Kentucky
BY THE NUMBERS: Texas 31, UK 14
Kentucky played Texas competitively during stretches of Saturday’s game in Austin but an ugly stretch in the second quarter gave the Horns a lead they would never relinquish.
Here are some of the key numbers that tell the story of what happened in the game.
209 … More yards for Texas than Kentucky. That’s not surprising but speaks to the challenge. The Horns had 441 yards of offense with a lot of balance (250 on the ground, 191 through the air) while the Cats mustered only 211 yards of offense, almost all of which was passing.
160 … The total passing yards for Cutter Boley. The freshman was 10/18 for 160 yards and an interception. Boley entered the game because Brock Vandagriff was struggling and he did a lot to impress. He saw the field well, made some confident reads and delivered catchable balls down the field.
158 … Rushing yards for Texas’ Quintrevion Wisner. The Longhorns rushed for 250 yards on the game.
25:30 … Time of possession for Kentucky in the game. Any upset bid would have been aided by Kentucky controlling the ball more than Texas. That did not happen.
20 … Carries for Kentucky running backs Jamarion Wilcox (50 yards) and Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (30 yards). Wilcox had a long of 18 while DSK’s long was just six yards. The backs had decent success considering the opponent but Boley was charged with -57 rushing yards.
17 … Second quarter points for the Longhorns. That’s when the game appeared to be decided. First, the Horns went 65 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown. Then after a Vandagriff pick they scored again quickly before adding a field goal as the half ran out.
11 … Fumbles in the game. It was almost comical how often the ball was bouncing at times. Kentucky fumbled five times but didn’t lose one of them, while Texas fumbled six times and lost two.
10 … Tackles for sophomore Texas linebacker Anthony Hill, who we said coming into the game was playing at an All-American level. He had two sacks and three tackles for loss as the most active, productive Texas defender in the game. He was a problem Kentucky couldn’t account for.
6 … Sacks by the Texas defense. That led to UK only being credited with 21 rushing yards on the game, but more important was the impact on UK’s offensive results. The protection issues have been persistent all season.
2/12 ... Kentucky on third down. That’s not going to get it done in a game like this. That’s a big reason why Texas ran 23 more plays than Kentucky, and had the ball for 10 minutes longer. The big problem was that Kentucky averaged 11.1 yards to go on third down today.
0 … The turnover margin in the game. That gave Kentucky a chance to play somewhat competitively. Both teams had seven points off turnovers with UK’s being Jamon Dumas-Johnson’s return.
LEXINGTON, KY – The Kentucky High School Athletic Association has sponsored a girls state tournament for three seasons.
That’s three seasons of wrestling over the dirt at Alltech Arena at Kentucky Horse Park
That’s three seasons of the girls having their own day to crown winners and placers.
And three seasons of Emma Moore climbing up the podium, taking her place as a Kentucky state champion.
Moore, a Walton-Verona senior who said she picked up the sport once the KHSAA started sanctioning, has gone 12-0 in her three trips to state with eight pins and a tech fall on the record.
“I feel great,” Moore said of ending her preps career on top again. “I feel like I made a lot of growth season and I’m really proud of what I was able to accomplish.”
Moore won the all-Northern Kentucky state final at 107 pounds, besting Ryle eighth grader Peyton Brinkman, 13-5. Moore beat Brinkman with a 17-1 tech fall in the regional championship, but had to battle with Brinkman for three complete periods in the state final.
“I felt like she was better at stopping my attacks today,” Moore said. “But, I just make sure to get to my offense and wrestle like myself.”
Brinkman was one of three Brinkmans to place at the state tournament. While younger sister finished as runner-up, older twin brothers and Ryle sophomores Aiden and Bryant placed second and fifth respectively.
Moore’s championship was the 14th in Walton-Verona history. Of those 14, three came from Emma, two came from brother Spencer and two more came from brother Ryan.
Highlands junior Emma Hood grinds out 152-pound championship
Emma Hood had a 3-0 lead in the 152-pound KHSAA state final and just around a minute needed to hold on to win her first championship.
When opponent Bralyn Maynard of Prestonsburg tried to get out of Hood’s grasp, she bent Hood’s leg sideways at the knee, causing Hood to immediately react to the injury. Hood’s injury time ticked away before she hopped up, ready to continue on.
