First, a big thanks to Crown Pointe Remodeling for sponsoring the top 10 again this year. We’ll fire this back up once high school hoops season rolls around in December.
Now things get real. The KHSAA football postseason is here in northern Kentucky and around the state. A total of 192 teams make the postseason (32 in each class) while only six will be left standing after the first weekend in December at Kroger Field in Lexington.
There’s plenty to look forward to over the next couple of weeks.
Can Ryle be the team to break NKY out on the 6A scene and finally bring home a state title? No one has ever done so since 6A was formed in 2007.
And how about Cooper? The Jaguars just finished off their first undefeated regular season in program history and look the part in 5A to go to Kroger Field and finish the deal this time around.
Highlands will certainly like a word and there’s a high possibility the two meet once again in the state semifinals. This time, it would be in Union.
Covington Catholic plays in 4A, which means they’re going to most likely have to get past Boyle County in the regional championship round on the Rebels home turf to win their ninth state championship in program history.
What noise can Lloyd Memorial make in 3A? The Juggernauts will have to hit the road after the first round, but certainly have the talent for a deep run in the postseason.
Can Beechwood get No. 18? The Tigers have presented a more two-dimensional offense with their running game becoming more of a factor and that should set them up for success as the postseason goes deep. The way things are looking, they’re potentially on a path to travel to Mayfield for a Class 2A state semifinal matchup with the Tigers once again, an opponent they’re all too familiar with over recent years.
Then comes 1A…where the most teams in NKY play. Newport Central Catholic presents the biggest threat and faces a similar path as recent years, most likely needing to travel far in the region championship round and beyond to try and bring home their sixth state championship in program history. Newport and Ludlow are on a crash course to meet in the district championship round, which should be yet another great matchup, similar to the one at Ludlow earlier in the season where it came down to the final play.
There’s your storylines. Plenty of them over the next five weeks as the fun begins on Thursday when NewCath hosts Trimble County at Covington Catholic to get the party started.
Here’s the final top 10, with offensive, defensive and kicking standouts below it.
- Cooper (10-0, Bye week) Previous Ranking 1: After a week off to rest and replenish for the postseason, the Jaguars start their postseason journey with South Oldham. It’s a respectable opponent in the No. 1 vs No. 4 seed game, the Dragons are 7-3 and have wins over North Oldham, Oldham County and Woodford County.
2. Ryle (8-2, defeated Dixie Heights 42-27) Previous Ranking 2: Four straight running clocks before halftime for the Raiders to close out the regular season. Ryle has all the makings for a deep postseason run with a potential top five matchup and rematch with St. Xavier in the second round in Union.
3. Highlands (8-2, Bye week) Previous Ranking 3: The Bluebirds do have a path to host a regional championship game. They defeat Collins and then most likely a matchup at Woodford County looms. They defeat the Yellow Jackets and then they’re hosting the third round of the playoffs.
4. Covington Catholic (8-2, defeated Campbell County 42-28) Previous Ranking 4: Class 4A isn’t easy. The Colonels potential path is Boyd County, Johnson Central and then Boyle County. After what was a rough start, CovCath found their identity and won eight straight games.
5. Beechwood (9-1, Bye week) Previous Ranking 5: A bye week in the final week of the regular season gives the Tigers a week to heal and get ready for what they hope is a long run into December. They won’t have to leave Fort Mitchell for the first three rounds of the playoffs and there’s potential they get standout safety and receiver Tyler Fryman back in a couple weeks. Just adds another weapon to the receiving core and a standout on the defensive end.
6. Conner (7-3, Bye week) Previous Ranking 6: Another team on bye in the final week of the regular season as they’ll travel down to Georgetown and take on Scott County in one of the better first round games in the area. If the Cougars can get their rushing attack going, a potential upset of the Cardinals can brew.
7. Simon Kenton (4-6, lost to Ashland 58-28) Previous Ranking 7: After a promising 2-0 start, the Pioneeers went 2-6 in their final eight games. They now have to travel to Louisville to take on top five St. Xavier to open the postseason.
8. Newport Central Catholic (7-3, defeated Holmes 54-0) Previous Ranking 9: After an opening six games of the season in which they played up in class, the Thoroughbreds closed out the season with four straight victories, all in dominant fashion. If they win their first two, they’re most likely looking at a regional championship round game at Campbellsville.
9. Lloyd Memorial (8-2, defeated Scott 61-13) Previous Ranking 8: After a home playoff game against Bath County, the Juggernauts are certainly going to put some miles on the yellow bus. If they get past Bath, they’ll then most likely head to Russell. If they can pull that one off, they’d then be looking at a possible trip to Belfry.
10. Dixie Heights (3-7, lost to Ryle 42-27) Previous Ranking 10: The Colonels will start their postseason at Woodford County. They’ll hope to resemble last season’s playoff meeting when the Colonels upset the Yellow Jackets at home.
