Northern Kentucky high school football: A look at Class 5A in 2023
Across Greater Cincinnati, high school sports teams officially began practicing on Aug. 1 in anticipation of another fall season. Before long, football stadiums will be lit up every Friday night.
As the season draws closer, The Enquirer is providing previews of 10 conferences in Southwest Ohio, all six classes in Northern Kentucky, and three teams in Southeast Indiana.
Here is a preview of Kentucky's Class 5A. Scott replaces Covington Catholic in the second-largest division this year, while the other five teams move from District 5 to District 6.
Northern Kentucky high school football: A look at Class 1A in 2023
Boone County Rebels
2022: 3-7
Coach: Bryson Warner (five seasons, 84-86)
Top returning players: QB Jamarion Hocker, RB/DB Antonio Chandler, RB/LB Josh Wick, RB/DB Jayden Jackson, TE/DE Andrew Liebfarth, OL/DL Shaun Roberts
Outlook for 2023: The Rebels have seen an uptick in wins since reclassifying to Class 5A in 2019. Many of Boone County's playmakers are seniors this year, giving the Rebels a prime opportunity to cash in on experience and talent.
Quarterback Jamarion Hocker threw for 1,430 yards, rushed for 341 yards and scored accounted for 14 touchdowns last year. Josh Wick and Jayden Jackson will have to step up in the backfield after several of the team's leading rushers graduated. Andrew Liebfarth and Shaun Roberts return to lead a defense that only registered one sack in 2022, per the team's official stats report. That number will have to increase for a team that allowed 18 points per game in three wins, but 38 points per game in seven losses.
The Rebels' non-district schedule includes contests against Holmes, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Walton-Verona, and a neighborhood contest with Lloyd Memorial.
Games to watch: Aug. 18 vs. Holmes; Sep. 15 vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sep. 22 vs. Scott; Oct. 27 at Walton-Verona
Conner Cougars
2022: 2-9, lost in the first round of the state playoffs
Coach: James Trosper (17 years, 111-111)
Top returning players: RB Cordion Abernathy, RB/LB Adam Duncan, WR/DB Elian Ruzindana, WR/DB Elliot Bucher, WR/TE/LB Ben Fay, OL/DL Brayton Haaser
Outlook for 2023: Head coach James Trosper, the longest-tenured coach of the six teams on this list, will look to return Conner to the winning ways he has experienced in the majority of his time in Hebron. It will be a tall task after the graduation of leading passer, Brennan Kahle, leading rusher Daven Kurtz, and four of last year's top seven tacklers.
The ground game has been a point of emphasis for Trosper in recent years, out-gaining the passing offense in four of the last five seasons. Running backs Cordion Abernathy and Adam Duncan will lead the rushing effort, but a quarterback will need to emerge to balance out the offense. Andrew Herron and Wyatt Hatfield each completed passes in 2022; Hatfield is listed as a quarterback on this year's roster and Herron is listed as a kicker.
Duncan will also play a key role on offense, teaming up with Ben Fay and Brayton Haaser. If the Cougars wish to improve on their 2-9 record, the defense cannot be Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. They allowed 21 points per game in the first half of the season before surrendering an average of 44 points in the final five contests.
Games to watch: Aug. 25 at Ryle; Sep. 22 at Scott; Sep. 29 vs. Cooper; Oct. 20 at Boone County
Cooper Jaguars
2022: 6-5, lost in the first round of the state playoffs
Coach: Randy Borchers (16 years, 91-101)
Top returning players: QB Cam O'Hara, TE/LB Austin Alexander, RB/ DL Michael Mulvihill, RB Keagan Maher, RB Elijah Laurent, WR Isaiah Johnson, WR/LB Mason Stanton, OL/LB Jack Lonaker
'We're really excited': Cooper football counters tough schedule with talented roster
Outlook for 2023: Cooper put together another tough schedule this year, starting off with Class 4A state runner-up Bardstown. They also have their Battle of Union rivalry against Ryle, a game the Jaguars haven't won since 2015, as well as an always-physical matchup with Campbell County.
But head coach Randy Borchers has a roster as talented as any in his career at Cooper. Sophomore quarterback Cam O'Hara headlines the offense. His only college offer right now is from Miami (Ohio), but he is sure to receive plenty more. The backfield will have a triple-headed threat in Keagan Maher, Elijah Laurent, and two-way impact player Michael Mulvihill. Catching O'Hara's passes will be juniors Isaiah Johnson and Austin Alexander, who has 11 college offers as an edge rusher.
The Jaguars also return their top two tacklers on defense in Alexander and Jack Lonaker. Mulvihill also recorded 105 tackles as a sophomore at Blanchester. Cooper will certainly be a team to watch this season; the only question is how they respond to such a tough schedule.
