After 11 weeks of Friday Night Lights, the postseason has arrived.
Want to know the best part of these rankings come Thursday/Friday/Saturday? You can throw them out the window because everyone is 0-0. Their will be upsets, running clocks and defining moments as 12 teams will make it through November and advance to Kroger Field in Lexington for the six state championships to be decided the first weekend in December.
Seventeen teams in NKY across all six classes will embark on their journeys that starts on Thursday when Newport Central Catholic takes on Trimble County, with 12 games featuring NKY teams on Friday and Newport-Holy Cross on Saturday.
Covington Catholic, Highlands and Beechwood have positioned themselves the best to win at least a region championship, while others offer intrigue with some of their potential matchups.
As far as the first round, the best games to look for will be these:
Dayton at Bishop Brossart
Collins at Cooper
Dixie Heights at Woodford County
Fern Creek at Simon Kenton
Holy Cross at Newport
Those five look to be on paper solid matchups that won’t end in the usual lopsided first round games seen all across the state.
Here goes the last of the prep football rankings for the season. Thanks for following along and thanks to our sponsor Crown Pointe Remodeling.
- Covington Catholic (10-0, Previous Week: 1) — The lone undefeated in NKY resides in Park Hills. The Colonels capped off an undefeated regular season with a methodical 35-7 victory over Campbell County. They haven’t really been tested since Sept. 15 at Beechwood, but some challenges are coming. The good news for the Colonels is they won’t have to leave campus in November as they finished No. 1 in RPI in 4A and the road will go through them. It starts Friday with Greenup County and then a potential top 10 matchup with Ashland in the second round. Assuming top seeds win, CovCath’s road to Kroger Field would look like this: Greenup County, Ashland, Johnson Central, Paducah-Tilghman.
2. Highlands (9-1, Previous Week: 2) — The Bluebirds were on bye the final week of the regular season to rest up for what they hope is a lengthy postseason run. They too sit atop the RPI rankings for Class 5A, meaning they won’t have to leave Fort Thomas in November. The postseason starts with South Oldham. Here’s there potential path to Kroger Field assuming the top seeds win: South Oldham, Woodford County, Madison Southern, Bowling Green.
3. Beechwood (9-1, Previous Week: 3) — Another team on bye to close out the regular season. Similar to Covington Catholic, the Tigers haven’t been tested since that Sept. 15 game against the Colonels. Unlike Covington Catholic, we don’t know when Beechwood will be tested again. They open the playoffs with a winless Danville, a rarity for a team dubbed “Titletown” that’s fallen on hard times. Beechwood finished fourth in RPI in 2A, meaning their path to Kroger Field will come most likely with three home games and then a road state semifinal game. Here’s the potential path if top seeds win: Danville, Breathitt County, Betsy Layne/Martin County winner, at Mayfield.
4. Ryle (6-4, Previous Week: 4) — Ryle finished off an undefeated October with a dominant 53-21 victory over Dixie Heights, their most impressive victory since a 28-10 win over Cooper. Logan Verax has found his groove with five straight games of 300-plus passing yards. Now they head into the postseason with momentum and opening with Southern. They get past that and then the Bullitt East/Campbell County winner would then come to Union. The Raiders win their first two, then a potential matchup at Bryan Station looms.
5. Cooper (8-2, Previous Week: 5) — The Jaguars got their bye week and now look for their first postseason victory since 2018. They’ll host Collins, a formidable No. 3 seed with a quarterback that nearly threw for 2,000 yards and ran for 1,051. They get by the Titans and then they’re looking at the marquee matchup in the state in 5A, which would feature two top five teams between the Jaguars and Scott County.
6. Simon Kenton (5-4, Previous Week: 6) — The Pioneers let a second straight fourth quarter lead slip away in a 49-42 loss at Ashland. The positive was the offense clicked as Brady Lee had a record setting day with 448 passing yards and three touchdowns. Now they’ll get a home playoff game against Fern Creek. The Tigers started off hot at 5-1, but ended the season losing three of their last four. If the Pioneers can get past Fern Creek, a matchup at No. 1 Male looms.
