While Newport and Mason County, two stadium-less teams kick the football season off Thursday night (7:30) at Thomas More, the rest of Northern Kentucky teams jump into action Friday and Saturday. 2A Newport, in a 4-8 season and now under new coach Ryan Hahn, lost to the 3A Royals 16-7 a year ago as Mason finished 9-4. Good chance for the new-look Wildcats to get things going in a positive direction.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
*** Cincinnati Elder at Covington Catholic (7 p.m.): A rematch from last season that didn’t turn out all that well for the Colonels in a 28-6 loss to the GCL Panthers before going on to a 9-4 district-winning season. Both teams have a different look and a lot to prove. Helps CovCath that this game isn’t at The Pit.
*** Henry Clay at Conner (6 p.m.): We’re liking the chances of the homestanding 5A Cougars here coming off a 7-5 season against their 6A visitors from Lexington who fell to 1-10 last fall.
*** Campbell County vs Newport Central Catholic at Thomas More (7 p.m.): Big game for both ball clubs after last year’s opener saw NewCath shut out 21-0 and then the teams went in opposite directions with the Class 1A Thoroughbreds finishing 9-4 in the third round of the playoffs while the 6A Camels dropped their final 10 games.
*** Holy Cross at Bellevue (7 p.m.): The first time these teams played in 1999, Bellevue romped 51-6. The last time they played last fall, it was a 2A Holy Cross, finishing at 4-8, a 43-6 winner over the 1A Tigers who finished 1-10. In the 15-game series, Holy Cross leads 11-4 with eight straight wins and 11 of the last 12.
*** George Rogers Clark at Cooper (7:30 p.m): Should be a good start for a 5A Cooper program with high hopes after beating 6A GRC on the road 30-3 in a 7-5 season last fall.
*** Lloyd Memorial at Dixie Heights (7 p.m.): The visiting 2A Juggs (3-7 a year ago) are hopeful that this turns out better than last year’s 42-0 Dixie romp with the new-look 6A Colonels coming off a 7-5 season.
*** Ludlow at Gallatin County (7:30 p.m.): A trip down the river for the 1A Panthers who are looking to improve last fall’s 3-8 mark against a 2A Gallatin County team that finished 3-7.
*** Grant County at Holmes (7 p.m.): Good chance to get off to another strong start at Tom Ellis Field for the Class 4A Bulldogs who beat Grant County 44-24 a year ago in an 8-3 season. Grant finished 1-9.
*** Ryle at Lexington Catholic (7:30 p.m.): A tough rematch after last year’s 24-21 loss to Catholic by the 6A Raiders in a matchup of nine-win teams. Ryle finished 9-4 a year ago, Catholic 9-3.
*** Simon Kenton at Oldham County (7:30 pm.): In a rematch of 6A teams, Simon Kenton will try to reverse one of its tough losses, this one by 35-29, to an Oldham County team that finished 9-3 while the Pioneers slumped to 2-9.
*** Scott at Walton-Verona (7:30 p.m.): Both teams coming off good seasons with lots of new faces after 4A Scott whipped up on 2A Walton-Verona 31-13 last year as Scott went 8-5 to Walton-Verona’s 9-4.
*** Bishop Brossart at Dayton (7 p.m.): It’ll be a night for the wearing of the green at Dayton’s historic Davis Field as the host 1A Greendevils aim to bounce back on offense after a 28-0 shutout at the hands of their 1A visitors from another district. Brossart went on to a 12-1 season, Dayton fell to 5-7.
*** Boone County at Russell (8 p.m.): The 5A Rebels take a 125-mile trip up the river for a rematch with a 3A Russell team that won last year’s game, 19-6. Boone finished 4-8 a year ago, Russell 6-5.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
*** Highlands vs. South Warren at Western Kentucky University (5 p.m.): Big challenge for the traveling Class 5A Bluebirds, who finished 5-6 a year ago as they take on the defending 5A state champs who finished 14-1 last fall with a perfect 8-0 record in 5A in the first game of the Rafferty’s Bowl.
*** Beechwood at Louisville Fairdale (7 p.m.): Back to where it started a year ago with a 35-0 Beechwood win as the Class 2A defending state champion Tigers put their 23-game win streak (15-0 last fall), tops in Kentucky, against a 5A Fairdale team that finished 7-6 a year ago.
