Three weeks ago when these two were getting ready to face off in the final week of regular season district play, the predictions thread had comments like "Conner pulls the upset if Cov Cath can't find some kind of passing attack" and "barnburner" and "I'll take Conner now, CovCath in the playoffs."

The game was definitely a little on the wet side of things, but the Colonels led for the entire game, and left Hebron with a 27-7 win over the Cougars despite Conner QB Alex Castrucci's best efforts.

In the two weeks that followed their last showdown, the Cougars beat George Rogers Clark 34-16 and beat Cooper 14-3 at Cooper. The win over the Jags would definitely go down as an upset, seeing as the Jaguars had previously taken Conner to the woodshed in a 43-7 shellacking on Oct 7. The Colonels pulled off a 10-3 win over Ryle to finish off the regular season, a game that was also considered an upset by most, and then they beat Highlands 38-8 this past Friday.

It's pretty safe to say Cov Cath is the favorite heading into the game on Friday, but especially after seeing how Conner came out in the opening round of the playoff and set the Cooper team on its ear, what kind of potential do we have for an upset in Park Hills on Friday?

Give me the Colonels after last week. I know things were trending the wrong way for Highlands as the year went on, but CoachE and staff along with the players are executing well enough each week to win despite being one dimensional. 

Conner with the upset.

What is different now with Conner from the first game? If nothing different, why should anyone think Conner can win?

Cov Cath wins this one. I think it will be close for a half with CCH pulling away in the second half. 
CCH 28

Conner 10

A win for the Cougars is a win for Northern Kentucky. However, I do not think this is likely. Colonels 21 Cougars 7. 

17 minutes ago, Bucketgetter said:

A win for the Cougars is a win for Northern Kentucky. However, I do not think this is likely. Colonels 21 Cougars 7. 

I'd be shocked to see Conner win. I can make a little sense in the Cooper upset in the in the first game Conner was missing their starting RB, and then had him back in the mix last week.

I believe both Conner and CCH were at full strength 3 weeks ago, so I expect a similar or close to similar result. 

If anything close to the CovCath team that showed up against Highlands shows up against Conner I expect a big CCH win. 

2 hours ago, Bucketgetter said:

A win for the Cougars is a win for Northern Kentucky. However, I do not think this is likely. Colonels 21 Cougars 7. 

Ok... I will play ball. Do tell. Why would the Cougars winning be a win for NKY? 

@Colonels_Wear_Bluehistorical question:  Has Conner ever beat Cov Cath in the playoffs?  I clicked on fancy button and it only gave me head to head match ups back to 1998 and I didn't see a Cov Cath loss in any of those in the playoffs.

 

In normal years, Conner has been great throwing the ball around the yard. This is not normal Conner football this year with their struggles to pass.. CovCath is really good stuffing the run. A running clock is likely IMO.

5 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

@Colonels_Wear_Bluehistorical question:  Has Conner ever beat Cov Cath in the playoffs?  I clicked on fancy button and it only gave me head to head match ups back to 1998 and I didn't see a Cov Cath loss in any of those in the playoffs.

 

Yes, last time was 1996 ( I think) and it was at CCH. Bill Samad was RB for Conner. 

5 minutes ago, BlueKernels said:

Yes, last time was 1996 ( I think) and it was at CCH. Bill Samad was RB for Conner. 

I know Bill just a little bit, he is a great guy!

34 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

@Colonels_Wear_Bluehistorical question:  Has Conner ever beat Cov Cath in the playoffs?  I clicked on fancy button and it only gave me head to head match ups back to 1998 and I didn't see a Cov Cath loss in any of those in the playoffs.

 

26 minutes ago, BlueKernels said:

Yes, last time was 1996 ( I think) and it was at CCH. Bill Samad was RB for Conner. 

Yessir...BK is correct. The one and only time Conner has beaten Cov Cath in the playoffs was 1996. The Colonels won 12-0 during the regular season, and then Conner showed up in Park Hills in November and beat Cov Cath 22-14.

#99 Matthew Kenney from Cov Cath, and #41 Bill Samad from Conner.