5 minutes ago, theguru said:

Putting my CCH hat on, who cares about Highlands, we have a better chance to win 4A than we do 5A. 

While you are not wrong here, I am just not thrilled with no longer being in a Class with all the schools we have played for decades.  Love playing those schools.  Just an OG here I guess that does not like change…..

Just now, Cov_Cath_Hwy said:

While you are not wrong here, I am just not thrilled with no longer being in a Class with all the schools we have played for decades.  Love playing those schools.  Just an OG here I guess that does not like change…..

The two schools can always play play.

13 minutes ago, Cov_Cath_Hwy said:

While you are not wrong here, I am just not thrilled with no longer being in a Class with all the schools we have played for decades.  Love playing those schools.  Just an OG here I guess that does not like change…..

If you don't accept change you can not grow.  Highlands had a proud history even before the Colonels started a program.   Early on, Covington Catholic may have needed the Birds as a measuring stick, but they've established themselves.   They can go be successful without each other.  They can always play when they want, but neither team, nor does the region, need that anymore.

53 minutes ago, Royal Blue said:

Why didn’t Covcath petition up to stay with Highlands? 

I believe they were under the impression Highlands was going to be moving down. 

44 minutes ago, Cov_Cath_Hwy said:

While you are not wrong here, I am just not thrilled with no longer being in a Class with all the schools we have played for decades.  Love playing those schools.  Just an OG here I guess that does not like change…..

For what it's worth, the NKY district for 5A is Boone County, Conner, Cooper, Dixie Heights, Highlands and Scott.

Cov Cath was playing Harrison County and Holmes before we ever had scheduled Dixie, Scott, Conner, or Cooper. The OG-est of OGs saw all of the traditional NKY schools on Cov Cath's schedule as "change."

Grant County first showed up on our schedule in 2001, and we've never played Mason County before.

17 minutes ago, TheConch said:

I believe they were under the impression Highlands was going to be moving down. 

District: Harrison, Holmes, Mason, Grant.

Non-District: Beechwood, Highlands, Dixie, Ryle.

Leaving 2 spots: I’d assume we’ll see SK and one other. Not sure if they’ll go across the river or make a travel game like recent years. 

2 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Yes, yes, yes.

2 minutes ago, TheConch said:

District: Harrison, Holmes, Mason, Grant.

Non-District: Beechwood, Highlands, Dixie, Ryle.

Leaving 2 spots: I’d assume we’ll see SK and one other. Not sure if they’ll go across the river or make a travel game like recent years. 

I know they want a GCL Team on the schedule and in recent years Lex. Cath. has been a schedule mainstay.

I have heard they have been trying to get SK for years and only had luck in the Covid year, but has been no dice other than that.

2 hours ago, theguru said:

Putting my CCH hat on, who cares about Highlands, we have a better chance to win 4A than we do 5A. 

Not sure if the road will be easier. 
 

5A likely path if they were the top seed

South Oldham (4th sister)

Woodford or Scott Co (2nd Sister)

Southwestern / Pulaski or MadSouth / Woodford or Scott Co or Highlands (Region RPI)

Bowling Green and South Warren will likely be your two teams out of the west

 

 

4A Path:

 Rowan or Greenup 

Ashland

Boyle Corbin or Johnson Central 

Paducah and Franklin with your other east teams that survive. 

I think the first two rounds would be easier in 4A with it being tougher from the region on. 5A would give you a tougher second round game but I don’t think your third and fourth round game will be bad if you can avoid Bowling Green. 

3 hours ago, TheConch said:

District: Harrison, Holmes, Mason, Grant.

Non-District: Beechwood, Highlands, Dixie, Ryle.

Leaving 2 spots: I’d assume we’ll see SK and one other. Not sure if they’ll go across the river or make a travel game like recent years. 

 

3 hours ago, Cov_Cath_Hwy said:

I know they want a GCL Team on the schedule and in recent years Lex. Cath. has been a schedule mainstay.

I have heard they have been trying to get SK for years and only had luck in the Covid year, but has been no dice other than that.

Someone across the river will still want to harvest some Harbin points, it just may not be a GCLS school. Maybe a GCL Co-ed? Lex Cath is a good fit and a keeper. Yes - to Beechwood, Highlands, Dixie, and Ryle. We may now be small enough for SK to consider us. A 6A school is going to have to weigh taking an RPI hit in scheduling a 4A, but our OWP and OOWP will still be strong.

Honestly, from maybe the oldest remaining OG alumni on this site (and as competitive as anyone. I remember when Lloyd an New Cath were in our district too. I'd be happy if the "hubris era" of playing up and attempting to be an adjunct member of the GCLS was over forever. We've really tapered off that in the last few cycles anyway.

At it's recent peak, we had enrollment numbers we haven't seen since the mid to late 60's, and that, sadly is never coming back. Playing an unmanageable football schedule to keep up with the Joneses as part of an attempt to attract families and students was always a fool's errand. Not much prestige to be had by playing say - Moeller, Elder, and Louisville St. Xavier every year if you're maybe winning ten percent of those games and getting physically battered before the playoffs.

We've been a tweener school for a half century; now we're on the other side of the fence. I believe we've still got something special to offer. Highlands and Beechwood have admirably thrived a long time in areas other than football as smaller schools. No reason to believe we can't do the same. 

Football titles are still reasonably attainable. And as a former XC/Track guy I'm pretty juiced about moving down to 2A again; this coming XC season could be something special.

We are as strong now academically than we've ever been. Facilities are first rate. There are so many more opportunities now - variety of sports, house system, arts programs, special interest clubs than there were back in my day. I admit to a tinge of jealousy.

