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Opening drive was only bright spot for Brossart during 28-6 loss to district rival Nicholas County


By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter

Bishop Brossart’s first football homecoming game at the school’s new athletic complex got off to a good start Friday night. After receiving the opening kickoff, the Mustangs put together a 58-yard touchdown drive that delighted their fans.

Unfortunately, those fans didn’t have much to smile about after that. Nicholas County scored on its first two offensive possessions and went on to post a 28-6 victory over Brossart in the first Class 1A district seeding game for both teams.

Nicholas County defensive players close in on Brossart running back Sam Howard. (Photo by Dale Dawn)

It was the third straight loss for the Mustangs, who have several two-way starters hampered by injuries. The offense has really struggled because of that, going scoreless in eight of the last 12 quarters.

“We only have 25 kids on this team and the ones who are hurt are gamers (trying to play through it),” said Brossart coach Paul Wiggins. “Here’s the thing, and I hope it comes to pass, when we get healthy I think we can still do some damage in this district.”

If the Mustangs win their next two district seeding games against Bracken County and Paris, they’ll get a home game in the first round of the district playoffs on Nov. 8. The good news is neither of those next two opponents have a high-powered running game that carried Nicholas County to Friday’s win.

The Blue Jackets rushed for more than 250 yards with senior Cain Saucedo as their primary ball carrier. They didn’t even attempt a pass in the second half because they were so successful moving the ball on the ground.

Saucedo scored all four of his team’s touchdowns. The second one came on a 36-yard pass from quarterback Tyler Horn in the second quarter that would’ve prompted a video review in the NFL.

It looked like Brossart sophomore defensive back Jacob Leicht made a leaping interception on the pass. As he fell to the ground, however, the ball came loose. When none of the officials blew their whistle to end the play, Saucedo snagged the ball and trotted into the end zone.

Nicholas County defensive lineman Caleb Morgan puts a pass rush on Brossart quarterback Jacob Leicht. (Photo by Dale Dawn)

“Leicht was claiming (the ball) was laying on the ground,” coach Wiggins said. “We had a lot of other guys tell us it was on the ground and two of our coaches up there (in the press box) said it was on the ground. I don’t want to put this on the officials, but early on there were two really crazy calls that didn’t make any sense to us.”

On Nicholas County’s first scoring drive, a Brossart defensive back deflected a pass and a receiver went over his back to bring down the ball. Wiggins thought that should’ve been a penalty, but officials didn’t see it that way.

Leicht passed for 91 yards in his second game as Brossart’s starting quarterback on Friday. He’s replacing junior Trevor Schadler, who has an injured right shoulder and is unable to throw the ball.

On the Mustangs’ game-opening touchdown drive, Leicht completed an 8-yard pass on a crucial fourth-down play and a 21-yard pass that moved the ball to the 3-yard line.

On the next play, senior running back Sam Howard, who is playing with a sprained ankle, scored on a cutback run into the end zone to give his team a 6-0 lead.

Brossart couldn’t get much done on offense after that initial drive and ended up with 129 total yards. In the second half, Leicht had three passes intercepted and the Mustangs turned the ball over on downs once.

“When he’s able to throw, we’ve got to switch back (to Schadler),” coach Wiggins said. “We’re asking Leicht do to a lot as a sophomore. He’s going to be a good one some day, but he’s not there yet.”

BROSSART                  6  0  0  0 — 6
NICHOLAS COUNTY   6  8 14 0 — 28

B — Howard 3 run (kick failed)
NC — Saucedo 4 run (run failed)
NC — Saucedo 36 pass from Horn (Horn run)
NC — Saucedo 3 run (Davis pass from Horn)
NC — Saucedo 7 run (run failed)
RECORDS: Brossart 2-4, 0-1 district; Nicholas County 4-3, 1-0.

High school football scoreboard

Friday’s games
Beechwood 14, Dixie Heights 10
Newport 51, Bellevue 21
Nicholas County 28, Brossart 6
Covington Catholic 45, Boone County 0
Mount Healthy (Ohio) 21, Campbell County 7
Conner 20, Highlands 17
Cooper 21, George Rogers Clark 14
Berea 49, Dayton 6
Holmes 27, Rowan County 20
Lloyd 37, Ludlow 7
Scott County 57, Ryle 21
Scott 33, Harrison County 7
Walton-Verona 33, Carroll County 14

 


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