WHEN/WHERE: 1 p.m. Saturday at Wooten Field, Park Hills.
WHAT TO WATCH: Two prolific offenses hook up in what should be a very entertaining game. Highlands is averaging 55.8 points and 540.8 yards per game and it's come with its starters only playing a half in each of the last two games and barely into the third quarter the game before that. Senior quarterback Patrick Towles has passed for almost 1,000 yards in the last 6½ quarters and for the season has 1,176 yards and 12 touchdowns passing and five touchdowns rushing. There have been 18 different receivers catch at least one pass and 11 catch at least three. Aside from its 41-10 loss to Cincinnati La Salle in a game called at halftime due to heat, CovCath averaged 41.5 points in its other four games - all wins. Senior running back Gabe Gray has 704 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing and junior quarterback Blake Bir has completed 60 percent of his passes for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns.
BOTTOM LINE: This is turning into a very good Covington Catholic team that in many other seasons could win a state championship, but this turning into a great Highlands team and by that program's standards that says something. Perhaps the only team in the state better than the Bluebirds is Louisville Trinity.
Boone County (4-1) at Dixie Heights (1-3)
WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m. today at Rice Mountjoy Stadium, Crestview Hills.
WHAT TO WATCH: Both teams showed some resiliency in their most recent games as Boone County bounced back from a tough 28-20 loss to beat Louisville Male, 24-10, last week while Dixie beat Conner, 40-28, two weeks ago after losing its first three games by a combined score of 159-61. The Colonels had a bye last week. The Boone County defense is allowing just 199.2 yards per game and while Dixie has struggled defensively, it is averaging 25.3 points per game.
BOTTOM LINE: Boone County showed it's for real the way it played the last two weeks and while Dixie was belted in its first three games, it came against teams (NewCath, Covington Catholic and Highlands) that are a combined 12-1 on the season and are the top three-ranked teams in Northern Kentucky. Too close to call.
WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m. today at Chlorine B. Menefee Stadium, Independence.
WHAT TO WATCH: One team's coach (Simon Kenton's Jeff Marksberry) thinks he's closer to find answers to his team's offensive woes, while the other team's coach (Ryle's Bryson Warner) is still seeking them after the season-ending injury to star running back Travis Elliott. Running significantly out of the I-formation for the first time all season, Simon Kenton had a season-high 360 yards in last week's 24-14 loss to Newport Central Catholic, including 173 yards rushing on 25 carries by junior tailback Nate Powell. Ryle has scored just seven points total in losing its last two games, although a major reason for that in addition to Elliott's injury was the fact they were against two very good Ohio teams (Colerain and Columbus St. Francis DeSales).
BOTTOM LINE: This is an interesting game, because it's still hard to tell if Ryle has been affected more by Elliott's injury or the competition level and if Simon Kenton really did find something last week to hang its hat on offensively. Should be a defensive struggle.
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m. today at Scott High School, Taylor Mill.
WHAT TO WATCH: Two programs inching their way toward respectability each get out from under the shadow of tough districts: Scott staying in Class 5A while powers Highlands and Covington Catholic moved down, while Cooper moves down to 5A from Class 6A. Cooper has been in every game this season, but just can't seem to find much offensive consistency as evidenced by the fact it is averaging just 12.8 points per game. Scott played well defensively in its first three games before allowing 54 points to potent and undefeated Franklin County last week. Both teams have struggled throwing the ball (Cooper is averaging just 93.4 yards passing and Scott only 97.0).
BOTTOM LINE: Cooper has played the tougher schedule and should win a close, defensive-oriented game.
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m. today at Dragon Field, Crestwood.
WHAT TO WATCH: It's the Class 5A district opener for both and could decide the district winner. Both teams played well in their non-district games with Conner losing only to Class 6A Boone County (19-7) and Dixie Heights (40-28) and South Oldham losing only perennially tough North Hardin and undefeated North Oldham last week, 41-38. South Oldham has a potent offense and is averaging 32.6 points and 211.2 yards per game rushing. Conner has made significant strides defensively from last season and is allowing 313.4 yards per game, but take out of the 482 yards it allowed against Dixie and the other foes averaged just 257.7 yards. Sophomore quarterback Drew Barker leads the offense with 713 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing and 417 yards passing.
BOTTOM LINE: Conner's defense should do enough to slow South Oldham and Barker has shown the ability to be a playmaker.
