Four downs with Newport

Newport’s 2024 football goal is like any other team’s – brush past every foe and hoist a state championship trophy the first week of December at the University of Kentucky’s Kroger Field.

There was a different sort of brushing last week. Nine Wildcats spent July 29-30 applying two coats of white paint to help convert a garage next to Newport Stadium into a makeshift locker room – part of an estimated $3 million renovation that includes new turf, bleachers, and a press box.

“We’re trying to make that as homey as possible,” head coach Paul Wiggins said. “We cleared it out, we swept it … we’re going to put some LED lights in there.”

You hope what happens Sept. 13 against Boone County makes the Wildcats (8-4 last season) – and the school and the 14,000 or so residents – happiest: Newport’s first regular season home game in 1,071 days. 

Inserting a hyphen between the W and P and calling the football program New-Port could work, too. Wiggins comes to 301 E. 8th St. from Bishop Brossart, and ex-Campbell County basketball star Kevin Reinhardt is the new athletic director.

FIRST DOWN – RECAP

Newport’s 4-1 start was the best since 2019’s 5-0. After a 28-12 loss to Henry County, the Wildcats took down Holmes (48-6), Pendleton County (56-6), Boone County (28-15) and Ludlow (16-14).

The Ludlow win was maybe the most exciting. Senior quarterback Kyle Lee threw for 160 yards and a touchdown, and Kendall Buck-Barber returned an interception 22 yards for another score.

Then, a crash – 45-8 to Lloyd and 22-6 to Newport Central Catholic. A porous run defense was the problem – Newport surrendered 200 yards to the Juggernauts and 198 to the Thoroughbreds.

Newport rebounded with another 4-1 run – wins over Bellevue, Dayton and two over Holy Cross before Ludlow ended the Wildcats’ season, 28-6.

SECOND DOWN – OFFENSE 

Wiggins is Newport’s fifth coach since 2017. He teaches at the school and was content being an assistant.

Then he was promoted.

“God has a plan,” Wiggins said.

Wiggins, a 1986 Newport alumnus, worked under the late Highlands, Boone County and Newport coaching legend Mike Murphy. He calls himself an “old school” coach who likes equal parts running and passing. 

“I run a pretty tight ship,” Wiggins said. “I have expectations on how we do things.”

Lee called Wiggins “a great help.”

“His first couple weeks here, he already treats us like we’re his kids,” Lee said. 

Newport’s offense was not balanced last year. Lee threw for 2,534 yards and 24 touchdowns with 10 interceptions, while the Wildcats gained just 903 on the ground.

“I just want to win games,” Lee said.

Senior Rodzion Thompson was a part of both – he ran for 643 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 51 passes for another 750 and seven scores. 

“I like running the ball,” Wiggins said. “You set up plays by doing that … It’s probably gonna be a little more balanced; I like getting a lot of people involved in the offense.”

A question arises: from where will the extra rushing yardage come? Junior Ayden Stachel ran for 196 yards and three touchdowns, but no other returning Wildcat gained more than Lee’s 34.

Newport’s receiving game, meanwhile, appears intact. Junior Kayveion Sharp (27 catches for 380 yards and three touchdowns), Buck-Barber and junior Keegan Farrell (23 for 288 and five scores) return.

“We’re real fast, we can catch,” Buck-Barber said “A lot of our route-running is right on point, so I feel like if Kyle just gets us the ball and we get in the end zone, we’ll be perfectly fine.”

The offensive line appears mostly set with senior Jaylen Hartness, sophomore Sean Hurry, juniors Bryan Hodge and Amere Isham and sophomore Cam Hodge, but Wiggins isn’t sure who’ll play where.

THIRD DOWN – DEFENSE

Newport surrendered 251 points, nearly 21 a game.

“I think we’re playing a four-man front with a mix package,” Wiggins said.

Look for Hartness and Kayveion Sharp’s brother, senior Jay Sharp, at defensive end. Hurry, Hodge and sophomore Gontey Waller could share snaps at tackle.

If Wiggins has his way, opposing runners will hurry away from Hurry – his 63 tackles were second on the team last season, and they included 19 for loss, 8.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries.

“I have a really high football IQ,” Hurry said. “I feel like I know where the play is going.”

Stachel, Lee and Kayveion Sharp are the projected linebackers. Thompson, Buck-Barber and junior Carvona Roper are set in the secondary.

FOURTH DOWN – GOALS/OUTLOOK

Before the Boone County game are home scrimmages against Gamble Montessori (Aug. 9) and Bracken County (Aug. 16) and road trips to Carroll County (Aug. 23) and Holmes (Aug. 30). 

After Boone County, Newport hits the road to Ludlow and Lloyd, stays home against Newport Central Catholic, motors the half-mile under the Interstate 471 bridge to Bellevue and finishes with home games to Dayton and Holy Cross.

Locker rooms and concessions will be completed later, which may not matter to the Wildcats. Wiggins said nine players helped paint the garage/locker room.

“So, they’ve taken some pride in the fact that they’re at least being able to play at home now,” Wiggins said.

One final question: are the Wildcats good painters?

“Not at all,” Wiggins said. “It’s a good thing we didn’t lay the patio carpet down before we painted. They were putting their best foot forward. 

“I’m a good painter, I actually am.”

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