Two way star Mayer shines in huge KY win against vaunted Greater Catholic League

 

Through seven weeks of the season, Covington Catholic (8-0) has been looking up at Frederick Douglass in the BGP rankings. The only thing separating the two teams was a signature win for the Colonels to hang their hat on.

 

As of Friday night, that is no longer the case.

 

Douglass poured it on Scott County two weeks ago, cementing their place at the top of 5A. The La Salle Lancers - unbeaten coming in and ranked among the top 10 in Ohio regardless of class - presented the Colonels with an opportunity to answer. And when opportunity knocked, CovCath emphatically threw open the door and embraced that opportunity with open arms.

 

A wave of blue engulfed La Salle, muting its roster of D1 prospects. The (Park) hills were alive with the roar of an appreciative home crowd, voicing their approval as the CovCath defense frustrated the opposition at every turn. The Blue Colonels were not at their best offensively, but they still nearly tripled the Lancers in yardage (320-114). Tough running from Daniel Felix, Luke Zimmerman, and Owen Nally combined with some downfield connections between Caleb Jacob and Michael Mayer, Andrew Molique, and Ethan Reardon kept La Salle's defense off balance enough to sustain some drives.

 

Poor special teams play in the first half also cost the visitors. A bad punt and a roughing the punter penalty contributed to CovCath's 14-0 halftime lead. A Mayer pick-six in the third quarter put the run heavy Lancers in a hole they were not equipped to dig out of. The lead swelled to 27-0 before a fourth quarter score by La Salle prevented the shutout. But it was too little, too late. CovCath has its signature win.

 

Let the debate begin. Covington Catholic vs. Frederick Douglass. Who should sit at the head of the table in 5A? As of this moment, it feels like #1 and #1A , with both being equally worthy.

 

 

 

Several of 5A's standout units

 

Frederick Douglass' offensive line - Any line featuring two of the nation's best is bound to make headlines, but Parks and Burton are not the only ones getting it done up front for the Broncos. Lonnie Collins, Ian Sexton, and Dalton Quigley have played their roles at a high level, as well. Frederick Douglass is averaging 7.7 yards per rush as a team and, according to the KHSAA records, has not allowed a sack yet this season.

 

Scott County's backfield - This should come as no surprise, as the Cardinals always seem to have at least a couple of ball carriers excelling in their wing-t ground game. Bronson Brown rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and 21 touchdowns last year, but has taken a back seat to Philip Garner in 2019. Garner just surpassed a thousand yards on Thursday night against Grant County. Brown however, has been extremely effective with his reduced carries, rushing for 637 yards and 11 touchdowns on ten yards per carry.

 

East Jessamine's backfield - No backfield in 5A is more balanced or productive than the Jags'. Dylan Moore just went past 1,000 yards this season and Valdon Miles has that milestone in his sights with 927 so far. QB Turner McHolan (569 yards, 11 TDs) and Donovan Motley (369 yards, 6 TDs) round out the quartet. Together, they represent the bulk of a class leading 394 rushing yards per game.

 

Conner's receivers - They're not the flashiest, but they're one of the most productive as a group. Conner has four different receivers that can hurt you in their own way. Colton Roy, Justin Daniels, Caleb Ervin, and Drew Cobble have linked up with QB Jared Hicks for over 1,600 yards and 13 touchdowns on 100+ receptions. They've all four either had a hundred yards in a game this season, or come within a few yards of the century mark. This is a deep group.

 

Frederick Douglass' entire defense - Seven games played. Fourteen points allowed. That just about says it all. No one position group stands out from the others. All three levels have been stellar this season. Parks, Burton, and Romarion Warner have wreaked havoc at, and behind, the line of scrimmage this year with Ramarcus Thompson patrolling the middle. Devin Neal, Jaylin Bybee, Ty Bryant, provide the foundation for one of the state's most athletic and talented secondaries, regardless of class.

 

Covington Catholic's front seven - You'd never guess from watching them, but the Colonels had to replace the entire defensive line from last year. Carter Martin, John Lawrie, and Zachary Allen, among others, have utilized quickness, technique, and high motors to offset a lack of size. Behind them, Michael Mayer is equally adept at getting after the quarterback, staying home to stuff the run, or dropping into coverage. He and Daniel Felix pair up to form a very effective sideline to sideline and north/south linebacker duo at the heart of the defense. They smothered a strong La Salle running game on Friday, limiting the Lancers to just 83 yards, which actually raised CovCath's average rushing yards against from 11 per game to 20.

 

Owensboro's defensive line - With the long term injury to linebacker Austin Gough, it was imperative to Owensboro's success this year that the first line of defense be rock solid to help protect the sudden hole in the middle of the field. And in that regard, the Red Devils' d-line gets an A+ through eight weeks of the season. Yovani Sales, Trace Grenier, Kobe Skortz, and Jaiden Greathouse have been nothing short of beastly week in and week out. That fearsome foursome has combined for 119 tackles/32.5 TFL/23 sacks. They are the centerpiece of a defense that ranks second in the state in points allowed and third in 5A in sacks.

 

Pulaski County's linebackers - As a group, they're big, experienced, versatile, and very productive. Some of that productivity is due to the Maroons playing a sneaky challenging schedule and being required to play deep into the fourth quarter in most of their games. But it's also because they're just plain good. The quintet of UK target Tristan Cox, Konner Hargis, Chase Parmelee, Evan Mercer, and Layton Abbott have combined for 323 tackles and 38 tackles for loss. They're physical against the run, they can put their hands in the dirt and rush the passer, and they're comfortable dropping into coverage, as evidenced by the interceptions Friday night by Parmelee and Mercer.

