A Look At The NKY Top 10

I'm going to take a look at the Enquirer Top 10 each week. Here goes.

1. Highlands 2-0: Beat Conner 42-0 last week. This week the Birds play Elder at home. The Panthers had trouble with Cov Cath, and I expect HHS to be able to prevent some of the mistakes the Colonels had with a large Panther crowd (and band) out of the equation.RB Jordan Kramer will have to be spectacular in Elder teritory and QB Drew Cecil will have to be effective at keeping the D honest for the Birds to win. I think this is the week that NKY beats the GCL.

2. Cov Cath 1-1: Lost 13-3 vs Elder last week. This week the Blue Colonels host the Red Colonels of Dixie. Cov Cath had a great chance to beat the Panthers last week, but penalties and turnovers disrupted a great effort. If those problems are corrected, it doesn't seem that there will be much Dixie can do to stop them. Sam Flynn is once again anchoring a rock solid D that can make plays all over the field.

3. Beechwood 1-0: Beat Dixie 35-9. The Tigers play host to a young and undersized Lloyd squad this week. It's no suprise that Beechwood reloaded the talent base, but it was a bit of a shock to see them take Dixie to the woodshed. Bankamper is filling in the long line of ultra productive Running Backs in Ft Mitchell, and you can expect a big game from him this week.

4. Ryle 0-1: Lost 28-7 vs Glen Este. In my game of the week the Raiders play host to NCC. This is going to be a very interesting matchup that could depend on the injury report. With projected starting QB Kyle Benken out with a broken jaw, the Raiders can be a one dimensional team right now. With Scottie Gray and Vince Murray, it's a strong dimension, but will it be enough to beat NCC? My gut says no.

5. Simon Kenton 2-0: Beat Seneca 31-17. This week @ Holy Cross. The Neers are looking to stop the Indians 2 game winning streak vs NKY 4A, and there are a few reasons they should feel great about their chances. Elbert, Bishop and Haught are a very dangerous trio in the backfield and they also have solid options out wide. This is one of those years that SK can reach for a district title, and I don't see Holy Cross slowing them down before district play begins.

6. Boone Co 0-1: Idle last week. Host Scott County this week. With a healthy Correy Farris Boone can make a game of this one. Without him, they could be in trouble. Scott Co. has one of the most complete teams in the state this year, and looked very solid in preseason scrimmages against Lou St. X and Trinity. Farris was my preseason for NKY Player Of The Year, so I hope we see him make a sensational debut in a Rebels upset. I won't be holding my breath.

7. NCC 1-1: Beat Newport 2-0. @ Ryle this week. As I mentioned above, injuries are a big factor in this game. RB Michael Vicars is questionable for NCC, and if he can't go QB Josh Harris will have his work cut out for himself. The defending Class A Champs used a win over Ryle to help propell them to the title last year, and another big W right here can help do the same.

8. Dixie 0-2: Lost to Beechwood 35-9. This week they travel to Cov Cath. Things are not going well for Choach Spritzky and his Colonels. The heralded Junior Class is not where many expected to be at this point, and they need to turn it around soon. This game means one of two things for Dixie. If they win it's a chance to right the ship just before district play. If the lose the questions about a talented but underperforming team will continue. At this point it's hard not to think the latter.

9. Campbell Co 2-0: Beat W. Jesamine 37-6 last week. This week @ Lebanon. Is the sleeping giant known as the largest school in NKY waking up? It will be hard to tell before district play due to no local teams on the non-district schedule, but another W would be hard to ignore. If your looking for a suprise team to crash the 4A playoffs, this might be the one.

10. Holmes 1-1: Lost to Holy Cross 27-26. This week @ Pendleton County. It should be an easy win for Holmes, but it does give them a chance to work out some of the penalties that plagued them against the Indians. Durran Jefferson is the most exciting player in NKY when he has the ball, and I expect a huge week from DJ.

There it is. See you next week...