Did NewCath post another shutout on the season?

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The odds heavily favored the hosts like they have in many first-round playoff meetings since 2000.

But the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds still had to show it on the field and they did just that Friday. They shut out the 3-8 Trimble County Raiders, 43-0 at Covington Holmes. The top-seeded District 6-2A champion Thoroughbreds (5-5) moved to 5-0 against 2A competition with the win. Trimble County made its first playoff appearance since 2009.

The Thoroughbreds dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball outgaining the Raiders, 330-167 in total offense. NewCath ran 24 plays to 51 for Trimble County.

“We always like to get shutouts obviously,” said Dan Wagner, NewCath Head Coach. “But it was more about us being in spots and doing what we’re supposed to do and I thought we did that well for the most part.”

The Raiders blitzed all night and the Thoroughbreds made them pay. Sophomore quarterback Patrick Henschen completed 9-of-12 passes for 210 yards. Two went to Jacob Smith on screen passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Griffin McHugh added three catches for 39 yards for the Thoroughbreds.

“It was about getting the ball in space,” said Dave Schneider, Thoroughbred Offensive Coordinator. “(Henschen) played really well. It was good for him. He had a good week of practice and did what we asked him to do. We hope it’s a good stepping stone for him.”

NewCath averaged 10 yards per carry. Smith had four for 56 yards and two touchdowns with Job Freppon going for 21 on two carries and a touchdown.

Defensively, NewCath put up its third shutout of the season. The Thoroughbreds held the Trimble County Wishbone attack to 110 yards on 40 carries and also recovered two Raider fumbles.

That forced the Raiders to throw the ball more than usual. Trimble County completed 6-of-11 passes for 57 yards and two interceptions.

Dusty Wyssbrod had a decent game for the Raiders. He had 14 carries for 28 yards and three catches for 39.

“We did what we wanted to do,” Wagner said. “We stopped them. We gave them some first downs, which we weren’t real happy about. But overall, they did a good job. They have some size on that offensive line. They’re not great by any stretch of the imagination. But they’re better than we thought.”

The Thoroughbreds hit the running clock in the first half. They led 21-0 after the first quarter. Smith had 31 and 22-yard touchdown runs and Brandon Gray had a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown.

NewCath hit the running clock in the second quarter. Henschen hit Smith for the screen touchdowns of 86 and 59 yards.

The Thoroughbreds scored one more touchdown in the third quarter. Freppon had his touchdown run of 21 yards.

NewCath earned a rematch with Lloyd Memorial (8-2) in the second round of the playoffs on Friday. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Newport Stadium.