NEWPORT — The Thoroughbreds were welcomed home Friday by a supportive crowd at Newport Central Catholic High School, despite a heartbreaking loss in the state championship football game at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville.

        First thing off the bus, NewCath players prayed in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary. Minutes later they were seated in the auditorium, and were given a standing ovation by at least 200 well-wishers for 45 seconds, followed by chants of “We are proud.”

A humble NewCath coach Bob Schneider stands silent as his players and their fans applaud the team's efforts at the school following its 14-13 defeat in the state championship game. (Jeff Swinger photos) | ZOOM |

        Many people in the crowd at the 6 p.m. event were smiling.

        “I thought we outplayed them. We've been a second-half team all year” said Dan Schwalbach, whose son is a freshman on the football team.

        Mr. Schwalbach said after pulling off so many come-from-behind victories during the regular season, he thought the team would win yet again. But the team lost the state Class A Championship to Danville, 14-13 in the last moments of the game.

        Standing at a microphone, school Principal Bob Noll said it was not about luck, but about the hard work the players put into getting the Thoroughbreds to the championship game.

        “These kids have been on a great run,” Mr. Noll said after the rally. “You win 20-25 games in two years, you've done well.”

        Mary Gruenshlaeger said she and her six sisters and two brothers were part of her family group of more than 40 people who have attended every game this year. She said they were upset only for their four nephews who were playing in the game.

Kathy Smith, mother of NewCath players Jeff and Kevin Smith, takes pictures of a team ball and poster along with family at the post-game rally. | ZOOM |

        “It was awesome,” Ms. Gruenshlaeger said. “Just being there in the game was an accomplishment. You can't really lose a game like that.”

        Still, expectations had been running high before the game.

        Kenny Hoffstedder, 17, a NewCath senior from Southgate, wore no shirt at the Louisville game. He painted royal blue and gold stripes on his chest and wore a football helmet he decorated himself.

        Did the cold bother him? “Oh, no, not at all. (The costume) helps the team. It makes them feel good.”

        Matt Wagenlander, 16, a NewCath junior from Fort Thomas who sat two seats from Kenny, was also shirtless.

        “It's showing spirit for the school,” he said. “It's worth risking the flu.”

        At the other end of the age spectrum was the abundantly clothed Hank Bosley, 62, of Wilder. The 1957 NewCath grad was there to watch his granddaughters, senior cheerleader Shawna Webb and sophomore cheerleader Lauren Bosley.

        Mr. Bosley used to have Bengals season tickets, but he prefers to watch high school and Thomas More College games.

        “It's fun to watch high school and college,” Mr. Bosley said. “I gave up on the professionals. I think high school and college (football) is more interesting.”

        Mary Jo Fuchs said after the close game, she and her husband, Charles “Donuts” Fuchs, had to take a few moments before they could drive back from Louisville.

        “Now we don't know what we'll do Friday nights,” Mrs. Fuchs said.

        After every football game, Mrs. Fuchs said she and her husband would gather with other supporters to a different parish church in the area, win or lose.

        “We've become a close group of 200,” Mrs. Fuchs said.

        After the rally, as the parents and players went to an after-game feast, elementary school children were busy re-enacting plays from the game on the lawn outside the high school, which serves 442 students from around Northern Kentucky.

        Game story and photos

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