Trailing 13-7 with 2:24 left in the first half, Ryle swung the momentum with 12 points before the break to take a 19-13 lead into halftime.
The Raiders pulled away from there for a 53-21 victory against the host Dixie Heights Colonels for the non-district win to enter the postseason.
Ryle (6-4) expanded the lead to 33-13 with 7:29 left in the third quarter when quarterback Logan Verax threw a touchdown pass to Landon Lorms.
Brach Rice, who filled in at quarterback for the injured Armani Gregg, scored two touchdowns out of the Wildcat formation to give Dixie Heights (4-6) a 13-7 lead in the first half.
Ryle plays host to Southern (4-6) out of Louisville on Friday to open the Class 6A playoffs and Dixie Heights goes to Woodford County (6-3) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in the Class 5A playoffs.
Newport 44, Holy Cross 42
If this was the prelude, just wait for the encore.
In a bit of a scheduling quirk, Newport and Holy Cross not only met in the final game of the regular season, but will also do so next week to kick off the Class 1A playoffs.
Newport led 44-28 with 5:54 left in the game, but Holy Cross scored twice in the game’s final 3:25, including a Donovan Ambrocio one-yard rushing touchdown with 30 seconds left. The Indians could not convert the two-point conversion allowing the Wildcats to escape with the win.
Newport outgained Holy Cross, 378-326 thanks in part to the Wildcat passing attack. Kyle Lee completed 30-of-40 passes for 375 yards and five touchdowns to lead Newport (7-3) to victory. Lee hit six different receivers, Amonte Lowe leading the way with 10 catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Rodzion Thompson had eight catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Keegan Farrell added five catches for 56 yards and a touchdown.
Sean Hurry led Newport with 10 tackles, including eight solo. Kayveion Sharp and Kendall Buck-Barber had interceptions for the Wildcats and Amere Isham recovered a fumble.
Ambrocio completed 7-of-16 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another for the Indians (5-5). Davonte Ryan led the Indians with four catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Ulysses Porter returned a kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown, added a 65-yard touchdown catch and rushed for another.
Next week’s playoff game is scheduled for Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. at Newport, according to the KHSAA website.
Lloyd Memorial 47, Scott 20
The Juggernauts built a 40-0 halftime lead on their way to finishing the season 9-1.
Kaleb Evans threw three touchdown passes for Lloyd Memorial, one went to Nishawn Golsby and another to Tyler Copeland.
Kaymon Coleman rushed for 93 yards and one touchdown with Dylan Giffen rushing for another on a 65-yard run for the Eagles (2-8). Quarterback Trey Cook completed a touchdown pass to Jayden Dodd.
Lloyd Memorial plays host to Fleming County (6-4) to open the Class 3A playoffs Friday at 7:30 p.m. Scott’s season concluded as they were eliminated from postseason contention last week.
Newport Central Catholic 41, Holmes 0
The Thoroughbreds won their fourth straight going into the playoffs and recorded their first shutout of the season.
Demetrick Welch led NewCath (6-4) with four rushing touchdowns, bringing his total to 19 rushing touchdowns this year.
“I think we are just building trust in each other,” said Mason Neff, NewCath lineman. “We’ve been going through a lot more plays in practice. Trust and communication has been a huge factor for us.”
The offensive line gave Louie Collopy time to throw touchdown passes to Charlie Ford and Eddie Bivens.
“I think our quarterback has been doing a really good job spreading the ball around. He’s been leading our guys,” said Stephen Lickert, NewCath head coach. “Demetrick has been doing a good job hitting holes. We have a lot of those (offensive linemen) back and healthy. We played the toughest part of our schedule with probably three varsity starters. It makes a big difference when those guys get back. We’ve been focused on getting better so we can win in the second and third round of the playoffs.”
NewCath takes on Trimble County (3-7) at Covington Catholic on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Class 1A playoffs.
Holmes finished the season 0-10 and graduates eight seniors.
Bishop Brossart 43, Pendleton County 0
The Mustangs concluded the regular season with their first shutout of the season.
Bishop Brossart outgained Pendleton County, 211-51 in total offense. Cameron Mandel, Luke Schroeder and Tyler Holtz rushed for touchdowns for the Mustangs (5-5) and quarterback Keegan Gulley completed 6-of-8 passes for 122 yards and touchdown passes to Alex Amin and Nick Cozzi. Timothy Kitt had a 65-yard reception.
Bishop Brossart plays host to Dayton (4-6) on Friday in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs at 7 p.m.
Bellevue 42, Jackson County 16
The Tigers hit the road and returned with a victory, snapping a five-game losing streak.
Sophomore Jordan Pendleton led Bellevue (4-6) with four rushing touchdowns including three on consecutive carries in the fourth quarter from 58, 48 and six yards out. Tristan Woodyard and Landon Corley scored one each for the Tigers.
Bellevue travels to Ludlow (6-4) for the first round of the Class 1A playoffs on Friday at 7 p.m.
Boone County 55, Walton-Verona 21
The Rebels finished their season with a win, snapping an eight-game losing streak.
Braxton Graves led the Rebels (2-8) with three rushing touchdown and one receiving and Jamar Hocker threw two touchdown passes with the other one going to Mason Hall. Jayden Jackson, Josh Wick and Andrew Leibfarth added rushing touchdowns. Boone’s season comes to a close after being eliminated from postseason contention last week.
Walton-Verona (4-6) finished in a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots out of Class 2A, District 5. The loss knocked the Bearcats out of the playoffs dropping below Bracken County and Owen County in the RPI tiebreaker for those two spots. The Bearcats graduate 13 seniors.
Ashland Blazer 49, Simon Kenton 42
Simon Kenton led 42-35, but the host Tomcats scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win the non-district game.
Brady Lee led the Pioneers (5-4) completing 19-of-31 passes for 397 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for 31 yards and two touchdowns. Darrell Turner rushed the ball 20 times for 105 yards and one touchdown.
Five different Pioneers had receptions for Simon Kenton. Nathan Kitchens had five for 138 yards and one touchdown and Carter Blades had five for 126 yards and one touchdown. Tysin Weaver added three catches for 69 yards and one touchdown and Graysin Harris had five catches for 51 yards.
The Pioneers plays host to Fern Creek (6-4) on Friday at 7 p.m. to get their postseason underway.
Dayton 38, Trimble County 18
The Greendevils concluded the regular season with a home win.
Dayton (4-6) travels to Bishop Brossart (5-5) on Friday in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs at 7 p.m.
Paris 50, Ludlow 26
The Panthers lost a non-district game on the road to the Greyhounds.
Paris (9-1) outgained Ludlow, 364-266 in total offense. Dameyn Anness had 84 yards rushing on 14 carries and caught three catches for 47 yards and one touchdown to lead the Panthers (6-4).
Ludlow plays host to Bellevue (4-6) on Friday to open the Class 1A playoffs at 7 p.m.