After a year off from playing, the Raiders and the Colonels are squaring off for the 18th time this Friday to wrap up their regular season schedules. Ryle and Cov Cath first faced off in 1995, 3 years after Ryle first opened its doors in the fall of 1992. The Colonels took the first 5 wins in the series, and since then, Ryle has evened the series record out to a large extent, with the all-time record currently standing at 10 wins to 7, in Cov Cath's favor. The Colonels have won the three most recent contests, and Ryle took the three previous to that.

Currently, Coach Engler is 3-3 against the Colonels, and Coach Eviston is 3-3 against the Raiders, including one game (a 27-7 loss in 2010) during Eviston's time as head coach at Newport Central Catholic.

With a 7-2 record, Ryle is pretty unanimously considered one of the top two football programs in northern Kentucky this season. They lost 24-21 to Lex Cath in Week 1, and 13-3 to St. Xavier in Week 7. The Raiders' starting QB Logan Verax is #1 for passing yardage out of all northern Kentucky quarterbacks, with 133 completions for 1801 yards and 17 TDs, for an average of 200.1 yards passing per game, and 13.5 yards per reception.

The Colonels stand with a 6-3 record, and sit somewhere in the midst of a jumbled group of programs that follow Beechwood and Ryle as the "...then you can basically pick any one of those" teams that fill in the second, third, fourth, and possibly even fifth place spots in northern Kentucky. Cov Cath's biggest challenge this season has been making their way through a quarterback identity crisis, with 3 different players having gotten the nod as starting QB this season. This past Friday the Colonels went with senior Preston Agee, who logged 89 of their team's 200 rushing yards in the drizzling rain against Conner, and was 8-10 passing, accounting for all 79 of their passing yards in their 27-7 win.


Common Opponents in 2021:

Cov Cath vs. Conner (Oct 22) - Colonels 27-7
Ryle vs. Conner (Sep 3) - Raiders 40-7

Cov Cath vs. Cooper (Sep 24) - Colonels 31-24 (4OT)
Ryle vs. Cooper (Aug 27) - Raiders 14-7

Cov Cath vs. Dixie Heights (Sep 10) - Blue Colonels 24-8
Ryle vs. Dixie Heights (Oct 15) - Raiders 13-12

Cov Cath vs. Highlands (Oct 15) - Colonels 8-7
Ryle vs. Highlands (Sep 17) - Raiders 27-13

Cov Cath vs. Lex Cath (Sep 3) - Knights 34-27
Ryle vs. Lex Cath (Aug 20) - Knights 24-21

I am really excited about this game.

I also think this game is going to give one team a lot of momentum going into the playoffs and give the other team another reason to doubt themselves in the playoffs. 

I think Cov Cath offense going to struggle against that Raider defense. I'll take Ryle by 7.

1 minute ago, Tigerpride94 said:

I think Cov Cath offense going to struggle against that Raider defense. I'll take Ryle by 7.

I think both offenses will struggle.  Of course, I say that and it could end up being a shootout, who really knows.

Ryle fans, what do you think?

If the same personnel starts for Covcath for this game that started the Conner game, it will be Covcath by 10+.

I have seen both team play against Lex Cath. IMO advance Ryle just because their front line and their running game is better. Cov Cath do have some players out in space that can be a difference maker.

Ryle 28

Cov Cath 17

2 stellar defenses with 2 of the best linebacking corps in the state going head to head should be a slugfest.

1 offense with it's identity established and fairly balanced and 1 that is going through some growing pains this season but runs the ball well. 

Both teams have had ups and downs on special teams. 

Based on seeing both teams play I expect to see a hard fought close game where the weather could impact the game if it rains. I look to see Ryle pull one off by 7 (maybe they get a Summer FG to help seal the win)

20 minutes ago, theguru said:

I think both offenses will struggle.  Of course, I say that and it could end up being a shootout, who really knows.

Ryle fans, what do you think?

If Ryle utilizes their arsenal of RBs and take control of the clock, they may pull away early in the 2nd half.

2 minutes ago, KY Outsider said:

If Ryle utilizes their arsenal of RBs and take control of the clock, they may pull away early in the 2nd half.

I expect this game to be close no matter what.

Ryle's speed on defense will be the difference, its difficult to generate sustained drives against them and they just don't give up the big play. Ryle has a lot of back end speed on D and their 2 stud linebackers are all over their field.   I'm looking forward to seeing Cov Cath's O against Ryle's D. Verax has seemed to turn the corner over the last few weeks and is seeing the field better.  I know Ryle will want this game after Cov Cath thumping them the last 3 years.  It's always a great atmosphere at Cov Cath on Friday nights.

 

Ryle 20

Cov Cath 17

Is weather expected to be a factor up there? I think Cov Cath pulls out a squeaker here.

 

4 minutes ago, Hungover_in_Andover said:

Is weather expected to be a factor up there? I think Cov Cath pulls out a squeaker here.

 

From weather.com.

Day: Rain likely. High 56F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a half an inch.

Night: Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 49F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Coach E has the Colonels Believing. Colonels have home field. Defense wins Championships and right now CCH is clicking on D. That being said after the most balanced attack of the year against Conner, I still don’t see a lot of Scoring. 
CCH 10

Ryle 7. 

14-10 CCH.