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08-31-2011, 09:42 PM
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1. Highlands (No. 1) - The Bluebirds got eight of nine first-place votes from the coaches and despite not playing last week they are clearly still No. 1 here and among the top few teams in the state regardless of class.
2. Covington Catholic (No. 2) - While I agree with the coaches, this is probably too high, too soon as the Colonels have won their two games over teams (Campbell County and Dixie Heights) that are 0-4 combined, but their offense has been unstoppable (437 yards rushing, 489 yards passing and 98 points in the first two games).
3. Newport Central Catholic (No. 5) - After opening the season with an impressive win over Dixie Heights (even without Zeke Pike) I got a chance to see them in person on Saturday and loved what I saw against Cincinnati McNicholas - great offensive balance and a defense that gives ground grudgingly.
4. Ryle (No. 3) - It's not that the Raiders have done anything wrong (beating Cooper and Tates Creek by a combined score of 84-25) it's just that the three teams ahead of them have been more impressive to me.
5. Beechwood (No. 4) - This might be the best team coach Noel Rash has had in his six seasons, and he has coached two state championship teams. Tigers coming off 28-0 win over Class 6A Simon Kenton and will get to prove their worth against a tough non-district schedule.
Knocking on the door
Boone County, ranked No. 6 by the coaches, started 2-0 last season, too, but it has been solid offensively and spectacular defensively the first two weeks, allowing about 200 yards per game. Holy Cross, No. 8 in the coaches' poll, have plenty of offensive firepower, but have flexed some defensive muscle so far too as first-team defense has allowed just one touchdown in two games.
Player of the week
Eric Walker, Holy Cross. With a firm tip of the cap to Covington Catholic senior running back Gabe Gray (220 yards rushing, five total touchdowns), the multi-talented Walker, a senior wide receiver/defensive back, caught six passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns, returned an interception for a touchdown and had a quarterback sack in the Indians' 19-10 win over Cooper.
Noteworthy
Ryle senior star Travis Elliott started at quarterback in Saturday night's 43-8 win over Lexington Tates Creek and not just because the Raiders occasionally use the "Wildcat" formation. In addition to rushing for 164 yards and four touchdowns, Elliott also completed a handful of passes. Junior Nathan Davis, who started the opener before getting injured, did play and passed for 75 yards and rushed for 75 more, but Ryle head coach Bryson Warner said Elliott will probably play some quarterback Friday at Colerain.
Newport Central Catholic senior center Brady Thacker was scheduled to have an MRI on his knee on Monday after suffering an injury in Saturday's win over McNicholas. NewCath coach Eddie Eviston used both sophomore Stephen Brooks and senior Nick Groh in his place.
Covington Catholic kicker Evan Talkers, who is also a standout on the soccer field, was a perfect 17-for-17 on kicks in Friday's win over Dixie: 8-for-8 on extra points and recording a touchback on all nine kickoffs.
In addition to a 99-yard fumble return for a touchdown, Boone County senior linebacker Robbie Hiles also had an interception in Friday's win over Conner.
Quotes of the week
"We're going to be tough to defend with Gabe running all over the place and Blake passing to all those receivers we have." - Covington Catholic's Dave Wirth on senior running back Gabe Gray, who rushed 20 times for 223 yards and four touchdowns, and junior quarterback Blake Bir, who completed 16 of 22 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-35 win over Dixie Heights.
"It was real important for us to get back to playing Boone County football. We're still going to be a running team. When we needed first downs we were able to keep drives alive." - Boone County coach Rick Thompson after his team rushed for 218 yards in a 19-7 win over Conner.
Looking ahead
It's hard to believe that Dixie Heights, which began the season ranked No. 2 in the coaches' poll, has a chance to start the season 0-3, but the Colonels are facing that with a game at Highlands on Thursday.
Ryle is an impressive 2-0, but will take a huge step up in class of opponent when it faces Colerain, which beat three-time defending Florida state champion Cocoa, on Friday.
Class 2A Holy Cross (2-0) is going for its second straight win over a Class 5A team when it plays Conner (0-1) on Thursday.
CovCath (2-0) hosts La Salle (1-0) on Saturday and will get a chance to see if its potent offense is for real.
