Highlands vs Covington Catholic Predictions/Updates

[FrankNicodemus]

Well what else am I going to do for the next 4 hours?

Thought I would throw out some interesting tidbits about this game.

Cov Cath comes in with a record of 13-5-2

Highlands comes in with a record of 11-5-2

Cov Cath hasn't lost a game since way back on Aug 30th Carroll High School (Dayton, OH), and hasn't lost a game vs a KY team since Ryle took them down in a close 1-0 game on August 24th.  Typical Coach JR has them rolling into the playoffs full steam ahead.

Highlands had a bad week in the middle of Sept losing 3 of 4 (Ryle, NCC, & Brossart), other than those 3 games I really really like how Highlands has regrouped and played at the end of the year.  Morscher beat them in the Districts (Still Bitter), ludicrous!  There is a reason why the NCC v Cooper game is being played at Cov Cath tonight.....Morscher is not equipped to be a High School quality field!  Highlands is healthy coming into this game.  Suli seems to have settled in to a nice lineup on the pitch after some mid season tinkering....Tinkering is over and they have looked solid since.

Here is the like opponent outcomes for this season:

BEECHWOOD:  HHS won 5-2, CC won 2-0

CONNER:  HHS won 2-1, CC won 1-0

HOLY CROSS:  HHS won 6-1, CC won 3-0

RYLE: HHS lost 0-3, CC lost 0-1

NCC:  HHS lost 2-3 & 0-1 (both at Morscher), CC won 4-0 (played at Cov Cath)

DIXIE:  HHS won 1-0, CC won 2-1

COOPER:  HHS won 5-0, CC tied 0-0

ST HENRY:  HHS won 4-1, CC won 7-1

I highlighted the 2 games that each team could hang their hat on saying they should be the favorite.  Cov Cath manhandling Highlands nemesis this year NCC beating them 4-0 at home.  Highlands on the other hand destroyed Cooper 5-0, whereas Cov Cath only mustered up a 0-0 draw.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

This will be the 6th time since 2015 Highlands and Cov Cath will be meeting in the 9th Region Tournament.  Highlands currently leads those scenarios with 3 wins and 2 losses in the prior 5 meetings.  Each of the meeting the outcome has been decided by 1 goal, with 4 of those game being decided by the dreaded PK shootout!  One of those shootouts being at the old Goat Ranch of St Henry in 2021 that lead to a quick fundraising campaign led by yours truly to get turf on that property, just one year to late in my opinion.

2015:  Cov Cath beat Highlands 2-1 (PK shootout)

2017:  Highlands beat Cov Cath 1-0 (PK shootout)

2018: Highlands beat Cov Cath 2-1 (only game ending in regulation)

2019: Highlands beat Cov Cath 3-2 (PK shootout)

2021:  Cov Cath beat Highlands 1-0 (PK shootout in the wilderness of Donaldson)

2023:  Whatcha thinking????

Fire up the buses, let's go!!!!

 

 

[FrankNicodemus]

4 hours till kickoff, no one has joined forces with me predicting the Birds! @The Double Deuce Come on you know you wanna make the right choice.

[Runcible Owl]

45 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

4 hours till kickoff, no one has joined forces with me predicting the Birds! @The Double Deuce Come on you know you wanna make the right choice.

Don't do it 22. This guy thought the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor. 

Your avatar, Frank ... 🤌

[FrankNicodemus]

[The Double Deuce]

I absolutely think Highlands wins the game.  I will go 1-0 Birds. 

I hope CovCath wins, don't get it twisted, but I think the Birds win. 

[RedHawk]

Neighbor just texted it’s an absolutely awesome packed feeling in Park Hills tonight.

He said it looked like the crazies were rolling in tonight too. Should be a great game tonight! 

[The Double Deuce]

1-0 CovCath early.   

[The Double Deuce]

2-0 Colonels.  

Birds defense apparently not connected nor comminicating well, and CovCath is taking advantage of it.  

[Runcible Owl]

4 minutes ago, The Double Deuce said:

2-0 Colonels.  

Birds defense apparently not connected nor comminicating well, and CovCath is taking advantage of it.  

Goal by Cole Hubert.

Lot of time left. Lesko Colonels! 

🔗 covcath.org/athletics/can

[Runcible Owl]

Halftime.

Colonels 2 Bluebirds 0

[The Double Deuce]

2-0 Colonels at the half.  Apparently Birds has their chances late in the first half but couldn't capitalize.   

Can the Colonels keep Gesenhues bottled up in the 2nd half, that may be the key to a victory and a date with the Raiders.

[FrankNicodemus]

I liked the last 25 minutes, hated the first 10!!!

let's go!!!

[The Double Deuce]

Highlands turns all of their 2nd half possession into a goal.  

2-1 CovCath

[The Double Deuce]

Ping Pong ball in the box finds the back of the net.  

2-2 in Park Hills.  

[The Double Deuce]

Birds off a dome, lead 3-2 with 5 to play.