NewCath blasts Brossart in District 6 opener, 58-0

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds football team snapped its three-game winning streak in a big way Friday in Alexandria.

The smashed the host Bishop Brossart Mustangs, 58-0 to open Class 2A, District 6 action. NewCath (2-3 overall, 1-0 district) ran away with 30 points in the second quarter to go up 44-0 at halftime to force the running clock.

The Thoroughbreds outgained the Mustangs (1-4, 0-1), 453-63 in total offense in a balanced attack. NewCath had seven first downs to four for Brossart.

This included 248-37 on the ground. NewCath ran the ball 27 times for an average of about 9.2 per carry. Brossart averaged just more than one yard per rush.

Dylan Hayes led the Thoroughbreds rushing for 90 yards on nine carries with a touchdown. Freshman running back Jacob Smith came in and ran for 84 yards on four carries with a touchdown.

“We just prepared to play sound football,” said Eddie Eviston, NewCath head coach. “We really didn’t look at anything like, ‘We can’t let him run outside or we can’t let him run inside.’ When we do that, we can be pretty good and stop someone. That’s what we did (Friday).”

Defensively, NewCath focused on Brossart senior running back Jacob Elbert. He had seven carries for minus-2 yards and completed just 1-of-3 passes for nine yards before leaving with an injury.

“We wanted to make sure we took away the run first and didn’t get beat deep,” said Noah Freppon, NewCath senior wide receiver and defensive back. “(Elbert) mostly goes up the middle and does a lot of counters. He also tried some quarterback keeps. He played quarterback some before he got hurt.”

NewCath quarterback Josh Cain completed 8-of-12 passes for 205 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Mac Franzen led the Thoroughbreds with three catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Teammate Dan Ruwe had two catches for 45 yards and a score.

The Thoroughbreds scored 14 in the first quarter. Franzen hauled in a 36-yard score from Cain and Hayes had an 8-yard run.

Ruwe scored on an 11-yard touchdown run before Mason Myers recorded a tackle in the end zone for a safety to put NewCath up 23-0 in the second. NewCath’s next two touchdowns of the half came when Tyler Lyon hauled in a 9-yard reception from Cain and Mason Myers scored from 15 out. The final NCC touchdown of the half came when Cain tossed an 18-yarder to Ruwe.

The big lead allowed Smith and some of the younger other players to get some action in the second half. Cain tossed his fourth touchdown pass in the third 64 yards to Franzen.

“It’s good to get those guys some varsity playing time where they experience the Friday Night Lights,” Eviston said. “Our young guys did a nice job when they got in there.”

Smith then scored his touchdown in the fourth. Nathan Grosser kicked the extra-point. Grosser and John Caudill hit all eight extra-point attempts for NewCath.

NewCath travels to Covington Holmes on Friday. Game time is 7 p.m.