Thomas More University's Republic Bank Field in Crestview Hills hosts a Class 1A second-round playoff game Friday, Nov. 13, when Newport takes on Holy Cross.
Newport (6-5) earned its spot with a 44-22 first-round win over Ludlow on Nov. 6, fueled by junior running back Damarco "Drip" Jackson's 205 rushing yards and four touchdowns, LINK nky reported. Holy Cross (9-2) advanced with a 41-7 rout of Bellevue the same night at the same Republic Bank Field venue.
Newport built a 22-0 lead in the first half before Ludlow tied the game early in the third quarter. Jackson then scored three times in the second half to pull away.
Jackson carried 22 times and scored on runs of 36, 8, 55 and 11 yards. Quarterback Davae Andrews-Glover threw for 168 yards, including a 99-yard touchdown pass to Aiden Miller. Andrews-Glover added 72 rushing yards. Newport totaled 521 yards of offense, 353 on the ground.
Ludlow's comeback featured a 99-yard touchdown pass from Miller Reed to Andre Englemon Jr. just before halftime. Jaylen Stone returned the second-half kickoff 61 yards for a score after it was initially fielded by Ryland Yates, and caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Reed to tie the game at 22.
Jackson answered immediately. His 8-yard run regained the lead, and a 55-yard burst pushed it to 36-22. In the fourth quarter, Newport recovered a Ludlow fumble at its own 1-yard line and mounted a clock-draining drive. Jackson capped it with an 11-yard touchdown run, his fourth of the night.
Holy Cross scored five rushing touchdowns against Bellevue, according to LINK nky's playoff roundup. Brian Ferguson had two, with Charles Oglesby, Dustin Wilson and Ka'Mari McClendon each adding one. Javier Thornberry returned an interception for a score.
Holy Cross, coached by Curt Spencer, has lost to Newport in each of the past two postseasons, according to LINK nky. The NKY Tribune reported that Newport carries a four-game winning streak into the matchup.
Kickoff at Republic Bank Field is set for Nov. 13.
