Thoroughbreds run away from Wildcats, 49-0

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The seventh-ranked Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds football team wanted to win consecutive games for the first time this year.

They did that with a 49-0 thumping of the in-town rival Newport Wildcats on Friday in the Fireman’s Bell. The Thoroughbreds moved back to .500 at 4-4 overall and 3-0 in Class 2A, District 6 action. The Wildcats fell to 3-6 and 1-2.

“We played well from the very first play through the final horn,” said Eddie Eviston, NewCath head coach. “I think our kids were focused and into it. It was good to see.”

NewCath moved to 10-0 since Eviston took over as head coach in 2010 against district opponents during the regular season. The Thoroughbreds have also won 22 in a row against district competition during the regular season going back to 2006 and 14 in a row against Newport dating back to 1999.

The game finished quick. NewCath scored 21 in the first quarter and added 28 more in the second to go up 49-0 at halftime and force the running clock. The running clock comes into play when teams lead by 45 points or more at halftime.

The Thoroughbreds outgained the Wildcats, 319-198 in total offense, including 204-153 on the ground. Dylan Hayes again led NewCath on the ground with 12 carries for 125 yards and three touchdowns for an overage of just more than 10 yards a carry. Teammate Mason Myers had two carries for 39 yards and two touchdowns.

NewCath quarterback Josh Cain completed 7-of-10 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Dan Ruwe led the Thoroughbreds with two catches for 68 yards.

“We’re getting more balanced offensively,” Eviston said. “We have some guys running the ball well. Josh (Cain) is coming along. It’s still his first year as a (starting quarterback). It’s good to see as we gear up toward the end of the season and into the playoffs.”

Defensively, NewCath focused on Wildcat running back Daylin Garland. Garland had just 43 yards on 16 carries and completed just 1-of-3 passes for a yard.

“We did well,” Eviston said of defending Garland. “He can make people miss. But we had a lot of guys to the ball. Once he made some guys miss, we had some other guys there (to make the tackle). We didn’t allow him to make too many big plays. That’s why we were able to be successful as a defense.”

Cain completed a 64-yard touchdown strike to Ruwe to start off the scoring. Myers added a 28-yard touchdown run and Hayes scored from seven out to put the Thoroughbreds up 21-0 after the first quarter.

All four NewCath touchdowns in the fourth came on runs. Pete Collopy had an 8-yard run before Myers scored from 11 out. Hayes finished the scoring with 14 and 8-yard scores.

The Thoroughbreds connected on all seven extra-point attempts. John Caudill made four and Nathan Grosser had three.

NewCath hopes to wrap up a seventh straight district championship Thursday against Covington Holy Cross (3-5, 2-1) at Scott High at 7 p.m.