7. Lloyd Memorial (9-1, Previous Week: 8) — Can the Juggernauts make another run to the state semifinals? It’s really hard to tell. Now it’s hard to predict how tough a team’s schedule will be before a season, but the Juggs ended up playing four teams that either missed the postseason entirely, or opted out in playing in them (Pendleton County). They played three teams with a winning record throughout the season (Newport Central Catholic, Newport and Lexington Catholic) so they enter a bit of unknown. Their postseason starts with a home game against Fleming County, a win and then they’ll head to East Carter, who gets a week of rest with Pendleton County deciding not to play in the postseason due to injuries and low numbers.
8. Dixie Heights (4-6, Previous Week: 7) — Without quarterback Armani Gregg, the Colonels used the Wildcat offense behind bruiser Brach Rice and it helped them jump out to a 13-7 lead. Things quickly went sideways before halftime as Ryle scored 12 unanswered to take a 19-13 lead into the break and pull away in the second half. Now they’ll head to Woodford County in one of what will be the most likely competitive games in the state of the opening round of the playoffs. If Dixie Heights can pull off what would be considered a mild upset, a matchup at Highlands most likely looms.
9. Campbell County (3-7, Previous Week: 9) — The Camels were able to get into Covington Catholic territory five times in their 35-7 loss, but were unable to finish off drives until the last one of the night. Now comes a long bus ride to Bullitt East, to take on the defending 6A champs. Can the Camels pull the upset? It’s certainly a 3-7 team you can’t overlook.
10. Conner (5-5, Previous Week: 10) — The Cougars got a much needed bye week as they’ll take on the tough task of traveling to Georgetown to face Scott County in the first round of the playoffs.
Big School Top 5 (4A-6A)
- Covington Catholic
2. Highlands
3. Ryle
4. Cooper
5. Simon Kenton
Small School Top 5 (1A-3A)
- Beechwood
2. Lloyd Memorial
3. Newport Central Catholic
4. Newport
5. Ludlow
200-yard passing club
Brady Lee, Simon Kenton vs Ashland (23/34, 448 yards, 3 TD)
Kyle Lee, Newport vs Holy Cross (30/42, 375 yards, 5 TD)
Logan Verax, Ryle vs Dixie Heights (20/33, 355 yards, 5 TD)
Donovan Ambrocio, Holy Cross vs Newport (9/19, 247 yards, 3 TD)
Evan Pitzer, Covington Catholic vs Campbell County (15/19, 229 yards, 4 TD)
100-yard rushing club
Jordan Pendleton, Bellevue vs Jackson County (14 rushes, 195 yards, 4 TD)
Demetrick Welch, Newport Central Catholic vs Holmes (11 rushes, 180 yards, 4 TD)
Brach Rice, Dixie Heights vs Ryle (23 rushes, 139 yards, 2 TD)
Braxton Graves, Boone County vs Walton-Verona (7 rushes, 136 yards, 3 TD)
100-yard receiving club
Amonte Lowe, Newport vs Holy Cross (10 receptions, 135 yards, 2 TD)
Landon Lorms, Ryle vs Dixie Heights (6 receptions, 133 yards, TD)
Carter Blades, Simon Kenton vs Ashland (5 receptions, 126 yards, TD)
Nathan Kitchens, Simon Kenton vs Ashland (4 receptions, 122 yards, TD)
Davonte Ryan, Holy Cross vs Newport (5 receptions, 120 yards, 2 TD)
Rodzion Thompson, Newport vs Holy Cross (8 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TD)
Defensive standouts
Jacob Savage, Ryle vs Dixie Heights (15 tackles)
Grady Reynolds, Ryle vs Dixie Heights (11 tackles, interception)
Khalil Buck-Barber, Newport vs Holy Cross (11 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, sack)
Brach Rice, Dixie Heights vs Ryle (10 tackles, tackle for loss, sack)
