Ryle and Conner both dropped to 1-4 after shutout losses Friday, Sept. 18, as Boone County area football teams hit their roughest stretch of the young season.
Highlands, ranked No. 1 in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) Class 4A poll, rolled past Ryle 28-0 in a game called at halftime because of lightning. Simon Kenton buried Conner 47-0 at Chlorine Menefee Stadium in a contest that stretched past four hours with a nearly two-hour weather delay. Boone County lost to Mason County, and Cooper's game at DuPont Manual was canceled because of the storms.
Highlands 28, Ryle 0
Highlands sophomore quarterback Bryce Armstrong threw for 122 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 60 yards and another score before the weather ended the night early. Tayden Lorenzen added 42 rushing yards and a touchdown. Cale Harris and Dom Listerman caught the scoring passes.
The Bluebirds' defense was just as dominant, recording six tackles for loss and four sacks in the first half alone. Jimi Cox led with two sacks. Gabe Williams had three tackles for loss.
Ryle has now been shut out in three consecutive games. The Raiders, who reached the Class 6A state semifinals last season with a 10-4 record, have scored just six points in their four losses this year. Coach Mike Engler's squad lost most of its starters from that run, including running back Jacob Savage and quarterback Nathan Verax.
In an August preseason preview, Engler told the Northern Kentucky Tribune he expected the young roster to surprise people. "I think we're going to be pretty good," he said then. "If we stay healthy, we've got a chance to be really good."
Five weeks in, the Raiders have yet to find it.
Simon Kenton 47, Conner 0
Simon Kenton quarterback Grant Webb went 13-for-21 for 196 yards and three touchdowns, as first reported by LINK nky. Receiver Forest Hughes caught five passes for 43 yards and two scores. Running back Peyton Testerman added two rushing touchdowns.
The Pioneers piled up 381 total yards, averaging 8.6 yards per snap. Conner managed just 126 yards on 56 plays.
First-year Conner coach Chase Floyd said the delay wasn't the problem.
"I don't think the delay hurt us. I think we just came out, and we were flat," Floyd said. "We really didn't respond well to adversity, so I have to do a better job of getting them to play better through adversity."
The loss stung after a strong Week 4, when the Cougars beat Newport Central Catholic 41-14 for Floyd's first varsity coaching win.
Around the area
Boone County fell to 2-3 after a 38-26 loss to Mason County. Malik Johnson ran for 191 yards and a touchdown for the Rebels, and quarterback Asa LeGrand threw three touchdown passes to Amare Newberry (two) and William Randall. Three turnovers proved costly.
Cooper stayed at 3-1 after its game at DuPont Manual was canceled.
What's next
District play opens this week. Cooper travels to Conner. Ryle heads to Lexington Tates Creek on Friday, Sept. 25. Boone County has a bye before hosting Conner on Friday, Oct. 2.
