By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
In Ben Nevels’ first six years as Holmes football coach, the Bulldogs never won a district title, never hosted a playoff game and never finished the season with a winning record.
This year’s team is on track to accomplish all of that going into Friday’s final district seeding game at Scott.
Holmes and Scott are tied for first place in Class 4A, District 6 so the winner of Friday’s game will take the title. Both teams have already clinched a home game in the first round of the playoffs, but the Bulldogs (5-3) still need one more victory to clinch a winning season.
Nevels has an 0-6 record against Scott and the Eagles are favored to win Friday’s game as well.
Scott (6-2) won its last four games by margins of 22 points or more with a balanced offensive attack led by senior running back Quincy Perrin and sophomore quarterback Gus Howlett.
Perrin rushed for 774 yards and 12 touchdowns in the four wins to push his career total over the 4,000-yard mark. Howlett, a first-year starter, did his part by passing for 652 yards and eight TDs in those same four games.
The Holmes offense revolves around junior quarterback Quantez Calloway and his twin brother, Tayquan, who lines up in different positions. Quantez has 788 yards passing and 114 yards rushing in eight games this season. Tayquan has 831 yards rushing and 136 yards receiving.
Other games between district co-leaders on Friday’s schedule are Covington Catholic at Conner in Class 5A and Simon Kenton at Ryle in Class 6A.
The Class 5A game features Northern Kentucky’s top passing quarterbacks in Conner senior Jared Hicks (1,812 yards) and CovCath junior Caleb Jacob (1,729 yards).
Simon Kenton won its last two district games behind the passing of freshman quarterback Chase Crone, who completed 28 of 47 for 438 yards and four touchdowns. He has now thrown for 1,090 yards in his first year of varsity competition.
High school football schedule
Friday’s games
Newport at Beechwood, 7 p.m.
Newport Central Catholic at Bellevue, 7 p.m.
Lexington Sayre at Brossart, 7:30 p.m.
Dixie Heights at Campbell County, 7 p.m.
Covington Catholic at Conner, 7 p.m.
Highlands at Cooper, 7:30 p.m.
Ludlow at Dayton, 7 p.m.
Holmes at Scott, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at Lloyd, 7 p.m.
Simon Kenton at Ryle, 7:30 p.m.
Walton-Verona at Louisville Holy Cross, 7:30 p.m.