The Colonels should be a strong contender to win a State Title in 2023. Graduation saw losses in quality and not quantity as multi year Letterman Aiden Jones  (going to West Point) and Max Lawrie (unsure if He is playing college ball or not) matriculate out of the program.

On offense tall, lanky, and rocket armed rising Sr. QB Evan Pitzer returns to once again lead the Colonel attack with another year of play and off-season workouts under His belt.  Evan did have a few injuries last season as He was called on to run the ball more than expected so keeping Him healthy will be priority one.  If memory serves able bodied Jackson Reardon will serve as backup QB after the graduation of Zach Roberts, with an absolute stud rising Freshman QB, last name Queen, waiting in the wings.

Owen Leen looks to improve on a most stellar career as the returning workhorse as RB and could emerge as a top RB in the state.  Owen is a load to handle whether it is running or catching the ball making Him very dangerous out of the backfield.

WR and TE will be an absolute position of strength for CCH with returning starting WR’s Link, Miller, and Johnson anchoring the pass catching duties while all-world, all everything Willie Rodriguez (visits to Notre Dame, UC, and Tennessee to name a few) lines up all over the field to wreak havoc with His next level catching, leaping, and blocking ability.  This will earn Him the well-deserved reputation  as a weapon to watch statewide and regionally.  That is a beast of a position group. 

The O-Line will see Aiden Jones Younger Brother return to lead that group.  The graduation of the elder Jones, Rust, Lawrie at Center, and Stewart leaves this position group with some questions to answer over the winter, spring, and summer.  Any additional info here is much obliged.

On Defense, the line will see Ben Reeves(visit to UK) on one DE returning to ruin nights for opposing QB’s.  Josh Flood and the younger Jones Brother spent time rotationally on the line, along with Willie R. lining up on occasion at the opposite DE.  This position group still has some sorting out to do.

The LB corp will be brutal this year with returning starters rising Sr. Josh Flood and rising Jr. Tate Kruer looking to improve on their outstanding run in 2022.  Willie Rodriguez will see time here along with a rising Jr. last name Bessler who had several high impact games rotating in.

The secondary will see returning starters in Link, Miller, and Johnson, giving the Defensive Backfield experience, speed and hitting.  With nearly the entire starting DB group returning this will be a tough group to thrown on as they look to lock down opposing offenses.

The question is, who will step up for the graduation Seniors, and how will this years stellar Freshmen class, loaded with talent fit in as last year saw a high number of Sophomores start from Day 1.  Will the youth movement continue or are there some under the radar rising Sr’s and Jr’s to look out for?

The 2023 season cannot get here soon enough.  Fill in my blanks and let the discussion begin!

Go Colonels!!

Thanks for all of that @Cov_Cath_Hwy!

Do we have any updates on the 2023 schedule?

@CCHFC do you think the 2023 Colonels will be superior to the 2022 Colonels?

14 minutes ago, theguru said:

Do we have any updates on the 2023 schedule?

I have reached out to a few folks and I have found nothing yet.  I have heard a GCL school will be on it and possibly Elder again.  The last couple of years their schedule usually drops about now.

28 minutes ago, theguru said:

@CCHFC do you think the 2023 Colonels will be superior to the 2022 Colonels?

I am optimistic. We will definitely be better at the skill positions and in the secondary, but will very likely take a step back on the line. As long as we are just average on the OL and DL, we will be better and have a real chance to compete in 4A.

Positively, we return a big, athletic, smart QB with multiple years of starting experience. A RB that had 1400 total yards and 17 TDs last year. Our top three receivers plus, at least, a MAC level TE that is probably the best player in NKY. The guy I personally think is the third best receiving option on the team, Braylon Miller, was 1st team all NKY at WR and CB last year, so we should be very good throwing the football. Defensively, we return both starters at both safety and off-ball LB, plus IMO the top 4 corners in the program since I include Gaiser as a rising soph. I do not see us being dominant, but should be good enough on that side of the ball.

I am worried about two things:

1. The size and talent on the line of scrimmage. We probably need at least 4 guys to step up from the younger classes. I did not see a level of player when I watched a few freshman games last year that could contribute this year, but do think there are a couple in the rising junior class. When we run into a big, physical team up front, it is going to be a struggle. Ben Reeves is a good player, but other than that, it is a lot of unknown.

