By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Northern Kentucky high school football teams with first-year head coaches posted a 3-4 record in season-opening games last Friday. Cooper rallied from a 14-0 deficit to give its new head coach, Adam Begley, his first victory in a 28-21 thriller at Christian County.
The Jaguars face another tough road game Friday when they visit Highlands, a team that has beaten them four of the last five years. Highlands opened the season with a 41-21 loss at Frederick Douglass last week.
Cooper has mostly first-year starters in the lineup. One of them is sophomore Zach Kostopoulos, who is succeeding the team’s record-setting quarterback Cam O’Hara.
Kostopoulos completed 6 of 13 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown in his varsity debut. The Jaguars also rushed for 130 yards. Senior wide receiver Corey Freihofer caught a 31-yard TD pass and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the victory.
The Cooper defense had nine tackles for a loss and forced three turnovers. The team leader was senior linebacker Christian Inabnit with 10 tackles.
Highlands had 315 total yards in its loss to Frederick Douglass last week. Sophomore quarterback Bryce Armstrong passed for 157 yards and rushed for 80 in his first start for the Bluebirds.
The game was tied, 21-21, going into the fourth quarter and Frederick Douglass scored 21 unanswered points to come away with the victory. Highlands committed two turnovers during the final period.
In another local game on Friday, Beechwood plays its season opener against Indian Hill, one of the top Division III teams in Ohio. Covington Catholic, Dixie Heights and Simon Kenton also have games against Ohio opponents.
Friday night football schedule
Indian Hill (Ohio) at Beechwood, 7:30 p.m.
Nicholas County at Bellevue, 7:30 p.m.
Boone County at St. Henry, 7 p.m.
Brossart at Lexington Sayre, 7:30 p.m.
Pulaski Southwestern at Campbell County, 7:30 p.m.
Ryle at Conner, 7 p.m.
Cooper at Highlands, 7 p.m.
Cincinnati Elder (Ohio) at Covington Catholic, 7 p.m.
Dayton at Pendleton County, 7:30 p.m.
Dixie Heights at Hamilton Badin (Ohio), 7 p.m.
Holmes at Ludlow, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at Bracken County, 7:30 p.m.
Newport at Lloyd, 7 p.m.
Newport Central Catholic at Paintsville, 7:30 p.m.
Scott at Bullitt Central, 7:30 p.m.
Western Brown (Ohio) at Simon Kenton, 7 p.m.