LINK nky Top 10: Season winding down, cream rising to the crop

Real football weather is coming.

Fall said hello in the latter part of last week and over the weekend and colder Friday nights are coming. We’ve been blessed in seven out of the eight weeks so far with near perfect weather, so regression to the mean is likely.

Things are heating up in district play, however, the next two weeks will decide a lot of things. This week’s marquee matchups that potentially determines the top seed in their respective district: Lexington Catholic at Lloyd Memorial, Dayton vs Newport Central Catholic, Bishop Brossart at Ludlow, Beechwood at Carroll County.

This week’s shout out goes to O.W. Davis Field. It was my first trip to that treasure in Dayton and after taking some extra time to find it, I walked into a gold mine. I personally love the old school feel of older stadiums, ballparks, gyms, etc., and the Greendevils field didn’t disappoint. It just gives you that old school, tradition rich feel as soon as you walk in. From the concessions, to the brick walls that surround the field, the small sidelines, bleachers, uneven steps, press box with actually light bulbs to pull a string to turn the light on, pregame and postgame fireworks, the houses in the background in which you can watch off your deck, give me all of it. I heard there’s talks of building a new stadium closer to the high school, so Friday may have been the last meeting between the Greendevils and Bellevue Tigers at O.W. Davis, the 150th meeting between the two. If so, it was a pleasure being able to watch the last one there.

Here goes…

1. Covington Catholic (7-0, Previous Week: 1) — Bye week. If the Colonels and Mason County win this week, it sets up a winner gets the No. 1 seed in the district on Oct. 20 in Maysville. CovCath gets Harrison County, Mason County plays Grant County.

2. Highlands (7-1, Previous Week: 2) — In this week of what did Highlands do on offense: completed all 14 pass attempts for 202 yards and five touchdowns and averaged 12.2 yards per carry in the 53-7 victory over Boone County. A win over Conner this week clinches the No. 1 seed in the district.

3. Beechwood (7-1, Previous Week: 3) — 177-3. That’s the combined score of Beechwood’s three district games so far. While Carroll County might provide somewhat of a test in Carrollton, I’d still expect the Tigers starters to be out of the game by mid-third quarter. Two regular season games left and then a bye week before they start their postseason journey for a fourth straight Class 2A title. They might see similar outcomes until they reach the 2A state semifinals when they’d likely run into either Lexington Christian, Mayfield or Owensboro Catholic. But hey, they jumped in RPI in 2A to No. 2 so that game might be in Fort Mitchell.

4. Lloyd Memorial (7-0, Previous Week: 4) — The Juggernauts have to be thinking…FINALLY! A big test looms as Lexington Catholic comes to Erlanger on Friday and Cecil Dees Field should be rocking with the No. 1 seed in the district on the line. It will be a matchup of two top five teams in the state in Class 3A, and outside of CAL, the winner of this one should rightfully be ranked No. 2 in 3A. As of Monday, rain is in the forecast for Friday and I’m sure the Juggs won’t mind that as they’ll deploy their typical run game with stout defense.

5. Simon Kenton (4-2, Previous Week: 6) — The Pioneers are putting up 47.2 points per game over their last four after another 50-plus point performance on Friday in a win over Great Crossing. Durrell “Duracell” Turner continues to be a menace in the ground game, now 56 yards shy of 1,000 for the season while Brady Lee continues to impress in running the offense, throwing for 339 yards and three touchdowns. Grayson Harris was one of the big play receivers with six catches for 154 yards and two scores. After surrendering 28 first half points, the Pioneer defense tightened up in the second half to allow just eight points.

6. Ryle (3-4, Previous Week: 5) — A wild one in Claryville as Ryle rallied from 17 down with less than 10 minutes to play and sent the game to overtime and eventually pull out a 37-36 district victory over Campbell County. Logan Verax threw for 335 yards and three scores, Landon Lorms his top target with 13 receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns as they survive the upset bid and move forward to Great Crossing this week. Jacob Savage had 18 tackles to lead the defense. A win this week and a Simon Kenton win over Campbell County sets up a showdown on Oct. 20 between the two with the No. 1 seed in the district on the line.

