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Best Bets: Week 10 – NKY

Week 10 in Northern Kentucky means tune-up games for those headed to the playoffs, as the district schedule has been completed and all of the postseason pairings have been set.

There’s still some good football on tap this weekend, as NewCath and Beechwood meet and Ludlow and Paris battle in a clash of two of the state’s top Class A teams.

Here are the Best Bets for Week 10 in Northern Kentucky:

Newport Central Catholic (5-4) at Beechwood (7-2), 7:30 p.m. – NewCath’s MO in years past has been to play a brutal schedule, fall several games below .500 early and battle back late in the regular season before making a deep playoff run. The Thoroughbreds started 2-0 but lost to a mercurial Conner team and was pounded by district foe Lloyd. RB Kyle Kelly needs 139 yards to reach the 1,000 mark on an offense averaging well below 300 yards. Beechwood has lost two games – to opponents that are a combined 17-1. The Tigers were pounded by CovCath but dropped an eight-point decision to Simon Kenton. Beechwood’s balance on offense is outstanding, especially for a small-school team, and that will make the Tigers a tough out in the playoffs. RB James Davis has 725 rushing yards, QB Brayden Burch is 97-177-1,449 with 15 TDs, and Daniel Mescher has 502 receiving yards and seven scores.

Ludlow (8-1) at Paris (8-1), 7 p.m. – These teams are in opposite sides of the Class A bracket now, so the only way they would meet in the postseason would be in the title game. And that is a possibility, given how they’ve played. The Panthers are No. 2 in their entire class in scoring, thanks largely to a rushing attack that is averaging 317.3 yards. QB Justin Blackburn may reach 2,000 ground yards this season, as he needs just 250 to eclipse that threshold, and he has scored 29 touchdowns. Sean Stratton has added 859 rushing yards. Paris’ lone loss came by five at Louisville Holy Cross. Matthew Barber is 40 yards shy of 1,000 rushing, but the Greyhounds’ calling card is a defense that has surrendered just 169.1 yards per game.

Covington Catholic (9-0) at Campbell County (6-3), 7 p.m. – CovCath is a win away from its first undefeated regular season since 1992. Not only have the Colonels not lost this year, they haven’t even been challenged. Their closest game was a 21-point win over Kings. CovCath is second in Class 5A in scoring (384 points) and first in points allowed (62). And because they’ve led by wide margins so often, QB A.J. Mayer has only thrown 142 passes, but he is a lethal weapon that will likely be deployed on postseason opponents. Campbell County is averaging just under 38 points and is 4-0 on its home field this season. The Camels are piling up 440 yards per game, with Alex Dowds leading the rushing attack with 1,462 yards and 19 touchdowns and Jack Comer the main target in the receiving game, catching 38 passes for 732 yards and six TDs.

Ryle (7-2) at Dixie Heights (3-6), 7 p.m. – Ryle is coming off a 56-38 win at Simon Kenton and has to be considered a big favorite in this game. The Raiders have scored at least 48 points four times. Dixie Heights has been held to six points in its last two games. Ryle has won back-to-back meeting between these teams.

Conner (4-5) at Frederick Douglass (7-2), 7:30 p.m. – Conner was 4-2 heading into October but has lost three straight, allowing an average of 43 points in those contests. Frederick Douglass has won seven of eight after losing its opener.

Brossart (5-4) at Pendleton County (3-6), 7 p.m. – These teams have played six straight years, and Brossart has won four times. Mustangs QB Tyler MacDonald has thrown for 1,907 yards, and his main target, Bryce Donnelly, has 39 catches for 861 yards for a 22.1 yard average and 13 touchdowns. Following a 3-1 start, Pendleton County has lost five straight, giving up nearly 42 points a game in that span.

Lloyd (7-2) at Scott (6-3), 7 p.m. – Both teams won their respective districts. Lloyd finally toppled Newport Central Catholic, outscoring its Class 2A foes, 144-35. QB Jordan Fann and RB Travon Mason have both rushed for over 800 yards to key the Juggernauts’ offense. The Eagles ran the table in Class 4A play. RB Quincy Perrin has rushed for 1,177 yards, averaging 9.3 yards per carry, to key an Eagles offense that gains 292 ground yards per game.

Walton-Verona (7-2) at Bellevue (5-4), 7 p.m. – Walton-Verona turned it on when district play started, as the Bearcats won all four of their Class 2A contests and outscored their opponents by an amazing 207-7 margin. In recent years, Bellevue has been the second-best team in Class A, but the Tigers were third this season and struggled to get a district win. They were crushed by Beechwood and Ludlow and needed overtime to get past Dayton.

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