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m. today at Thomas Ellis Stadium, Covington.
WHAT TO WATCH: If only Holmes had an offense it might be 4-0 as its defense has allowed just 46 points in its first four games, which included holding Class A power Beechwood to its lowest point total of the season (21) and limiting Class 6A Simon Kenton to just seven in a 7-6 loss. Speedy junior Jonathan Scruggs may be the spark the Bulldogs offense needs as he rushed for 99 yards in last week's 8-6 win over Cooper, including a 77-yard TD run. Holmes has tallied just 48 points, 12 coming from its defense. Pendleton County's lone win came over Ludlow, 47-30 and it allowed 107 points the last two games combined.
BOTTOM LINE: Holmes should have its best offensive night of the season by far and its defense has played well against significantly better teams.
WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m. today at Cecil Dees Field, Erlanger.
WHAT TO WATCH: Aside from its opener against overmatched Class A Dayton, Holy Cross played a tough non-district schedule and aside from a 69-26 loss to Beechwood the Indians played well, no more so perhaps than last week's 34-7 win over Class 6A Oldham County. They allowed just 218 total yards after Beechwood piled up over 700 and had great offensive balance (284 yards rushing and 223 passing), which had been lacking the first four games. Senior quarterback Kyle Fuller needs 96 yards passing to reach 1,000 for the season and leads the team in rushing with 433 yards. Lloyd has been extremely up and down, outscoring its foes in its two wins, 88-27, and being outscored in its three losses, 108-27.
BOTTOM LINE: Holy Cross bounced back extremely well last week and could still push NewCath in the Class 2A district so it should win handily here in its district opener.
Bishop Brossart (3-1) vs. Newport Central Catholic (4-0)
WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m. today at Newport Stadium.
WHAT TO WATCH: Brossart bounced back nicely from its loss to Dayton two weeks ago by beating Class 4A Pendleton County last week, but the Mustangs first Class 2A district game after moving up this season from Class A is a tough one. NewCath is the defending Class 2A state champs and among its four wins are three over Class 6A schools. The Thoroughbreds have great offensive balance, rushing for 223.0 yards per game and passing for 193.8 yards per game. Senior quarterback Brady Hightchew has passed for 756 yards on 54 of 78 (69.2 percent) and six touchdowns and rushed for 355 yards and five scores, while junior Dylan Hayes has emerged as a standout running back with 427 yards. The defense is pretty good too, allowing just 14.3 points per game.
BOTTOM LINE: This is a neighborhood rivalry featuring a lot of players on both teams who went to grade school and middle school together, but NewCath can name its score.
WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m. today at James Rigney Memorial Stadium, Ludlow.
WHAT TO WATCH: Newport's versatile junior Daylin Garland, who plays quarterback, running back and even receiver and in last week's 35-0 win over Dayton carried the ball 15 times for 78 and two scores, hauled in four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown, and completed a 9-yard touchdown pass. After splitting time with Garland and another player early in the season, JaShawn Short played almost the whole game last week at quarterback for Newport and went 9 of 13 for 127 yards and a TD. Ludlow was extremely mistake-prone in losing its first three games, but in last week's 29-28 win over Bardstown Bethlehem sophomore quarterback Mitchell Cody passed for 201 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two other scores.
BOTTOM LINE: Newport is 2-0 against area Class A schools (beating Bellevue and Dayton by a combined 69-18) so there's no reason to think the Wildcats don't make it 3-0 against a Ludlow defense allowing 35.3 points per game.
WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m. today at Gilligan Stadium, Bellevue.
WHAT TO WATCH: Class A Bellevue is stepping up a class level again as it did in its first five games and even in its two losses (to Newport and last week to Carroll County) it has been extremely competitive. The Tigers have grinded things out offensively, averaging 215.4 yards per game rushing, while Owen County has allowed 177.3 yards per game rushing. Senior Jordan Fogelman leads the ground attack with 510 yards. Owen County hasn't been dominant in its 4-0 start to the season as it has outgained its first four foes by just 97 total yards, but it does just enough each game to win. The Rebels have rushed for just 342 yards as a team, while junior quarterback Adam Hazlett has passed for 770 yards and nine touchdowns.
BOTTOM LINE: Whether it's luck or pluck Owen County keeps winning and that should mean something in what should be a close game.
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