Nine teams in northern Kentucky remain unbeaten after two weeks of the regular season.
There’s a doozie of a Friday coming! Friday presents a matchup of No. 1 (Cooper) and No. 3 (Ryle), No. 2 (Highlands) and No. 8 (Campbell County), No. 4 (Beechwood) and No. 7 (Dixie Heights) and No. 5 (Simon Kenton) and No. 6 (Covington Catholic).
Come next Monday, this top 10 could be completely shaken up.
Stay tuned and stay onboard for the small school rankings, 200-yard passing club, 100-yard rushing club, 100-yard receiving club, defensive and kicking standouts below.
Top 10
- Cooper (2-0, defeated Henry Clay, 47-0), Previous Week 1: While the offense entered the season with a lot of promise considering what was returning, the defense has been lights out, allowing six points in the first two games, the lone points coming in the closing seconds of a running clock game. They’ve allowed 295 yards the first two games. Ryle is up next, a team that has had their number with eight straight victories in the Battle of Union.
2. Highlands (2-0, defeated Covington Catholic, 32-22), Previous Week 2: The gap between 1-2 is razor thin. The Bluebirds look the part early on and with the offensive line they present, will be tough to stop, evidenced by their near 300-yard rushing game against CovCath. The defense has been pretty solid, too. A stay on alert matchup with Campbell County this week.
3. Ryle (2-0, defeated Conner, 46-8), Previous Week 4: Two impressive victories to open the season and now comes the gauntlet. Cooper, Highlands, CAL and St. Xavier. That’s four top five teams in the state in their respective classes over the next five weeks. If Ryle wants to be considered a potential region champ and state title candidate in 6A, the next month is where they can make their argument.
4. Beechwood (2-0, defeated Campbell County, 42-20), Previous Week 3: A pesky Campbell County team had it at 21-20 in the fourth before the Tigers scored 21 unanswered. How about this for balance in the Tigers first two games? 53 rushing attempts, 53 passing attempts. The injury to sophomore Tyler Fryman is a tough loss, a key to the back of the Tigers defense, here’s hoping for a speedy recovery. A big three-game stretch ahead with Dixie Heights, Simon Kenton and Covington Catholic the next three weeks.
5. Simon Kenton (2-0, defeated Mercer County, 61-40), Previous Week 5: The Pioneers have put up 111 points in the first two games. Is this Hawaii’s run-and-shoot offense with June Jones? Brady Lee at quarterback with Grayson Harris and Tysin Weaver at receiver makes for an impressive trio. Lee has thrown for 688 yards in the first two games, Harris and Weaver combining for 535 yards receiving. While the offensive numbers have been impressive, they have allowed 75 points in the first two games. Interesting matchup with Covington Catholic on Friday.
6. Covington Catholic (0-2, lost to Highlands, 32-22), Previous Week 6: The Colonels inexperience has handed them an 0-2 start, a first since 2015 when they started 0-4. Jumping up 14-0 and a chance to make it a three score game, an interception followed by a safety flipped the momentum in the loss to Highlands. The positive from that one is Cash Harney looked the part at QB, throwing for 163 yards and a score while running for 152 yards and two scores. Simon Kenton’s high-flying offense comes to Park Hills Friday.
7. Dixie Heights (1-1, defeated Hughes (Ohio) 19), Previous Week 7: How about the running game? A total of 738 yards in the first two games, 446 of them and eight touchdowns in the win over Hughes on Friday. Armani Gregg has 342 yards rushing and four touchdowns in the first two games, making the switch from quarterback to running back pretty seamless. Mason Fields was a highly efficient 10-for-12 with 189 yards and three touchdowns on Friday. Dixie has put up 101 points in their first two games. Beechwood up next, last year was a wild one, a 49-48 Tigers victory on a stopped two-point conversion.
