1 hour ago, BLUEHOUND said:

How do these teams stack up in the trenches? Usually that's where the ties are broken.  

I would rate Cov Cath as ok on both. Definitely not the strength of the team. 

The tackles are big and good enough not to get you beat on offense and Ben Reeves is a good player at guard. The other 2 spots are definitely a question.

On the DL, I think we’re still ok and that’s including Reeves, who I’d be surprised if he wasn’t the best interior DL in NKY. Certainly a big test tomorrow. 

7 minutes ago, CCHFC said:

I would rate Cov Cath as ok on both. Definitely not the strength of the team. 

The tackles are big and good enough not to get you beat on offense and Ben Reeves is a good player at guard. The other 2 spots are definitely a question.

On the DL, I think we’re still ok and that’s including Reeves, who I’d be surprised if he wasn’t the best interior DL in NKY. Certainly a big test tomorrow. 

I feel like o line is the first position that gets effected by extreme heat. Conditioning and hydration are going going to be tested for both teams. I’m guessing OLine depth will be a factor as well. 

22 minutes ago, El Diablo said:

I feel like o line is the first position that gets effected by extreme heat. Conditioning and hydration are going going to be tested for both teams. I’m guessing OLine depth will be a factor as well. 

Agreed. Coach EE is going to take his time getting plays in, which we do anyway but definitely an emphasis in the heat. Let's run the play clock down and take our time and make sure the guys going both ways don't get too burned out quickly. 

1 hour ago, 1963 BIRDS said:

Home field advantage?

 

1 hour ago, theguru said:

I wonder how that breaks down with previous games. 

 

All-time home records in the series

Highlands: 30-13 

Covington Catholic: 15-17

 

CovCath has almost as many wins at David Cecil as they do at home. 

Highlands has run off a lot of home wins during periods when CovCath was either "down"* or not yet the program we know them as today**.

It seems when both are good, it's a virtual toss-up no matter where it's played. From the late 80s, when Lynn Ray really got things cooking in Park Hills, to John Rodenberg's championship in '06, CovCath was 9-7 in Fort Thomas. Highlands was 9-5 at CovCath during that same time frame. 

 

* The Bluebirds won 10 in a row from 2007-2016.

** Highlands won 13 straight at home from 1968-1986.

17 minutes ago, DevilMayCare said:

It seems when both are good, it's a virtual toss-up no matter where it's played. From the late 80s, when Lynn Ray really got things cooking in Park Hills, to John Rodenberg's championship in '06, CovCath was 9-7 in Fort Thomas. Highlands was 9-5 at CovCath during that same time frame. 

Pertaining to this week's game, this ^^^ is the biggest takeaway: when both are good, as we believe they are this year, home field hasn't counted for much.

1 hour ago, theguru said:

I wonder how that breaks down with previous games. 

I've said for years that I feel like the environment at DCMS is usually good for at least one touchdown in Highlands' favor for most games against most opponents. But the way Coach Eviston and his crew get their team prepared for this one, I honestly don't feel like that's quite so much the case at this point for Cov Cath.

Turnover battle and special teams. Best games between these 2 always come down to this.

Who coughs the ball up most today? And who has special teams that is on point all night. 

Couple other things I’ll be watching on the stream are starting field position relative to scoring and who wins the cramping battle aka how many times a trainer has to come to stretch one of their kids. 

Let's go Birds!  Protect your house!

13 hours ago, Fan of Karen said:

I agree ED.  I think we are going to out muscle Cov Cath.

I am going to MRBL Steakhouse for a 12oz bone in filet before heading to the game.

That is not happening.

2 minutes ago, Bluesport said:

That is not happening.

I can not imagine why this won't happen Is Marbl closed?

52 minutes ago, Bluesport said:

That is not happening.

49 minutes ago, Woody Hayes said:

I can not imagine why this won't happen Is Marbl closed?

I am eating that steak @Bluesport along with some Black Tiger Shrimp.

17 minutes ago, Fan of Karen said:

I am eating that steak @Bluesport along with some Black Tiger Shrimp.

Fan of Karen, you have always been a Dear Friend of Mine! Stellar choice choosing Marbl for your Pre-Game dining. It is a bit pricey but in this case,  at least you won't have to worry about any unruly Colonels disrupting your fine dining experience. Might I suggest the 3-Layer Cheese Cake for desert? You should get it to go as you will want to enjoy that for your late night treat!

13 hours ago, DevilMayCare said:

Pertaining to this week's game, this ^^^ is the biggest takeaway: when both are good, as we believe they are this year, home field hasn't counted for much.

I have never thought home field advantage mattered when two NKY schools are playing each other. There really isn't much travel and it really doesn't interrupt routine a whole lot. Once you start talking around a hour on a bus, then I think it comes into play more. That really doesn't effect two NKY teams playing each other. 

The heat index was 101 at 11:15 this morning.  Are we kidding ourselves with the 8:00 start time or even the possibility we have HS football tonight?  Thoughts?

1 minute ago, 859Radio said:

The heat index was 101 at 11:15 this morning.  Are we kidding ourselves with the 8:00 start time or even the possibility we have HS football tonight?  Thoughts?

The temp will be in the low 80s at 8pm, I think we are fine.