[Stardust]

Class 2A state semifinal: Somerset (9-4) vs. Holy Cross (10-3)

WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m. today at Newport Stadium.

WHAT TO WATCH: Don't let Somerset's record fool you, because it played an extremely tough schedule, losing to two Class 5A schools (Whitley County, 27-21, and Perry County Central, 7-3), Class 3A power Breathitt County (20-0), which just lost its first game of the season in the playoffs last week, and Class 2A power Glasgow (14-7), which is 13-0 and participating in the other semifinal. This is the third straight year Somerset reached the state semifinals after finishing as state runner-up in Class 3A in 2009 and losing in the Class 3A semifinals last year to Belfry. The Briar Jumpers are good defensively; they have held seven opponents to 14 points or less and five to less than 10 points. No team has scored more than 23 points on them. In last week's 55-14 playoff win over Lexington Christian they allowed just 18 yards and no first downs through the first three quarters. The Holy Cross offense can be explosive and relies heavily on Kyle Fuller, who has accounted for 3,792 yards total offense and 46 touchdowns, has kicked 49 extra points and two field goals, including the game-winner in the waning seconds of last week's 24-21 win over Newport Central Catholic. Walker has tallied 19 touchdowns (15 receiving, two on interception returns and two on kickoff returns). The Indians have improved significantly on defense and have won eight of their last nine games in which they held opponents to just 68 points in the eight wins, 21 of which came last week against NewCath.

BOTTOM LINE: While Somerset took a class drop this season and is participating in its third straight semifinal, Holy Cross cleared a huge hurdle last week by beating NewCath and is playing well enough to win another close game.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll...111250323/