By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
With high temperatures and humidity lingering in the area, starting times were moved back to 8 p.m. for most high school football games on Friday’s schedule to contend with heat index regulations established by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
The KHSAA requires all outdoor activities to be stopped if the heat index rises above 104 degrees. If the heat index is 100 degrees to 104 degrees, mandatory water breaks are required every 30 minutes that allow for 10 minutes of hydration. A heat index combines temperature and humidity to determine how hot it actually feels.
How the heat will impact Friday’s games remains to be seen. The one drawing the most interest is Covington Catholic at Highlands. That will be the first non-district game between the long-time rivals in decades and both teams are coming off impressive wins in their season-openers.
A couple of career milestones are within reach in the Conner at Ryle game. Dave Trosper will be going for his 100th win as Conner’s head coach and Ryle senior quarterback Logan Verax needs just 44 passing yards to reach the 5,000 mark.
Conner won its opening game last Friday to give Trosper a 99-84 record in his 17th season with the program. During his tenure, the Cougars have a 4-12 record against Ryle and three of those wins came on their home field.
Verax entered the season with 4,690 career passing yards. He threw for 266 yards in a loss to Covington Catholic last week to lift his total to 4,956. In the Raiders’ record book, the only quarterback ahead of Verax in that category is Tanner Morgan with 5,421 passing yards.
Last year, Verax played a major role in his team’s 21-7 win over Conner. He passed for 99 yards and two touchdowns and scored a rushing touchdown for the Raiders.
In another interesting matchup on Friday, Walton-Verona will be going for its first win against Newport Central Catholic in a game being played at CovCath.
The Bearcats have an 0-6 record in the series that began with two season-ending losses to the Thoroughbreds in the 2012 and 2013 Class 2A playoffs. NewCath won regular season games between the teams the last four years to extend the streak.
Last week, Lloyd ended its 24-game losing streak against NewCath with a 24-7 victory. It was the first time the two teams played since 2018. The Juggernauts’ last win in the off-and-on series came in 1991.
Lloyd has a home game against Boone County on Friday. That’s one of three matchups between local teams that have 1-0 records. The others are Beechwood at Campbell County and CovCath at Highlands.
Last week, Highlands senior quarterback Brody Benke had 347 yards in total offense, including a 42-yard pass reception. The other quarterbacks who put up good numbers in combined rushing and passing yards were Evan Pitzer of CovCath (334) and Nathan Smith of Campbell County (252).
Beechwood junior quarterback Clay Hayden completed 20 of 26 passes for 262 yards and one touchdown in a victory that extended the Tigers’ win streak to 11 games over the last two seasons.
High school football schedule
FRIDAY GAMES
Covington Catholic at Highlands, 8 p.m.
Beechwood at Campbell County, 8 p.m.
Lexington Henry Clay at Cooper, 8 p.m.
Conner at Ryle, 8 p.m.
Boone County at Lloyd, 8 p.m.
Newport at Holmes, 8 p.m.
North Bullitt at Scott, 8 p.m.
Dixie Heights at Hughes (Ohio), 7 p.m.
Bethel-Tate (Ohio) at Brossart, 8 p.m.
Simon Kenton at Woodford County, 9:30 p.m.
Pendleton County at Dayton, 8 p.m.
Bellevue at Trimble County, 8 p.m.
Holy Cross vs. Dohn Community (Ohio) at TMU, 8 p.m.
Walton-Verona vs. Newport Catholic at CovCath, 8 p.m.
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