A season ago, the Covington Catholic Colonels had high hopes of getting back to the state championship for the first time since the 2006 season. The Colonels had their season ended early in the region finals to Highlands, 28-13, but Coach Wirth knows that he returns a team that will once again compete at a high level.

 

“ We have a lot of guys back from last year, so some of the strengths of that team will return with those players” Said Coach Dave Wirth.

 

Offensively, the Colonels return two of the better play makers in Northern Kentucky in running back Luke Bir and Sam Dressman. Bir was the leading rusher last year with 555 yards on 72 carries (7.7 ypc) , while Dressman rushed for 178 yards on just 28 carries (6.4 ypc).

 

“ We should have a good running game,” Coach Wirth Said. “ Those guys have a lot of experience and a lot of carries that have produced yards and points.”

 

Dressman is receiving interest from several Divison I-AA schools in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, including Western Kentucky. One of the biggest reasons for the running game success is the guys up front on the offensive line, who often get over looked. Coach Wirth talked a little about the guys in the trenches.

 

“ Offensive line wise, we return 3 out of 5 starters and we had 2 offensive line sophomores who got hurt last season that had the potential start the entire season. Overall we return 5 out 7 guys that saw significant time on the offensive line.”

 

Out wide, it will be the play of Evan Braun and Sam Hatter along with juniors Logan McDowell and Lee McClure that will be crucial for the Colonels run game success as the biggest question mark of this year’s Colonel team is the quarterback position after the graduation of Blake Bir.

 

“ Our anticipated area of weakness will be at the quarterback position as we will have a new guy that we’re breaking in,” Said Coach Wirth. “Losing Blake Bir is a challenging thing to do but we’re lucky that we have some good guys in the program that are ready to step up.”

 

The guy counted on to run things under center this year will be junior to be Adam Wagner, who is widely regarded as on of the best atheltes on the Colonels roster by Coach Wirth and his staff.

 

“ Adam is a phenomenal athlete and an adequate thrower. Certainly not to Blake’s capacity but he will do good things for us in the passing game. Offensively we should be able to score some points and move ball.”

 

Defensively, the Colonels will look to replace their 3 starting defensive linemen from a year ago, but Coach Wirth feels this year’s team has more depth on the line.

 

“ We lost a lot of front. The three defensive line starters (in our 3 man front) for us last year are all gone. Those guys were really good players but we have two guys back that saw significant action last year and I think overall we will have more depth and more size this year.”

 

The strength of this defense will be at the linebacker position where the Colonels return 2 out of 3 starters, including Sam Burchell who currently hold an Austin Peay offer as well as in the secondary where the Colonels return 3 out of 5 starters.

 

“ Individually I just want to do the best I can to put myself in a position to win,” Said Senior Sam Burchell. “ We’ve got 7 or 8 guys that can really go on the defensive line.”

 

“We should be very good at linebacker and in the secondary, led by Sam Burchell,” Said Coach Wirth. “ We should be good on defense this year. We just have to step it up and cause a few more turnovers.”

 

As far as the schedule goes, the Colonels will be tested with a tough non district schedule on top of disctirct games against Highlands, Holmes, and Harrison County. The non district schedule includes road games against Boone County, Dixie Heights, Henderson County abd Beechwood, along with home games against Cincinnati power Moeller, Ryle, and a Conner team that is led by one of the top quarterbacks in the country in Drew Barker.

 

“We’ve got a good schedule this year and I feel like we’ve amped it up this year,” Said Coach Wirth.

 

Expectations will once again be high for Coach Wirth and his team as they expect to win the district and then march through the playoffs and get to state.

 

“We’ve come up short on that goal the last couple seasons so we’re doing everything in our power to make sure it happens this year, “ Said Coach Wirth.

 

“ It gets worn out (expectations) but that’s state and there’s no reason that shouldn’t be the goal for us,” Said Sam Burchell when talking about expectations. “ We’ve got that one team over in Fort Thomas sitting on us so it’s time to get that off our back.”