Next up: Campbell County, Newport, Ludlow
Big School Top 5 (4A-6A)
Cooper
Ryle
Highlands
Covington Catholic
Conner
Small School Top 5 (1A-3A)
Beechwood
Newport Central Catholic
Lloyd Memorial
Newport
Ludlow
100-Yard Rushing Club
Jordan Pendleton, Bellevue — 9 rushes, 150 yds, 3 TD
Carter Daniels, Walton-Verona — 29 rushes, 139 yds, 2 TD
Brady Lee, Simon Kenton — 12 rushes, 131 yds, TD
Lucas Anthrop, Campbell County — 9 rushes, 102 yds, 2 TD
Cash Harney, Covington Catholic — 3 rushes, 101 yds, 2 TD
Cameron Mandel, Bishop Brossart — 15 rushes, 101 yds, 2 TD
100-yard Receiving Club
Michael Oldfield, Walton-Verona — 6 receptions, 122 yds, 2 TD
Defensive Standouts
Aven Bohms, Simon Kenton — 15 tackles, sack
Thomas Maddox, Holy Cross — 11 tackles, fumble forced
Michael Oldfield, Walton-Verona — 11 tackles, tackle for loss
Landon Brown, Simon Kenton — 10 tackles
Jaylan Hartness, Newport — 8 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks
Grayson Harris, Simon Kenton — 8 tackles, fumble recovery
Paul Snyder, Simon Kenton — 8 tackles
Tate Kruer, Covington Catholic — 7 tackles, interception
Josh Rector, Simon Kenton — 7 tackles, tackle for loss
Max Meyer, Newport Central Catholic — 6 tackles, interception
Ben Walton, Walton-Verona — 6 tackles, tackle for loss, sack, fumble recovery
Cooper Burch, Walton-Verona — 6 tackles, 3 tackles for loss
Trevin Figgs, Holy Cross — 6 tackles, fumble forced
Dustin Wilson, Holy Cross — 6 tackles
Littello Johnson, Holy Cross — 6 tackles
Jackson Kellerman, Simon Kenton — 6 tackles
Kaleb Cole, Newport Central Catholic — 5 tackles, sack, fumble recovery, interception
Garrett Frederick, Holy Cross — 5 tackles, fumble recovery
Keegan Gulley, Bishop Brossart — 5 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss
Gavin Roberts, Walton-Verona — 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
Aiden Tillman, Newport Central Catholic — 5 tackles, tackle for loss
Ryder Brewer, Newport — 4 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, safety
Cameron Mandel, Bishop Brossart — 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, fumble forced
Nicholas Krallman, Covington Catholic — 4 tackles, sack
Andrew Bessler, Covington Catholic — 4 tackles, .5 sack
Brady Guard, Covington Catholic — 4 tackles, .5 sack
CJ Holt, Walton-Verona — 4 tackles, tackle for loss
Aiden Dowds, Campbell County — 3 tackles, interception
Vander Hundemer, Newport Central Catholic — 3 tackles, fumble recovery
Ryan Miller, Lloyd Memorial — 3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
KyRon Carter, Lloyd Memorial — 3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
Matthew Goering, Bishop Brossart — 3 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss
Mason Baas, Newport Central Catholic — 3 tackles, tackle for loss, sack
Justin Hardy, Scott — 3 tackles, tackle for loss, sack
Mason Haywood, Campbell County — 3 tackles, tackle for loss
Isaac Mason, Campbell County — 3 tackles, tackle for loss
Lincoln Tomlinson, Lloyd Memorial — 2 tackles, tackle for loss, interception return for TD
Shawn Sinkhorn, Walton-Verona — 2 tackles for loss, fumble recovery
Dylan Gaiser, Covington Catholic — 2 tackles, interception
Anthony Schuck, Bishop Brossart — 2 tackles, .5 tackle for loss, fumble recovery
Xavier Thornberry, Holy Cross — 2 tackles, fumble recovery
Arion Stuckey, Bellevue — 2 tackles for loss
Kayne Ross, Bellevue — 2 tackles for loss
Derrick Fortner, Bellevue — Tackle for loss, sack
Kameron Stokes, Bellevue — sack
Nicholas Cozzi, Bishop Brossart — 2 interceptions
Camrin O’Connell, Lloyd Memorial — interception return for TD
Beckett Meersman, Bishop Brossart — Interception
Trevor Bertram, Campbell County — Interception, sack
Elijah Collins, Lloyd Memorial — Interception
Jordan Pendleton, Bellevue — fumble recovery
Austin Castrucci, Bellevue — fumble recovery
Stephen Specht, Bellevue — fumble recovery
Stanley Smith, Lloyd Memorial — fumble recovery
Brady Boruske, Bishop Brossart — fumble forced
Kicking standouts
Ryan Urti, Covington Catholic — 6/6 PAT
Louie Collopy, Newport Central Catholic — 6/7 PAT
Max Runge, Bishop Brossart — 5/6 PAT
Ryan Miller, Lloyd Memorial — 5/6 PAT
Blake Minor, Campbell County — 4/4 PAT
Tyler Eveland, Simon Kenton — 4/4 PAT
Rodrigo Reynoso, Newport — 3/3 PAT
Stats missing from: Boone County, Dayton, Dixie Heights, Holmes, Ludlow, Ryle