The Kentucky Football Coaches Association have weighed in with their District Player and Coach of the Year awards.
These selections are voted on by the KFCA, with only KFCA members able to cast a vote.
Northern Kentucky has at least one team in the six classes in the state and teams from Boone, Campbell and Kenton County were well represented.
Here are the award winners in those respective districts.
Player of the Year
Class 6A, District 6: Jacob Savage, Ryle
Savage has been the “Macho Man” for the Raiders this season. He leads Ryle in rushing yards, tackles, touchdowns scored and points scored. His 731 rushing yards has him 10th in 6A, 16 touchdowns scored fourth in 6A, 122 points scored second in 6A and 94 tackles 12th in 6A.
Class 5A, District 6: Wyatt Hatfield, Conner
Hatfield leads the Cougars in rushing yards and touchdowns scored, points scored and interceptions. Despite being limited in his first three games of the season, the senior quarterback is third in 5A in rushing with 1,325 yards, first in 5A with 22 touchdowns scored, third in points scored with 144 and tied for fifth in 5A with four interceptions.
Class 4A, District 5: Cash Harney, Covington Catholic
Harney can enter rare territory on Friday as a 1,000-yard rusher and passer if he can throw for 77 yards in the Colonels first postseason game against Boyd County. Meanwhile, his 1,002 rushing yards has him 11th in 4A, also 11th in 4A with 15 rushing touchdowns. Harney has been efficient in the passing game, completing nearly 60% of his passes while throwing 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions in 105 attempts.
Class 3A, District 5: Kaleb Evans, Lloyd Memorial
Evans helped guide the Juggernauts offense as he amassed 1,665 passing yards and 21 touchdowns this season. His passing yards are good for sixth in Class 3A, passing touchdowns tied for third in 3A.
Class 2A, District 5: Clay Hayden, Beechwood
Hayden’s 1,961 yards passing this season is good for sixth in 2A, 35 passing touchdowns tops in 2A. He’s the all-time record holder in northern Kentucky for passing touchdowns with 106 in his career. In 180 pass attempts, he’s thrown just four interceptions this season.
Class 1A, District 3: Kaleb Cole, Newport Central Catholic
Cole has been the bellcow and all-around player for NewCath. He leads the team in rushing yards, touchdowns, tackles and tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries and second in interceptions. His 766 rushing yards is 19th in 1A, 18 rushing touchdowns second in 1A, and 64 total tackles 33rd in 1A. He has two fumble recoveries to go with two interceptions.
Class 1A, District 4: Dameyn Anness, Ludlow
Anness is another do-it-all player. He leads the Panthers in rushing yards, touchdowns, points scored, second in receiving yards, tied for third in tackles and second in tackles for loss. His 1,299 rushing yards is tops in 1A, 14 rushing touchdowns tied for eighth in 1A. His 116 points scored is seventh in 1A. His 14 tackles for loss registered is tied for second in 1A.
Coach of the Year
Class 6A, District 6: Mike Engler, Ryle
Engler has led the Raiders to an 8-2 record, a top five ranking in Class 6A and the second rated team in 6A in RPI. He became the program’s all-time winningest coach with a win over Highlands earlier this season, his 74th victory at the time. He’s 79-50 all-time as the Raiders coach.
Class 5A, District 6: Randy Borchers, Cooper
Borchers cleared the 100-win total with the program this season in a win over Campbell County. He guided the Jaguars to their first undefeated regular season in program history this year and Cooper enters the postseason as the No. 1 ranked team in Class 5A in both the Kentucky High School Football Media Poll and the Class 5A RPI ratings.
Class 4A, District 5: Joe Wynn, Mason County
Class 3A, District 5: Nick Baisch, Lexington Catholic
Class 2A, District 5: TJ Wesselman, Owen County
Class 1A, District 3: Stephen Lickert, Newport Central Catholic
Lickert is 27-0 against district opponents since being the coach with the Thoroughbreds in 2018. NewCath is 7-3 this season and Lickert is 58-28 in seven seasons with the program.
Class 1A, District 4: John “Woody” McMillen, Ludlow
McMillen is 15-8 in two seasons with Ludlow, winning district titles in both seasons. If they can win two playoff games this year, the nine wins would be the most for the program since pre-2000.