SPORTS
A10
South Kenton Recorder
October 13, 2011
| YOUTH | Editor Melanie Laughman | mlaughman@nky.com | 513-248-7573 HIGH
SCHOOL
RECREATIONAL
SOUTH KENTON Your Community Recorder newspaper serving Independence and Taylor Mill
N K Y. c o m
RECORDER
Eagles warm up for another tourney run By James Weber jweber@nky.com
TAYLOR MILL - Jared Wagner is getting his chance this year for the Scott High School boys soccer team. He knew he needed to step up this season after the graduation of last year’s deep senior group, including all-state forward Alec Robbins. A group that led Scott to the state semifinals. Wagner, a senior forward, has done so to the tune of 20 goals and 12 assists this season. “I feel good. Everyone’s working hard,” he said. “A lot of my goals have been created by my teammates, and I just finish it off with a touch.” Wagner and the Eagles entered the postseason with a 14-4-2 record after tying Highlands 2-2 Oct. 6 and beating Walton-Verona 6-1 Oct. 8. Scott was due to play in the 18th district semifinals Oct. 11 and potentially in the finals Oct. 13, all on the Eagles’ home field. “Jared is having an allstate year,” Scott head coach Casey Seibert said. “I’m going to nominate him. He should be first team allregion. There aren’t too many guys in Northern Kentucky who have 10plus goals and 10-plus assists. He’s a complete player.” The Eagles have 11 seniors this year who have been in the program for several years. All 11 were set to start against Walton-
JOSEPH FUQUA II/THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
Middle, from left, David and Laura Batson look on during a candlelight vigil in memory of their son Cameron at Scott High School Oct. 6 in Taylor Mill. JAMES WEBER/ THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
Scott junior Jacob Trusty heads the ball against Highlands. Highlands and Scott tied 2-2 Oct. 6.
Scott freshman Luke Treadway celebrates his goal on a penalty kick against Highlands.
Verona in their final regularseason game following a team dinner at Montgomery Inn the night before. In addition to Wagner, seniors are Jacob Anneken, Jacob Butler, Spencer Dummitt, Cameron Hart, Jimmy Hillman, Sean Marshall, Walker Mettens, Josh Schneider, Nick Schnieders, and Brad Seiter. “Some of these guys have been out here five or six years,” Seibert said. “I have one parent who has been in the program for 12 years. This is a big day because we have a lot of parents who have a lot of invested in it.” Said Wagner before Oct. 8: “We’re looking forward to Senior Night and after that we’ll be ready for districts. The four years have gone quick.”
Wagner had three goals last year for the Eagles, who graduated their top three scorers who combined for 55 goals. Fellow senior Sean Marshall, who also scored three times in 2010, has seven goals and 14 assists this season. Mettens has started at goalkeeper this year and allowed less than two goals a contest in replacing allstate pick Matt Kees. “He paid his dues but he knew this year he would get his opportunity to shine, and he has done great,” Seibert said. “The last six games or so he has taken ownership of what it means to be a senior. This is his team, and that’s the way a goalkeeper for me needs to act. He needs to be the director. I tell them they’re the quarterback of the
team.” Speedy freshman standout Luke Treadway has been a dangerous threat, posting 17 goals and 14 assists. Seibert said he could surpass 2011 graduate Robbins in the school record books. “He’s raw. His experience is strictly all club,” Seibert said. “His biggest learning curve is that at the high school level you have to work more because you won’t be on a team with allstars all around you. I see him breaking every Scott goals record. He works too hard not to get bunches of goal. He’s a really good kid.” The Eagles hope to be at their best heading into the postseason. They are looking for their third-straight district championship and to
Scott senior Jared Wagner (left) and Highlands sophomore John Michael Griffith eye the ball in the air.
Scott honors Batson On Oct. 6, Scott High School honored 2010 graduate Cameron Batson on the one-year anniversary of his death. The former Scott soccer died of sudden cardiac arrest during a pickup soccer game with former teammates. The community had a candlelight vigil for him before the team’s varsity game against Highlands. A sign honoring him is on the press box at the Scott soccer field and his jersey No. 11 is retired and honored behind the north goal. The Batson family qualify again for the Ninth Region tourney. Seibert said the team needs to close games out better to have a chance at a long postseason run. Against Highlands, a defensive lapse by Scott allowed Highlands to score the tying goal with a minute left. Wagner said he and the team will be ready. “I think we have a great
established “Cameron’s Cause” this year. The nonprofit organization raises money to purchase automated external defibrillators, portable devices that shock the heart into rhythm and might have saved Cameron’s life if one had been nearby. The organization has raised $30,000 to donate 21 devices to schools in the Kenton County School District. For more information on Cameron’s Cause, visit http://cameronkellybatsonarvd.com. team, and I expect to go just as far as last year, even farther,” Wagner said. “There’s no reason we can’t. We have the talent and the dedication.” See more sports coverage at www.cincinnati.com/blogs/pre sspreps, www. facebook.com/presspreps or visit James on Twitter at @RecorderWeber.
Tough schedule helps Ludlow in district play By Adam Turer presspreps@gmail.com
LUDLOW - The Ludlow Panthers bounced back just in time for district play, posting a big 21-7 win at Dayton on Oct. 7. After starting the season 1-4 against stiff competition, their second win of the season gives the Panthers hope that they can finish the season on a positive note. “We’ve been trying to tell them all year about playing a tough schedule and telling them that when we got to district play it would pay off,” said head coach Rick Hornsby Jr. of what he and his staff have been preaching to the play-
JAMES WEBER/ THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
JAMES WEBER/ THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
Ludlow senior Josh Steffen (21) and junior Christian Turvey defend a pass against Dayton.