With the knee barking, Maynard scored a quick reversal and cut Hood’s lead to 3-2. For 44 seconds, Hood had Maynard wrestling on top, but unable to score any more points.
“That last minute was just pure fight or flight,” Hood said. “After the knee, adrenaline kinda kicks in and I really couldn’t feel it at all for the last minute of the match.
“She gets the reversal with about 46 seconds left. The whole time I’m replaying how it felt last year to lose to her and making sure that didn’t happen again.”
Hood was a runner-up last year, losing to Maynard by a pin in the match’s final seconds. The championship was the fourth state placement for Hood, who also placed fifth in 2024 and eighth in the Kentucky Wrestling Coaches Association girls tournament in 2023 that ran before KHSAA sanctioned a tournament.
With the win, Hood became the first wrestler in Highlands history ‒ boy or girl ‒ to win a KHSAA wrestling championship.
Cooper freshman Aaliyah Svec finishes off undefeated season
Aaliyah Svec’s freshman season is one that will hard to improve on, but she’s up for the challenge.
Svec’s first season as a high schooler saw her go 19-0 for the year, claiming Kentucky’s 138-pound state championship. She didn’t even wrestle a full-length match in the postseason, going 8-0 across the regional and state tournaments with six pins and a pair of tech falls.
One of those pins came in the 138-pound final as Svec pinned North Hardin’s Payton Perry in the third period while Svec was already sitting with an 8-2 lead.
“It’s absolutely wild,” Svec said. “I never thought I would be here. I’ve grown up doing this sport and I’m just so, so grateful for these opportunities.”
Like Hood, Svec’s championship was also historic for Cooper as she also became the first wrestling state champion ‒boy or girl ‒ in the program’s history.
Northern Kentucky girls wrestling state placers
107 – 1. Emma Moore (Walton-Verona), 2. Peyton Brinkman (Ryle); 114 – 6. Leah Boggs (Campbell County); 138 – 1. Aaliyah Svec (Cooper), 6. Preslee Steiber (Ryle); 152 – 1. Emma Hood (Highlands), 7. Devon Banks, Simon Kenton; 165 – 5. McAyla Steffen (Campbell County); 235 – 6. Fanta Mariko, Cooper.
The best week of the boys Kentucky high school basketball season is here, as the regional tournaments begin.
Three boys basketball tournaments with Northern Kentucky teams begin next week as they try to punch their ticket to Rupp Arena. They are all in their traditional homes: The Eighth Region takes place at Henry County, the Ninth Region at Truist Arena and the 10th Region at the Mason County Fieldhouse. Here is a look at those brackets.
Eighth Region (at Henry County)
Wednesday, March 4: Henry County (19-11) vs. South Oldham (20-8), 6:30 p.m.; Simon Kenton (16-10) vs. Spencer County (19-13), 8 p.m.
Thursday, March 5: Walton-Verona (17-15) vs. North Oldham (22-5), 6:30 p.m.; Woodford County (17-7) vs. Gallatin County (11-20), 8 p.m.
Monday, March 9: Semifinals – March 4 winners, 6:30 p.m.; March 5 winners, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, March 10: Final, 7 p.m.
What to watch: Simon Kenton edged Walton-Verona 56-51 for the 32nd District championship. Bray Bilton was the tournament MVP. SK did not play Spencer County this year, and lost to South Oldham in its half of the draw by 20. North Oldham and Woodford County are considered the two favorites, and are both 8-0 in the region as they have not played each other. WV lost to North Oldham by 20 on Feb. 6.
Ninth Region (at NKU’s Truist Arena)
Saturday, March 7: Highlands (25-5) vs. Conner (14-12), 1 p.m.; Covington Catholic (28-2) vs. Dixie Heights (18-12), 2:30 p.m.; Lloyd Memorial (22-4) vs. Holy Cross (21-9), 6:30 p.m.; Ryle (21-8) vs. Newport (21-9), 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 8: Semifinals – Highlands/Conner vs. CovCath/Dixie winners, 6:30 p.m.; Lloyd/Holy Cross vs. Ryle/Newport winners, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, March 10: Final, 7 p.m.