Games to watch: Aug. 18 at Bardstown; Sep 1 at Ryle; Sep. 8 vs. Campbell County; Sep. 22 vs. Highlands
Dixie Heights Colonels
2022: 3-8, lost in the first round of the state playoffs
Coach: Patrick Burke (two years, 32-27)
Top returning players: QB Armani Gregg, RB David Anderson, RB/FB Grant Johnson, WR Grimm Rosenberg, WR Jonas McDaniel, TE/LB Brach Rice, LB Bryce Sizemore, LB Blake Dodds, DB Kabanza Mwamba, S Miguel Rodriguez, S Max Neal, S Carter Schroer
Outlook for 2023: The biggest thing the Colonels need to do to find success this year is balance out their offensive and defensive output. Led by quarterback Armani Gregg, running back David Anderson, and receiver Grimm Rosenberg, Dixie should match or exceed its 22 points per game from a year ago.
The defense, featuring Miami (Ohio) commit Brach Rice, Bryce Sizemore, and Miguel Rodriguez, will have to allow far fewer than 40 points per game for the Colonels to improve on their 3-8 record. All three players who recorded an interception for Dixie return as part of a deep secondary that features Rodriguez, Kabanza Mwamba, Max Neal and Carter Schroer.
Second-year head coach Patrick Burke has a talented roster that can take this team places. The Colonels will have to rise to the challenge of playing Simon Kenton, Beechwood, Covington Catholic and Ryle in the non-district schedule as they search for their first winning season since 2021 when they were in Class 6A.
Games to watch: Sep. 1 vs. Beechwood; Sep. 8 at Covington Catholic; Sep. 22 vs. Boone County; Oct. 13 vs. Scott
Highlands Bluebirds
2022: 9-3, advanced to the second round of the state playoffs
Coach: Robert Sphire (three years, 293-112)
Top returning players: QB Brody Benke, RB Cameron Geisler, RB/DB Nate Welch, RB/ DL Carson Shelton, WR/DB Carson Class, WR Davis Hinegardner, WR Matteo Matteoli, TE/DL Luke Schneider, LB Leo Fenik, LB Christian Stojkovic
Outlook for 2023: All eyes will be on Highlands as the defending Class 5A, District 6 champion. A wealth of talent returns in the form of quarterback Brody Benke (2,170 passing yards and 24 touchdowns in 2022), running back Cameron Geisler (641 rushing yards) and Carson Shelton (31 tackles and 3.5 sacks last year).
Myriad weapons mean that the Bluebirds will once again have a high-flying offense. Robert Sphire's team scored 40 or more points in seven games last year, including a streak of four games where they averaged 55 points per game. The defense, led by Shelton, Luke Schneider, Leo Fenik, and Christian Stojkovic, only gave up 19 points per game in 2022 but did allow 40 points in three different games.
Highlands' schedule may be just as tough as Cooper's, highlighted by road games at Lexington Catholic and Raceland, and home games against Covington Catholic and Ryle.
Games to watch: Aug. 18 at Lexington Catholic; Aug. 25 vs. Covington Catholic; Sep. 8 vs. Ryle; Sep. 22 at Cooper
Scott Eagles
2022: 4-7, lost in the first round of the state playoffs
Coach: Steve Hensley (first season, 17-15)
Top returning players: QB Jordan Goff, WR Dylan Giffen, WR/DB Kaymon Coleman, RB/LB Mason Rue, TE Boomer Klusman, K Charlie Woodring, LB/DB Carter Sackett, OL/DL Nate Marshall, OL/DL Mason Krentz
Outlook for 2023: There is a laundry list of challenges facing the Eagles heading into the season. They graduated quarterback Dasani Lane and lead running back Bennie Hill, opening up position battles at both spots. Head coach Jake Owens, who was hired in February, resigned three weeks before the start of the season due to a family emergency. Finally, Scott moved from Class 4A to the larger Class 5A, now playing Dixie Heights, Cooper and Highlands each year as district opponents.
If anyone can handle these challenges, it's new head coach Steve Hensley. He rebuilt a Ludlow program that had lost 31 straight games before his arrival in 2003. He also has experience as the athletic director at Campbell County.
Jordan Goff and Trey Cook, who combined for 148 passing yards in 2022, will battle for the quarterback job. They could end up splitting time. In the absence of Bennie Hill, a 1,448-yard rusher last year, ground gains will be by committee, with senior Mason Rue leading the charge. Thankfully, they will have linemen Nate Marshall and Mason Krentz to protect them.
The Eagles' non-district schedule features North Bullitt, who is also in Class 5A, as well as Campbell County, Holmes, and a pair of 2022 state semifinalists in Newport Central Catholic and Lloyd Memorial.
Games to watch: Aug. 25 vs. North Bullitt; Sep. 8 at Holmes; Oct. 13 at Dixie Heights; Oct. 27 vs. Lloyd Memorial
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 2023 Northern Kentucky high school football: Class 5A preview
