10-09-2009, 11:02 AM
Bellevue (4-2) at Dayton (0-6)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHAT TO WATCH: Bellevue senior running back Ricky Buckler enters the game ranked third in the state in rushing at 215 yards per game. Depending on how the next few weeks go, he could potentially make a run at the state lead and the school's career rushing record. Against the Greendevils, a team that is allowing 37 points per game, expect the Tigers to hand the ball to Buckler until it stops working.
BOTTOM LINE: In big rivalry games like this, anything can happen. Still, Bellevue enters as a pretty big favorite.
Campbell County (2-4) at No. 4 Conner (6-1)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHAT TO WATCH: Conner tight end/wide receiver Anthony Boden offers a mismatch that few players in Northern Kentucky do. He's big (6 feet 3, 210 pounds) and he's athletic enough to stretch the field and run after the catch. Considering the Camels are coming off a game in which they allowed 10 of 13 passing for 236 yards and three touchdowns, expect the Conner passing game to come up with a few big plays.
BOTTOM LINE: Conner is coming off a 42-14 victory over Boone County, a team that beat Campbell County 49-12. Comparing scores is an inexact science - especially in Northern Kentucky's unpredictable Class 6A district - but those numbers count for something.
Cooper (2-4) at No. 6 Boone County (2-4)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHAT TO WATCH: Boone County running back Charles Quainoo needs just 67 yards to reach the 1,000-yard milestone for the second straight season. Considering he rushes for 156 yards per game and the Jaguars have allowed 589 rushing yards in the last two games, Quainoo has a pretty good chance of reaching the milestone. Boone County fullback/running back Jordan Oppenheimer should get plenty of carries as well.
BOTTOM LINE: After winning its first two games of the season, Cooper has lost four straight. The Jaguars' two district opponents have outscored them 118-13. That trend probably will continue tonight.
No. 8 Dixie Heights (3-4) at No. 7 Holmes (6-0)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHAT TO WATCH: Dixie Heights senior Ben Haggerty is one of the area's most dynamic players. The 5-foot-6 receiver/defensive back has rushed 25 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns and caught 25 passes for 353 yards and three TDs. He also leads the Colonels with two interceptions. Don't be surprised if he makes a game-changing play.
BOTTOM LINE: The Bulldogs might be undefeated, but this is the first time all season they've entered a game as a quasi-underdog. A win over Dixie would legitimize Holmes' local ranking and statewide ranking (seventh in the Class 4A Associated Press poll).
No. 10 Holy Cross (3-3) at Newport Central Catholic (2-5)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHAT TO WATCH: NewCath enters the game allowing 24 points a game, but its defense is still probably the best in Northern Kentucky's Class 2A district. The Thoroughbreds have just played an extremely tough non-district schedule. Their defense, led by Chris Kelly (46 tackles), Jake Cain (36 tackles) and Brian Doyle (four interceptions), held Dixie Heights to 19 points and Simon Kenton to 29 points. Against opponents their own size, the Thoroughbreds should start winning some games with defense.
BOTTOM LINE: This is supposed to be the year that Holy Cross overtakes NewCath in Northern Kentucky's Class 2A district. The Indians might do it, but they'll definitely have their hands full.
Ludlow (4-2) at No. 9 Beechwood (3-3)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHAT TO WATCH: Ludlow, 2-0 in district play, has burned its small-school opponents with speed. Senior quarterback Zach Stegemoller, senior running back Jake Ashcraft and sophomore receiver Chris Yates aren't very big. But they've made big plays by utilizing their quickness. It will be interesting to see how the Panthers' speed matches up against a very athletic Beechwood team.
BOTTOM LINE: Beechwood, despite its recent drop in the statewide polls, is still very much the favorite in Northern Kentucky's Class 1A district. The Tigers should win big.
Newport (2-4) at Lloyd (3-3)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHAT TO WATCH: Newport ran for just 83 yards in last week's loss to NewCath. Against the Juggernauts, a team that allows 222 rushing yards a game, expect Newport quarterback Demitri Brown to have a good game running the ball.
BOTTOM LINE: Both teams will make the playoffs regardless of the outcome. The winner will keep its hopes alive for a home playoff game. It might be the toughest game to pick this week. In the Lexington Herald-Leader's state computer rankings, Newport is 19th, Lloyd is 20th. Flip a coin.
Bishop Brossart (3-3) at Walton-Verona (1-5)
WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday
WHAT TO WATCH: Bishop Brossart senior Michael Whitford is the Mustangs' most versatile player. He rushes for 55 yards a game and is the team's leading receiver. If Brossart is going to control the tempo of the game, it probably will need to keep Whitford heavily involved in the offense.
BOTTOM LINE: Walton-Verona last season picked up the program's first varsity victory with a 38-7 win over Brossart. Expect the Mustangs to fare much better this time around.
Scott (2-4) at No. 5 Covington Catholic (3-3)
WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday
WHAT TO WATCH: CovCath senior Andy Deglow leads a defense that has allowed just 14 points in each of the team's last three games. He ranks first on the team with 37 tackles and 13 sacks. Scott's offense is predicated on the running ability of Zach Sowder, who is sixth in the state in rushing (196 ypg). Sowder will get his yards, but you can expect Deglow to be on his heels most of the afternoon.
