The NKyTribune will be offering focused coverage of NKY high school football throughout the season, thanks to support from St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sports Medicine. See all our pre-season features on each of NKY’s 21 high school football teams and follow our coverage, including roundups each week at Northern Kentucky High School Football.
By Brett Bibbins
NKyTribune contributor
The 2014 football season was a struggle for the Holy Cross Indians. With only 12 seniors on the roster, about half of which were regular contributors on the field, along with injuries and ineligibility issues, they fielded a young and inexperienced squad that finished 1-10, scoring in single digits in six of their 11 games.
“We were all new to the varsity level and we were just trying to get used to it,” said junior Xavier Abernathy, who plays running back, outside linebacker and defensive end for the Indians. “We’re up and coming still. We were a young team, so last year was almost like a building year.”
Going into this season, Holy Cross has only five seniors on the roster. But the Indians also return 19 juniors, most of whom already have one year of varsity experience.
“We were really young last year,” said senior quarterback Hamilton Scott. “We had a lot of talented young guys get good minutes last year, so we’re a lot more experienced this year and ready to go.”
How far the Indians go this season will depend a lot on Hamilton. He was the team’s top offensive threat last year when he rushed for 701 yards and passed for 653. Abernathy also put up some good numbers, rushing for 774 yards and nine touchdowns.
With experienced players returning in several other key positions, Holy Cross head coach Bruce Kozerski expects the Indians to be more competitive than they were last season.
“We’ve got some tremendous young talent that’s got a season at the varsity level under their belt,” Kozerski said. “Most of our seniors are two-year starters, so not only do they have one season, they have two seasons of varsity experience already.”
Holy Cross won the Class 2A state championship in 2011, but the Indians have a combined record of 6-28 over the last three seasons. Kozerski, who played 12 seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, has been taking the team’s recent slump in stride.
“Success isn’t just measured by wins and losses,” he said. “I teach football and I teach these kids in the classroom, but what we always try to do here is teach life skills because these kids are so important to me.”
Kozerski’s willingness to be more than just a coach is something that does not go unnoticed by his players.
“I really look at him like a father figure,” said Damien Serrano, a senior wide receiver and cornerback. “He’s always there for you, whether it’s football or something outside of football like family problems.”
Behind a more experienced group of players and a veteran coach, the Indians are hoping to get the most out of this upcoming season.
“Everybody says we want to win state,” said junior offensive and defensive tackle Drew McIntosh. “But if we physically cannot win state, we just want to be the best that we can be. Everybody will be happy if we’re working hard and doing our best.”
HOLY CROSS INDIANS
2014 SEASON: 1-10 record, lost in first round of Class 2A state playoffs.
THIS SEASON: Class 2A, District 6 with Lloyd, Newport, Newport Central Catholic.
COACH: Bruce Kozerski (51-67 in 10 seasons at Holy Cross).
2015 SCHEDULE
(Home games at Holmes High School)
Aug. 21 – at Holmes, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28 – at Walton-Verona, 7:30p.m.
Sept. 11 – TAFT (Ohio), 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 — SCOTT, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 – at Beechwood, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 – BARDSTOWN BETHLEHEM, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 – NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 – NEWPORT, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 – at Lloyd, 7 p.m.
Oct. 30 – at Bellevue, 7 p.m.
See these NKyTribune prep football previews:
Bishop Brossart
Ludlow
Campbell County
Highlands
Dixie Heights
Bellevue
Newport
NewCath
Conner
Covington Catholic
Holmes
Dayton
Ryle
Scott
Walton-Verona
Beechwood
Boone County
Cooper
Lloyd
Simon Kenton