 

Bowling Green's secondary - Tisdale, you know. But Tucker Preiskorn and Evan Spader can play a little, too. That trio has combined for eleven picks so far this season. Spader and secondary mate Jacob Deglow intercepted three passes in BG's 14-3 win over South Warren. Tisdale's presence alone can erase half the field, with few opponents willing to directly challenge him.

 

South Oldham's pass defense - The Dragons have only allowed 100+ yards passing once this season and they lead 5A in interceptions with 17. Eight different players have recorded a pick, and they've displayed a nose for the endzone with four interceptions taken back the other way for six. Defensive backs JT Benson, Isaac Lalli, and Trey Garrison provide an abundance of experience on the back end, while the first year linebackers have played well above their experience level.

 

Covington Catholic's kicking game - Trey Gronotte has connected on an incredible 194 extra points over the past three years, ranking him 8th all-time in Kentucky history. With a deep playoff run, he could climb as high as 4th. Since the start of the 2018 season, he's 111 of 115 on PATs. He also pins opponents deep with a powerful leg on kickoffs and is 5/6 on field goals.

 

Grayson County's kicking game - Logan Raymer is less known than Gronotte, but has been no less accurate with his right foot. He's only misfired on one PAT this season and leads 5A with seven field goals.

 

 

 

Hurry Up Offense

 

- Scott County (7-1) scored on seven of its first fourteen plays en route to a 56-0 demolition of Grant County. The Cardinals amassed 369 yards of offense on just 23 snaps.

 

- South Oldham (7-1) got 118 yards rushing and three touchdowns from Keaton Martin in a comprehensive 44-10 victory over North Bullitt. All together, the Dragons rushed for 311 yards at 13.5 yards a clip.

 

- Tristan Cox accounted for all of Pulaski County's (7-1) touchdowns in a 35-14 win over North Laurel. He totalled 94 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, as well as 59 yards and two more scores through the air.

 

- Friday night featured another in a long line of down to the wire affairs between Conner (7-1) and Cooper. Eight of the last nine encounters between these two have been decided by a touchdown or less. Jared Hicks scored four total touchdowns to help the Cougars hang on for the 35-29 victory.

 

- A date with Boone County was just what the doctor ordered for Highlands (5-3). The Birds took out a couple of weeks worth of frustration on the Colonels to build a 42-0 halftime lead. Collin Hollingsworth tossed three touchdown passes in the 49-0 rout.

 

 

 

Scanning The Periphery

 

- Fairdale (7-1) continues to impress with it explosive offense, hammering Doss 49-0 for their seventh straight win. Mekale Buckner had a big night, rushing for 100+ yards and scoring four touchdowns. The Bulldogs held the Dragons to negative yardage on the ground.

 

- The potent East Jessamine running game that was highlighted above rolled over Collins like an armored assault tank. The Jags (6-2) tallied 475 yards on the ground to pummel the Titans, 43-13. The 1-2 punch of Dylan Moore and Valdon Miles combined for 358 yards and four touchdowns.

 

- Grayson County's bid for a 7-0 start came to a dead end at the hands of Graves County, 21-10. Cody Goatley and Clint McKee combined for over 270 yards rushing for the Eagles (4-3). Goatley also returned a blocked punt for a score.

 

 

 

GOTW For Week 9

 

Covington Catholic at Highlands - A couple of recent Highlands losses, the stunner to Conner in particular, have removed some of the shine from this year's clash of NKY titans. CovCath's current form suggests a trip to the woodshed is just around the corner for the Birds. But I would caution against anyone taking this year's outcome for granted.

 

Some comments from last year's regular season prediction thread:

 

"It is extremely difficult for me to pick against my Birds. But this Cov Cath team is for reals. Hopefully it’s not too bad."

 

"Cov Cath will deflate the Birds before halftime. I see at least a 4 TD lead by then."

 

"I believe CCH will control the clock and put up big rushing numbers on HHS. CCH is far more disciplined and that will be the real difference maker in this game. CCH by 28."

 

In the end, CovCath was fortunate to leave Fort Thomas with a win that night. More often than not, expect the unexpected in a rivalry game. A win here could drastically alter the trajectory of Highlands' season. And another angle to consider: CovCath's win over La Salle is the talk of the NKY football scene. Can the Colonels come back to earth in time to put their best foot forward versus the Birds and avoid a letdown?

Edited October 13, 20197 yr by DevilMayCare

Good stuff. FYI Gough may be back for Owensboro in the near future.

Good stuff. FYI Gough may be back for Owensboro in the near future.

 

That's fantastic news for an already great Owensboro defense and possibly a big boost to the running game too, depending on his role when he returns.

That may be the best Classification weekly write-up this site has seen in my time here.

 

Really well done!!!

ttt

For reference here are the 5A Rankings:

 

Frederick Douglass has done nothing to tarnish their name and relinquish the top spot, but Covington Catholic's shocking win over a Top 100 nationally ranked team definitely earned the respect needed to make them the new favorite in the class. The Colonels' win over LaSalle (OH) sent shock waves and they will want nothing more than to shake up their rivals from Fort Thomas. Another northern Kentucky team that kept their hopes alive was Conner who survived a scare from Cooper. Owensboro has their last real obstacle in District 1 with a scary Graves County team.

 

1. Covington Catholic at #10 Highlands

2. Frederick Douglass vs. Great Crossing

3. Scott County vs. Montgomery County

4. Bowling Green vs. Christian County

5. South Warren at Greenwood

6. South Oldham at Seneca

7. Pulaski County -- OPEN

8. Conner -- OPEN

9. Owensboro at Graves County

10. Highlands vs. #1 Covington Catholic

If any one can keep CCH focused on the job at hand it’s Eddie. No turnovers and comfortable win. Turnovers mean another nail biter.