By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
After scoring one touchdown in its last two regular season games, Scott’s offense came alive in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs on Friday and defeated Holmes, 35-8, in Covington.
Scott senior quarterback Gus Howlett led the resurgent Eagles to victory. He scored the team’s first three touchdowns on runs of 9, 35 and 1 yard. He also threw an 86-yard scoring pass to Nate Meyer. Scott’s final touchdown came on a 26-yard fumble return by Nathan Noles.
Gus Howlett
Scott’s performance was a complete turn-around to how the Eagles played in a 40-0 loss to Holmes in a district seeding game two weeks earlier.
Holmes scored on its first offensive possession in Friday’s playoff game. Curtez Hill took the ball into the end on a 19-yard run and Miguel Garcia got the two-point conversion to give the Bulldogs an 8-0 lead.
Holmes continued to move the ball and finished the game with 328 total yards. The team leader was Tayquan Calloway with 131 yards on 14 carries. Scott racked up 370 yards (233 passing, 137 rushing) behind Howlett.
The Eagles, who played only six games last year and missed the playoffs due to Covid-19 precautions, will play a home game against Harrison County in the Class 4A district finals next week.
Conner 14, Cooper 3
Conner senior quarterback Alex Castrucci rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns to complement a good defensive effort by the Cougars in the Class 5A playoff game.
In the first half, Cooper had the ball in the red zone twice and wasn’t able to score. The Jaguars missed a field goal attempt after one drive stalled inside the 5-yard line. A few minutes later, they turned the ball over on downs at the 15-yard line.
Conner finished with a 261-184 advantage in total yards. The Cougars completed just one pass for 29 yards and picked up 232 on the ground against the team that beat them, 43-7, during the regular season.
Conner will take a 7-4 record into next week’s playoff game at Covington Catholic (8-3).
Holy Cross 35, Lloyd 29
Holy Cross won its first Class 2A playoff game in five years behind junior quarterback Javier Ison, who threw two touchdown passes and scored on a 1-yard run for the Indians.
Both of Ison’s touchdown passes went to Javier Ward on plays covering 33 and 85 yards. Lavar Jones scored the other two rushing touchdowns for the Indians, who lost to Lloyd, 40-7, in the regular season.
Holy Cross had 380 total yards compared to Lloyd’s 318. The team leaders were Ison, who passed for 252 yards, and Lloyd running back Amari Riley with 136 yards rushing.
Holy Cross (4-7) will visit defending state champion Beechwood (11-0) in next week’s second round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Brossart 14, Paris 12
Brossart senior quarterback Jacob Leicht threw two touchdowns passes to junior wide receiver Mason Meyer in the second half of the Class 2A playoff game to maintain the Mustangs’ perfect record.
Paris also scored twice, but the Greyhounds failed on both of their two-point conversion plays. On the second conversion, the ball carrier was knocked out of bounds one yard shy of the end zone. Brossart was able to run out the clock after that big play.
The 11-0 Mustangs will play a home game against Nicholas County (6-5) in next week’s district finals.
High school football scoreboard
THURSDAY
Newport Central Catholic 36, Bellevue 20
Ryle 37, Campbell County 7
FRIDAY
Brossart 14, Paris 12
Dayton 20, Ludlow 7
Beechwood 58, Newport 8
Holy Cross 35, Lloyd 29
Walton-Verona 51, Owen County 21
Scott 35, Holmes 8
Conner 14, Cooper 3
Covington Catholic 38, Highlands 8
Dixie Heights 38, Simon Kenton 0
Friday’s district final playoff games
CLASS 1A
Dayton (5-6) at Newport Central Catholic (8-3), 7 p.m.
Nicholas County (6-5) at Brossart (11-0), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 2A
Holy Cross (4-7) at Beechwood (11-0), 7 p.m.
Carroll County (7-4) at Walton-Verona (8-3), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Harrison County (3-8) at Scott (7-4), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 5A
Conner (7-4) at Covington Catholic (8-3), 7 p.m.
CLASS 6A
Dixie Heights (7-4) at Ryle (8-3), 7 p.m.
