If you spent any time on the sidelines in Boone, Kenton, or Campbell counties this past November, you know the vibe. It’s that specific kind of cold that bites through your Carhartt while you’re trying to keep track of a scoreboard that seems to be moving faster than the kids on the field.
Northern KY football scores are always a bit of a rollercoaster, but the 2025 season felt like someone cranked the intensity dial up to ten. We saw perennial powerhouses like Highlands and Beechwood hit some unexpected turbulence, while teams like Cooper and Ryle proved that the "big school" balance of power in the state might finally be shifting toward the 859 area code.
The Class 6A Chaos: Ryle and Simon Kenton
Let's talk about the big boys first. Class 6A in Northern Kentucky usually feels like a gauntlet, and this year was no different. Ryle really established themselves as the team to beat in the region early on.
I remember looking at the bracket when they drew Ballard in the second round. People were nervous. Ballard is fast. But Ryle basically took the air out of the ball and dismantled them 41-20. Then they went up against Frederick Douglass—a team that usually treats NKY schools like a warm-up—and pulled off a 28-27 nail-biter. It was one of those games where you couldn't breathe in the fourth quarter.
Ultimately, the Raiders ran into the South Warren buzzsaw in the state semifinals, falling 36-20. It's tough, honestly. You play a near-perfect season and then run into a team from Bowling Green that just doesn't miss.
Simon Kenton had a weird year. They're always "the pioneers," right? They had a solid win against Oldham County (31-9) to open the playoffs, but then they had to travel to Louisville to face Trinity. Look, nobody likes going to Marshall Stadium in November. Trinity ended up winning that one 50-0. It was a reality check, but that’s the 6A life.
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Why the 5A Scores Caught Everyone Off Guard
If you were looking for high-scoring shootouts, Class 5A was the place to be. Dixie Heights and Collins put on a show that felt more like a basketball game.
The final was 52-49 in favor of Collins. Dixie Heights was down 21-0 at one point, and I think half the fans were ready to head to Skyline early. But Mason Fields went absolutely nuclear, throwing for over 400 yards and seven touchdowns. To lose a game when your QB tosses seven scores is just brutal. Kade Goodin for Collins was just as ridiculous, rushing for over 200 yards.
Meanwhile, Cooper was quietly—well, not so quietly—beating people up.
- They handled South Oldham 28-14.
- They put up a massive fight against Scott County.
- Cam O'Hara continued to prove why he’s one of the most efficient QBs in the state.
Cooper eventually fell to Scott County 55-34 in a game that was much closer than the final score looked. It was 34-34 going into the fourth, but Scott County’s depth just wore them down. It’s a recurring theme for NKY teams in 5A; the talent is there, but the sheer size of some of those Central Kentucky lines is hard to match for four quarters.
The Beechwood and CovCath Standard
You can’t talk about northern ky football scores without mentioning the "Blue" schools: Beechwood and Covington Catholic.
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Covington Catholic (Class 4A) had a bit of an up-and-down season by their standards. They started the playoffs by annihilating Boyd County 48-21, but then they hit the Boyle County wall. Boyle County is basically a semi-pro team at this point. CovCath lost 49-14 in the quarterfinals. It sounds lopsided, but most people in the state consider Boyle County the best team regardless of classification.
Beechwood (Class 2A) is usually a lock for a state title appearance. They cruised through the early rounds, including a 42-0 shutout of Prestonsburg. But the semifinal against Owensboro Catholic was an instant classic.
It finished 41-40. One point.
Beechwood led late, but Owensboro Catholic's Dremail Carothers found a way to squeeze out a win. Seeing Beechwood out of the finals felt wrong, kinda like seeing snow in July.
The Small School Grinders: NewCath and Lloyd
Lloyd Memorial had a massive year in Class 3A. They were sitting at 10-0 for a while and looked like they might actually crash the CAL (Christian Academy of Louisville) party. They blew out Bath County 48-0 and Russell 28-13. However, Murray ended their run in the quarterfinals with a 27-20 scoreline.
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Newport Central Catholic (NewCath) is also going through a transition. They finished 8-5, losing to Campbellsville 28-0 in the playoffs. The big news there isn't just the score, though—it's that coach Steve Lickert is stepping down. He’s been a staple of the NKY coaching scene, and seeing NewCath move into a new era with a new stadium on the horizon is going to be something to watch in 2026.
Breaking Down the Key Postseason Scores
If you missed the Friday night lights, here’s a quick rundown of the scores that defined the late-season push for Northern Kentucky:
- Class 6A: Ryle 28, Frederick Douglass 27 (Quarterfinals)
- Class 5A: Collins 52, Dixie Heights 49 (First Round)
- Class 4A: Boyle County 49, Covington Catholic 14 (Quarterfinals)
- Class 3A: Murray 27, Lloyd Memorial 20 (Quarterfinals)
- Class 2A: Owensboro Catholic 41, Beechwood 40 (Semifinals)
- Class 1A: Campbellsville 28, Newport Central Catholic 0 (Quarterfinals)
What We Learned from the 2025 Numbers
The biggest takeaway? The gap is closing, but Louisville and Central Kentucky still have the edge in the "trenches." When you look at northern ky football scores from the regular season, our teams look invincible. But when the playoffs hit and the weather turns, the physical toll of playing those massive interior lines from teams like Trinity or Boyle County starts to show.
Another thing to note is the coaching carousel. With Lickert leaving NewCath and changes at Brossart, Campbell County, and Scott, the landscape of NKY football is going to look very different next August.
If you're looking to stay ahead of the curve for the 2026 season, keep an eye on the transfer portal—yes, even high school has one now, basically—and the RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) standings. The RPI is what determines home-field advantage in the later rounds, and as we saw with Beechwood and Ryle, playing in front of your own fans in late November is worth at least a touchdown.
For those tracking these athletes, start following the 2027 recruiting class now. Several sophomores at Cooper and Highlands are already picking up D1 looks, which usually translates to higher scores and more lopsided wins for the local teams next year. You should also check the KHSAA scoreboard every Friday starting in mid-August to catch the early season trends that usually predict the playoff seeds.
Actionable Next Steps:
To stay truly informed on Northern Kentucky football, you should prioritize checking the KHSAA RPI rankings starting in Week 4 of the season, as these dictate the playoff paths more than raw win-loss records. Additionally, following local beat reporters like Terry Boehmker or the LinkNKY sports desk provides the "why" behind the scores that national stat sites often miss. Finally, if you're a parent or scout, focus on the 3rd-round playoff matchups—this is historically where NKY teams face their biggest "Louisville hurdle" and where true state contenders are revealed.