The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • B1

AUGUST17, 1B AUGUST17, AUGUST17, PORTS HIGH OMMUNITY RECORDER Editor: Melanie Laughman, 513-248-7573 BEATCANCER TheChristHospital.com/BeatCancer KICKOFF FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON PARK HILLS Virtually every part of Covington Catholic High School has changed and been remodeled in recent years. The biggest and most visible changes will be on display this month, when Friday Night Lights come to campus in a permanent way. New permanent lights, the first set of LED lights in Kentucky, according to the school, will allow the football team to play on Friday nights at home instead of Saturday afternoons. The soccer programs will also have fewer restrictions on their home schedule, where in the past they had earlier kickoffs. Last year, the school used temporary rental structures for most of the football season.

The school is also honoring the 50th anniversary of football during the season. pretty special to have our 50th anniversary coincide with the new said CovCath Athletic Director Tony Bacigalupo. so many exciting things going on here at Covington Catholic. A proud tradition we have academically and athletically, a great time for celebration for our past, present and future. The lights are absolutely Covington Catholic High School will celebrate the newly completed Dennis Griffin Stadium Friday with a dedication at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity home football game with Ryle, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

The school has had football and soccer scrimmages under the lights, and was set to have several regular-season soccer games during the week of Aug. 14, when CovCath hosts the Colonel Cup showcase tournament. The $2.6 Million stadium renovation project has provided new stands, a new pressbox, a new turf field (partially funded by a $200,000 NFL Foundation Grassroots Grant) and permanent lighting to enable evening events in the stadium, a first in Cov- 92-year history. The stadium represents one significant part of an overall $7.6 Million scope Future: A Blueprint for capital campaign (Phase I), which also includes the Yung Family Tennis Complex (completed and dedicated in the spring of 2016), as well as construction (currently underway) of a new academic building (to house the STEM program, drama and music classes, and provide a new 200-person classroom auditorium) and a south campus building addition with many benefits including flexible expansion of the cafeteria space as and for various gatherings. The campaign reached its Phase I goal of $7.6 million by June 30, 2016.

The Diocese of Covington reviewed and approved the project to begin initial steps of construction, starting with the stadium renovations, and followed by the construction of the new academic wing and south campus building additions. After 50 years of football, Covington Catholic debuts stadium lights ALEX VEHR FOR ENQUIRER MEDIA Covington A.J. Mayer scrambles in the first half Friday Night. James Weber INDEPENDENCE The Simon Kenton football team has a starting quarterback that is both old and new. Senior Matt Shearer returns under center for the Pioneers, who look to continue an outstanding run of success under head coach Jeff Marksberry.

SK was 11-2 last season, losing 63-42 to Lafayette in the Class 6A state quarterfinals. That continued a run of success which has won double-digit games four straight seasons, going 47-6 overall in that span and 56-10 the previous five years. The Pioneers are the highest ranked local team in various state coaches poll, including sixth in the Courier-Journal rankings. Shearer was a big part of last success, A tall thrower at 6-foot-4, Shearer threw for 1,338 yards and 13 TDs. That performance was as a backup to multiyear starter Cameron Racke, who graduated and is now a freshman with Wofford.

Shearer played roughly a third of the snaps but it was team. Now his, and Shearer is embracing the new role and the responsibility that comes with it. He had a smaller playbook last year but not now. One key difference is he have to call many running plays in read- based ground scheme. a lot of he said.

not just going out there and throwing it around. I have to make all the reads and be a leader more. on me now. exciting, a little nervous. Cam was really good and he took a lot of that pressure off Shearer threw for more than 200 yards in a scrimmage against Louisville St.

Xavier Aug. 11. SK returns five starters on offense and four on defense. Shearer has some key weapons returning, including junior running back Jon Sergent, who rushed for 741 yards and nine TDs, averaging more than 10 yards per carry. Seniors receivers Sam Murray and Fisher Hayden return.

Hayden caught 745 yards and 11 touchdowns and has big-play capability. He had three TDs against St. last week. Will Parks, a senior running back who missed all of last season to injury, returns after some big contributions in 2015. The line has three anchors in seniors Noah Turner, Sam Holt and Tanner Mueller.

Mueller played defense last year. Seniors Jaren Cooper and Brayden Trattles lead the defense in the secondary. Cooper had four interceptions and Trattles had three including two for Shearer ready to take reins for Kenton James Weber The 50th season will be special for Covington Catholic football no matter what. The whole season will be a celebration of school history outside the white lines of the Griffith Stadium field. Ultimately, head coach Eddie Eviston and his coaches and players are hoping for a great product on the playing field as well.

awesome to have the 50th anniversary of CovCath football and our rich said Eviston. kids have embraced the whole idea and excited about representing CovCath. a very exciting time for our The Colonels are coming off one of their best overall season since their 2006 state championship year, going 9-4 and reaching the third round of the Class 5A playoffs. Along the way, they snapped a 10-year long losing streak to rival Highlands. This year, about being the hunted locally and continuing to hunt the powers of 5A state wide as they look to get to at least the semifinals for the first time since that 2006 title year.

early. too early to tell the type of team Eviston said. lot of coaches can say that. But the one thing I do know is the guys are working hard and doing what asked them to do. get tested this Friday and then obviously a really big test to start our season.

Abig part of the history and hopes ride behind senior quarterback AJ Mayer, who threw for 2,461 yards and 20 touchdowns last year and rushed for 513 and 11. The third-year starter stands 6-3, 200, and is ready to step it up even more this done very Eviston said. being a three-year starter, knowing the offense. taking more steps forward with his knowledge of the offense. Plus, with every- one around him who knows the offense, that has raised his play.

really sharp right now and expecting him to lead us Casey McGinness, a runner who made a name for himself in the playoffs in the 2015 playoffs as a freshman, returns after a strong sophomore campaign in which he rushed for 1,338 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also had 313 yards of receptions and was a dangerous kick returner. Grant Dyer is also a veteran back and he has Division I offers from the Ivy League. Jack Coldiron and Malachi Pike are veteran receivers. Senior Kam Butler and senior Sam Schuh will also look to contribute as targets.

The offensive line is a preseason priority. The Colonels only have one returning starter, senior Jack Maile, but he has missed the preseason with injury. biggest thing is up Eviston said. be young and inexperienced up front but the guys we have up there are working Butler, a senior, has committed to Miami University as well, on defense. He can play outside linebacker, inside linebacker and defensive end, but his best fit is inside, where he can put teammates in the right spots.

harder for offenses to run plays away from him. Butler is a playmaker, one of the leading tacklers. He had three defensive touchdowns and eight sacks last year. Dixie Heights Last record: 6-6 round of 6A playoffs. Coach David Brossart (6th season, 33-29).

Returning players Sr Brandon Barker, Sr Kairus Washington, Sr. OL Garrett Vanlandingham. Outlook The Colonels lost all of their leading yard-gainers and tacklers but have 17 seniors and some experienced players coming back, including six seniors on their offensive Mayer, CovCath ready for big season James Weber.