Sean Hurry, Newport vs Holy Cross (10 tackles, tackle for loss)
Tate Kruer, Covington Catholic vs Campbell County (10 tackles)
Miguel Rodriguez, Dixie Heights vs Ryle (9 tackles, interception)
Spencer Brandenburg, Ludlow vs Paris (9 tackles, interception)
Donovan Ambrocio, Holy Cross vs Newport (9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss)
Landon Brown, Simon Kenton vs Ashland (9 tackles, tackle for loss, sack)
Beau Faul, Ryle vs Dixie Heights (9 tackles, tackle for loss)
Dameyn Anness, Ludlow vs Paris (8 tackles, fumble recovery)
Aaron Johnson, Holmes vs Newport Central Catholic (8 tackles, 3 tackles for loss)
Aiden Smith Baxley, Ludlow vs Paris (7 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, forced fumble)
Felipa Trimble, Holy Cross vs Newport (7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack)
Quinten Tischner, Bishop Brossart vs Pendleton County (6 tackles, sack, tackle for loss, fumble forced)
Shane Willike, Bishop Brossart vs Pendleton County (6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss)
Gavin Lyons, Ryle vs Dixie Heights (6 tackles, fumble forced)
Carter Schroer, Dixie Heights vs Ryle (6 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, .5 sack)
Brayden Schoborg, Simon Kenton vs Ashland (6 tackles, tackle for loss)
Jake Steffen, Ryle vs Dixie Heights (5 tackles, fumble recovery)
Aba Selm, Simon Kenton vs Ashland (5 tackles, 3 tackles for loss)
Bryan Hodge, Newport vs Holy Cross (5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack)
Grant Johnson, Dixie Heights vs Ryle (5 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, .5 sack)
Carson Evans, Ludlow vs Paris (4 tackles, tackle for loss, fumble recovery)
Nolan Kruse, Bishop Brossart vs Pendleton County (4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss)
Kaden Morrison, Ludlow vs Paris (4 tackles, tackle for loss, sack)
Keegan Farrell, Newport vs Holy Cross (3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks)
Max Hunt, Holy Cross vs Newport (3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack)
Nathan Heck, Bishop Brossart vs Pendleton County (3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss)
Kendall Buck-Barber, Newport vs Holy Cross (2 tackles, tackle for loss, interception)
Kayveion Sharp, Newport vs Holy Cross (2 tackles, interception)
Jordan Pendleton, Bellevue vs Jackson County (interception, fumble recovery)
Dylan Lee, Ryle vs Dixie Heights (fumble recovery, interception)
Isaiah Sebastian, Lloyd Memorial vs Scott (interception return for TD)
Amari Rogers, Bellevue vs Jackson County (fumble recovery)
Tucker Evans, Covington Catholic vs Campbell County (interception)
Cash Harney, Covington Catholic vs Campbell County (interception)
Wyatt Messman, Bellevue vs Jackson County (interception)
John Crim, Lloyd Memorial vs Scott (interception)
Mitchell Doeker, Newport Central Catholic vs Holmes (interception)
Luke Schieber, Simon Kenton vs Ashland (interception)
Mason McKinzie, Bishop Brossart vs Pendleton County (fumble recovery)
Isaac Amin, Bishop Brossart vs Pendleton County (fumble recovery)
William Webster, Bishop Brossart vs Pendleton County (fumble recovery)
Amere Isham, Newport vs Holy Cross (fumble recovery)
Ben Reeves, Covington Catholic vs Campbell County (sack)
Willie Rodriguez, Covington Catholic vs Campbell County (sack)
Andrew Bessler, Covington Catholic vs Campbell County (sack)
*Missing stats from Dayton, Scott, Walton-Verona
