The high school football post-season is here and the first round is in the books.
As LINK nky sports editor-at-large Dan Weber has written, “When the most suspenseful moment of a football game is whether the split-the-pot winner will show up to claim the prize, you know it’s the first week of the KHSAA playoffs.”
The state’s pairing system creates opportunities for lopsided victories across Kentucky in this early round, and that proved true again on Friday night, with Northern Kentucky teams on both sides of rough scoreboards.
Here is how Northern Kentucky teams fared:
Class 1A
Newport Central Catholic 52, Eminence 0
NewCath was the home game in this rout hosted at Dixie Heights where the ‘Breds sent Eminence home to conclude its 0-11 season. NewCath is now 9-2 on the year, bouncing back big from last week’s regular season finale 26-9 loss to Beechwood. Next week, in round two, the Thoroughbreds are back at Dixie Heights to host Frankfort (7-4), which had no trouble eliminating Ludlow on Friday, and has won three straight in blow-out fashion.
Frankfort 50, Ludlow 13
The Panther saw their season end on the road in the state capital. Ludlow finishes the year at 4-7.
Bishop Brossart 36, Fairview 14
The Mustangs have won six straight games to improve to 9-2 on the year, easily dispatching Fairview at home in Alexandria. Next week, the Mustangs welcome a 5-5 Paintsville team to town. The Tigers eliminated Bracken Co. on Friday.
Dayton 22, Berea 7
Read our coverage of the Greendevils’ win here.
Class 2A
Walton-Verona 22, Newport 12
In this local cat fight, it was the Bearcats who out-clawed the Wildcats. Walton-Verona has won six straight games and moves on to round-two at home against Lloyd next week. Newport finishes the season with a four-game losing streak and a 3-7 record.
Lloyd Memorial 42, Owen County 7
The Juggernauts easily took care of their visitors in Erlanger on Friday night, advancing to the second round of the playoffs in their third straight win. Lloyd is 8-3 on the year and visits Walton-Verona next week.
Beechwood 55, Trimble County 0
The Tigers easily dispatched their visitors to Ft. Mitchell to improve to 10-1 on the season. Beechwood moves on to round-two next week with a home game against Carroll County, which ended Holy Cross’s season Friday night.
Carroll County 35, Holy Cross 6
Carroll County prevented us from having another all-Northern Kentucky match-up next week by running away from Holy Cross. The Indians finish their season at 2-9, and Carroll County gets Beechwood next week.
Class 4A
Bourbon County 28, Holmes 14
Holmes scored a home playoff game by routing district rivals Scott and Harrison County and entered the first round with what looked like a winnable game. Bourbon County had lost three straight games before coming to Covington where it doubled-up the Bulldogs in an upset. Holmes finishes the season 6-5 and Bourbon County moves on to face Lexington Catholic, which routed Scott.
Lexington Catholic 50, Scott 6
Instead of a rematch between Scott and Holmes, the Eagles are joining the Bulldogs at home next week. Scott finishes its season on a four-game losing streak and with a record of 4-7.
Class 5A
Highlands 49, Montgomery County 0
The Bluebirds continue to soar. Highlands has won nine straight, all by comfortable or significant margins, including Friday night’s shutout rout of the visitors from Montgomery County. Highlands (9-2) is home in Ft. Thomas again next week with a visit from a tougher foe, Scott County (10-1).
Scott County 56, Cooper 20
The Jaguars could not pull off the upset on the road and Cooper ends its season at 6-5. Scott County gets next week’s date with Highlands.
Covington Catholic 21, Great Crossing 0
Read out coverage of the Colonels’ win here.
Frederick Douglass 50, Conner 0
Conner’s season ends with five straight losses and a 2-9 record.
Class 6A
Simon Kenton 54, Marshall County 7
The Pioneers easily took care of their visitors to Independence on Friday night to score their fifth straight win and improve to 8-3 on the year. Next week, Louisville Trinity (7-4) comes to town.
Louisville Trinity 47, Campbell County 14
The Shamrocks sent Campbell County home with no difficulty Friday night in Louisville. The Camels finish their season at 4-7.
Ryle 42, Louisville Eastern 12
The Raiders snapped a two-game skid, bouncing back from back-to-back losses to Simon Kenton and Covington Catholic, to easily dispatch Eastern in Union. Next week, Ryle faces a bigger challenge, on the road at Louisville Ballard (9-2).
Louisville Ballard 55, Dixie Heights 14
The Colonels’ season is over at 3-8.