By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Covington Catholic only scored one touchdown Friday, but it was enough to hand Lexington Catholic is first loss of the season, 7-6, in another close game between two of the state’s top football programs.
With 3:35 left in the fourth quarter, CovCath senior Tyler Rennekamp scored his first touchdown of the season on a 3-yard run and Andrew Weitzel kicked the extra-point to give the Colonels a 7-6 lead in the game at Lexington.
Campbell County quarterback Nathan Smith, right, tries to avoid a sack by Highlands defensive lineman Carson Shelton in Friday’s game that Highlands won, 44-13. (Photo by Dale Dawn)
LexCath started its final possession at the 24-yard line and moved the ball to midfield with the help of a roughing the passer penalty. But a quarterback sack by CovCath linebacker Aiden Jones pushed the Knights back to the 36 and they ended up turning the ball over on downs with 1:40 left on the clock.
CovCath picked up a first down with 38 seconds remaining to seal the victory in the third one-point game between the two teams in the last four years.
The Colonels edged LexCath, 39-38, in 2019 and the Knights won the next two games by scores of 29-28 and 34-27.
LexCath scored its only touchdown on a 68-yard pass from Jackson Wasik to Max DeGraff with 4:14 left in the third quarter, but a two-point conversion attempt failed.
CovCath’s game-winning touchdown drive covered 64 yards in nine plays with quarterback Evan Pitzer leading the way. He ended the game with 85 yards rushing and 106 yards passing for the Colonels (2-1).
LexCath (2-1) finished with a 281-254 advantage in total yards. Wasik completed 16 of 25 passes for 238 yards, but the Knights had just 43 rushing yards.
In another low-scoring game on Friday night, Ryle edged Cooper, 13-10, in the annual Battle of Union between the two high schools in that city.
Ryle coach Mike Engler
The game’s first touchdown came in the third quarter when Ryle running back Jayce Harden made his way into the end zone on a 16-yard run and Josh Line kicked the the extra point to give the Raiders a 10-3 lead.
Early in the fourth quarter, Cooper running back Eli White scored on a 35-yard run and Carson Taylor’s kick made it 13-10. But the Jaguars (1-2) weren’t able to get much done on their next offensive possession and lost to Ryle (2-1) for the eighth time in the last seven seasons.
Holmes scored twice in the fourth quarter and posted an 18-8 win over Boone County that gave both teams a 2-1 record.
Boone County had an 8-6 lead in the fourth quarter when Holmes senior Dawoo Holtman blocked a punt and took the ball inside the 5-yard line. Three plays later, Holtman caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from senior Miquel Garcia to give the Bulldogs a 12-8 lead.
Holmes extended its lead to 18-8 when senior Curtez Hill scored his second touchdown of the game on a 23-yard run. He rushed for 192 yards on 18 carries to account for most of his team’s 310 total yards.
Boone County finished with 253 total yards. The Rebels’ touchdown came on a 29-yard pass from Jamarion Hocker to Tyler Whipple, who had eight catches for 144 yards during the game.
Dixie Heights scored 29 unanswered points in the second half to post a 29-14 win over Conner. the Colonels got two of their four touchdowns on a blocked punt return and an interception return.
THURSDAY
Brossart 52, Bellevue 0
Scott 43, Holy Cross 12
FRIDAY
Ryle 13, Cooper 10
Beechwood 47, Somerset 0
Holmes 18, Boone County 8
Highlands 44, Campbell County 13
Dixie Heights 29, Conner 14
Covington Catholic 7, Lexington Catholic 6
Dayton 42, Frankfort Western Hills 14
Providence (Ind.) 22, Lloyd 21
Newport 31, Pendleton County 16
Newport Central Catholic 17, Roger Bacon (Ohio) 9
Walton-Verona 21, Grant County 14
SATURDAY
Pulaski Southwestern at Simon Kenton, 6 p.m.
