By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
After back-to-back losses on the road, Holy Cross football coach Curt Spencer wanted his players to turn the page and focus on their first Class 1A district game against Brossart on Friday at Thomas More University.
“I told them the first six games of the year are scrimmages,” Spencer said. “This is when it starts. Our second straight district title is what we want.”
The Indians responded with a 41-14 victory over Brossart that lifted their record to 5-2.
They scored on the opening kickoff, got three touchdowns following takeaways and put together two drives that reached the end zone to surpass 40 points for the third time this season.
“We all stayed connected on all levels,” said Holy Cross junior quarterback Brian Ferguson.
“Our linemen were blocking perfectly, running backs were finding the holes and then my receivers we’re doing good, getting open and catching the ball. When all that happens, we’re all good.”
Holy Cross junior Xavier Thornberry returned the opening kickoff 92 yards to begin the Indians’ scoring spree. Ferguson then scored three rushing touchdowns that put his team ahead 28-0 at halftime.
Ferguson’s last two TD runs came after an interception return to 20-yard line and a fumbled punt recovery at the 4-yard line in the final seconds of the first half.
In the third quarter, Ferguson connected with senior tight end Max Hunt on a 35-yard touchdown pass. After another pass interception, senior running back Dustin Wilson capped the scoring with a 3-yard run late in the fourth quarter.
Holy Cross finished with just 206 total yards (129 rushing, 77 passing) because each of the three turnovers gave the Indians great field position close to the end zone.
Coach Spencer said he had to adjust the Holy Cross defensive unit because of an injury that sidelined senior end Jacob Rieselman. The Indians still managed to limit Brossart to 249 total yards (169 rushing, 80 passing).
“Two of our starting defensive guys are freshmen,” Spencer said. “One of the kids who had an interception is a freshman. We’ve got some good kids who are young.”
Brossart senior quarterback Landon Spaulding did all of his team’s scoring with two touchdown runs and a two-point conversion run. He needed to step up because the Mustangs played most of the second half without leading pass receiver Brady Boruske and leading tackler Quinten Tischner, who left the game with injures.
“I’m proud of our boys the way they finished,” said Brossart coach Jacob Martin. “With two of our top seniors and captains being out, we kept fighting. Things just didn’t go our way.”
BROSSART 0 0 6 8 — 14
HOLY CROSS 14 14 7 6 — 41
HC — Xavier Thornberry 92 kickoff return (Gabriel Romito kick)
HC — Brian Ferguson 5 run (Romito kick)
HC — Ferguson 17 run (Romito kick)
HC — Ferguson 4 run (Romito kick)
BR — Landon Spaulding 14 run (kick failed)
HC — Max Hunt 35 pass from Ferguson (Romito kick)
BR — Spaulding 1 run (Spaulding run)
HC — Dustin Wilson 3 run (kick failed)
RECORDS: Holy Cross 5-2, 1-0; Brossart 3-4, 0-1.
High school football scoreboard
THURSDAY SCORES
Scott 43, Boone County 21
Dixie Heights 44, Conner 8
Lloyd 14, Henry County 7
FRIDAY SCORES
Beechwood 62, St. Henry 0
Dayton 42, Bellevue 6
Holy Cross 41, Brossart 14
Ryle 13, Campbell County 6
Indianapolis Cathedral 28, Covington Catholic 20
Cincinnati Elder 30, Highlands 27
Newport Central Catholic 17, Newport 6
Great Crossing 21,Simon Kenton 14
Walton-Verona 58, Gallatin County 0
SATURDAY GAME
Ohio County at Holmes, 3 p.m.