Highlands offensive coordinator Hayden Sphire told Tayden Lorenzen to “take over the game.” Lorenzen did. He scored three touchdowns in the Bluebirds’ 28-24 win over Ryle on Friday at David Cecil Memorial Stadium. “I love it,” Lorenzen said. “It means a lot, and if that is the only thing that’s working in the moment, that’s what we’re gonna […]
Author Archives: Ray Schaefer
Posted inSports
Conner shuts out Cooper, clinches 33rd District tournament top seed
“I’m lovin’ it!” Conner girls soccer coach Mike Hughes screamed Wednesday. The Cougars on Cooper’s pitch surely enjoyed it, too – Ella Folke’s goal in the 42nd minute was the only score they needed to defeat the Jaguars, 1-0. Besides Conner improving its record to 12-4 (and 3-0 in the 33rd District), there was a second reason […]
Posted inSports
CovCath not thinking about a third straight 2A cross country title
Covington Catholic’s football team won three state titles from 1993-95, and the Colonels’ tennis team accomplished the same from 2023 to last June. CovCath’s cross country squad would match those feats with a third consecutive state boys Class 2A team championship Nov. 1 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The Colonels are ranked fourth […]
Posted inVolleyball
Brossart, Beechwood to represent NKY at All “A” state volleyball tournament
Bishop Brossart has been to 16 previous state All “A” girls volleyball tournaments, while Beechwood has only been to one. The 10th Region champion Lady ‘Stangs and Ninth Region-winning Tigers will represent Northern Kentucky when the 2025 small-school tournament begins Friday in Owensboro. They seek something neither team has done – an All “A” state championship. […]
Posted inSports
NewCath shuts out Boone County for first win
Newport Central Catholic had just shut out Boone County, 40-0 Friday at Covington Catholic, but senior Eddie Bivens didn’t bestow an “A” grade. “I’d say ‘C’ ‘cause we’ve got more to prove,” Bivens said. “It ain’t a state championship yet.” NewCath’s offense looked better than average. Senior quarterback Manny Miles threw for 151 yards and three touchdowns […]
Posted inSoccer
Simon Kenton shuts out Notre Dame, Johnson earns 100th career win
“It is your turn. You deserve this.” Simon Kenton girls soccer coach Hillary Johnson said that at halftime of Wednesday’s game against Notre Dame. The Pioneers, ranked sixth in the initial Kentucky Girls High School Soccer Coaches Association Top 25, listened – they ended 23 seasons of setbacks and handed the Pandas a 2-0 shutout […]
Posted inFootball
Juggernauts roll past Newport in running-clock win
As Dave Barger sat in the top row at Newport Stadium Friday, he hoped his grandson, Lloyd Memorial sophomore Colten Barger, would have a good game. Barger the younger – and the rest of the Juggernauts – absolutely did, a 46-6 running-clock win over the Wildcats. Deciding who the star of the game was a challenging choice. […]
Posted inSoccer
Simon Kenton seniors lead Pioneers to an 8-0-1 start
Quickly, name a four-syllable reason Simon Kenton’s girls soccer team is 8-0-1 so far this season. The answer: seniority. The Pioneers are off to their best start in coach Hillary Johnson’s three-plus years in Independence and best start since 2015 (when they started 8-0) thanks largely to 10 seniors – Ella Smith, Reese Johnson, Alexis […]
Posted inSports
Like parents, like son: Cooper’s Van Laningham goes for another cross-country gold
At first, Paul Van Laningham followed his older brother Luke to Cooper’s cross country practices and meets. Van Laningham’s a senior for the Jaguars now, and much of Kentucky follows him. He’s the defending boys Class 3A state champion, and if he wins the biggest-school race in November, he’ll be the first 3A boy to […]
Posted inFootball
Holy Cross spoils St. Henry’s inaugural game
It was 81 minutes before St. Henry’s inaugural football game Friday against Holy Cross, and Crusaders coach Tim Odom sweat so profusely, he had to change shirts. In the student section, St. Henry senior Paige Von Eye and a few hundred of her closest friends joyfully wore red t-shirts. “The environment was excited,” she said. […]
