the home squad. Hauling in a pass in the flat, Tischner broke two tackles, stayed on his feet through direct contact at the 5-yard line, and powered through the goal-line pile for a touchdown, extending the Mustang advantage to 40-28 with 10:07 to play. Refusing to fold, the Crusaders dialed up pressure. After converting a deep 30-yard pass to David Penick, Pate hauled in a 31-yard scoring pass from Cy Perento to bring St. Henry within five at 40-35 with 6:18 left. Pinned deep inside their own 15-yard line on the ensuing drive after a penalty, the Mustangs were forced to punt from their own end zone. St. Henry capitalized, as Pate broke loose for a go-ahead touchdown scamper with 3:22 remaining. Perento connected with the 6-foot-4 Penick on the two-point conversion to push St. Henry ahead 43-40. The Mustangs refused to go quietly. With 3:11 on the clock, Spaulding delivered under heavy pressure, completing a contested 25-yard pass to Boruske and a 14-yard laser to Landon Ketron into Crusader territory. However, on third-and-manageable at the St. Henry 37, the Crusader pass rush got home, knocking the ball loose on a strip-sack fumble to stall the drive with 1:08 remaining. St. Henry's Pate picked up one final first down before smartly taking a knee to secure the 43-40 victory. Unofficial Statistical Standouts Landon Spaulding (Brossart): Finished with over 100 yards rushing and 2 rushing touchdowns (80, 9); threw for over 225 yards and 2 touchdowns (69, 15). Quentin Tischner (Brossart): 8+ receptions, roughly 85 yards, 1 touchdown; recorded multiple drive-stopping open-field tackles on defense. Justin Bezold (Brossart): 1 reception, 69 yards, 1 touchdown. Brady Boruske (Brossart): 1 kickoff return touchdown (~82 yards); 4 receptions for ~45 yards. Charlie Rauch & Atticus Prost (Brossart): Combined for 2 sacks, multiple tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, and a crucial fourth-down stop on a fake punt attempt. Lucas Pate (St. Henry): 150+ rushing yards, 4 total touchdowns (including runs of 75 and 31 yards). Takeaways & Looking Ahead The Positives: There is immense offensive firepower on this Brossart roster. Scoring 40 points in high school football wins on most Friday nights. Spaulding showed poise, escapability, and veteran leadership, while Tischner proved to be one of the most complete two-way athletes in the region. The offensive line-anchored by clean center snaps from Colin Blau and strong push from Isaac Hildebrand and company-won the battle at the line of scrimmage for large stretches of the evening. Defensively, Rauch, Prost, and Beckett Meersman demonstrated that they can generate heavy penetration and disrupt game plans. Growth Areas for Film Study: In a contest decided by a single possession, the margins are razor-thin. Untimely pre-snap penalties and field-position miscues in the fourth quarter backed the Mustangs into their own end zone at critical junctures. Cleaning up punt protection rules and maintaining gap discipline against outside perimeter sweeps will be central themes as Coach Martin and the staff break down the tape this week. The effort, character, and resolve displayed across 48 grueling, physical minutes showed a team that is battle-tested and capable of trading punches with anyone on their schedule. The Mustangs will look to regroup, refine the details, and bring that same intensity into Week 4.

What a great game. Full recap tomorrow, but a solid win for St. Henry and a great effort from Brossart. Lucas Pate is the real deal...but stud performances all around.

43-40, St. Henry. 3:22 in 4th.

St. Henry scores. PAT to follow.

St. Henry scores. 40-35. 6:18 in 4th. bmustangs.com

Hear the final call on bmustangs.com!

40-28. Mustangs. 10:57 4th

33-28 Mustangs. Going to be a great 4th.

33-20 6:52 left in 3rd

TIME UPDATE: Game moved to 7:30 p.m. due to heat. PLAYER UPDATE: After missing an entire calendar year-all of last season plus the first two contests of 2026-senior Tripp Wilson (#3) is officially suited up and cleared to make his emotional return to the turf tonight.