LINK nky Top 10: No. 1 remains the same, but there’s a new No. 2

Separation week!

This past Friday featured five games with all of the top 10 teams involved from the LINK nky rankings. It helps create some clarity a little bit as we’re getting close to district play, most programs having one more game to fine-tune before district contests begin.

The rankings held true for the most part outside of Ryle beating Highlands and Conner taking down Newport Central Catholic. Those two winners made the big jump in the top 10.

This coming week won’t have the matchups like we did last week, but there’s still some really good ones to keep an eye on. Cooper will take on a Great Crossing team that’s also sitting at 4-0 with a couple of impressive victories over Scott County and Lexington Catholic. Ryle will face the No. 1 team in the state in 3A, Christian Academy of Louisville, while Beechwood heads right up the road to take on rival Covington Catholic. Some other quality matchups in NKY this week are: Bishop Brossart (4-0) at Lloyd Memorial (3-1), Conner (3-1) at Simon Kenton (2-2), Newport (3-0) at Ludlow (2-1) and Campbell County (1-3) against Newport Central Catholic (3-1).

1. Cooper (4-0, defeated Campbell County 42-0) Previous Week 1: A complete performance in Friday’s victory over Campbell County. Allowed less than 100 yards, got the game to a running clock before halftime and the offense showed flashes of brilliance. A sneaky good game with Great Crossing this week, who are also 4-0 before the Jaguars have the showdown with Highlands in Fort Thomas on Sept. 27. Friday’s win over Campbell County was the Jaguars 100th in program history, all with coach Randy Borchers.

2. Ryle (3-1, defeated Highlands 34-28) Previous Week 4: What a game in Union on Friday as Ryle took down Highlands in overtime for the fifth time in the last nine meetings since 2015. Jacob Savage is a gamer, scores four touchdowns, including the game-winning score in overtime and plays a huge factor in Ryle’s defense.

3. Beechwood (4-0, defeated Simon Kenton 35-23) Previous Week 3: The Tigers battled through injuries to survive a tough road test at Simon Kenton on Friday. Clay Hayden hit six different receivers for 304 yards passing and four touchdowns, while the defense did just enough to slow down a high-powered Pioneers offense. The showdown with Covington Catholic awaits in Park Hills on Friday. The Tigers get that one, they’ll be heavily favored the following five games and staring down at a 10-0 regular season.

4. Highlands (3-1, lost to Ryle 34-28) Previous Week 2: Sometimes a loss early in the season could be good for a team. Either way, Highlands got valuable experience in a close game that came down to one team making a play in overtime. Jack White continued to impress in the Bluebirds rushing attack, quarterback Rio Litmer threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns, but his second interception of the game in overtime proved to be pivotal. Bluebirds get Raceland this week before the big one with Cooper on the 27th.

5. Covington Catholic (2-2, defeated Dixie Heights 47-28) Previous Week 5: Cash Harney and Dylan Gaiser have now combined for 940 rushing yards on the season through the first four games. The two combined for 285 yards and five touchdowns in the win over Dixie on Friday as the Colonels rattled off 28 unanswered to pull away. Beechwood up next before they come up on district play, where they’ll be the heavy favorites in those four games.

6. Simon Kenton (2-2, lost to Beechwood 35-23) Previous Week 6: A much better showing than the prior week at Covington Catholic. Were down one score late, but couldn’t get the stop defensively to get the ball back and a shot at victory. The trio of Brady Lee, Grayson Harris and Tysin Weaver continue to impress. Lee is averaging nearly 300 yards passing per game while Harris and Weaver have combined for 966 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in the first four games.

7. Conner (3-1, defeated Newport Central Catholic 35-14) Previous Week 10: Yeah, NewCath is 1A, but one of the better 1A teams in the state. Conner controlled the line of scrimmage in the 35-14 victory, Wyatt Hatfield the biggest beneficiary as he ran for 167 yards and four touchdowns. Cordion Abernathy added 102 rushing yards and a score. With Hatfield back starting at QB, the Cougars could be the surprise team in the Class 5A, 6th District. A game with Simon Kenton comes before they hit district play.

