11-08-2010, 09:55 PM
Last year, by Northern Kentucky football standards, was a drip - like someone had turned off a faucet.
The area sent just one team to the state finals in Bowling Green. Highlands did its best to carry the torch for the area, winning the Class 5A crown and finishing the season ranked as high as third nationally. But if this area is known for anything - anything besides goetta and using the word "please" as a synonym for "come again" - it's producing quality high school football teams across classifications. Between 2006 and 2008 the area produced six state championships and 10 state finalists. Two years ago Northern Kentucky reached a high-water mark, sending four teams to the finals.
⢠Photos: High school football, Nov. 4-6
Although we won't know for another few weeks, it appears the faucet could be turned on again.
Heading into the playoffs, Northern Kentucky had a team ranked in the top five in the state in five different classifications. That's according to The (Louisville) Courier-Journal's Litkenhous Ratings. We use the Litkenhous computer numbers, A) because the C-J and The Enquirer are owned by the same company and, B) at this point in the season, they're pretty darn accurate. Here are the area's best bets:
Class 1A: Beechwood, the area's top small-school power, turned some heads statewide when it upset Newport Central Catholic in the final week of the regular season. If the rankings hold up, the third-ranked Tigers would play host to No. 1 Mayfield or No. 2 Holy Cross in the state semifinals. The winner would likely play Hazard or Lexington Christian for the title.
Class 2A: Despite the loss to Beechwood, NewCath entered the postseason ranked No. 1 in the computer rankings. In the second round, the Thoroughbreds will play host to No. 3 Christian Academy of Louisville (a team that struggled to beat Newport). Next would be either Holy Cross (a team it beat just 28-14 at home) or DeSales, a team that beat Christian Academy. NewCath would host the regional final, but travel for the semifinals - probably to No. 12 Corbin or No. 15 Prestonsburg.
Class 4A: Holmes, even had it survived its first-round game against West Jessamine, would have had a very tough row to hoe. But it didn't, so it's inconsequential.
Class 5A: No. 1 Highlands still should be considered the favorite. But after a close late-season victory over Covington Catholic and a loss to Ryle, the Bluebirds seem to have come back to the pack slightly. The main contenders in Highlands' bottom half of the bracket - Covington Catholic and Dixie Heights - are both teams they already have beaten. A regional final at Johnson Central could be a challenge. Second-ranked Bowling Green, fourth-ranked Christian County, fifth-ranked John Hardin and No. 7 Warren Central, the team that upset Bowling Green, all loom in the top half.
Class 6A: Ryle and Simon Kenton are ranked second and third, but they're surrounded by good teams. Eight of the state's top 10 teams are in the bottom half of the bracket with the Raiders and Pioneers. If either team were to reach the semifinals - and that's no guarantee the way Henry Clay played late in the regular season - Trinity, the state's top-ranked team, would have to travel to Northern Kentucky for the semifinals.
http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/201...2/11080336
The area sent just one team to the state finals in Bowling Green. Highlands did its best to carry the torch for the area, winning the Class 5A crown and finishing the season ranked as high as third nationally. But if this area is known for anything - anything besides goetta and using the word "please" as a synonym for "come again" - it's producing quality high school football teams across classifications. Between 2006 and 2008 the area produced six state championships and 10 state finalists. Two years ago Northern Kentucky reached a high-water mark, sending four teams to the finals.
⢠Photos: High school football, Nov. 4-6
Although we won't know for another few weeks, it appears the faucet could be turned on again.
Heading into the playoffs, Northern Kentucky had a team ranked in the top five in the state in five different classifications. That's according to The (Louisville) Courier-Journal's Litkenhous Ratings. We use the Litkenhous computer numbers, A) because the C-J and The Enquirer are owned by the same company and, B) at this point in the season, they're pretty darn accurate. Here are the area's best bets:
Class 1A: Beechwood, the area's top small-school power, turned some heads statewide when it upset Newport Central Catholic in the final week of the regular season. If the rankings hold up, the third-ranked Tigers would play host to No. 1 Mayfield or No. 2 Holy Cross in the state semifinals. The winner would likely play Hazard or Lexington Christian for the title.
Class 2A: Despite the loss to Beechwood, NewCath entered the postseason ranked No. 1 in the computer rankings. In the second round, the Thoroughbreds will play host to No. 3 Christian Academy of Louisville (a team that struggled to beat Newport). Next would be either Holy Cross (a team it beat just 28-14 at home) or DeSales, a team that beat Christian Academy. NewCath would host the regional final, but travel for the semifinals - probably to No. 12 Corbin or No. 15 Prestonsburg.
Class 4A: Holmes, even had it survived its first-round game against West Jessamine, would have had a very tough row to hoe. But it didn't, so it's inconsequential.
Class 5A: No. 1 Highlands still should be considered the favorite. But after a close late-season victory over Covington Catholic and a loss to Ryle, the Bluebirds seem to have come back to the pack slightly. The main contenders in Highlands' bottom half of the bracket - Covington Catholic and Dixie Heights - are both teams they already have beaten. A regional final at Johnson Central could be a challenge. Second-ranked Bowling Green, fourth-ranked Christian County, fifth-ranked John Hardin and No. 7 Warren Central, the team that upset Bowling Green, all loom in the top half.
Class 6A: Ryle and Simon Kenton are ranked second and third, but they're surrounded by good teams. Eight of the state's top 10 teams are in the bottom half of the bracket with the Raiders and Pioneers. If either team were to reach the semifinals - and that's no guarantee the way Henry Clay played late in the regular season - Trinity, the state's top-ranked team, would have to travel to Northern Kentucky for the semifinals.
http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/201...2/11080336
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