 

 

Players to Watch:

 

Adam Wagner (JR QB)- Despite this being his first year at QB, expectations are high due to the versatility that he posseses both through the air and on the ground with his speed and athleticism.

 

Sam Burchell (Sr LB)- The senior linebacker led the team in tackles last season with 97 and should be expected to have a much bigger impact than that this season with him having an off season to get even bigger, stronger, and faster.

 

Evan Braun (Sr WR)- Braun was second on the team last season with 32 receptions for 656 yards and with Ethan Egbers gone, should be expected to be the go to guy in the passing game this season.

 

Sam Hatter (Sr WR)- Hatter will slide over in to Egbers position in the slot after producing 328 yards on 26 catches a season ago. With Hatter at the slot, he provides a very fast target down the middle of the field as well as out in space in the flats where he can showcase his speed.

 

Sam Dressman (Sr Athlete)- Dressman will be counted on to do it all from playing offense and defense, to special teams. Dressman had 178 yards rushing last season, 227 receiving yards, as well as 2 field goals and 13 extra points.

 

Matt Schmall (SR DB)- Schmall was a receiver last season but will be moved to corner this year to help sure up that position with his speed and athleticism.

 

Full Interview with Coach Wirth:

 

[video=youtube;gF-bzbzfP4I]

 

 

2013 Schedule:

 

Aug 23, 13 Boone County away 7:00 PM

Aug 30, 13 Dixie Heights away 8:30 PM

Sep 7, 13 Archbishop Moeller, OH home 1:00 PM

Sep 13, 13 Henderson County away 7:00 PM

Sep 28, 13 Highlands home 1:00 PM

Oct 3, 13 Beechwood away 7:30 PM

Oct 12, 13 Ryle home 1:00 PM

Oct 18, 13 Harrison County away 7:30 PM

Oct 26, 13 Holmes home 1:00 PM

Nov 2, 13 Conner home 1:00

Thanks Walter- good write up.

 

Not to be picky, but if Luke Bir isn't listed as a key player to watch, then I don't know who is. The feet of Luke, Sam and Adam will take CCH as far as they can offensively. Not that Adam won't sling it- but unlike the past few years, I think they will run to set up the pass and Bir will be the workhorse. The young man has worked incredibly hard in the off season and it shows.

 

Losing Burchell to his foot injury the first few games will hurt no doubt- my hope his that in his absence, a few boys who otherwise may have been willing to take a back seat to Sam will develop a new sense of urgency and do some things they haven't had to do before. So that by the time he comes back, they will be that much stronger.

Good preview - looks like a 7-3 regular season. I didn't see anything that makes me believe they will get past Highlands in playoffs.

Thanks Walter- good write up.

 

Not to be picky, but if Luke Bir isn't listed as a key player to watch, then I don't know who is. The feet of Luke, Sam and Adam will take CCH as far as they can offensively. Not that Adam won't sling it- but unlike the past few years, I think they will run to set up the pass and Bir will be the workhorse. The young man has worked incredibly hard in the off season and it shows.

 

Losing Burchell to his foot injury the first few games will hurt no doubt- my hope his that in his absence, a few boys who otherwise may have been willing to take a back seat to Sam will develop a new sense of urgency and do some things they haven't had to do before. So that by the time he comes back, they will be that much stronger.

 

Didn't leave Luke out on purpose. I mentioned him in the article and like I did with other previews, if I mentioned what they bring in the article, I didn't mention them in the Players to Watch section, since it would basically be re-hashing what I had already said, Apologize if you felt I was slighting the young man. He will certainly be a big part of the success this year.

I had someone tell me that Luke Bir is a monster compared to last year and he looked pretty good last year.

I had someone tell me that Luke Bir is a monster compared to last year and he looked pretty good last year.

 

"Monster" as in bigger and stronger? He was thick last year.

Western Kentucky isn't Division 1-AA. Nor are they FCS, the actual name for that now.

Western Kentucky isn't Division 1-AA. Nor are they FCS, the actual name for that now.

