By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
It is a
game that has been on the minds of both sides for some time for different
reasons.
The Newport
Central Catholic Thoroughbreds football team wants to expunge the sour taste of
the 24-21 defeat to the District 6 rival Covington Holy Cross Indians on Nov.
18, 2011 in the Class 2A regional title game. The Thoroughbreds had ideas of
repeating as state champions coming into last year.
On the
other side of the Licking River, the defending state champions want to become
more than just a one-year wonder. Kyle Fuller booted a 32-yard field goal with
about 10 seconds to lift the Indians to that victory. The Indians went on to beat
Somerset in the state semifinals and Glasgow in the title game.
Playoff
seedings are at stake in this contest. The Thoroughbreds want to win another
outright district championship. They stand 4-4 overall and 3-0 in district action.
They’ve won 19 district titles overall, including seven in a row. NewCath has
won 22 straight against district opponents in the regular season dating back to
2006, including a spotless 11-0 mark since Eddie Eviston took over as head
coach in 2010. They’ve outscored district opponents, 170-22.
“The thing is we’ve been working hard,” Eviston said. “It’s
obviously good to get some wins. We’re trying to build some confidence and
we’re playing well now.”
The
Thoroughbreds played a tough non-district schedule against bigger schools in
Class 4A, 6A and Ohio Division III. Voters in the statewide Associated Press
have taken notice of that. NewCath moved up three spots to fourth behind
Owensboro Catholic, Somerset and Danville in the lastest poll.
