Friday night highlights

The 2007 high school football season kicked off in sweltering conditions across Kentucky. Lafayette’s Zach Currier is shown below cooling off. Some teams and players turned in suitably hot performances. Among them:

• After winning a Class 2A title in 2005 and finishing runner-up last year, Russell started 2007 in style with a 48-18 rout of Greenup County. Senior QB Tyler Jones, expected to be the Red Devils’ leader, starred in the opener. He ran 10 times for 96 yards and 4 TDs, and passed for 111 yards and a TD.
• If it’s any consolation to Corbin, which lost to Belfry 21-0 in the Pike County Bowl, Newport Central Catholic lost to Belfry in that bowl last year but wound up winning the Class A state title.
• St. Xavier opened its new stadium in less than impressive fashion, slipping past Ballard 18-14 on Joe Montano’s TD with two minutes left. More than 8,000 fans were on hand.
• Lafayette kicker Jake Stephens, who has one of the strongest legs in the state, showed it by booming field goals of 48, 47 and 31 yards in a 16-6 win over North Bullitt.
• Clay Clevenger, a former all-state lineman at Danville, made his debut as a head coach at Henderson County. His Colonels lost 45-10 to Evansville (Ind.) North.
• Louisville Central, top-rated in Class 3A, took it on the chin in its opener as it lost to 6A power Manual.
• Bardstown’s Kelvin Scott rushed for 273 yards and 4 TDs as the Tigers devoured crosstown rival Nelson County 19-14.
• Rockcastle County began last season surviving a 2-0 bowl victory over Corbin. The Rockets had a lot more offense in its opener last night, beating Southwestern 35-21 in the Ray Correll Bowl in Somerset. Casey Hayes rushed for 100 yards and 4 TDs to lead the way.
• Tyler Olinger threw three TD passes and ran for two scores to spark Hazard to a 43-0 lead over Letcher County Central. The Bulldogs wound up winning 43-22.
• Highlands, rated No. 1 in Class 5A, beat Ryle 49-21. The Bluebirds piled up 359 yards rushing, led by Josh Conner’s 104 yards and 5 TDs.