Simon Kenton QB Jared Swanson tries to push away a Boone defender Oct. 7.
ers. “The kids have done a real good job of keeping a positive attitude each week.” In an unusual scheduling quirk for the program, the Panthers started the season
in Week Zero. Usually, the Class 1A school has a bye in the first week of the season and plays a second scrimmage, Hornsby said. With only one scrimmage under their belts, the Panthers
GREG LORING/FOR THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
took some lumps early. “We usually get that second scrimmage to see where we’re at as a team,” Hornsby said. “I think we’re getting better each week.” After starting 0-3, the
Week 7 results Newcath 45, Lloyd 14
The Juggernauts (3-4) fell behind 28-0 after one half of play against the undefeated Thoroughbreds (7-0). Quarterback Dexter Smith passed for 220 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score for the Juggernauts. Next up: Lloyd has a bye next week.
Campbell County 50, Dixie Heights 14
In one of the biggest shockers of the 2011 season, the Colonels (2-5) were crushed by the Camels (2-5). The loss sends Dixie to 1-1 in District 6, one game behind both Campbell County and Ryle. Zeke Pike threw for two touchdowns, but the Colonels allowed 508 rushing yards. Next up: Dixie Heights tries to get back on track at 7 p.m., Oct. 14, at Simon Kenton.
Beechwood 63, Bellevue 8
The Tigers (6-1) won their district opener in convincing fashion. Cameron Vocke scored on a 95-yard punt return, a 72-yard run, and a 52-yard reception to lead the rout. Quarterback Taylor Davis tossed four touchdown passes.
Next up: The Tigers host Dayton at 7:30 p.m. Oct.14.
Ludlow 21, Dayton 7
The Panthers (2-4) relied on a four-man rushing attack to defeat the Greendevils (16). Chris Yates, Mitchell Cody, Jake Kleier, and Josh Martin keyed the victory for Ludlow. Next up: The Panthers host Bellevue at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14.
Covington Catholic bye
The Colonels (5-2) had a bye and return to action at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14, at Harrison County.
Scott 63, Grant County 6
The Indians (5-2) had a bye and host Bishop Brossart (3-4) at 7 p.m. Oct. 14.
The Eagles (3-3) dominated from the opening kickoff, opening up a 35-6 halftime lead. While the offense put up season-high numbers, the defense held Grant County to just 174 total yards of offense. Scott is now 10 in District play. District play continues at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, when the Eagles host South Oldham.
Holmes 25, Harrison Co. 7
Boone County 24, Simon Kenton 6
Holy Cross bye
The Bulldogs improved to 4-3 with the win. Carlos Gipson passed for two first half touchdowns. After the Bulldogs had a 12-0 lead, the running game took over. Greg Clemons rushed 16 times for 133 yards and a touchdown and Jonathon Scruggs carried 13 times for 91 yards. Scruggs added a touchdown on a blocked punt recovery. Next up: The Bulldogs play at undefeated Highlands at 7 p.m. Oct. 14.
Simon Kenton (2-3) jumped out to an early lead, but the offense could not find the end zone and the defense could not pitch a shutout. Boone County (5-3) scored 24 unanswered points. Mikey Krallman recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for the Pioneers’ lone score. Jake Schneider blocked the punt. The Pioneers host Dixie Heights at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14.
Ludlow senior Jake Kleier (20) gains big yardage against Dayton Oct. 7. Ludlow beat Dayton 21-14 at Dayton’s Davis Field. coaching staff changed the way it runs practices. With so many players starting on both offense and defense, it is hard to have up-tempo, quality practices during the week. During the bye week after the 0-3 start, the Panthers started practicing with more energy. “We changed our philosophy in how we run practices,” Hornsby said. “We have been having more intense practices.” In addition to the intensity level of practices, the coaching staff also made another key change. The Panthers need to find more ways to get receiver Chris Yates involved in the offense. The moves have paid off. Yates posted a combined 540 all-purpose yards in losses to Newport and Nicholas County. Yates is also lining up in the backfield with Josh Martin and Jake Kleier in the Panthers’ power backfield formation. “We’ve got two backs who are about 210 pounds each, and Chris gives us somebody shifty and quick
back there,” Hornsby said. “We’re trying to come up with creative ways to get him the ball.” Yates has been putting up solid numbers at receiver, but has rarely seen one-onone coverage. It has been a challenge all year for quarterback Mitchell Cody to get Yates the ball when Yates is double, triple and sometimes quadruple covered. “I don’t think anybody in Northern Kentucky can cover him one-on-one,” Hornsby said. “He’s had four guys covering him at one point. If we can get him the ball in space, it’s a good thing for our offense.” District play continues this week in a key matchup with Bellevue. It should be a smashmouth game, with each team trying to grind out yards on the ground. The addition of Yates to the backfield gives Ludlow four rushing threats each time they line up in the power formation. “We want to keep the ball out of [Bellevue’s offense’s] hands,” Hornsby said. “Like us, they want to run the ball. We won’t be afraid to throw the ball, too." After breaking a twogame losing streak with the win over Dayton, the Panthers are eager to put together their first winning streak of 2011. “The kids bounced back from the Nicholas County loss,” Hornsby said. “We’re getting better each week.” The Panthers host Bellevue at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14.