[Stardust]

(Teams listed in coaches’ predicted order of finish)

Newport Central Catholic
Coach: Eddie Eviston (13-2)

Last year: 13-2 (defeated Owensboro Catholic 42-0 in the Class 2A state finals).

Players to watch: Senior QB/DB Brady Hightchew; senior OL/DL Logan Martin; senior OL/DL Evan Morse; senior OL/LB Ross Birkenhauer; junior RB/DB Dylan Hayes; junior OL/DL Brady Thacker; senior WR/DB Nick Woltermann; junior OL/DL Elliot Rust; junior RB/LB Pete Collopy

Outlook: After winning a state title in his first season last year, Eviston believes he has the talent to make another run. this season. Leading the offense is Hightchew, who completed 72 percent of his passes and threw for 1,654 yards, and ran for 1,166 yards. Hightchew is one of only three starters returning on offense, but six return on defense, and the secondary should be a strength for the team.

Holy Cross
Coach: Bruce Kozerski (40-42, 7-5)

Last year: 7-6 (lost 56-21 to Newport Central Catholic in the third round of the Class 2A playoffs).

Players to watch: Senior WR/DB Eric Walker; senior WR/LB Kyle Fuller; senior RB/LB Paul Lampone; senior RB/LB James Trunnell; senior WR/DB Justin Kohake; sophomore WR/DB Jalen Beal; senior TE/DL Adam Kozerski; junior RB/DL Kyle Fischer; senior OL/DL Nick Sanders

Outlook: After making it to the third round of the playoffs and losing to the eventual state champion, the Indians have plenty to build on this season. Additionally, Holy Cross lost only five starters, and will feature a tough defense. that will attempt to stop the run. Offensively, there is no lack of talent at the skill positions – the only real question mark is at quarterback.

Newport
Coach: Nick Rice (7-12)

Last year: 5-6 (lost 30-21 to Christian Academy-Louisville in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs).

Players to watch: Junior RB/DB Daylin Garland; senior WR/DB Andrew Merrill; senior WR/DB Robert Washington; senior RB/LB Marc Marshall; sophomore OL/DL Justice Lewis; senior OL/DL Brad Messer; senior OL/DL Brandon Raleigh; senior RB/DB Matt Shephard; sophomore OL/LB Daryl Youngman

Outlook: Messer and , along with Raleigh are expected to be leaders on the line, as the Wildcats will have some younger players in key roles. Newport doesn’t lack at the skill positions, as Garland and Shephard form a nice backfield and Washington and Merrill are solid receivers.

Lloyd
Coach: Josh Stratton (first season)

Last year: 2-9 (lost 51-6 to DeSales in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs).

Players to watch: Senior RB/LB Brady Asher; senior RB/DB Dakota Kidd; junior QB/LB Dexter Smith; senior RB/DB Daishaun Bruton; senior TE/LB Anthony Tolle; senior WR/DB Jackson Wood; senior WR/DB Quentin Nunn; senior RB/DL Chris Harris

Outlook: The running game should be a strength for the Juggernauts under new coach Stratton. Asher and Kidd combined for more than 1,000 yards rushing last season, and Smith threw for more than 500 and ran for more than 300 at quarterback last season. As with the offense, there are some good skill position players returning, with the question mark being on how the line performs.

Bishop Brossart
Coach: Matt Reinhart (11-16)

Last year: 6-5 (lost 47-0 to Frankfort in the first round of the Class A playoffs).

Players to watch: Senior WR/DB Spencer Brown; senior QB Jesse Orth; junior RB/LB Jacob Elbert; senior OL/DL Matt Kramer; senior OL/DL Brian Weckbach; senior OL/DL Mitch See

Outlook: After going winless in its first two varsity seasons, the Mustangs won five games in 2009 and six games last season. The seniors on the roster played big parts in building the program, and their leadership will be integral to the team’s success this season.

Walton-Verona
District 5

Coach: Jeff Barth (8-4)

Last year: 8-4 (lost 49-7 to Frankfort in the first round of the Class A playoffs).

Players to watch: Senior RB/DB Nolan Brown; senior RB/DB Zach McAdams; senior OL/DL Quincy Page; junior OL/DL Cole Mosier; junior LB Wolfgang Davis; senior QB Nolan Daugherty; junior LB/K Cory Bennett

Outlook: After going 6-14 during its first two years playing varsity, the Bearcats broke out under rookie coach Barth last year, getting a win in the playoffs. and went 8-4, including a playoff win, last season. Daugherty is back for another season under center, and the senior running back duo of Brown and McAdams returns after rushing for 946 and 727 yards, respectively, last season. Page and Mosier are standouts on the defensive line.
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