Anything criticism from those outside the community is just so, much, noise. Football isn't the thing, it's a thing. It's not the beginning of the end, just a fresh start. We'll find a niche, excel, and move on.  

4 hours ago, Runcible Owl said:

 

Someone across the river will still want to harvest some Harbin points, it just may not be a GCLS school. Maybe a GCL Co-ed? Lex Cath is a good fit and a keeper. Yes - to Beechwood, Highlands, Dixie, and Ryle. We may now be small enough for SK to consider us. A 6A school is going to have to weigh taking an RPI hit in scheduling a 4A, but our OWP and OOWP will still be strong.

Honestly, from maybe the oldest remaining OG alumni on this site (and as competitive as anyone. I remember when Lloyd an New Cath were in our district too. I'd be happy if the "hubris era" of playing up and attempting to be an adjunct member of the GCLS was over forever. We've really tapered off that in the last few cycles anyway.

At it's recent peak, we had enrollment numbers we haven't seen since the mid to late 60's, and that, sadly is never coming back. Playing an unmanageable football schedule to keep up with the Joneses as part of an attempt to attract families and students was always a fool's errand. Not much prestige to be had by playing say - Moeller, Elder, and Louisville St. Xavier every year if you're maybe winning ten percent of those games and getting physically battered before the playoffs.

We've been a tweener school for a half century; now we're on the other side of the fence. I believe we've still got something special to offer. Highlands and Beechwood have admirably thrived a long time in areas other than football as smaller schools. No reason to believe we can't do the same. 

Football titles are still reasonably attainable. And as a former XC/Track guy I'm pretty juiced about moving down to 2A again; this coming XC season could be something special.

We are as strong now academically than we've ever been. Facilities are first rate. There are so many more opportunities now - variety of sports, house system, arts programs, special interest clubs than there were back in my day. I admit to a tinge of jealousy.

Anything criticism from those outside the community is just so, much, noise. Football isn't the thing, it's a thing. It's not the beginning of the end, just a fresh start. We'll find a niche, excel, and move on.  

This!!!!

Can't wait for the new football schedule to come out. Looking forward to the new season. CCH Alumni should be very excited about the talent they have and the youth program is doing better than ever. Youth football Numbers are at there highest. CCH grade school football not only continues to compete in the CYF league but win multiple championships in several grade levels. Should be fun to watch. 
 

52 minutes ago, Sportsguy10 said:

Can't wait for the new football schedule to come out. Looking forward to the new season. CCH Alumni should be very excited about the talent they have and the youth program is doing better than ever. Youth football Numbers are at there highest. CCH grade school football not only continues to compete in the CYF league but win multiple championships in several grade levels. Should be fun to watch. 
 

Excitement does not even cover it!  And I can tell you that the CYF is loaded and in a lot of cases we are dominant over in Ohio across multiple grade levels.  The Colonel program top to bottom is loaded and will be decisively successful over the next 7-9 years.  Even if of couple kids leave, as stated earlier we have too talent to step right in.  And as long as we can iron out some issues in the trenches this year with personnel, we are going to be brutal to take on.
 

The build up of the program, the school, the CCH community and all the intangibles in school, on the field, and with the people, has been a beautiful thing to see and be a part of as an Alum and Parent.  It always has been and will be a special place.

And this will be a very special season coming up for sure.

Go Colonels!

On 1/11/2023 at 3:05 PM, 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 am cautiously optimistic about this year’s team.  I think the 2023 team will be better than the ’20, ’21 and ’22 teams, but that’s where I will stop.  The 2017-2019 teams were something special and don’t come around very often.  You had a combination of great overall teams in addition to the best player to ever come out of the school.  We’re not there nor do I think we will get there but we will be very good.  The incoming senior class is solid and loaded with plenty of returning starters.  They will be shored up by a very good junior class who in my opinion has been very underrated and overlooked.   The sophomore class is talented and will see several kids picking up time as well. 

Like CCHFC pointed out, we are stacked at the skills position, but has concerns about the O-line and D-line.  This senior class had a lot of guys waiting in the wings last year to get their turn. Next man up and it’s their turn.   I also think this is one of the many areas the junior class will step up.  There are several kids who are hitting the weights hard adding some serious strength.   Look for these juniors to help shore up the O & D lines.  Drew Huber, Isaac Mason and Andrew Finley.  Remember Last year’s JV Team lost only two games.  One to Elder and one to Beechwood.   The offense averaged 30 points a game and the defense gave up an average of 8 per game.   These were the guys that saw little to no varsity time.  Obviously, there is a significant difference going from JV to Varsity, but the potential is there, as there generally is at CCH.  The Linebackers are going to be scary good with a decent amount of depth there as well.  Nearly all of the defensive backfield will be back in addition to a decent amount of depth.

On the offensive side we have five potential starters at wide receiver.  You will probably see Seniors Braylon Miller and Noah Johnson with Junior Oliver Link as the starters and Juniors Cam Mandel and Marcus Suwinski seeing significant time too. The running back position has added good depth also.  Obviously, Owen Leen will get the start, but Junior Andrew Bessler and seniors Will Michels and Luke Rabe will add solid depth at the running back position.  At QB, it will be  Senior Evan Pitzer with  Junior Jackson Reardon and Sophomore Geiser to back him. At TE I see Senior Willie Rodriguez being backed up senior Josh Floor and by Juniors Nick Krallman and Tate Kruer.   Krallman had a great JV Season at TE and MLB and I look for it to continue this year at the varsity level. 

 

So yes, with all that being said, I do think this team will be better than the ’20, ’21 and ’22 teams and will make a deep run going into the playoffs with serious championship potential