To be the winning team, fan votes play a heavy role, along with consideration from our sports team here at LINK.
Nominations are reader-submitted or recommended by our sports team. Our Team of the Week program honors all local sports at all levels, whether it’s youth or adult-oriented recreation, high school or college, professional or amateur.
This week’s nominated teams are listed below with some information provided by the submitter or LINK nky staff. The poll where you can vote follows at the end of the article.
Voting is open until Sunday night.
DIXIE HEIGHTS FOOTBALL
Talk about a way to get a breakthrough win. The Colonels had been knocking at the door in games against Simon Kenton, Beechwood, Covington Catholic and Cooper, but were unable to seal the deal in any of the four.
But come the most important time of the season, the Colonels went down to Woodford County and not only came away with a playoff victory, but did so in convincing fashion with a 60-14 victory.
Dixie Heights was firing on all cylinders in the victory, they ran for 323 yards with quarterback Armani Gregg leading the way with 101. Gregg also threw for 165 yards and four touchdowns, two of them going to Hudson Blank, the others to Nolan Goetz and Kabanza Mwamba. Brach Rice had 92 yards rushing and three touchdowns to go with his usual stellar effort on defense, collecting 15 tackles. Lamiego Mutongwiza added 68 rushing yards and a touchdown while David Anderson also chruned out 62 yards rushing and finished with 100 yards combined rushing and receiving.
The defense made explosive plays, Carter Schroer returning a fumble for a touchdown for one of the four turnovers the Dixie defense forced on the night. Schroer also recorded 2.5 sacks while Jonas McDaniel had two interceptions, Max Neal with a fumble recovery and Chase Valpreda forcing a fumble. Rice was the leading tackler with 15, Brayden Brzygot right behind him with 14.
The win gets Dixie Heights to 5-6 on the season and into the second round, not having to travel as far, taking on Highlands in Fort Thomas on Friday.
COOPER FOOTBALL
The Jaguars broke a 5-year playoff victory drought in dominating fashion, defeating Collins 42-8.
Cooper scored 42 points in the game’s first 21 minutes to get it to a running clock and let the reserves close out the second half. The win was also Randy Borchers 100th of his coaching career.
Cam O’Hara threw for 171 yards and four touchdowns, Keagan Maher ran for 105 yards and a touchdown as the Jaguars dominated in all three phases of the game. O’Hara hit Isaiah Johnson for two touchdowns, Austin Alexander with one and Jaidan Combs the other. Malachi Ewell added a six-yard rushing touchdown.
The defense allowed just 174 yards while Carson Taylor made all six extra point attempts and continually helped pin the Titans deep on kickoff returns.
Cooper heads into the second round to face Scott County in Georgetown on Friday, matchup featuring two of the top five teams in the state in Class 5A.
NOTRE DAME VOLLEYBALL
It may have not been the trophy they ultimately wanted, but Notre Dame closed out an astounding season as the KHSAA state volleyball runner-up.
The Pandas defeated Campbell County, McCracken County and West Jessamine on their way to the state championship game before losing to Assumption on Saturday evening.
Ava Erpenbeck, Ava Tilden and Julia Grace were named to the All-Tournament team. Erpenbeck is the lone senior on a talented team that should be right back to a similar spot next season as they’ll look for a third state title in the last five seasons.
Notre Dame finished the season with a 33-6 record.
DAYTON FOOTBALL
Dayton had lost seven straight to Bishop Brossart and broke the losing streak to the Mustangs on Friday in the first round of the Class A playoffs.
The Greendevils shut out the Mustangs, 14-0. The Dayton defense held Brossart to just 140 total yards, helping them overcome the 13 penalties they committed for 125 yards.
The pair of Dayton touchdowns came from Chad Nickell on a four-yard rush, Mason Johnson with a seven-yard run, both in the second quarter. D’Angelo Jimenez led the rushing attack with 84 yards on 15 carries as the Greendevils ran for 172 yards.
Dayton improved to 5-6 with the victory and will face Newport Central Catholic at Dixie Heights on Friday in the second round of the Class A playoffs.
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