By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Newport and Dixie Heights made it to the second round of the Kentucky high school football playoffs by beating higher seeded district opponents last week. Both teams will now face the top seed in their district this Friday and pulling off another upset would send shock waves through out the state.
Newport (8-3) visits Beechwood (6-5), ranked No. 9 in the final regular season Class 2A state coaches poll. Over the last three years, Beechwood won 13 consecutive playoff games to claim Class 1A state titles.
Dixie Heights (5-6) goes to Simon Kenton (7-4), ranked No. 8 in Class 6A by the coaches poll. The Pioneers have made it to the quarterfinals of the large-school playoffs the last three years and reached the semifinals in 2015.
Three weeks ago, Beechwood’s defense limited Newport to 128 total yards in a 38-0 shutout. The Wildcats had a week off after that loss and opened the playoffs with a 28-16 win over Lloyd.
Newport senior quarterback Kaleal Davis passed for 168 yards and three touchdowns in that win. He also rushed for 57 yards and one TD. Beechwood’s defense will be focused on containing him, like it did three weeks ago.
Simon Kenton defeated Dixie Heights, 43-27, during the regular season, but the Colonels have come on strong since then and take a three-game winning streak into Friday’s rematch.
In an 18-6 win over Ryle last week, Dixie Heights had a balanced offense with Logan Landers passing for 114 yards and Leon Marshall rushing for 117. The defense did its part by intercepting two passes and returning a fumble for a touchdown.
The biggest game on Friday’s playoff schedule will be Conner (8-3) at Covington Catholic (11-0). In the final state coaches poll, CovCath was No. 1 and Conner was No. 9 in Class 5A, so their playoff game could be much closer than the top-ranked Colonels’ 45-7 win on Oct. 25.
Conner senior quarterback Jared Hicks has passed for 2,605 yards and 22 touchdowns with only six interceptions. If he has a big game like he did in his team’s 38-28 win over Highlands last week, CovCath will have a hard time outscoring the Cougars.
Hicks has a couple of added incentives to do well in Friday’s game. He needs 98 passing yards to break his team’s single-season record of 2,702 and Conner coach Dave Trosper needs a win to reach 100 in his career.
Friday’s district football finals
CLASS 1A
District 4 — Ludlow (8-3) at Newport Central Catholic (9-2), 7 p.m.
District 5 — Brossart (7-4) at Nicholas County (8-3), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 2A
District 5 — Owen County (4-7) at Walton-Verona (7-4), 7:30 p.m.
District 6 — Newport (8-3) at Beechwood (6-5), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 4A
District 6 — Scott (7-4) at Holmes (8-3), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 5A
District 5 — Conner (8-3) at Covington Catholic (11-0), 7 p.m.
CLASS 6A
District 6 — Dixie Heights (5-6) at Simon Kenton (7-4), 7 p.m.