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Don Owen: Newport football battles ominous history, talented NewCath in Friday night showdown


Does anyone remember Charlie Smith, the versatile quarterback who led Newport High School to a 9-2 record in 1999?

How about Nick Partin, an outstanding running back for the Wildcats during that 1999 season when Newport appeared capable of winning the Class 2A title, only to be upset in the opening round of the playoffs by Garrard County?

Why bring up those two players 20 years later, you ask? Simple. Smith and Partin were the offensive leaders for Newport the last time the Wildcats were able to defeat cross-town rival Newport Central Catholic. Newport and NewCath resume their rivalry at 7 p.m. Friday, with the unbeaten Wildcats (5-0) looking to end a 21-game losing streak against the Thoroughbreds (3-2).

You have to go all the way back to Aug. 27, 1999, to find Newport hoisting the coveted Firefighters Bell after a win against NewCath. The score of that one wasn’t close, as the Wildcats built a 35-0 halftime lead and coasted to a 42-0 victory against the Thoroughbreds.

Joe Wynn

Current Newport head coach Joe Wynn was in the fourth grade on Aug. 27, 1999. “I was eight years old,” said Wynn, who has done a remarkable job of turning around the Newport football program. “It was three days before my ninth birthday.”

While Wynn is too young to recall it, Smith rushed 10 times for 175 yards and two touchdowns to lead Newport. Smith also tossed a pair of scoring passes in that victory, and just this week reminded Wynn about the 1999 game on Facebook.

“(Charlie) introduced himself to me and let me know that his senior year was the last time we won the Bell,” Wynn replied when asked if he had ever heard of Smith.

Partin picked up 144 yards on nine carries and scored twice in the 1999 win over NewCath. Newport finished with 469 yards of total offense and claimed the Firefighters Bell for the third straight year. Since then, however, it’s been all NewCath. In most cases, the games haven’t been close. ‘Breds 41, ‘Cats 12. That’s the average score the past 20 games. Take a peek:

2000—NewCath 41, Newport 14
2001— NewCath 42, Newport 12
2002— NewCath 21, Newport 14
2003— NewCath 33, Newport 12
2004— NewCath 55, Newport 13
2005— NewCath 49, Newport 20
2006— NewCath 20, Newport 0
2007— NewCath 40, Newport 0
2007— NewCath 45, Newport 12 (2A playoffs)
2008— NewCath 27, Newport 12
2009— NewCath 35, Newport 16
2010— NewCath 54, Newport 13
2011— NewCath 56, Newport 14
2012— NewCath 49, Newport 0
2013— NewCath 42, Newport 21
2014— NewCath 22, Newport 17
2014— NewCath 42, Newport 26 (2A playoffs)
2015— NewCath 48, Newport 8
2016— NewCath 56, Newport 14
2017— NewCath 50, Newport 6
2018— NewCath 40, Newport 12

I asked Wynn how he approaches a game like this one, given the history of the past 20 years. “I try to embrace the game with our kids. From a preparation standpoint, we treat it the same,” he said. “But we also acknowledge what this game means to the community, alumni, parents and our own team. I told the kids this week the past history does not mean anything to us.

“We are playing the 2019 NewCath football team and not the last 20 teams. They are playing against family and friends, and I’m trying to beat some of my best friends that coach there.”

Newport quarterback Kaleal Davis has thrown for 459 yards and rushed for another 327 yards this season.

Just like the 1999 team, Newport features a versatile quarterback in senior Kaleal Davis, who has thrown for 459 yards and rushed for another 327 yards. Davis has also rushed for six touchdowns and tossed three scoring passes this season in four games.

Giaunte Jackson (395 yards rushing) and James Martin (306 yards) are also keys to the Newport ground attack. The defense has been stingy all season, allowing just 40 points and limiting the opposition to only 52 yards rushing per game.

Will it be enough Friday for the Wildcats to overcome 20 years of gridiron futility against their dreaded rivals? Newport owns an impressive road victory at Harrison County this season and blowout wins over Brossart, Carroll County and Bracken County. The Wildcats also posted a big road triumph last week at Holmes to remain unbeaten.

Wynn, who took over a Newport program that won just four games in three years (4-29 record from 2015-2017), has resurrected community interest in Wildcat football. He’s also attempting to do something no Newport head coach has pulled off since Roy Lucas in 1999 — defeat NewCath on the football field.

If the Wildcats do pull off the upset Friday night — one respected power rating has a final score prediction of NewCath 27, Newport 14 — Wynn can probably expect to receive another Facebook message from Charlie Smith next week.

And it won’t have anything to do with that 1999 game, either

………

SOME OTHER ITEMS of interest in local sports:

Matt Atkins

•Current Newport principal Matt Atkins was an offensive lineman on the 1999 Newport football team. After the Wildcats defeated NewCath that season, Smith credited Atkins and the line for his performance. “Our offensive line is the strongest in Northern Kentucky,” Smith told The Kentucky Post newspaper after the game. “That was the key in this game. The credit goes to guys like (tackle) Matt Atkins, (guard) Mike Hawkins and (center) Justin Daniels. They’re the heart of our team up front.”

Atkins returned the compliment on Wednesday, 20 years later, saying, “Charlie and Nick were both great football players. Charlie ran the ball as well as he threw it and Nick had great vision when running the ball. They were really a great combination.”

•The Thomas More football team will attempt to shake off a 41-10 setback at Wisconsin-Platteville by visiting Cincinnati Christian this Saturday. The kickoff is scheduled for noon at Willard R. Stargel Stadium in Cincinnati.

Last Saturday at Wisconsin-Platteville, Thomas More (1-3) lost three fumbles in addition to an interception. The Saints finished with 297 yards of total offense but fell behind 14-0 after the opening quarter and never recovered. The game marked Thomas More’s first against an NCAA Division III opponent since transitioning to the NAIA this season. The Saints now compete in the Mid-South Conference, one of the top leagues in the NAIA.

•How good is the Mid-South Conference in football? Seven Mid-South Conference teams are ranked in the NAIA national poll. No. 11 Lindsey Wilson, No. 13 Cumberlands (Ky.), No. 14 Reinhardt (Ga.), No. 15 Southeastern (Fla.), No. 17 Bethel (Tenn.), No. 23 Cumberland (Tenn.) and No. 24 Keiser (Fla.) all represent the Mid-South Conference.

Thomas More still has games remaining against Lindsey Wilson, the Cumberlands (Ky.) and Bethel (Tenn.), not to mention a contest against perennial power Georgetown (Ky.) — which fell out of the national rankings after losing to Kentucky Christian earlier this month.

•The Thomas More volleyball team plays host to Cumberland (Tenn.) at 7 p.m. Friday in the Connor Convocation Center. The Saints (9-4 overall) are tied with Lindsey Wilson atop the Mid-South Conference standings with a 4-1 mark. Cumberland is 11-6 overall, 3-1 in the Mid-South.

•The Northern Kentucky University volleyball team opens Horizon League action on Friday night as the Norse play host to Youngstown State at 6 p.m.

NKU is 7-5 against a rugged schedule and own three victories over teams that qualified for last season’s NCAA Tournament. The Norse also play host to Cleveland State at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Contact Don Owen at don@nkytrib.com and follow him on Twitter at @dontribunesport


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