Preview: Dixie Heights at #10 Ryle

The Blitz 5 Game of the Week turns its focus to Union for the regular season finale in Kentucky. The Class 6A District 6 champion Ryle Raiders get one more tune-up before for what they expect to be an extended postseason run. The visiting Dixie Heights Colonels are looking to pick up some much needed momentum as they head to the playoffs. It should be an entertaining night of football.

DIXIE HEIGHTS COLONELS (3-6) at RYLE RAIDERS (7-2)

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m., November 1st, 2024

Ryle High Stadium

Follow on X: @TSFootball

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The trio of Armani Gregg, David Anderson and Mason Fields for Dixie Heights are as good as any set of three skills positions players in NOrthern Kentucky. Gregg has run for 1,180 yards and 17 touchdowns. Anderson has amassed 759 yards from scrimmage (421 rec, 338 rush) while finding the end zone seven times (six rush, one rec). Gregg moved from quarterback this season to make room for emerging star Fields. The junior has thrown for 1,377 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also has 133 yards and three scores on the ground.

Jacon Savage is an iron man for Ryle. The junior leads the Raiders with 606 yards rushing, 17 total touchdowns (13 rush, four rec) and 85 tackles. Louisville commit Dillon Smith brings havoc to opposing defenses. He has five-and-a-half sacks and 12.5 tackles for losses. BO Gay leads the team with six sacks. Junior Nathan Verax is starting to come on in his first year at quarterback. He has thrown for 1,318 yards and 17 touchdowns.

TEAM TRENDS: The last eight teams on Dixie Heights’ schedule are a combined 42-24.
The Colonels have given up 41 points or more five times. They are allowing 36.6 points per game.

Ryle’s two losses have been by seven points each, that’s how close it is to being undefeated. The Raiders are on a modest three game winning streak (all against district foes). They had an average margin of victory of 31.0 points in those wins.

HEAD COACHES:

Dixie Heights: Patrick Burke (11-21 at Dixie Heights, third year; 41-20 overall, eighth year)

Ryle: Mike Engler (86-55 at Dixie Heights, 12th year; 86-55 overall)

DIXIE HEIGHTS’ KEYS TO VICTORY: Putting pressure on Verax and getting into the backfield to make him uncomfortable early in the game will benefit the Colonels as the game wears on. The defense needs to step up and show some more pride. They have let better offenses dictate the tone more often than not this season. That trend needs to reverse itself if Dixie Heights wants to see successful results moving forward.

RYLE’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Sharing the wealth is what the Raiders do best. They have the depth to create mismatches against the Dixie Heights. The more players that get involved in the offense the better the night is going to be for Ryle. Gregg is going to find a way to get his yards, the Raiders’ defense has to make sure nobody else goes off for the Colonels. 

Prediction: Ryle 30, Dixie Heights 14

 

 

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