“Finish this off!” Newport Central Catholic coach Terry Brown screamed late in Friday’s game at Boone County.
The Thoroughbreds emphatically did – they gave Brown his first varsity win by scoring 48 unanswered points in a 55-28 win at Irv Goode Field at Owen Hauck Stadium.
“It’s a lot of weight off the shoulders and off the chest,” Brown said.
For the second straight year, NewCath (1-2) thwarted Boone County’s bid for a 3-0 start for the first time since 2011. Senior running back Van Hundemer was the main culprit – two running touchdowns and a 19-yard catch from Parker Hurtt.
Like any right-thinking running back, Hundemer credited the offensive line.
“I see them busting their tails every play,” Hundemer said. They’re doing the same thing in practice. I trust them to do their job every day.”
Of course, Hundemer wasn’t the only contributor.
There was Thomas Twehues taking the second half kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown.
“They gained all the momentum, and it kind of sucked it out of us a little bit,” Boone County coach Dan Court said.
There was Will Stevie’s 30-yard fumble recovery for a score. He said Hundemer stripped the ball loose.
“I was just at the right place at the right time,” Stevie said. “He made a great play, and I was just there.”
And finally there was Van Hundemer’s younger brother Phenix’s three-yard score and two Garry Rowland runs, including a 70-yarder late in the fourth quarter to complete the Thoroughbreds’ night.
Friday’s loss maybe hurt Boone County a little more because, unlike 2025’s 40-0 running-clock shutout, the Rebels took a 14-0 lead after one quarter.
“We were excited to play, and we executed in the first quarter, probably the best quarter we’ve played all year,” Court said. “We just couldn’t make plays in the second half.”
Indeed, most everything Boone County (2-1) did worked in the first quarter – Malik Johnson needed less than three minutes to open the scoring with an 11-yard run and complete a drive that featured Asa LeGrand’s 25-yard pass to Payton Crager and Johnson’s two carries for 14 more.
Boone County takes the field. Photo by Ray Schaefer | LINK nky contributor
“We came out as flat as could be,” Brown said. “Once again, that’s something that we’ve got to fix as a coaching staff, and that falls on me.”
Johnson scored from three yards out late in the first – helped largely by LeGrand’s 19-yard run, an unsportsmanlike penalty on NewCath, LeGrand-to-Spencer Blust for 11 helped.
Crager’s 33-yard catch from Michael Chiasson with 4:33 left in the fourth completed the scoring.
Like many coaches, Brown said he wasn’t happy; he talked about cleaning up mistakes and “always looking to work.” Then, he changed his mind.
“Yeah, this one feels good, finally getting the first one under the belt and stuff like that,” Brown said. “So, these kids worked their tail end off, and they deserve it. They really deserve this.”
THOROUGHBREDS 55, REBELS 28
NEWCATH — 0-14-20-21 — 55
BOONE CO. — 14-7-0-7 — 28
First quarter
BC-Malik Johnson 11 run (Wisdom Ordu kick), 9:23
BC-Johnson 3 run (Ordu kick), 1:49
Second quarter
NCC-Van Hundemer 2 run (Max Meyer kick), 3:21
BC-Amare Newberry 45 pass from Asa LeGrand (Ordu kick), 0:50
NCC-V. Hundemer 19 pass from Parker Hurtt (Meyer kick), 0:08
Third quarter
NCC-Thomas Twehues 80 kick return (kick failed), 11:48
NCC-V. Hundemer 8 run (Hurtt run), 4:18
NCC-Will Stevie 30 fumble return (kick failed), 4:01
Fourth quarter
NCC-Phenix Hundemer 3 run (Meyer kick), 8:12
NCC-Garry Rowland 3 run (Meyer kick), 6:04
NCC-Rowland 70 run (Meyer kick), 4:49
BC-Payton Crager 33 pass from Michael Chiasson (Ordu kick), 4:23
Records: Newport Central Catholic 1-2, Boone County 2-1
