By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Conner senior Wyatt Hatfield celebrated his return to the starting quarterback position with a 223-yard performance that carried the Cougars to a 35-14 win over Newport Central Catholic on Friday at Covington Catholic .
Hatfield rushed for 167 yards and four touchdowns while completing 5 of 9 passes for 56 yards in the victory that raised Conner’s record to 3-1. He provided 70 percent of his team’s 333 total yards.
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound dual threat quarterback said “stuff going on with my health” was part of the reason he saw limited action behind center until this week, but he didn’t want to give any details.
“We’ve been working around it, but I’m doing fine now,” said Hatfield, who started every game at quarterback last season and is glad to be running the offense once again.
“I don’t want to sound selfish, but I like getting the ball every play,” he said. “It’s nice being back there, having the ball in my hands every time.”
It was the first loss of the season for NewCath (3-1). After getting 1,183 yards in three previous games for a 394 average, the Thoroughbreds had less than 200 yards against Conner until a 94-yard touchdown pass on their final possession gave them a 289 total.
Five quarterback sacks by the Conner defense had a lot to do with NewCath’s inability to get into an offensive flow. The only sustained drive came in the second quarter when the Thoroughbreds went 75 yards in 12 plays to score their first touchdown.
“One of the things we talked about the past couple of weeks was getting pressure (on the quarterback).” said Conner coach Dave Trosper. “So we moved some guys around and we were able to get pressure on them tonight.”
Conner took a 14-10 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game by capitalizing on good field position twice. The Cougars pounced on the opening kickoff at the 48-yard line and a botched punt gave them the ball at the 25-yard line.
Both of those resulted in six-play scoring drives that ended with Hatfield carrying the ball into the end zone on evasive runs of 16 and 6 yards and senior Andrew Herron kicking the extra points.
“I think I’m pretty well rounded,” Hatfield said of his ability to move the ball on the ground. “I can make people miss, but I can also run through people.”
Early in the second quarter, NewCath put together its 75-yard scoring drive that featured a diving one-handed catch by senior wide receiver Louie Collopy and a 14-yard touchdown run by senior running back Kaleb Cole.
But Conner’s offense responded by going 90 yards in nine rushing plays, including a weaving 40-yard touchdown run by Hatfield that gave the Cougars a 21-7 halftime lead.
“He does all the right things,” coach Trosper said of Hatfield. “He was our guy last year and now its even better with what he’s doing. He just understands the schemes and what we want him to do. And he’s tough. I love tough guys. That’s what it’s all about.”
Conner’s two second-half touchdowns came on a 5-yard run by Hatfield and 10-yard run by junior Dion Abernathy that extended the lead to 35-7.
With 1:03 left on the clock, NewCath quarterback Emmanuel Miles threw a pass to wide receiver Grayden Schirmer, who turned it into 94-yard touchdown play.
Hatfield said the victory raises his team’s confidence, especially with him returning as the offensive leader.
“Our offensive line is amazing and we’re good at disguising the ball and who it’s going to,” Hatfield said. “And when you’ve got someone like Dion in the backfield with me, he’s such a good athlete that it makes me look even better.”
NEWCATH 0 7 0 7 — 14
CONNER 14 7 7 7 — 35
C — Wyatt Hatfield 16 run (Andrew Herron kick)
C — Hatfield 3 run (Herron kick)
NC — Kaleb Cole 14 run (Louie Collopy kick)
C — Hatfield 40 run (Herron kick)
C — Hatfield 5 run (Herron kick)
C — Dion Abernathy 10 run (Herron kick)
NC — Grayden Schirmer 94 pass from Emmanuel Miles (Collopy kick)
RECORDS: NewCath 3-1, Conner 3-1.
High school football scoreboard
FRIDAY GAMES
Ryle 34, Highlands 28 OT
Beechwood 35, Simon Kenton 23
Lloyd 38, Bardstown Bethlehem 6
Newport 24, Boone County 20
Conner 35, Newport Central Catholic 14
Cooper 42, Campbell County 0
Covington Catholic 47, Dixie Heights 28
Ludlow 61, Dayton 8
Scott 41, Holmes 6
Kentucky Country Day 64, Walton-Verona 13
Brossart 38, Nicholas County 12
SATURDAY GAME
Bellevue at Lynn Camp, cancelled