NewCath earns 13th straight trip to Regional title game

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

They went into the second-round Class 2A football playoff game at Newport Stadium confident.

But the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds were not overconfident unlike last year’s playoff meeting with the arch-rival Covington Holy Cross Indians. The fourth-ranked Thoroughbreds had beaten the defending state champions, 49-10 on Oct. 18 at Scott in the regular season and did not want a repeat of last year.

NewCath prepares for another battle with defending 2A champs

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

When the Class 2A football brackets came out, the fourth-ranked Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds knew this was a possibility.

The last two 2A champions will meet in the second round of the playoffs Saturday at 7 p.m. at Newport Stadium. In the first round Friday, the Thoroughbreds (7-4) took care of the Gallatin County Wildcats, 49-13. At the same time, Covington Holy Cross Indians (4-7) took care of host Owen County, 42-32 to set up another meeting between the rivals on opposite sides of the Licking River.

“It’s about pride in our program,” said Eddie Eviston, NewCath head coach. “We want to be the best 2A program up here (in Northern Kentucky). We need to make sure we go out and play that way. We’ll let the guys know what they might see and go from there.”

The Thoroughbreds have won five in a row, including 49-10 over Holy Cross on Oct. 18 at Scott High in the anticipated rematch of the 2011 Region 3 title game. Holy Cross won that title game, 24-21 on its way to the state championship. That marked NewCath’s lone loss to a district opponent since 2006.

But the teams have gone in different directions this season. Holy Cross finished third in district action behind NewCath and Lloyd Memorial and lost five in a row at one point during the regular season after going 12-3 last year.

NewCath claims eighth straight district title

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

TAYLOR MILL – The emotions hit high points in the battle between the last two Class 2A state champions, both from District 6.

But when the final horn sounded, the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds showed why they’re once again the team to beat in the district and region if not the entire state of Kentucky. The Thoroughbreds (5-4 overall, 4-0 district) rolled to their third straight win and 23rd consecutive regular-season win against district opponents with a 49-10 bulldozing of the Covington Holy Cross Indians (3-6, 2-2) on Thursday at Scott High. They ended up outscoring the four district opponents, 219-32.

This marks the eighth consecutive district title for NewCath and 20th overall. The Thoroughbreds improved to 17-2 all-time against Holy Cross. The only losses to the Indians came in 2006 and in the regional title game last year.

NewCath made its faithful fans forget about that loss quickly. The Thoroughbreds dominated the trenches on both sides of the ball and on special teams. They built a 35-3 halftime lead and never took the pedal off the metal forcing the running clock in the second half.