Northern Kentucky's first football games are Aug. 20, and local gridiron stars will begin a journey that they hope will end at the University of Kentucky's Kroger Field in December.
Here is a look at the teams in Kentucky's smallest class, 1A.
Bishop Brossart
Brossart was 5-4 last year for head coach Paul Wiggins, who returns for his eighth season.
The fourth and final loss came off the field after the Mustangs were forced to forfeit their 1A, District 5 championship game in the playoffs against Nicholas County due to COVID in the Mustangs' program.
Brossart had defeated Nicholas County in triple overtime during the season, part of the team’s perfect 3-0 district record to gain the top seed in the district playoffs.
Brossart is in a different district than other local teams, facing off against Nicholas and district foes Bracken County and Paris.
Senior Lacob Leicht returns at quarterback after throwing for 536 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago and rushing for 726 yards and eight scores. Standout running back Trevor Schadler graduated after rushing for 852 yards and 14 TDs.
Brossart graduated only six players from last year and has a roster of 38. Brossart hosts Dayton to start the season on Aug. 20 and gets a home rematch with Nicholas County Oct. 1.
Newport Central Catholic
Steve Lickert returns for his fourth season as head coach of the Thoroughbreds, who were 8-3 overall, winning District 4 and losing to Paintsville 21-7 in the 1A state semifinals.
The Thoroughbreds graduated quarterback Malaki Herndon and most of their top offensive producers. Sophomore Kolton Smith is the top candidate to take over at QB. The Thoroughbreds will have a young roster this year with six seniors.
NCC has a tough early schedule at 6A county rival Campbell County, 4A Holmes and 2A Walton-Verona before making its home debut Sept. 17 vs. Holy Cross.
Ludlow
The Panthers went 4-6 last year for Greg Taphouse, who enters his fifth season. Ludlow beat Dayton in the first round of the 1A playoffs before losing to Newport Central Catholic.
Ludlow will run with senior running back Braxten Newborn, who is one of the top returning rushers in the state with 1,827 yards and 27 touchdowns last year. He had 224 yards in the playoff win over Dayton.
Ludlow played only eight regular-season games because of the pandemic, keeping Newborn from challenging Justin Blackburn’s school record of 2,116 yards and 36 TDs in 2017.
Newborn, recently offered by Division II Kentucky Wesleyan, was also the team’s leading tackler with 107 total.
Ludlow returns only one starter on the offensive line, and quarterback Austin Daniels graduated. Senior Brogan O’Brien looks to be the new QB. He had six interceptions on defense and was second on the team in tackles.
Ludlow has a roster of 28, with nine seniors.
Ludlow has an intriguing early schedule with four downstate teams, Bishop Brossart and a game in Cincinnati versus Lockland.
Bellevue
Bellevue was 0-8 last season under Clifford Wood, who returns for his third season. The Tigers struggled in every way last year, with the closest loss by nine points to Dayton.
The Tigers were struggling with roster numbers this summer and currently have 23 players listed.
Colton Hissong, a quarterback who compiled virtually all of the offensive production, has graduated.
Bellevue has seven seniors listed and no one designated as QB. Seniors anchoring both lines include Braden Corley, Corey Kable, Bronson Ormes and Josh Wahoff.
Senior Zach Noonchester is the top returning rusher and also plays linebacker. Senior Logan Allen plays running back and in the secondary, and Chris Bundy is a senior newcomer.
Bellevue starts the season at Holy Cross and has two early home games with downstate foes Metcalfe County and Magoffin County.
Dayton
Dayton was 5-4 last season under Jesse Herbst, who returns for his third season. Herbst was a longtime assistant coach at Simon Kenton before taking the head job with the Greendevils and the head coach has his Greendevils thinking district championship this year.
He returns several key veterans, led by reigning 1A, District 4 player of the year Eric Jimenez. The senior two-way linemen is one of the top Northern Kentucky linemen in any class. He has lost about 20 pounds since last season and is in the best shape of his career, Herbst said. He also has run a 4.9 40-yard dash in camp.
Another returning lineman is Larry Metz, a 6-foot-2-inch, 325-pound junior who is strong, aggressive and has great footwork. Herbst said he is great at blocking and stopping the run.
Preston Baggett, a senior who transferred from Newport Central Catholic, was expected to be one of NCC’s key players. Herbst said he is a versatile player who can run the ball, catch and be a key tackler on defense at linebacker.
Junior Landyn Hopper and seniors Maveriq Catacora and Brian Lewis are expected to be key skill-position players on both sides. Catacora is an athletic basketball standout who didn’t play football last season and Lewis is a fast kick returner.
Hopper is a three-year starter at cornerback and the top returning rusher. Junior Russell McIntyre is the quarterback after two years as the JV starter, and he brings good running and throwing ability to the spot.
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