The next two weeks on the football field will determine a lot of things. Who gets the No. 1 seeds? Who gets a home playoff game? Who gets left out of the playoffs?
There’s a lot to be determined in the final two weekends in October, a fun time of year for football as the weather changes to hoodie weather.
The second season is officially here and this Friday brings us 13 games, all of them with playoff implications. One’s to particularly keep an eye on are: Ludlow at Bishop Brossart, Highlands at Conner, Lloyd Memorial at Lexington Catholic and Great Crossing at Ryle.
As far as the top 10 this week, again not as much movement as teams have established themselves.
Below that is the 200-yard passing club, 100-yard rushing club, 100-yard receiving club, defensive and kicking standouts.
- Cooper (8-0, defeated Scott 41-0) Previous Ranking 1: The Jaguars have widened the gap in the latest RPI ratings along with their No. 1 ranking in the state. They’re the lone undefeated team in Class 5A and all signs point towards the postseason going through Union. Just Boone County and Dixie Heights left on the regular season schedule. A win over Boone and the Jaguars clinch the No. 1 seed in the district.
2. Ryle (5-2, defeated Campbell County 42-14) Previous Ranking 2: For the first time all season, Ryle didn’t have to play a ranked football team. The Raiders strength of schedule will benefit them down the stretch. Pretty much a No. 1 seed is on the line when they host Great Crossing this week. Both are off to 1-0 starts in district play and the winner has a clear path to at least two home playoff games. For the Raiders and their strength in the RPI (currently No. 2), there’s a good chance they won’t have to play outside of Union in the postseason.
3. Highlands (6-2, defeated Boone County 55-0) Previous Ranking 3: The Bluebirds can clinch a home playoff game with a win at Conner this week. The defense continues to show its strength as they pitch a fourth shutout on the season last week against Boone.
4. Covington Catholic (5-2, Bye Week) Previous Ranking 4: The Colonels had the week off. The Oct. 25 matchup with Mason County in Park Hills is shaping up to be a contest for the No. 1 seed in the district as long as both win this week. The Colonels play Harrison County while Mason County plays Grant County.
5. Beechwood (7-1, defeated Owen County 42-0) Previous Ranking 5: Here’s an impressive stat for the Tigers, regardless of the opponent…Beechwood hasn’t allowed a touchdown in nine straight district games, winning by a combined score of 502-3. Can Carroll County or Bracken County alter that streak over the next two weeks? The matchup with the Polar Bears could pit two undefeated teams in district play on Oct. 25.
6. Conner (6-2, defeated Dixie Heights 35-31) Previous Ranking 6: The Cougars put up 32 first half points and then hold on for a critical win at Dixie Heights on Friday. They’ve now put themselves in position to host a playoff game if they can beat Highlands this week. How about Andrew Herron? He kicked a 57-yard field goal right before halftime in Friday’s contest. It’s tied for the fourth longest field goal in KHSAA history, according to the record book. A 60-yarder and two 58-yarders have been made.
7. Simon Kenton (3-4, lost to Great Crossing 45-35) Previous Ranking 7: The Pioneers were involved in yet another high-scoring affair, coming up short this past week at Great Crossing. More impressive offensive numbers between the trio of Brady Lee, Grayson Harris and Tysin Weaver. Lee has now thrown for 2,322 yards this season and 19 touchdowns while Harris has 70 receptions for 1,045 yards and nine touchdowns, Weaver with 52 receptions for 743 yards and seven touchdowns.
8. Lloyd Memorial (6-1, defeated Pendleton County 50-20) Previous Ranking 9: This is the week the Juggernauts can prove they’re for real. A matchup at Lexington Catholic will be for the No. 1 seed in the district. Yes, the Knights are 1-6, but they’ve played as tough a schedule as anyone in the state (Highlands, Madison Central, Corbin, Great Crossing, Lexington Christian and Boyle County).
9. Dixie Heights (2-5, lost to Conner 35-31) Previous Ranking 8: A valiant comeback attempt against Conner came up just short and now they’re faced with a must win game against Scott to clinch a playoff berth.
10. Campbell County (2-5, lost to Ryle 42-14) Previous Ranking 10: Camels can still control their own destiny for a home playoff game with wins over the next two weeks against Simon Kenton and Great Crossing.