7. Cooper (6-2, Previous Week: 7) — The Jaguars led 49-0 17 minutes into the game on Thursday against Scott. When Cooper wins, they sure win. In their six victories, their average margin of victory is 33.5 points. Boone County this week before a big showdown with Dixie Heights next week in what will determine who stays home week one of the playoffs.

8. Dixie Heights (3-4, Previous Week: 8) — The Colonels showed balance in the win over Conner, running for 203 yards and passing for 192. Quarterback Armani Gregg was involved in 312 of those yards, on top of the 192 passing, running for 120 and four scores. Tyson Beach was his top target with over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. Defense stood out with 14 tackles for loss and six sacks and forced two turnovers. Brach Rice (18 tackles), Grant Johnson (11 tackles, sack, interception), Blake Dodds (10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, fumble recovery), Kabanza Mwamba (8 tackles, forced fumble) and Hunter Goderwis (2 sacks) were the top defensive stoppers. Scott this week before at Cooper next week in what will most likely determine the No. 2 seed in the district and a home playoff game.

9. Campbell County (2-5, Previous Week: 10) — So close to pulling off probably what would have been the biggest upset in NKY of the season to date. Leading 30-13 in the fourth, the Camels were unable to hang on, eventually losing 37-36 in overtime as they elected to go for two and the win after a touchdown. Quarterback Nathan Smith ran for 115 yards and three touchdowns and threw for another touchdown. Defense was stout against the run, allowing just 34 rushing yards. They’ll need to carry over that run defense effort at Simon Kenton this week to keep a shot at a home playoff game alive.

10. Conner (4-4, Previous Week: 9) — The injury bug hit Conner at the wrong time. Highlands this week and then Boone County the following week. A victory against the Rebels gets the Cougars in the playoffs.

Big School Top 5 (4A-6A)

1. Covington Catholic
2. Highlands
3. Simon Kenton
4. Ryle
5. Cooper

Small School Top 5 (1A-3A)

1. Beechwood
2. Lloyd Memorial
3. Newport Central Catholic
4. Newport
5. Dayton

Missing stats from: Bishop Brossart, Boone County, Conner, Cooper, Dayton, Walton-Verona

200-Yard Passing Club

Brady Lee, Simon Kenton vs Great Crossing (15/25, 339 yards, 3 TD)

Logan Verax, Ryle vs Campbell County (34/46, 335 yards, 3 TD)

100-Yard Rushing Club

Durrell Turner, Simon Kenton vs Great Crossing (30 rushes, 144 yards, 3 TD)

Armani Gregg, Dixie Heights vs Conner (12 rushes, 120 yards, 4 TD)

Nathan Smith, Campbell County vs Ryle (20 rushes, 115 yards, 3 TD)

Spencer Brandenburg, Ludlow vs Trimble County (4 rushes, 113 yards, 2 TD)

Demetrick Welch, Newport Central Catholic vs Newport (27 rushes, 105 yards, TD)

100-Yard Receiving Club

Grayson Harris, Simon Kenton vs Great Crossing (6 receptions, 154 yards, 2 TD)

Rodzion Thompson, Newport vs Newport Central Catholic (5 receptions, 119 yards, TD)

Landon Lorms, Ryle vs Campbell County (13 receptions, 117 yards, 2 TD)

Tyson Beach, Dixie Heights vs Conner (4 receptions, 108 yards, TD)

Tysin Weaver, Simon Kenton vs Great Crossing (2 receptions, 102 yards, TD)

Defensive Standouts

Jacob Savage, Ryle vs Campbell County (18 tackles, 2 tackles for loss)

Brach Rice, Dixie Heights vs Conner (18 tackles, 1 tackle for loss)

Khalil Buck-Barber, Newport vs Newport Central Catholic (14 tackles, 3 tackles for loss)

Aven Bohms, Simon Kenton vs Great Crossing (12 tackles, fumble forced, fumble recovery, sack)

Carson Evans, Ludlow vs Trimble County (12 tackles, fumble recovery)

Grant Johnson, Dixie Heights vs Conner (11 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack, interception)

Grady Reynolds, Ryle vs Campbell County (11 tackles)

Landon Brown, Simon Kenton vs Great Crossing (11 tackles)