BOTTOM LINE: There are reasons to be optimistic at Scott. The Eagles have won two of their last three. Before even winning a district game, they're assured of making the playoffs for just the third time in school history. Still, the Colonels, who are coming off a bye week and are in the midst of a three-game winning streak, should win this game handily
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHAT TO WATCH: Bellevue senior running back Ricky Buckler enters the game ranked third in the state in rushing at 215 yards per game. Depending on how the next few weeks go, he could potentially make a run at the state lead and the school's career rushing record. Against the Greendevils, a team that is allowing 37 points per game, expect the Tigers to hand the ball to Buckler until it stops working.
BOTTOM LINE: In big rivalry games like this, anything can happen. Still, Bellevue enters as a pretty big favorite.
Campbell County (2-4) at No. 4 Conner (6-1)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHAT TO WATCH: Conner tight end/wide receiver Anthony Boden offers a mismatch that few players in Northern Kentucky do. He's big (6 feet 3, 210 pounds) and he's athletic enough to stretch the field and run after the catch. Considering the Camels are coming off a game in which they allowed 10 of 13 passing for 236 yards and three touchdowns, expect the Conner passing game to come up with a few big plays.
BOTTOM LINE: Conner is coming off a 42-14 victory over Boone County, a team that beat Campbell County 49-12. Comparing scores is an inexact science - especially in Northern Kentucky's unpredictable Class 6A district - but those numbers count for something.
Cooper (2-4) at No. 6 Boone County (2-4)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHAT TO WATCH: Boone County running back Charles Quainoo needs just 67 yards to reach the 1,000-yard milestone for the second straight season. Considering he rushes for 156 yards per game and the Jaguars have allowed 589 rushing yards in the last two games, Quainoo has a pretty good chance of reaching the milestone. Boone County fullback/running back Jordan Oppenheimer should get plenty of carries as well.
BOTTOM LINE: After winning its first two games of the season, Cooper has lost four straight. The Jaguars' two district opponents have outscored them 118-13. That trend probably will continue tonight.
No. 8 Dixie Heights (3-4) at No. 7 Holmes (6-0)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHAT TO WATCH: Dixie Heights senior Ben Haggerty is one of the area's most dynamic players. The 5-foot-6 receiver/defensive back has rushed 25 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns and caught 25 passes for 353 yards and three TDs. He also leads the Colonels with two interceptions. Don't be surprised if he makes a game-changing play.
BOTTOM LINE: The Bulldogs might be undefeated, but this is the first time all season they've entered a game as a quasi-underdog. A win over Dixie would legitimize Holmes' local ranking and statewide ranking (seventh in the Class 4A Associated Press poll).
No. 10 Holy Cross (3-3) at Newport Central Catholic (2-5)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHAT TO WATCH: NewCath enters the game allowing 24 points a game, but its defense is still probably the best in Northern Kentucky's Class 2A district. The Thoroughbreds have just played an extremely tough non-district schedule. Their defense, led by Chris Kelly (46 tackles), Jake Cain (36 tackles) and Brian Doyle (four interceptions), held Dixie Heights to 19 points and Simon Kenton to 29 points. Against opponents their own size, the Thoroughbreds should start winning some games with defense.
BOTTOM LINE: This is supposed to be the year that Holy Cross overtakes NewCath in Northern Kentucky's Class 2A district. The Indians might do it, but they'll definitely have their hands full.
Ludlow (4-2) at No. 9 Beechwood (3-3)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHAT TO WATCH: Ludlow, 2-0 in district play, has burned its small-school opponents with speed. Senior quarterback Zach Stegemoller, senior running back Jake Ashcraft and sophomore receiver Chris Yates aren't very big. But they've made big plays by utilizing their quickness. It will be interesting to see how the Panthers' speed matches up against a very athletic Beechwood team.
BOTTOM LINE: Beechwood, despite its recent drop in the statewide polls, is still very much the favorite in Northern Kentucky's Class 1A district. The Tigers should win big.
Newport (2-4) at Lloyd (3-3)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHAT TO WATCH: Newport ran for just 83 yards in last week's loss to NewCath. Against the Juggernauts, a team that allows 222 rushing yards a game, expect Newport quarterback Demitri Brown to have a good game running the ball.
BOTTOM LINE: Both teams will make the playoffs regardless of the outcome. The winner will keep its hopes alive for a home playoff game. It might be the toughest game to pick this week. In the Lexington Herald-Leader's state computer rankings, Newport is 19th, Lloyd is 20th. Flip a coin.
Bishop Brossart (3-3) at Walton-Verona (1-5)
WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday
WHAT TO WATCH: Bishop Brossart senior Michael Whitford is the Mustangs' most versatile player. He rushes for 55 yards a game and is the team's leading receiver. If Brossart is going to control the tempo of the game, it probably will need to keep Whitford heavily involved in the offense.
BOTTOM LINE: Walton-Verona last season picked up the program's first varsity victory with a 38-7 win over Brossart. Expect the Mustangs to fare much better this time around.
Scott (2-4) at No. 5 Covington Catholic (3-3)
WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday
WHAT TO WATCH: CovCath senior Andy Deglow leads a defense that has allowed just 14 points in each of the team's last three games. He ranks first on the team with 37 tackles and 13 sacks. Scott's offense is predicated on the running ability of Zach Sowder, who is sixth in the state in rushing (196 ypg). Sowder will get his yards, but you can expect Deglow to be on his heels most of the afternoon.
BOTTOM LINE: There are reasons to be optimistic at Scott. The Eagles have won two of their last three. Before even winning a district game, they're assured of making the playoffs for just the third time in school history. Still, the Colonels, who are coming off a bye week and are in the midst of a three-game winning streak, should win this game handily