1. Highlands (No. 1) - The Bluebirds got eight of nine first-place votes from the coaches and despite not playing last week they are clearly still No. 1 here and among the top few teams in the state regardless of class.
2. Covington Catholic (No. 2) - While I agree with the coaches, this is probably too high, too soon as the Colonels have won their two games over teams (Campbell County and Dixie Heights) that are 0-4 combined, but their offense has been unstoppable (437 yards rushing, 489 yards passing and 98 points in the first two games).
3. Newport Central Catholic (No. 5) - After opening the season with an impressive win over Dixie Heights (even without Zeke Pike) I got a chance to see them in person on Saturday and loved what I saw against Cincinnati McNicholas - great offensive balance and a defense that gives ground grudgingly.
4. Ryle (No. 3) - It's not that the Raiders have done anything wrong (beating Cooper and Tates Creek by a combined score of 84-25) it's just that the three teams ahead of them have been more impressive to me.
5. Beechwood (No. 4) - This might be the best team coach Noel Rash has had in his six seasons, and he has coached two state championship teams. Tigers coming off 28-0 win over Class 6A Simon Kenton and will get to prove their worth against a tough non-district schedule.
Knocking on the door
Boone County, ranked No. 6 by the coaches, started 2-0 last season, too, but it has been solid offensively and spectacular defensively the first two weeks, allowing about 200 yards per game. Holy Cross, No. 8 in the coaches' poll, have plenty of offensive firepower, but have flexed some defensive muscle so far too as first-team defense has allowed just one touchdown in two games.
Player of the week
Eric Walker, Holy Cross. With a firm tip of the cap to Covington Catholic senior running back Gabe Gray (220 yards rushing, five total touchdowns), the multi-talented Walker, a senior wide receiver/defensive back, caught six passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns, returned an interception for a touchdown and had a quarterback sack in the Indians' 19-10 win over Cooper.
Noteworthy
Ryle senior star Travis Elliott started at quarterback in Saturday night's 43-8 win over Lexington Tates Creek and not just because the Raiders occasionally use the "Wildcat" formation. In addition to rushing for 164 yards and four touchdowns, Elliott also completed a handful of passes. Junior Nathan Davis, who started the opener before getting injured, did play and passed for 75 yards and rushed for 75 more, but Ryle head coach Bryson Warner said Elliott will probably play some quarterback Friday at Colerain.
Newport Central Catholic senior center Brady Thacker was scheduled to have an MRI on his knee on Monday after suffering an injury in Saturday's win over McNicholas. NewCath coach Eddie Eviston used both sophomore Stephen Brooks and senior Nick Groh in his place.
Covington Catholic kicker Evan Talkers, who is also a standout on the soccer field, was a perfect 17-for-17 on kicks in Friday's win over Dixie: 8-for-8 on extra points and recording a touchback on all nine kickoffs.
In addition to a 99-yard fumble return for a touchdown, Boone County senior linebacker Robbie Hiles also had an interception in Friday's win over Conner.
Quotes of the week
"We're going to be tough to defend with Gabe running all over the place and Blake passing to all those receivers we have." - Covington Catholic's Dave Wirth on senior running back Gabe Gray, who rushed 20 times for 223 yards and four touchdowns, and junior quarterback Blake Bir, who completed 16 of 22 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-35 win over Dixie Heights.
"It was real important for us to get back to playing Boone County football. We're still going to be a running team. When we needed first downs we were able to keep drives alive." - Boone County coach Rick Thompson after his team rushed for 218 yards in a 19-7 win over Conner.
Looking ahead
It's hard to believe that Dixie Heights, which began the season ranked No. 2 in the coaches' poll, has a chance to start the season 0-3, but the Colonels are facing that with a game at Highlands on Thursday.
Ryle is an impressive 2-0, but will take a huge step up in class of opponent when it faces Colerain, which beat three-time defending Florida state champion Cocoa, on Friday.
Class 2A Holy Cross (2-0) is going for its second straight win over a Class 5A team when it plays Conner (0-1) on Thursday.
CovCath (2-0) hosts La Salle (1-0) on Saturday and will get a chance to see if its potent offense is for real.
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