Week 0 Picks, Predictions, and Previews

The wait is finally over. The high school football season begins for a lot of teams around the state tonight and both myself and Lee Witte are here to give our picks and predictions for the nky teams:

Conner v Oldham Co @ South Oldham

The Conner Cougars will hit the road in the first week of the season to take on an Oldham Co team that finished 9-3 last season and only lost 4 defensive starters. With the return of Nick West and Austin Pugh on the offensive side of the ball, they look poised to compete for the top spot in the tough 6A district this season. West threw for over 2300 yards last season and 23 td's while Pugh ran for 470 yards on 99 carries. Expect the Cougars to start the season 1-0 with West making plays both through the air and on the ground with his feet.

Lee's Pick: Conner 28-16

Ryan's Pick: Conner 35-14

Bishop Brossart @ Betsy Lane

The Mustangs will travel to Eastern KY in search of their first ever varsity win after going 0-10 last season. Betsy Lane finished 3-8 last season and lost to Hazard in the first round of the Class A playoffs. The Stangs return several starters on both sides of the ball and have had a good summer, but will it be enough?

Lee's Pick: Betsy Lane 35-7

Ryan's Pick: Betsy Lane 28-21


Newport Central Catholic @ Dixie Heights

This looks to be our toss up game of the week. On one side, you have the Breds who return a lot of solid experience up front with Jake Smith, Paul Eviston, Mike Leopold, Garrett Brown, and new starter, but one of the biggest players in the state, Jack Gruenschlager (6'9 325). Mr. Do It All, Chris Kelly, returns in the backfield and on defene but the Breds have question marks at a lot of other positions after losing 13 starters from last year's state runner up team. On the other side, you have a veteran Dixie squad that returns 20 starters from last year's 4-7 team that was very young heading in to the season. Leading the Colonel offense is Ryan Wilson who passed for over 1400 yards last season, as well as Corey Klei who rushed for 737 yards and reached pay dirt 14 times. The Colonels have traditionally struggled out of the gate. Can we expect the same this year?

Lee's Pick: Dixie Heights 28-16

Ryan's Pick: Newcath 31-21


Highlands @ Louisville Manual

The Birds come in to this season absolutely loaded everywhere and poised to win their third straight 5A state title. The road starts right where it left off...in Louisville. The Birds will travel to Dupont Manual stadium to take on a very solid Crimsons team. Despite the Crimsons having home-field advantage, I don't think it will be enough to stop the Birds. Offensively, expect Austin Collinsworth (RB), Will Bardo (QB), and Kyle Welz (TE) to all have big games as Highlands massive line gives Bardo plenty of time to find his targets through the air and opens up holes for Collinsworth to run wild. Defensively, Brandon Roller will lead a defense that allowed just 12.5 ppg last season. Roller, who had reconstructive knee surgery after an injury last season, was all over the place in the Birds scrimmage vs Male last week and he looks to be back with a vengeance and 100%. Expect the Manual defense to be very busy this week.

Lee's Pick: Highlands 48-21

Ryan's Pick: Highlands 49-14

Bellevue @ Holy Cross

The Tigers return one of the best pound for pound running backs in NKY in Ricky Buckler, who averaged 134 ypg last season while also scoring 24 td's. Blocking for him will be FB/LB Travis Lyvers who is a 3 yr varsity letterman on both sides of the ball and Richard Wills, who will be counted on to find open receivers and keep the Indians from stacking the box. For the Indians, they return a veteran senior class and 9 starters on offense. The offense will be led by QB Markel Walker and RB Andy Roenker. Walker and Roenker combine for a thunder and lightning attack out of the spead offense that HC has implemented this year. This is the first time these two have met since the 2006 season when Holy Cross blanked the Tigers, 30-0.

Lee's pick: Holy Cross 28-18

Ryan's pick: Holy Cross 35-13

Covington Catholic @ Ryle

The Colonels from Park Hills head to Union in their first game under new head coach Dave Wirth. Despite all the excitement that has been built over the summer, do they have enough to knock off the Raiders? Ryle is led by junior Conner Hempel who threw for 1300 yards and had a ridiculous Td/INT ratio 0f 4/1 last season (17td's / 4 int). Out of the backfield expect the two headed monster of Travis Elliott and Keifer Eubanks to both have big nights on the ground. Ryle's balanced offense should keep the Colonel D guessing all night. Don't expect Covcath's first W under Coach Wirth to come this week.

Lee's Pick: Ryle 34-14

Ryan's Pick: Ryle 38-21