A look back at Northern Kentucky high school football games played on this week’s dates — Aug. 25-31
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Senior quarterback Jared Lorenzen led a balanced Highlands offensive attack that outscored Louisville Male, 51-41, in the St. Luke Hospital Champions Bowl on Saturday, Aug. 29, 1998, at Beechwood High School.
The Bluebirds had 356 total rushing yards with Lorenzen and running backs Noah Gibson and Brian Ulbricht each picking up 100 yards or more. The left-handed quarterback also completed 9 of 18 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener for both teams.
Operating behind an offensive line that had all first-year starters, Lorenzen rushed for 120 yards, scored two touchdowns and ran in a pair of two-point conversions to account for 16 points. He threw touchdown passes to senior classmates Derek Smith and Nate Birkley.
Highlands went on to win the Class 3A state championship and finished with a perfect 15-0 record that season. Male won the Class 4A state title and posted a 13-2 record.
Lorenzen passed for 3,397 yards and 45 touchdowns in his final high school season and became the first Highlands player named Mr. Kentucky Football. He set team records for single-season and career passing yards (6,821) that were later surpassed.
Here’s a look at other Northern Kentucky high school football games played on this week’s dates – Aug. 25-31.
1968 / Friday, Aug. 30 / Covington Catholic 12, Ashland 0
Covington Catholic opened its second season of varsity competition with a 12-0 win over Ashland, the defending Class AA state champion. The Colonels scored their touchdowns on a 2-yard run by Bob Reuss in the second quarter and 24-yard interception return by Bob Hackman in the fourth quarter. It was CovCath’s first game under head coach Tony Lanham, who guided the team to a 6-4 record in his one season with the program.
1983 / Friday, Aug. 26 / Conner 14, Beechwood 7
Bryan Shotwell returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown in the final seconds of the fourth quarter to give Conner a 14-7 win over Beechwood. That was one of three long scoring plays in the game. Conner got its first touchdown on a 75-yard punt return by Melvin Miles. Beechwood tied it on a 78-yard pass play from Chris Bowling to Tim Seaman.
1990 / Saturday, Aug. 25 / Beechwood 27, Pikeville 13
The Beechwood Tigers got a measure of revenge against the team that had knocked them out of the Class A football playoffs three consecutive years by beating Pikeville, 27-13, in the Pike County Bowl. Beechwood’s offense totaled 351 yards with sophomore Brandon Berger rushing for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Junior quarterback Craig Wilmhoff passed for 140 yards and one TD.
1993 / Friday, Aug. 27 / Dayton 16, Bellevue 7
Dayton junior running back Jason Leger rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns in his team’s 16-7 win over neighboring rival Bellevue. Dayton’s other standout performer was senior Tim Chenot, who kicked a field goal and intercepted three passes on defense.
2003 / Saturday, Aug. 30 / Boone County 23, Covington Catholic 21
Lee Wyman kicked a 31-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to give Boone County a 23-21 win over Covington Catholic in a game that took two days to complete. CovCath had a 14-13 lead when the game was suspended on Friday because of rain and lightning. When the game resumed on Saturday, both teams scored a touchdown to make it 21-20 before Wyman decided the outcome with his third field goal of the game.
2007 / Friday, Aug. 31 / Holmes 33, Holy Cross 14
Holmes rushed for more than 370 yards and five touchdowns in a 33-14 win over Holy Cross to give Steve Lickert his first victory as head coach of the Bulldogs. Senior quarterback James Miller picked up 179 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. Holy Cross senior Jeff West scored both of his team’s touchdowns on kickoff returns.