Blake Dodds, Dixie Heights vs Conner (10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, fumble recovery)

Sean Hurry, Newport vs Newport Central Catholic (10 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack)

Donovan Ambrocio, Holy Cross vs Bishop Brossart (9 tackles, fumble forced)

Tucker Ober, Simon Kenton vs Great Crossing (9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss)

Kabanza Mwamba, Dixie Heights vs Conner (8 tackles, tackle for loss, forced fumble)

Ethan Powell, Ludlow vs Trimble County (8 tackles, interception)

Aba Selm, Simon Kenton vs Great Crossing (8 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, sack)

Javon Burke, Newport vs Newport Central Catholic (8 tackles, 3 tackles for loss)

Carson Sanders, Newport vs Newport Central Catholic (8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss)

Zack Chalfin, Holy Cross vs Bishop Brossart (8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack)

Aiden Smith Baxley, Ludlow vs Trimble County (8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss)

Carter Schroer, Dixie Heights vs Conner (8 tackles, sack)

Matthew Engel, Ludlow vs Trimble County (8 tackles, tackle for loss)

Aiden Dowds, Campbell County vs Ryle (7 tackles, fumble recovery, sack)

Blake Funston, Campbell County vs Ryle (7 tackles, tackle for loss)

Seth Moran, Lloyd Memorial vs Pendleton County (7 tackles, .5 sack)

Kameron Vickers, Campbell County vs Ryle (6 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, sack)

Kendall Buck-Barber, Newport vs Newport Central Catholic (6 tackles, tackle for loss)

Kayveion Sharp, Newport vs Newport Central Catholic (6 tackles, tackle for loss)

Beau Faul, Ryle vs Campbell County (6 tackles, tackle for loss)

Luke Schieber, Simon Kenton vs Great Crossing (6 tackles, tackle for loss)

Max Neal, Dixie Heights vs Conner (6 tackles, .5 sack)

Hunter Goderwis, Dixie Heights vs Conner (5 tackles, 2 sacks)

Caleb Milton, Campbell County vs Ryle (5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack)

Bo Gay, Ryle vs Campbell County (5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack)

Littello Johnson, Holy Cross vs Bishop Brossart (5 tackles, fumble recovery)

Carvonta Roper, Newport vs Newport Central Catholic (5 tackles, tackle for loss)

Tyler Copeland, Lloyd Memorial vs Pendleton County (4 tackles, fumble recovery)

Jake Putthoff, Simon Kenton vs Great Crossing, (4 tackles, fumble recovery)

Bryce Sizemore, Dixie Heights vs Conner (4 tackles, sack)

Thomas Plymesser, Lloyd Memorial vs Pendleton County (4 tackles, .5 sack)

Miles Garrett, Ludlow vs Trimble County (4 tackles, tackle for loss)

Gavin Lyons, Ryle vs Campbell County (4 tackles, tackle for loss)

Yurii Collins Comer, Lloyd Memorial vs Pendleton County (3 tackles, interception)

Logan Verax, Ryle vs Campbell County (3 tackles, tackle for loss)

Byron Conley, Ludlow vs Trimble County (2 tackles, interception)

Avander Abrams, Lloyd Memorial vs Pendleton County (2 tackles, .5 sack)

Jonah Purnell, Lloyd Memorial vs Pendleton County (2 tackles, .5 sack)

Xavier Campbell, Beechwood vs Owen County (interception return for touchdown)

Ben Trimnell, Bellevue vs Dayton (fumble recovery for touchdown)

Koen Henderson, Beechwood vs Owen County (interception)

Nathan Pabst, Beechwood vs Owen County (interception)

Nate Welch, Highlands vs Boone County (interception)

Connor Carnohan, Highlands vs Boone County (interception)

Mitchell Doeker, Newport Central Catholic vs Newport (interception)

Noah Ohradzansky, Newport Central Catholic vs Newport (interception)

Brody Aylor, Beechwood vs Owen County (fumble recovery)

Chase McDaniel, Beechwood vs Owen County (fumble recovery)

Wyatt Messman, Bellevue vs Dayton (fumble recovery)

Payton Schuler, Beechwood vs Owen County (sack)

Brody Waddell, Beechwood vs Owen County (sack)