My game plan to beat Covington Catholic:

 

Defense:

 

1. Start the game totally focused on stopping the pass. CCH uses the passing game to set up the running game. My guess would be that 75% or more of McGinness' yardage comes in the second half or after CCH has a big lead.

 

2. Controlled rush of QB AJ Mayer. Squeeze the pocket. Focus is on keeping Mayer in the pocket. Do not let him escape and scramble for good runs. Try this with a 3 man rush and a spy on Mayer, but make the spy your fastest defender because Mayer has wheels and will run away from most LB's.

 

3. CB's focus on stopping the short routes, especially the slants. Play inside leverage and try to make them throw the out routes. Safeties total focus is staying deep. Do not worry about run support. Keep the CCH WR's in front of you and let the CB's play under.

 

The ultimate goal is two things. Disrupt the timing and pace of CCH's offense - slow them down with your defense - and make the running game beat you. Force CCH to use clock themselves on offense and reduce the number of offensive possessions by both teams in the game. CCH loves the fast pace and quick read passes. It is very difficult to get pressure on them because Mayer let's the ball go immediately. You have to slow them down, make Mayer sit there in the pocket and change the pace and timing he has played with all year.

 

Offense:

 

The CCH CB's are very good one on one cover guys. Butler and Dyer make it very tough to run inside. I think you have to attack with the slot receiver and also use the flats with the passing game. If I have a capable TE, he would be a big focus in the passing game. Use play action pop passes to TE or hitches/slants to the slot receiver. Put the LB's in a bind and keep them honest to open up some room for the running game. The CCH defensive line is not big outside of Michael Mayer. Once you get the LB's stuck between the quick, short passes and play action passes, work in more of the run game.

 

South Warren does look like one of the top 3 teams CCH has played this year. It may not be as easy as many (including me) were originally thinking. I don't think we will see a first half running clock unless South Warren turns the ball over and gives CCH short fields. There may not be a running clock at all depending on match ups, turnovers and execution by South Warren.

 

If South Warren has the players and discipline to execute all that, they have a chance to keep it within 2-3 TD's. That is the best I can see for their chances. I think AJ Mayer and Eviston are too good and they will eventually figure out how to beat what you are doing.

South's kids have more experience in a game like this than Cov. Cath's do.

 

South has the highest caliber player on the field.

 

South just beat BG who when compared to Cov. Cath historically over the last 10 years, there is no comparison.

 

South is at home.

 

South's coach has more experience in games like this than Cov. Cath's.

 

South's kids know what it takes to win a title and have been a part of one. Cov Cath's have not.

 

Cov. Cath does not have better athletes than BG. MAYBE equal, but not better. South shut down BG.

 

All that said, I still think Cov. Cath wins this game but I also think that it's silly and lacks objectivity to think this will be a run-away win for Cov. Cath. South, BG, and Christian Co. would all likely be 10-0 against Cov. Cath's schedule, where the signature wins are against three 6-4, 5-5, and 5-5 out of state teams. South will be the best team up front that Cov. Cath has seen all year.

I say no but this is why we play the game. I watched the SW vs BG game last week and was impressed by the speed and quickness of the back (#5 I think) and one of the d lineman. Big and strong guy. With that being said, CCH is a duel threat team and our D is lock down. I expect a better game than the other 10 running clocks but still a 21+ win by the Blue Colonels!! Wish I could make the trip..... 5 and 3 year old make it tough to do so....

South's kids have more experience in a game like this than Cov. Cath's do.

 

South has the highest caliber player on the field.

 

Who is that? CCH has three high caliber D1 players plus others that are sure college players, perhaps even D1 level.

 

South just beat BG who when compared to Cov. Cath historically over the last 10 years, there is no comparison.

 

Only this year matters.

 

South is at home.

 

South's coach has more experience in games like this than Cov. Cath's.

 

Eviston has won two state titles as a head coach, was a college offensive coordinator and has been involved in a lot of big games.

 

South's kids know what it takes to win a title and have been a part of one. Cov Cath's have not.

 

Cov. Cath does not have better athletes than BG. MAYBE equal, but not better. South shut down BG.

 

See first comment above.

 

All that said, I still think Cov. Cath wins this game but I also think that it's silly and lacks objectivity to think this will be a run-away win for Cov. Cath. South, BG, and Christian Co. would all likely be 10-0 against Cov. Cath's schedule, where the signature wins are against three 6-4, 5-5, and 5-5 out of state teams. South will be the best team up front that Cov. Cath has seen all year.