What to watch: CovCath is the overwhelming favorite. Its only losses are to other top Kentucky teams Male and Madison Central. CovCath has not played Lloyd or Newport but has beaten the other five teams in the field by an average of 27 points. The Colonels’ closest win against Ninth Region competition is by 18 (72-54) against its first opponent, Dixie Heights.
Conner beat Highlands 72-58 on Feb. 10. Ryle beat Conner by 12 in the 33rd District final for its first district title since 2014. Ryle beat Newport 45-30 on Dec. 17 but Newport has won seven of nine heading into the regional.
Lloyd is the hottest team in the region besides CovCath, winning 12 straight including a 21-point victory over Dixie in the 34th District final. Lloyd beat Holy Cross by 10, 63-53, on Jan. 6. Lloyd and Newport did not play each other this season, and time will tell if either can challenge CovCath if they get that chance. But barring injuries, it’s hard to imagine anyone other than the Colonels going to Rupp.
10th Region (at Mason County Fieldhouse)
Wednesday, March 4: Scott (15-14) vs. Mason County (7-19), 6 p.m.; Pendleton County (17-12) vs. George Rogers Clark (26-4), 8 p.m.
Thursday, March 5: Montgomery County (17-12) vs. Bracken County (14-15), 6 p.m.; Campbell County (21-9) vs. Nicholas County (20-12), 8 p.m.
Monday, March 9: Semifinals – March 4 winners, 6 p.m.; March 5 winners, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, March 10: Final, 7 p.m.
What to watch: George Rogers Clark is the heavy favorite here. Scott beat the host Royals 64-59 Dec. 18 in Taylor Mill. The hosts have struggled all year but won the 39th District. Scott survived a wild finish in the 37th District semifinals, with Jordan Clemons hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer after a steal to give the Eagles a win over Brossart. Freshman Benjamin Brown has averaged 23 points per game in half a season. Pendleton County won the 38th District behind junior Kamden O’Hara, one of Northern Kentucky’s best shooters (15.4 ppg., 100 3-pointers). They drew the short straw after tourney favorite GRC lost the 40th District final to Montgomery County, 73-66. Campbell County has won four straight, including two dominant wins in the 37th District tournament. The streak started with a 90-89 win over its first-round regional opponent Nicholas County Feb. 13. Sophomore standout Austin Davie put up 50 points against Nicholas. Campbell lost by 12 to potential semifinal opponent Montgomery County Jan. 23.
Kentucky
Cities Drive Kentucky License Plate fund aims to support disaster relief across the commonwealth
(LEX 18) — With peak flood season approaching in eastern Kentucky, a new license plate is hitting the road with a mission: helping communities recover when disaster strikes.
The Kentucky League of Cities is launching the Cities Drive Kentucky license plate to raise money for communities affected by natural disasters. The plates are expected to arrive at county clerk’s offices across the state next month.
Kentucky League of Cities CEO J.D. Chaney said the idea grew from watching Kentuckians rally together during past disasters — most notably in 2021, when an EF-4 tornado touched down in western Kentucky as part of a widespread outbreak.
“We saw people from the far east going far west that weren’t even touched,” Chaney said.
Chaney said getting local governments back on their feet quickly is essential to helping residents recover.
“Getting the city up and going to be able to respond to the citizens they serve is absolutely critical for individuals to make recovery,” Chaney said.
The Kentucky League of Cities also aims to serve as a communication hub during disasters, helping local officials manage the flood of offers of support so they can focus on their communities.
“They’ve got [300] or 400 other phone calls they need to be doing, and we help on that other side. So, there’s one point of contact to facilitate those things,” Chaney said.
The need for that kind of support is growing. Research from the organization shows extreme weather caused $22 million in damages in 2025.
Chaney described the license plate program as a safety net for cities across Kentucky.
“It’s an insurance policy, for Kentucky cities to know that they have that backing with other communities that have the resources so they can immediately get back and start serving their constituency,” Chaney said.
“We hope others also see how important that is,” Chaney added.
The Cities Drive Kentucky license plates will be available at county clerk’s offices statewide next month.
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