With Halloween on a Friday, many Northern Kentucky teams opted to wrap up their regular seasons by playing a day earlier. Finishing strong was definitely accomplished by some of the area’s top programs.
NO. 17 COOPER 55, SIMON KENTON 29
After an 0-2 start, Cooper (7-3) has found its stride — winning seven of its last eight games, including five straight capped by a 55-29 rout of Simon Kenton in Week 11. During that surge, the Jaguars have averaged a scorching 47.4 points per game, making them one of Northern Kentucky’s hottest teams heading into the postseason.
Quarterback Cam O’Hara and wideout Ryker Campbell delivered a performance for the record books. O’Hara torched the Simon Kenton defense, completing 19-of-32 passes for 453 yards and eight touchdowns — breaking his own school mark and matching Highlands legend Gino Guidugli’s Northern Kentucky single-game record.
Campbell was unstoppable, hauling in eight receptions for 276 yards and a Cooper-record six touchdowns as the Jaguars blew the game open before halftime.
Keagan Maher balanced the attack with 101 rushing yards on 22 carries and a receiving score to cap the offensive showcase.
Simon Kenton briefly held an 8-7 edge late in the first quarter, but Cooper responded with 21 unanswered points to seize a 28-8 halftime lead and never looked back. The Pioneers’ Landon Brown paced their ground game with 111 yards on 16 carries.
Next up, Simon Kenton (5-5) hosts Oldham County, while Cooper welcomes South Oldham in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.
NO. 12 RYLE 63, DIXIE HEIGHTS 20
Ryle closed out the regular season in style, erupting for a season-high 63 points in a dominant win over visiting Dixie Heights. It was the Raiders’ most complete outing of the year, sending them into the Class 6A playoffs with plenty of momentum.
Senior Jacob Savage was everywhere for the Raiders. The two-way standout rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns, picked off a pass, and led the team in tackles to headline the victory.
Quarterback Nathan Verax was efficient and in command, connecting on 7-of-10 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns as Ryle rolled up 472 yards of total offense.
With the regular season in the books, Ryle (7-3) now turns its focus to Eastern, who visits Union next week to open the Class 6A playoffs. Dixie Heights (4-6) will also enjoy home-field advantage to begin the Class 5A postseason, hosting Collins as playoff football kicks off across the Bluegrass.
LLOYD 45, BOONE COUNTY 7
It was a memorable night at Lloyd Memorial as the Juggernauts honored the 1965 state championship team led by Roy Lucas Sr. — the program’s first to capture a Kentucky state title. Fittingly, this year’s squad added its own chapter to school history, becoming the first Lloyd team in three decades to start 10-0 with a convincing 45-7 win over Boone County. The Juggernauts last accomplished the feat back in 1995.
The ground game once again set the tone as Avery Conrad and Lincoln Thomas each rushed for two touchdowns, powering an offense that has scored 40-plus points in eight of ten contests this season.
On the other side of the ball, Lloyd’s defense was dominant, forcing five turnovers and holding Boone County (4-6) to a single score as the Juggernauts cruised to victory.
Having held four of their last five opponents to seven points or fewer, Lloyd enters the Class 3A playoffs as one of Kentucky’s hottest teams — balanced, confident, and eyeing a deep postseason run.
Here are some other scores from Northern Kentucky teams in action:
No. 23 Beechwood 44, Campbell County 7
Scott 54, Holmes 0
Newport Central Catholic 42, Mason County 21
Holy Cross 29, Bellevue 6
Bishop Brossart 45, Pendleton County 14
Grant County 26, Walton-Verona 21
Get the complete scores from all of this week’s action on the Underground Sports Shop Scoreboard at TriStateFootball.com/scores.
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