By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Over the last two seasons, Cooper football teams had a perfect 9-0 record against their Class 5A, District 6 opponents. In last year’s four games, the average margin of victory was 36.5 points.
The Jaguars are looking to continue their dominance in district play Friday when they visit Conner in a game between two teams with first-year head coaches.
Cooper is off to a 3-2 start under Adam Begley, who took over as head coach after spending 12 years as an assistant in the program.
The team’s game at Louisville Manual last Friday was interrupted by lightning and ended early with the home team posting a 6-0 win.
Conner is coming off a 47-0 loss to Simon Kenton that dropped the Cougars’ record to 1-4 under Chase Floyd, who took charge of the program after eight years on the coaching staff.
Both of the new head coaches opened the season with mostly first-year starters in their offensive defensive units. But Cooper pulled out three close victories against Christian County (28-21), Ryle (11-0) and Campbell County (21-14).
The Jaguars are averaging 260 yards per game with sophomore quarterback Zach Kostopoulos running the offense. The team’s senior standout is Corey Freihofer, who has team-high totals of 210 yards rushing, 180 yards receiving and six touchdowns in five games.
Freihofer scored all three of Cooper’s touchdowns in the overtime win against Campbell County. In an earlier victory over Ryle, he took direct snaps at quarterback and rushed for 43 yards during a 70-yard touchdown drive.
Conner’s lone victory came against Newport Central Catholic, 41-14, two weeks ago. In that game, junior quarterback Ethan Estvanko passed to 200 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 81 yards and one TD.
Last week, however, the Cougars were limited to less than 150 total yards and committed two turnovers in a scoreless loss to Simon Kenton. They’ll need a much better offensive performance to break Cooper’s district game win streak on Friday.
Scott (1-4) will visit Dixie Heights (1-4) in another Class 5A, District 6 game on Friday. Other teams facing district opponents are Beechwood, St. Henry and Walton-Verona in Class 2A and Highlands in Class 4A.
Lloyd defeated Pendleton County, xx-xx, in a Class 3A, District 5 game on Thursday. It was the Juggernauts’ 18th consecutive victory in regular season games played over three seasons.
Friday night football schedule
Cooper at Conner, 7 p.m.
Scott at Dixie Heights, 7 p.m.
Holmes at Jackson County, noon
Beechwood at Owen County, 7:30 p.m.
Bellevue at Ludlow, 7 p.m.
Louisville DeSales at Brossart, 7:30 p.m.
Louisville Central at Covington Catholic, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at Eminence, 7 p.m.
Harrison County at Highlands, 7 p.m.
Lexington Sayre at Newport, 7:30 p.m.
Ryle at Lexington Tates Creek, 7:30 p.m.
St. Henry at Gallatin County, 7:30 p.m.
Lexington Bryan Station at Simon Kenton, 7:30 p.m.
Bracken County at Walton-Verona, 7 p.m.
Northern Kentucky team records
Dayton 5-0
Lloyd 5-0
Beechwood 4-0
Holy Cross 4-0
Highlands 4-1
Walton-Verona 3-1
Covington Catholic 3-2
Simon Kenton 3-2
Brossart 3-2
Ludlow 3-2
Cooper 3-2
St. Henry 2-2
Newport 2-3
Boone County 2-3
Campbell County 2-3
Bellevue 1-3
Dixie Heights 1-4
Newport Central Catholic 1-4
Conner 1-4
Scott 1-4
Ryle 1-4