Football Flashback: Big plays lifted NewCath coach to top spot on NKy career wins list

Football Flashback is a new sports series that looks back on local high school games played on the calendar dates during each week of the 2024 season. We hope you enjoy it every Monday.

By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter

Bob Schneider became the winningest high school football coach in Northern Kentucky when his Newport Central Catholic team defeated Scott, 35-14, in a game played at Holmes on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2002.

The victory gave Schneider a 259-160-2 record in 37 seasons at NewCath. He surpassed Owen Hauck, who had retired in 1997 with a 258-109-1 record during head coaching stints at Highlands and Boone County.

The score was tied, 14-14, before NewCath got the big plays it needed to come away with the historic win. The team’s last three touchdowns came on a 53-yard pass from Ben Johnson to Matt Heinrichs and breakaway runs of 43 and 76 yards by Michael Zimmerman.

Schneider continued coaching for seven more seasons and retired in 2009 with a 345-183-2 record in 44 years. At that time, he led the state in career wins and now ranks fifth on the list.

The NewCath coach took teams to nine state finals and won championship trophies in 1984, 2005 and 2006.

Schneider passed away in 2021. An athletic complex being built on the NewCath campus will have the playing field named in his honor. The project is expected to be completed before or during the 2025 season.

Here’s a look back at some other Northern Kentucky high school football games played between Sept. 1-7 over the last five decades.

Friday, Sept. 2, 1988 — A pass interception and fumble recovery in the fourth quarter enabled Campbell County to come away with a 13-12 win over Newport. After an interception return by Paul Kremer, the Camels scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 6-yard pass from Chris Herald to Todd Mefford. In the final seconds, Campbell County defensive tackle Tom Heidelberg recovered a fumble to secure the victory.

Friday, Sept. 4, 1998 — Kyle McDaniel kicked a 46-yard field goal with one second remaining to give Conner a 30-28 win over Newport Central Catholic. Ten points were scored in the final 39 seconds of the game. NewCath took a 28-27 lead on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Jason Roderick to Chad Simon and an extra-point kick by Steve Broering. Conner got into position for the game-winning field goal after NewCath was called for pass interference on a fourth-down play with seven seconds left.

Friday, Sept. 7, 2012 — Lloyd senior quarterback Dexter Smith accounted for 322 of his team’s 393 total yards in a 38-33 win over Walton-Verona. Smith rushed for 135 yards and four touchdowns while passing for 187 yards and one TD. He also made eight tackles as a middle linebacker on defense. Will Latimore scored Walton-Verona’s four touchdowns on two punt returns, a 56-yard run and a fumble return.

Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 — Ryle won the annual Battle of Union against Cooper, 14-7, behind a solid defensive effort. A pass interception set up Ryle’s first touchdown and Cooper wasn’t able to get the ball in the end zone until late in the fourth quarter. The Raiders’ touchdowns came on a 1-yard run by fullback Lukas Colemire and 11-yard run by quarterback Logan Verax. The Jaguars avoided a shutout when Brendon Tye scored on a 2-yard run.

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