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Steve Everson ran for 166 yards and a TD 600 |800 | 1024

        PIKEVILLE -- Newport Central Catholic junior quarterback Jeff Smith and his senior split end, Andy Brennenstuhl, have hooked up on longer passes this season, but none were more crucial.

        Smith and Brennenstuhl teamed up on three touchdown passes that traveled a combined 19 yards, but they were enough to give the Thoroughbreds a 28-14 win over the Pikeville Panthers in a Class A state semifinal game at Pikeville's W.C. Hembley Athletic Complex Friday.

        NCC (10-4) earns its fifth trip to the state finals in the 35-year career of NCC coach Bob Schneider. The 'Breds will face Danville, a 35-7 winner over Mayfield, Friday at noon at Papa John Stadium in Louisville.

        The 'Breds won the Class AA state championship in 1984. They haven't been to the state finals since 1986.

        “That's why you coach,” said Schneider, whose team improved to 4-0 in four postseason road games. "You wouldn't coach if you didn't think you could get this far.”

        Smith was 12-for-20 for 137 yards, including 3-for-3 for 56 yards on the six-play drive that followed Brandt Justice's 72-yard return of a punt for a touchdown that gave Pikeville its only lead, 14-13, with 3:01 left in the third quarter. Smith's 15-yard pass over the middle to junior fullback Tyler Barto set up Steve Everson's 1-yard plunge for the go-ahead touchdown.

        He followed up on NCC's next possession with a 10-yard completion to Rob Schumacher on fourth-and-four from the Pikeville and an 11-yard pass to Brennenstuhl on a slant-in from the right side to clinch the victory. That was the longest of the three scoring tosses.

        “Their defensive backs play deep, and we knew we could pick them to death,” Smith said. His first two connections were on fake slants on which Brennenstuhl then turned outside. "Those were complementary patterns.”

        “He improvised great on those,” Schneider said.

        “We knew they'd be giving all of their attention to (Everson),” said Brennenstuhl, who also made a diving catch of Smith's two-point conversion pass following the final touchdown. He finished with five catches for 32 yards. “The first two passes set up the third one. They were reacting to me going out, so I went in and sat down.”

        The Panthers were averaging 37.8 points per game, but their only offensive score came on a 2-yard run following a 38-yard return of an interception. That was NCC's only turnover of the night, while the 'Breds forced three, including two interceptions of Matt Branham, who'd thrown just eight all year.

        “Our defense stepped up,” Schneider said. "They didn't really give up a point all night.”

        NCC also was helped by some crucial Pikeville penalties, including a roughing-the-kicker penalty on Schumacker's missed 21-yard field-goal attempt, which kept alive the drive for the go-ahead touchdown. Everson finished with 166 yards on 34 carries to push his season rushing total to 2,067.

        Pikeville (12-2) saw its 14-game home winning streak snapped.

        “We beat Beechwood on the road and Bellevue on the road,” Brennenstuhl said, referring to earlier playoff wins. “We knew we could come here and win.”

        Newport Central Catholic ....... 0 7 13 8 -- 28

        Pikeville ....... 0 7 7 0 -- 14

        Brennenstuhl 6 pass from J. Smith (Schumacher kick)

        Rogers 2 run (Sowards kick)

        Brennenstuhl 2 pass from J. Smith (kick blocked)

        Justice 72 punt return (Sowards kick)

        Everson 1 run (Schumacher kick)

        Brennenstuhl 11 pass from J. Smith (Brennenstuhl pass from J. Smith)

        Records: N 10-4, P 12-2.

        Complete prep football coverage at Enquirer.com/prepfootball