By Terry Böhmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Bellevue High School football team, which started the season with 22 players, has canceled the last two games of its regular season schedule due to a “limited number of available healthy players,” according to a school statement.
The Tigers have a 0-7 record after losing their first Class 1A seeding game to Dayton 46-0 last Friday. The games they canceled are Friday against district rivals Ludlow and Oct. 21 against Newport Central Catholic.
“We understand that not only are our players impacted, but our scheduled opponents, cheerleaders, band members and the families who support them,” Bellevue athletic director Jim Hicks said in a prepared statement. “We apologize for any inconvenience and difficulties this causes, but the safety of our players must be our top priority.”
The current Bellevue roster, posted on the KHSAA website, includes eight seniors, two juniors, one sophomore, and nine freshmen. According to team stats, just eight of those 20 players featured in all seven games and the school said there weren’t enough healthy players to continue.
Bellevue has one of the oldest high school football programs in northern Kentucky. Last week’s game against Dayton was the 148th meeting between the neighboring small school teams. Even though the Tigers have won just one game in the past three seasons and haven’t set a winning record since 2014, the program continues.
“Bellevue have a rich and proud tradition of football success and we look forward to continuing that into next season and beyond,” Hicks said in his statement.
Familiar opponents clash in the 9th Region Girls Soccer Final
Girls’ soccer teams from Notre Dame and the Highlands meet for the sixth time in 10 years in their 9th regional championship game after winning semifinals on Wednesday.
LaneySmith
The Highlands defeated Dixie Heights 2-1 with a goal from youngster Laney Smith in overtime, and Notre Dame edged St Henry 4-1 in a lightning-delayed game to start a rematch between the two local powers .
The regional championship game will be played at 5 p.m. Saturday in Dixie Heights. The winner will advance to the Girls’ State Tournament and play the 11th regional champion in a first round match on October 17th.
In Wednesday’s Region 10 girls semifinals, Campbell County defeated Harrison County 8-0 and Brossart defeated George Rogers Clark 5-2 to set up a rematch between these neighboring rivals.
The championship game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday in Harrison County. Last year, Campbell County beat Brossart 2-0 in the regional finals, and the Camels have a 2-0 record against the Mustangs this season.
The 10th Region Champion will play the 16th Region Champion in the first round of the Girls’ State Tournament on October 17th. The brackets were decided Wednesday in a draw conducted by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
High school football region tournament schedules
8. REGION GIRL IN CARROLL COUNTY
Thursday
Championship: Simon Kenton v South Oldham, 6pm
9TH REGION GIRLS AT DIXIE HEIGHTS
Saturday
Championship: Highlands vs. Notre Dame, 5 p.m
9. REGION BOYS IN COVINGTON CATHOLIC
Thursday
Dixie Heights vs. Covington Catholic, 5:30 p.m
Ryle vs Highlands, 8pm
Saturday
Championship game at 1 p.m
10. REGION GIRL IN HARRISON COUNTY
Saturday
Championship: Campbell County vs. Brossart, 1 p.m
10. REGION BOYS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Thursday
Brossart v George Rogers Clark, 6 p.m
Campbell County vs. Montgomery County, 8 p.m
Saturday
Championship game at 5 p.m