Next up: Newport Central Catholic, Bishop Brossart, Newport, Ludlow
Big School Top 5 (4A-6A)
- Cooper
2. Ryle
3. Highlands
4. Covington Catholic
5. Conner
Small School Top 5 (1A-3A)
- Beechwood
2. Lloyd Memorial
3. Newport Central Catholic
4. Bishop Brossart
5. Newport
200-Yard Passing Club
Brady Lee, Simon Kenton — 28/49, 460 yds, 3 TD, INT
Mason Fields, Dixie Heights — 16/24, 249 yds, 2TD, INT
100-Yard Rushing Club
Wyatt Hatfield, Conner — 33 rushes, 241 yds, 3 TD
Armani Gregg, Dixie Heights — 24 rushes, 191 yds, TD
Dameyn Anness, Ludlow — 14 rushes, 159 yds, 4 TD
Cameron Mandel, Bishop Brossart — 14 rushes, 143 yds, TD
Chase Flaherty, Beechwood — 13 rushes, 132 yds, 2 TD
Jordan Pendleton, Bellevue — 11 rushes, 123 yds, 2 TD
Kaleb Cole, Newport Central Catholic — 18 rushes, 102 yds, 4 TD
Keagan Maher, Cooper — 6 rushes, 101 yds, 2 TD
100-Yard Receiving Club
Grayson Harris, Simon Kenton — 8 receptions, 174 yds, 2 TD
Tysin Weaver, Simon Kenton — 15 receptions, 142 yds
David Anderson, Dixie Heights — 9 receptions, 103 yds
Defensive Standouts
Tyler Morehead, Dixie Heights — 14 tackles, tackle for loss
Aven Bohms, Simon Kenton — 13 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
Lamiego Mutongwiza, Dixie Heights — 11 tackles
Hayden Blair, Simon Kenton — 11 tackles
Dominic Storer, Dixie Heights — 10 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack
Brayden Schoborg, Simon Kenton — 10 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
Cordion Abernathy, Conner — 10 tackles
Max Neal, Dixie Heights — 10 tackles
Aiden Smith-Baxley, Ludlow — 9 tackles, 6 tackles for loss
Cameron Mandel, Bishop Brossart — 9 tackles, tackle for loss
Colton Farfsing, Simon Kenton — 9 tackles, tackle for loss
Chase Caplinger, Conner — 9 tackles
Braylon Thornberry, Holy Cross — 9 tackles
Dustin Wilson, Holy Cross — 9 tackles
Ezaiah Tillman, Holmes — 8 tackles, tackle for loss
Littello Johnson, Holy Cross — 8 tackles, tackle for loss, sack
Landon Brown, Simon Kenton — 8 tackles, sack
Spencer Brandenburg, Ludlow — 8 tackles, tackle for loss
Brayden Sizemore, Bellevue — 8 tackles
Nishawn Golsby, Dixie Heights — 8 tackles
Jordan Pendleton, Bellevue — 8 tackles
Derrick Fortner, Bellevue — 8 tackles
Will Lear, Bellevue — 8 tackles
Dameyn Anness, Ludlow — 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss
Jordan Fabre, Holy Cross — 7 tackles, sack
Adonaje Lowe, Newport — 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack
Tucker Ober, Simon Kenton — 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
Mason Stanton, Cooper — 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
Matt Brock, Ludlow — 7 tackles, tackle for loss
Keegan Gulley, Bishop Brossart — 7 tackles
Tristan Woodyard, Bellevue — 7 tackles
Shepherd Dozier, Conner — 7 tackles
Keegan Farrell, Newport — 6 tackles, fumble forced
Elliott Eaton, Campbell County — 6 tackles
Quinten Tischner, Bishop Brossart — 6 tackles
Aydin Depenbrock, Conner — 6 tackles
Stephen Specht, Bellevue — 6 tackles
Brody Waddell, Beechwood — 6 tackles
Kayveion Sharp, Newport — 6 tackles
Jacob Savage, Ryle — 6 tackles
Jaden Galicia, Ryle — 6 tackles
Kayne Ross, Bellevue — 5 tackles, fumble recovery, interception
Tyler Copeland, Lloyd Memorial — 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, fumble forced, fumble recovery
Patrick Vogt, Bellevue — 5 tackles, sack
Brody Aylor, Beechwood — 5 tackles, tackle for loss
Camryn Correll, Conner — 4 tackles, interception
Byron Conley, Ludlow — 4 tackles, interception
Elijah Depperschmidt, Campbell County — 4 tackles, tackle for loss
Max Hunt, Holy Cross — 4 tackles, tackle for loss
Mattox Kelly, Beechwood — 3 tackles, sack
Benjamin Smiddy, Scott — 3 tackles, sack
Tommy Ferring, Highlands — 2 tackles for loss, fumble recovery for TD
Thomas Hicks, Highlands — tackle for loss, sack, fumble recovery
Caleb Arrasmith, Beechwood — Interception return for TD
Cole Coppage, Beechwood — Interception
Michael Tincher, Highlands — Interception
Alijah Griffin, Lloyd Memorial — Interception
Chris Meyer, Newport Central Catholic — Interception
Xavier Barbour, Cooper — Interception
Brady Carnohan, Highlands — fumble recovery
Tyus McCarter, Highlands — fumble recovery
Izzy Turner, Lloyd Memorial — fumble recovery
Jonathan Seibert, Ludlow — fumble recovery
Carvonta Roper, Newport — fumble recovery
Max Meyer, Newport Central Catholic — fumble recovery
Aaron Hampton, Scott — fumble recovery
Hayden Haas, Highlands — fumble forced
Eddie Bivens, Newport Central Catholic — fumble forced
Paul Kramer, Scott — fumble forced
Kickers Need Some Love, Too
Colson Lair, Beechwood — 6/6 PAT, 01/ FG
Ryan Miller, Lloyd Memorial — 6/7 PAT
Max Runge, Bishop Brossart — 5/5 PAT
Logan Nickelman, Highlands — 5/5 PAT
Louie Collopy, Newport Central Catholic — 5/5 PAT
Gavin Moses, Ryle — 5/5 PAT
Eyler Tibbs, Cooper — 5/6 PAT
Andrew Herron, Conner — 3/3 PAT, 2/3 FG
Tyler Eveland, Simon Kenton — 3/4 PAT
Missing stats from: Boone County, Dayton, Walton-Verona