Best Bets: Week 2 – NKY/Indiana

Some teams in Northern Kentucky are at the midway point of their non-district schedule, and squads in Indiana hit the one-third mark of their season this weekend.

Highlands quarterback Austin Hergott (Cathy Lachmann/TSF).

In Week 2, the temperature should be higher than it was for teams’ previous two contests, which will take a toll on teams with less depth.

Here are Northern Kentucky and Indiana’s Best Bets for Week 2:

Simon Kenton (2-0) at Conner (1-0), 7 p.m. – Simon Kenton is averaging 51.0 points in its two wins, and Conner scored 43 points in its opener, so scoring should be abundant. Pioneers RB Dillon Powell has rushed for 457 yards and five touchdowns. Cougars QB Kyler Padgett rushed for 138 yards and passed for 134 in his team’s win.

NewCath (0-2) at Campbell County (0-2), 7 p.m. – It’s the NewCath way: Start very slowly, peak by season’s end. The Thoroughbreds have scored seven points and rushed for 80 yards in two games. Campbell County has also dropped its first two games, but one was by three vs. East Central and the other was Highlands. One of these elite Northern Kentucky programs is going to start 0-3.

Walton-Verona (0-2) at Holmes (0-2), 7 p.m. – Another battle of 0-2s featuring teams that don’t typically start 0-2. Walton-Verona has played equally-sized Class 2A schools and has dropped a pair of close decisions, 28-20 and 28-14. Bigger Class 4A Holmes won just two games last year and has lost by just four and six points.

Highlands (1-1) at Scott County (2-0), 7:30 p.m. – Highlands rebounded from an opening-night loss to beat Campbell County by 23 last week. The Blubirds have uncharacteristically allowed 365 passing yards in two games and an average of 331 yards overall. Senior QB Austin Hergott was much better in Highlands’ second game than its first. Scott County has outgained its opponents, 784-76 on the ground in two games and comes in averaging 50 points a game.

Cooper (2-0) at Bryan Station (1-1), 7 p.m. – There was no letdown from Cooper in Week 1 after beating Highlands in its opener. The Jaguars pounded NewCath, 35-0 and are allowing just 165 yards per game despite facing two Northern Kentucky powers to start the season. QB Nathan Brown has thrown for 380 yards, and RB Torey Cordell-Armstrong has rushed for 264 and five TDs. Bryan Station lost to Simon Kenton by 16 last week after shutting out Knox Central in Week 0.

Beechwood (1-0) at Somerset (2-0), 7:30 p.m. – Beechwood beat Lloyd decisively in its opener, and it’s unclear which Somerset team the Tigers will face on Friday. The Briar Jumpers, a small-school state power, went to the state semifinals in 2013 but finished 0-10 in 2014. However, Somerset won its first two games decisively this year. Charles Lucas is an excellent coach, and Beechwood should be challenged in this game, especially on the road.

Batesville (2-0) at South Dearborn (1-1), 7 p.m. – Batesville beat Jennings County, 33-20 to open its season and blew out Milan, 48-14 last week. After suffering a 66-0 loss to Whiteland on Aug. 21, South Dearborn edged Madison, 20-18 on Friday. Batesville has won 19 of the last 30 meetings between these teams and should be a favorite again this week. Eric Heppner is in his 20th year coaching the Bulldogs, and it’s just the third game for Rand Ballart at the helm of the Knights.

Rushville (0-2) at Franklin County (2-0), 7 p.m. – Rushville lost to Milan by 16 to start the year and fell to New Castle by four last week, so the Lions have been in their two games. Franklin County beat New Castle by one and topped Connersville, 50-13. The Wildcats won by 10 in these teams’ meeting last year and should be slight favorites again this week.

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