By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Three of the five Northern Kentucky high school football teams playing season openers on Friday will have new quarterbacks running the offense.
The newcomer facing the biggest test is sophomore Cameron Hergott, who will play his first game as Beechwood’s quarterback in Friday’s home game against Lloyd (1-0). He’s taking over for Brayden Burch, the quarterback who led the Tigers to Class 1A state championships the last two seasons.
Hergott, the nephew of Beechwood’s offensive coordinator, will have veterans all around him in the lineup. The Tigers have five seniors on the offensive line and running backs Josh Derry and Logan Castleman are proven playmakers.
Beechwood played scrimmage games the last two weeks. After the first one, coach Noel Rash said “it was a good indication that we’ll be able to do some of the things we did (on offense) last year and some things we weren’t able to do last year as well.”
Conner will have junior Jared Hicks at quarterback in Friday’s game at Boone County. He actually played in last year’s opening game, but senior Cooper Gullion finished out the season at quarterback. Hicks gets another chance to prove he can points on the scoreboard.
Joe Wynn, the first-year head coach at Newport, installed a new offense during preseason practice and moved junior Kaleal Davis into the quarterback position. He’ll be making his debut in Friday’s home game against Finneytown.
Holmes and Boone County will be playing their season openers on Friday with experienced quarterbacks who want to get their teams off to a good start. The last time Boone County opened with a win was 2011 and Holmes lost its first game the last three years.
Holmes senior James Walker passed for 947 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first full season as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback last year. Boone County senior Zach Grau had 596 yards passing and 160 rushing for the Rebels.
Friday’s high school football schedule
Highlands at Campbell County, 7 p.m.
Conner at Boone County, 7 p.m.
Lloyd at Beechwood, 7:30 p.m.
Holmes vs. Brossart at Campbell County Middle School, 7 p.m.
Bellevue at Dayton, 7 p.m.
Dixie Heights at Scott, 7 p.m.
Newport Central Catholic at Cooper, 7:30 p.m.
Bracken County at Ludlow, 7 p.m.
Bryan Station at Simon Kenton, 7:30 p.m.
Kentucky Country Day at Walton-Verona, 7:30 p.m.
Finneytown (Ohio) at Newport, 7:30 p.m.
Holy Cross vs. Cincinnati Country Day at Holmes, 7 p.m.
CovCath vs Henry Clay at Lexington Catholic, 6 p.m.
Ryle at Lexington Catholic, 8:45 p.m.