8. Campbell County (1-1, lost to Beechwood, 42-20), Previous Week 8: It’s time Garyn Jackson’s name gets floated around as one of the best athletes in northern Kentucky. Not only is he a standout on the basketball court in helping guide his team to Rupp Arena last year and the state quarterfinals, but he continues to make plays on the football field as well, two touchdown receptions, one of them a one-handed grab for a long score and an interception against Beechwood. The Camels trailed 21-20 against the Tigers on Friday before Beechwood rattled off 21 unanswered in the fourth. Another tough test with Highlands this week.
9. Newport Central Catholic (2-0, defeated Walton-Verona, 49-0), Previous Week 10: NewCath dominated in all phases on Friday. They outgained the Bearcats 487-68. They can get off to their first 3-0 start since 2020 with a win over Scott on Friday.
10. Conner (1-1, lost to Ryle, 46-8) Previous Week 9: Not much went right in the loss to Ryle, gathering just 139 yards of offense and turning the ball over four times. The Cougars host Lafayette on Friday.
Next up: Lloyd Memorial
Big School Top 5 (4A-6A)
- Cooper
2. Highlands
3. Ryle
4. Simon Kenton
5. Covington Catholic
Small School Top 5 (1A-3A)
- Beechwood
2. Newport Central Catholic
3. Lloyd Memorial
4. Newport
5. Ludlow
Next up: Bishop Brossart
200-Yard Passing Club
Brady Lee, Simon Kenton: 24/36, 384 yds, 3 TD
Clay Hayden, Beechwood: 21/31, 239 yds, 3 TD
100-Yard Rushing Club
Cameron Mandel, Bishop Brossart: 16 rushes, 181 yds, 3 TD
Chase Flaherty, Beechwood: 26 rushes, 178 yds, 2 TD
Cash Harney, Covington Catholic: 20 rushes, 152 yards, 2 TD
Jack White, Highlands: 24 rushes, 148 yds, TD
Armani Gregg, Dixie Heights: 14 rushes, 129 yards, TD
Trevor Bertram, Campbell County: 10 rushes, 125 yards, TD
Landon Geyer, Bishop Brossart: 18 rushes, 108 yds, TD
Rodzion Thompson, Newport: 6 rushes, 102 yards, TD
David Anderson, Dixie Heights: 11 rushes, 100 yds, 2 TD
100-Yard Receiving Club
Grayson Harris, Simon Kenton: 10 receptions, 143 yds
Tysin Weaver, Simon Kenton: 7 receptions, 132 yds, 3 TD
Hudson Morris, Dixie Heights: 3 receptions, 100 yds, 2 TD
Defensive Standouts
Lincoln Tomlinson, Lloyd Memorial: 14 tackles, sack
Brayden Schoborg, Simon Kenton: 13 tackles, 3 tackles for loss
Brady Guard, Covington Catholic: 13 tackles
Tyler Copeland, Lloyd Memorial: 12 tackles, fumble recovery, interception
Dominic Storer, Dixie Heights: 12 tackles, sack
Jaxon Fann, Lloyd Memorial: 12 tackles, sack
Avery Conrad, Lloyd Memorial: 12 tackles
Aiden Dowds, Campbell County: 11 tackles
Landon Brown, Simon Kenton: 10 tackles, sack
Andrew Bessler, Covington Catholic: 10 tackles
Tate Kruer, Covington Catholic: 10 tackles
Elijah Depperschmidt, Campbell County: 9 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
Parker Kist, Campbell County: 9 tackles, tackle for loss, interception
Aven Bohms, Simon Kenton: 9 tackles, sack
Jacob Yates, Campbell County: 9 tackles
Tyler Morehead, Dixie Heights: 9 tackles
Aaron Hampton, Scott: 9 tackles
TJ Gray, Dixie Heights: 8 tackles, tackle for loss
Quinten Tischner, Bishop Brossart: 8 tackles, .5 tackle for loss
Shane Willike, Bishop Brossart: 8 tackles
Jaylan Hartness, Newport: 7 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks
Justin Hardy, Scott: 7 tackles, tackle for loss
Colton Farfsing, Simon Kenton: 7 tackles, tackle for loss
Brody Aylor, Beechwood: 7 tackles, .5 tackle for loss
Sheppard Dozier, Conner: 7 tackles
Dylan Gaiser, Covington Catholic: 7 tackles
Brayden Bryzgot, Dixie Heights: 7 tackles
Tyus McCarter, Highlands: 7 tackles
Ethan Grimm, Highlands: 7 tackles
Nicholas Cozzi, Bishop Brossart: 6 tackles, interception return for TD
Elijah Collins, Lloyd Memorial: 6 tackles, interception
Mason Baas, Newport Central Catholic: 6 tackles, sack, fumble recovery
Ben London, Dixie Heights: 6 tackles, fumble recovery
Aiden Dicke, Beechwood: 6 tackles, sack
Isaac Mason, Campbell County: 6 tackles, sack
Shawn Turney, Boone County: 6 tackles
Anthony Schuck, Bishop Brossart: 6 tackles
Wyatt Hatfield, Conner: 6 tackles
Owen Pitzer, Covington Catholic: 6 tackles
Owen Gabbard, Dixie Heights: 6 tackles
Adam Surrey, Highlands: 6 tackles
Kaleb Cole, Newport Central Catholic: 6 tackles
Aiden Robinson, Scott: 6 tackles
Tucker Ober, Simon Kenton: 5 tackles, fumble recovery, interception return for TD
Littello Johnson, Holy Cross: 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
Travis Hodges, Boone County: 5 tackles, tackle for loss
David Anderson, Dixie Heights: 5 tackles, interception
Isaac Neiman, Highlands: 5 tackles, tackle for loss
Thomas Maddox, Holy Cross: 5 tackles, tackle for loss
Nishawn Golsby, Dixie Heights: 4 tackles, 2 interceptions
Jayden Dodd, Scott: 4 tackles, .5 sack, 2 fumble recoveries
Logan Sanning, Covington Catholic: 4 tackles, interception, fumble recovery
Ronell Prince, Holy Cross: 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, safety
Paul Kramer, Scott: 4 tackles, fumble forced
Mattox Kelly, Beechwood: 3 tackles, 2 sacks
Ben Volmer, Bishop Brossart: 3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
Chance Fabre, Holy Cross: 3 tackles, interception
Ryan Miller, Lloyd Memorial: 3 tackles, fumble recovery
Brayden Elder, Ryle: 2 tackles, fumble recovery for TD
Louie Collopy, Newport Central Catholic: 2 tackles, tackle for loss, interception
Luke Erdman, Beechwood: 2 tackles, interception
Chase McDaniel, Beechwood: 2 tackles for loss, sack
Keegan Gulley, Bishop Brossart: 2 tackles, interception
Gabe Williams, Highlands: 2 tackles, fumble recovery
Nate Geiman, Bishop Brossart: tackle, fumble recovery
Dax Bolen, Cooper: tackle, fumble recovery
Amere Isham, Newport: tackle, fumble recovery
Camrin O’Donnel, Lloyd Memorial: tackle, interception
Jaden Galicia, Ryle: tackle, interception return for TD
Ryan Handord, Ryle: tackle, interception
Tristan Woodyard, Bellevue: Interception
Ben Trimnell, Bellevue: Interception
Garyn Jackson, Campbell County: Interception
James Koop, Covington Catholic: Interception
Charlie Depue, Ryle: fumble recovery
Corey Jenkins, Holmes: sack
Konscious Johnson, Holmes: sack
Damarcus Foster, Holmes: sack
Kickers need some love, too
Louie Collopy, Newport Central Catholic: 7/7 PAT
Tyler Eveland, Simon Kenton: 7/7 PAT
Colson Lair, Beechwood: 6/6 PAT
Max Runge, Bishop Brossart: 6/6 PAT
Eyler Tibbs, Cooper: 5/5 PAT
Gavin Moses, Ryle: 4/4 PAT
Keegan Farrell, Newport: 3/3 PAT
Mason Clark, Ryle: 1/1 FG, 1/1 PAT
Missing stats from: Dayton,