8. Dixie Heights (1-3, lost to Covington Catholic 47-28) Previous Week 8: Led 21-19 with 1:52 to go before halftime against Covington Catholic, then the issues that have plagued them with a 1-3 start hit them. CovCath scored 28 straight from that point. Dixie surrendered 402 yards in the loss, the third time this season they’ve allowed more than 400 yards to the opponent. Armani Gregg is now halfway over to 1,000 yards on the season with 556 rushing yards and eight touchdowns through four games. Perfect time for a bye week as they’ll get five straight district games after, starting with Boone County on Sept. 27.

9. Newport Central Catholic (3-1, lost to Conner 35-14) Previous Week 6: Tackling was the biggest concern in the loss to a much bigger Conner team. Good part for them, they won’t see an offensive or defensive front like that again. Another big school opponent this week with Campbell County on tap.

10. Lloyd Memorial (3-1, defeated Bethlehem 38-6) Previous Week NR: Made a rather solid 1A football team in Bethlehem look pretty pedestrian on Friday as the Juggernauts led 32-0 at halftime and got the game to a running clock in the third quarter. More 1A teams the next two weeks as Bishop Brossart and Newport are undefeated.

Next up: Campbell County, Newport

Big School Top 5 (4A-6A)

1. Cooper

2. Ryle

3. Highlands

4. Covington Catholic

5. Simon Kenton

Small School Top 5 (1A-3A)

1. Beechwood

2. Newport Central Catholic

3. Lloyd Memorial

4. Newport

5. Ludlow

Next up: Bishop Brossart

200-yard Passing Club

Clay Hayden, Beechwood: 21/27, 304 yds, 4 TD

Brady Lee, Simon Kenton: 24/36, 284 yds, 3 TD

Cam O’Hara, Cooper: 12/17, 243 yds, 5 TD

Tyler Holtz, Bishop Brossart: 13/23, 205 yds, 5 TD

100-yard Rushing Club

Cash Harney, Covington Catholic: 7 rushes, 173 yds, 4 TD

Wyatt Hatfield, Conner: 15 rushes, 167 yds, 4 TD

Dameyn Anness, Ludlow: 5 rushes, 159 yds, 2 TD

Jack White, Highlands: 22 rushes, 156 yds

Armani Gregg, Dixie Heights: 22 rushes, 124 yds, 3 TD

Brady Lee, Simon Kenton: 17 rushes, 115 yds

Dylan Gaiser, Covington Catholic: 19 rushes, 112 yds, TD

Jayden Jackson, Boone County: 15 rushes, 104 yds, TD

Jacob Savage, Ryle: 13 rushes, 102 yds, 4 TD

Cordion Abernathy, Conner: 15 rushes, 102 yds, TD

100-yard Receiving Club

Tysin Weaver, Simon Kenton: 9 rec, 140 yds, TD

Michael Oldfield, Walton-Verona: 8 rec, 137 yds, 2 TD

James Cusick, Beechwood: 8 rec, 134 yds, 2 TD

Grayson Harris, Simon Kenton: 11 rec, 116 yds, TD

Isaiah Johnson, Cooper: 6 rec, 116 yds, 3 TD

Isaiah Sebastian, Lloyd Memorial: 5 rec, 116 yds, 2 TD

Grayden Schirmer, Newport Central Catholic: 3 receptions, 113 yds, TD

Kendall Buck-Barber, Newport: 3 rec, 105 yds, TD

Defensive Standouts

Brayden Schoborg, Simon Kenton: 14 tackles, 2 tackles for loss

Sean Hurry, Newport: 12 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, sack

Jack Meier, Beechwood: 12 tackles

Tyler Copeland, Lloyd Memorial: 10 tackles, 2 interceptions

Aven Bohms, Simon Kenton: 10 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack

Landon Brown, Simon Kenton: 9 tackles, tackle for loss, fumble forced

Joe Schroeder, Bishop Brossart: 9 tackles

Lincoln Tomlinson, Lloyd Memorial: 9 tackles

Jaxon Fann, Lloyd Memorial: 9 tackles

Keedon Moore, Ludlow: 9 tackles

Nicholas Cozzi, Bishop Brossart: 8 tackles, fumble recovery

Keegan Gulley, Bishop Brossart: 8 tackles, interception

Shane Willike, Bishop Brossart: 8 tackles, tackle for loss

Kendall Buck-Barber, Newport: 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, interception

Ezaiah Tillman, Holmes: 8 tackles, tackle for loss

Lockland Carmichael, Campbell County: 8 tackles

Brady Guard, Covington Catholic: 8 tackles

KyRon Carter, Lloyd Memorial: 8 tackles

Brody Waddell, Beechwood: 7 tackles, tackle for loss, fumble forced

Brody Aylor, Beechwood: 7 tackles

Nolan Kruse, Bishop Brossart: 7 tackles

Sheppard Dozier, Conner: 7 tackles

Jackson Payne, Covington Catholic: 7 tackles

Jaylan Hartness, Newport: 6 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks

Aiden Dowds, Campbell County: 6 tackles, tackle for loss

Dominic Wilhite, Cooper: 6 tackles, tackle for loss

Max Neal, Dixie Heights: 6 tackles, tackle for loss

Aiden Smith-Baxley, Ludlow: 6 tackles, tackle for loss

Carson Evans, Ludlow: 6 tackles, tackle for loss

William Webster, Bishop Brossart: 5 tackles, fumble forced

Matt Brock, Ludlow: 5 tackles, fumble recovery

Josh Johnson, Scott: 5 tackles, fumble recovery

Tucker Ober, Simon Kenton: 5 tackles, fumble recovery

Mason Krentz, Scott: 5 tackles, fumble forced

Elijah Depperschmidt, Campbell County: 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack

Nicholas Krallman, Covington Catholic: 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss

Dominic Storer, Dixie Heights: 5 tackles, sack

Dameyn Anness, Ludlow: 5 tackles, sack

Lamiego Mutongwize, Dixie Heights: 5 tackles, tackle for loss

Chase McDaniel: 4 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss

Austin Alexander, Cooper: 4 tackles, sack

Isaac Brown, Cooper: 4 tackles, tackle for loss

Mattox Kelly, Beechwood: 3 tackles, tackle for loss, fumble recovery

Nathan Pabst, Beechwood: 3 tackles, interception

Zach Brooks, Covington Catholic: 3 tackles, interception

Cameron Mandel, Bishop Brossart: 3 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss

Boden Roberts, Conner: 3 tackles, sack

Max Wethington, Cooper: 2 tackles, interception

Elijah Collins, Lloyd Memorial: 2 tackles, interception

Nate Geiman, Bishop Brossart: 2 tackles, sack

Travis Keen, Conner: 2 tackles, sack

Alijah Griffin, Lloyd Memorial: 2 tackles, fumble forced

Kamdin Yates, Ludlow: tackle for loss, fumble forced

Keegan Farrell, Newport: tackle for loss, interception

Riley Marsh, Conner: sack

Ryan Miller, Lloyd Memorial: sack

Mason Dietz, Covington Catholic: fumble recovery

TJ Gray, Dixie Heights: Interception

Peyton Klosterman, Highlands: Interception

Isaas Niemann, Highlands: fumble forced

Kickers need some love, too

Corey Freihofer, Cooper: 6/6 PAT

Andrew Herron, Conner: 5/5 PAT

Colson Lair, Beechwood: 5/5 PAT

Ryan Urti, Covington Catholic: 5/5 PAT

Conner Schawe, Scott: 5/5 PAT

Luke Tucker, Dixie Heights: 4/4 PAT

Logan Nickelman, Highlands: 4/4 PAT

Max Runge, Bishop Brossart: 3/3 PAT, 1/1 FG

Tyler Eveland, Simon Kenton: 2/2 PAT, 1/1 FG