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Friday Football Report: Ryle, CovCath win one-point games to remain on top in district standings


By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter

Ryle and Covington Catholic remained on top in district football standings after winning away games by just one point on Friday.

In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, CovCath scored a touchdown and two-point conversion to take an 8-7 lead against Highlands in a Class 5A seeding game. On the Bluebirds’ final possession, they got the ball to the 13-yard line, but a field goal attempt was blocked and CovCath ran out the clock to come away with its eighth straight win in the long-standing rivalry between the two teams.

CovCath ball carrier Preston Agee gets pushed out of bounds by Adam Dunn of Highlands (Photo by Dale Dawn)

If the Colonels win their final district game at Conner next Friday, they will play at home in the first round of the playoffs.

Ryle edged Dixie Heights, 13-12, in a Class 6A district game with the winning touchdown coming on a 2-yard run by junior Lukas Colemire with 7:43 left in the game. Dixie Heights turned the ball over on downs on its final possession.

The Raiders need a win against Simon Kenton next Friday to clinch the district’s top seed and a first-round home game in the playoffs. Ryle lost to Dixie Heights in the opening round of the playoffs the last two years.

Dixie Heights scored the game’s first touchdown Friday on an 8-yard pass from quarterback Logan Landers to Devin Holbert in the first quarter. But Ryle intercepted a pass by Landers in the second quarter that set up a 4-yard touchdown run by quarterback Logan Verax and the extra-point kick by Summer Denigan gave the Raiders a 7-6 lead.

Landers threw an 11-yard TD pass to Brach Rice that put Dixie Heights back on top, 12-7, at halftime, but the Colonels weren’t able to score during the second half. Senior running back Pierce Rohlman sat out the entire fourth quarter after sustaining a leg injury.

CovCath defensive players Aiden Jones, left, and Sam Epplen, chase down a loose ball. (Photo by Dale Dawn)

Ryle finished with a 300-223 advantage in total yards. The Raiders had 200 yards rushing. The team leader was Jayce Harden with 69 yards on 13 carries.

Landers connected on 12 of 20 passes for 126 yards and had 71 yards rushing on 11 carries.

CovCath rushed for 195 of its 211 total yards in the win over Highlands. Reid Hummel picked up 99 yards on 12 carries and Preston Agee had 75 yards on 15 carries.

Owen Leen scored the Colonels’ lone touchdown on 4-yard run and Brayden Collins carried the ball into the end zone on the game-winning two-point conversion.

CovCath’s defense limited Highlands to 173 total yards and didn’t allow a touchdown. The Bluebirds scored by recovering a loose ball in the end zone after a bad snap sailed over the head of CovCath’s quarterback.

Highlands quarterback Charlie Noon had 82 yards rushing and 74 passing to account for 156 of his team’s 173 yards. If the Bluebirds win their final district game against Cooper and CovCath defeats Conner on Friday, there will be a three-way tie for second place in the district.

Brossart 15, Paris 6

Brossart clinched first place in its Class 1A district with the low-scoring win on a sloppy field that moved the Mustangs’ record to 9-0.

In the second quarter, senior quarterback Jacob Leicht capped a 99-yard drive with a 1-yard sneak into the end zone and David Govan scored the two-point conversion to give the Mustangs an 8-0 lead.

The score remained the same until the fourth quarter when Brossart blocked a punt attempt and Govan recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. The extra-point kick by Andrew Schwartz made it 15-0. Paris avoided a shutout by scoring a touchdown with 20 seconds remaining.

Scott 27, Boyd County 16

Senior quarterback Gus Howlett threw three touchdown passes and scored on a short run to lead Scott to its third straight victory in Class 4A district games. The Eagles need a win over Holmes next week to clinch the top seed and get a first-round home game in the playoffs.

Howlett completed 10 of 17 passes for 151 yards with Bennie Hill, Riley Huff and Cameron Patterson catching touchdown passes. The Eagles also had 143 yards rushing for a 294 total. Boyd County finished with 245 yards (196  rushing, 49 passing).

Holy Cross 47, Newport 14

Holy Cross snapped a six-game losing streak with its best offensive performance of the season in the Class 2A district seeding game at Thomas More University.

The Indians chalked up 312 yards in total offense with 232 coming on the ground. Sophomore running back Lavarr Jones had 21 carries for 176 yards and four touchdowns. The other rushing TDs were scored by Landyn Phillips and Javier Ison. In the fourth quarter, Javier Ward returned an interception for a touchdown.

High school football scoreboard

THURSDAY
Beechwood 62, Lloyd 6
FRIDAY

Ryle 13, Dixie Heights 12
Covington Catholic 8, Highlands 7
Brossart 15, Paris 6
Scott 27, Boyd County 16
Simon Kenton 41, Campbell County 24
Holmes 58, Harrison County 7
Cooper 34, Boone County 0
Holy Cross 47, Newport 14
Ludlow 40, Bellevue 0
Newport Central Catholic 23, Dayton 6
SATURDAY
Walton-Verona (5-3) at Louisville Shawnee (2-6), 6 p.m.


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