2. As good of a coach as I think he is, I am worried about EE being too conservative and not throwing the ball enough on 1st and 2nd down vs teams with around the same amount of talent. We are likely not going to be able to beat teams up on the line of scrimmage so we have to play to our strengths, which is IMO is Pitzer being accurate and our skill position talent making plays.

CCH will be a beast next year. I would say best team since 2018 (yes, I think 2018 was better than the 2019 champions).

 

 

3 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

CCH will be a beast next year. I would say best team since 2018 (yes, I think 2018 was better than the 2019 champions).

 

 

I love the confidence! However, I would be very surprised if the team next year was better than the 2019 team that had Mayer on it and beat a Douglass team with six FBS guys and a Cincy LaSalle team that won Ohio D2 and also had six FBS guys. 

2 hours ago, CCHFC said:

I love the confidence! However, I would be very surprised if the team next year was better than the 2019 team that had Mayer on it and beat a Douglass team with six FBS guys and a Cincy LaSalle team that won Ohio D2 and also had six FBS guys. 

A couple ways to break this down.

All depending on definition of best team.

Best Team - 1) The team with the best top player or players that raises the tide for all others, creating a group that will win games.

Best Team - 2) The team with the most complete, consistent, and position per position better overall, creating a group that will win games.

This team and 2018 team could have very well been a better overall “complete” group that stacks up better at each individual position, but it is incredibly discount the impact a Michael Mayer had on the overall success. 

And in high school football, having an absolute stud like MM, makes you a great team. I don’t believe this years team will be a better team than 2019, as 15-0 state championships with the huge statement wins they had over LaSalle and Frederick Douglass, but that doesn’t mean they can’t go out and play a more complete brand of ball. 

2017 has to be the most complete and talent loaded team in CovCath history. 

If I had to rank Eddie’s tenure: 

1) 2017 (15-0 State Champs, running clocked essentially everyone)

2) 2019 (15-0 state Champs, lot of running clocks, LaSalle (OH state champ), and Frederick Douglass wins) 

3) 2018 (14-1 state runner up, didn’t bring their A game in state title game, lot of running clocks)

4) 2020 (10-2 * Covid year with one win being a Mad South forfeit, State semifinal loss to Bowling Green)

5) 2016 (9-4, Overcame the HHS hurdle in commanding fashion, beat OH Sycamore in arguably biggest win in program history at the time to officially change the culture)

6) 2021 (9-4, first loss to Beechwood under EE, regional final loss to Woodford Co.)

7) 2022 (9-4, first loss to HHS since 2015, first loss under EE in 2nd round of playoffs and first time as program since Wirth’s 1st or 2nd year)

8 ) 2015 (5-8, EE first year, culture shock for all).

If I had to place this upcoming year, the expectation should be no lower than 2016 team at #5 spot, and can hopefully overtake the 2018 team for the #3 spot but would realistically have to take them at 4 spot with a solid regular season and another opportunity in the state championship game.

State championships are now the standard in Park Hills, for all the folks out there last year after the Highlands loss calling for EE to move on, the proof is in the pudding. My two cents!

Hearing some SK starting linemen are headed to CCH. True? False?

18 hours ago, Cov_Cath_Hwy said:

I have reached out to a few folks and I have found nothing yet.  I have heard a GCL school will be on it and possibly Elder again.  The last couple of years their schedule usually drops about now.

Have heard the Highlands game will be within the first 3 weeks of the season with CCH dropping to 4A. 

6 hours ago, The Oracle said:

Hearing some SK starting linemen are headed to CCH. True? False?

I have not heard yet heard anything in regard to this….

1 hour ago, FirstTimeLongTime said:

Have heard the Highlands game will be within the first 3 weeks of the season with CCH dropping to 4A. 

Wow.  That would certainly be a change up in that dynamic…..I am hearing Elder is a growing possibility of doing another home and home.

6 hours ago, The Oracle said:

Hearing some SK starting linemen are headed to CCH. True? False?

SK returns 2 starters Jake Putthoff and Aba Selm I don't see either of them leaving  SK.

21 hours ago, CCHFC said:

I love the confidence! However, I would be very surprised if the team next year was better than the 2019 team that had Mayer on it and beat a Douglass team with six FBS guys and a Cincy LaSalle team that won Ohio D2 and also had six FBS guys. 

Agree, the 2023 team will not be in the same category as the 2017, 18, and 19 years. But prove me wrong.