 

I thought the same when I read it. Let it pass. My guess is it was just worded improperly.

"Monster" as in bigger and stronger? He was thick last year.

 

Probably 205-210. Very stocky. Can squat 500+. Not sure bench, but its plenty. Kid has built up what were already thick legs.

 

I remember the big deal at UK many years ago was having all the offensive linemen be able to squat 500+. I'm guessing the bar has been raised- wonder what that is nowadays?

Probably 205-210. Very stocky. Can squat 500+. Not sure bench, but its plenty. Kid has built up what were already thick legs.

 

I remember the big deal at UK many years ago was having all the offensive linemen be able to squat 500+. I'm guessing the bar has been raised- wonder what that is nowadays?

 

Luke is a great kid and a very hard worker. With all due respect to Sam Burchell, who I believe is the best LB in NKY, Luke is maybe the most important player on the Colonels this year. He is a fantastic runner, who can also catch the ball out of the back field as well. With the young, all beit very exciting, qb at the helm this year Luke will be relied on as the bell cow of the offense. With the O-line they have this year, I would expect Luke to have outstanding year this year. My concern is that, God forbid, if Luke gets injured they will be very young and inexperienced at the RB position.

Luke is a great kid and a very hard worker. With all due respect to Sam Burchell, who I believe is the best LB in NKY, Luke is maybe the most important player on the Colonels this year. He is a fantastic runner, who can also catch the ball out of the back field as well. With the young, all beit very exciting, qb at the helm this year Luke will be relied on as the bell cow of the offense. With the O-line they have this year, I would expect Luke to have outstanding year this year. My concern is that, God forbid, if Luke gets injured they will be very young and inexperienced at the RB position.

 

Agree on all counts. Sam Dressman would need to step into that role in a bigger way which would hurt their WR corp. Ben Darlington (Soph) and Caleb Summe (Jr) are very talented young men who's future looks bright, but don't yet have the strength of Bir (then again, few do).

I'm hearing the injury/illness bug has hit the Colonels hard so far. Not sure of the extent of some of the injuries, but I heard as many as 6 starters/key contributors are out of action in Park Hills. I've heard most are on the defensive side of the ball.

 

If true not good news for the Blue Colonels. The offense does not concern me. They have had the same O-coordinator for 4 last years. He has proven he can coach a running QB and a Passing qb and still have a solid offensive team. The defense which has been solid the last 2 years has big holes to fill in the front 7/8. If the injury bug hits there it could be a major problem. Since Werth has been there they have been up and down in their ability to stop the run. With schedule they have problems stopping the run could be a real problem.

I'm hearing the injury/illness bug has hit the Colonels hard so far. Not sure of the extent of some of the injuries, but I heard as many as 6 starters/key contributors are out of action in Park Hills. I've heard most are on the defensive side of the ball.

 

If true not good news for the Blue Colonels. The offense does not concern me. They have had the same O-coordinator for 4 last years. He has proven he can coach a running QB and a Passing qb and still have a solid offensive team. The defense which has been solid the last 2 years has big holes to fill in the front 7/8. If the injury bug hits there it could be a major problem. Since Werth has been there they have been up and down in their ability to stop the run. With schedule they have problems stopping the run could be a real problem.

 

My understanding is that there are some big, mobile boys on the offensive line. Any chance that the Colonels bring in some of those guys to fill any gaps just in case?

My understanding is that there are some big, mobile boys on the offensive line. Any chance that the Colonels bring in some of those guys to fill any gaps just in case?

 

That would shock me - I believe the staff feels like they can fill holes with who they have without having guys to both ways. But never say never in this game.

That would shock me - I believe the staff feels like they can fill holes with who they have without having guys to both ways. But never say never in this game.

 

I like the idea of two platooning a lot. However, I don't think it's a bad idea at all to teach kids multiple positions just in case the injury bug bites really hard. If having a kid play some downs on Defense while being a full time starter on offense gives you the best opportunity to win, then that's what needs to be done. I think having strictly offensive and defensive players has hampered the Colonels in the past.