 

South Warren has two losses against teams comparable to teams that CCH put a running clock on. Bowling Green this year is comparable to Ryle/Beechwood/South Oldham, all of whom CCH put a running clock on.

 

Comments posted above in blue.

Edited November 24, 20178 yr by Voice of Reason

South's kids have more experience in a game like this than Cov. Cath's do.

 

South has the highest caliber player on the field.

 

South just beat BG who when compared to Cov. Cath historically over the last 10 years, there is no comparison.

 

South is at home.

 

South's coach has more experience in games like this than Cov. Cath's.

 

South's kids know what it takes to win a title and have been a part of one. Cov Cath's have not.

 

Cov. Cath does not have better athletes than BG. MAYBE equal, but not better. South shut down BG.

 

All that said, I still think Cov. Cath wins this game but I also think that it's silly and lacks objectivity to think this will be a run-away win for Cov. Cath. South, BG, and Christian Co. would all likely be 10-0 against Cov. Cath's schedule, where the signature wins are against three 6-4, 5-5, and 5-5 out of state teams. South will be the best team up front that Cov. Cath has seen all year.

 

Welcome aboard @VF111 - It is nice to see you hitting the forum running with your first post.

CovCath turnovers seems to be the best path to a South win. Play for the pick, try to strip the ball each play, etc.

I'm late to the party, I've been offline and out of town for Thanksgiving so I haven't read the thread. But my answer is that no, they don't have a chance but they are likely the second best team in class 5A. Covington Catholic is just several steps ahead of the rest of the class this season.

You know, back in 2006 a lot of people weren’t giving Johnson Central much of a chance against the Colonels in the semis. We caught a few punches in that first half as they came out swinging. We were actually losing at halftime through some uncharacteristically subpar play and missed opportunities. We woke up in the second half and won 38-14.

 

I can see a similar first half, and similar final outcome tonight.

VoR...South has Jacob Lacey...he's a 4 star Jr. that's committed to Notre Dame. Cov. Cath has no one on that level.

 

You also just compared BG to Ryle (0 state titles), Beechwood (1A) and South Oldham... not much credibility in that statement.

VoR...South has Jacob Lacey...he's a 4 star Jr. that's committed to Notre Dame. Cov. Cath has no one on that level.

 

You also just compared BG to Ryle (0 state titles), Beechwood (1A) and South Oldham... not much credibility in that statement.

 

CCH has a Soph that will name his School once he's done. Yes they do have Comparible Athletes. And a Coach that has been there before as well. It's wasn't an Accident that NCC use to be tops in their respective Class a few short years ago. CCH wins.....

Comments posted above in blue.

 

Whoa! I agreed with most of your comments until who you compared Bowling Green to. Ryle was a one dimensional team who probably was a little over ranked this year. South Oldham solid program but probably doesn't even keep it close against BG. BG probably does to South Oldham what it did the first time to South Warren. While Beechwood is good, it's probably not much of a game against Bowling Green.

 

If you think about it Covcath honestly probably hasn't even played a true top 10 team in this state this year when thinking about the top 10 schools regardless of class. So while Covcath had made it look easy against good teams, they haven't played any great ones. Bowling Green would have been the best team Covcath seen this year, but South Warren knocked them off. Bowling Green did put it to them the first time though.

 

Now I think Covcath wins this one pretty comfortable. I wouldn't be surprised to see South Warren keep it close though. What hurts South Warren is they had seen BG once so they knew they level they had to get to, to beat them. They haven't seen Covcath yet to know. Surviving the first quarter will be key for them if they can keep it close.

After the beat down that South Warren took from Bowling Green earlier this season, then to come back to do what they did last week (as visitors); these kids have played under pressure. Has CCH experienced anything like that this year? I would say that fact and SW being at home, gives them a chance. BTW how much of a chance were they given last week? Hopefully, it will be one of those once in a lifetime games for players and fans.

VoR...South has Jacob Lacey...he's a 4 star Jr. that's committed to Notre Dame. Cov. Cath has no one on that level.

 

You also just compared BG to Ryle (0 state titles), Beechwood (1A) and South Oldham... not much credibility in that statement.

 

I wouldn't question VoR's credibility in your first couple of posts, he know's his football. Just sayin...

Other than the basic snowball's chance, no they don't.

VoR...South has Jacob Lacey...he's a 4 star Jr. that's committed to Notre Dame. Cov. Cath has no one on that level.

 

You also just compared BG to Ryle (0 state titles), Beechwood (1A) and South Oldham... not much credibility in that statement.

Let’s not pretend that BG was a world beater this year.