I think Cov Cath gets this done. A big, talented line, like Highlands, will give CCH trouble. Having said that, they also have two G5 receivers and a competent NKY passing QB to worry about. JC does not have that, which will allow the defensive staff to devote more resources to stopping the run. 

I also don’t think Cov Cath is that far off from last year’s team at this point and 31 points is hard to make up in one offseason. JC will probably pop a few big runs, but I would be a little surprised to see them win on the road. 

 

Series Record:
2006* Cov Cath (Rodenberg) beat Johnson Central (Matney) 38-14
2008* Johnson Central (Matney) beat Cov Cath (Brossart) 49-14
2009* Johnson Central (Matney) beat Cov Cath (Wirth) 51-32
2010* Johnson Central (Matney) beat Cov Cath (Wirth) 41-28
2012* Cov Cath (Wirth) beat Johnson Central (Matney) 45-15
2013* Cov Cath (Wirth) beat Johnson Central (Matney) 42-14
2014* Cov Cath (Wirth) beat Johnson Central (Matney) 19-7
2023* Cov Cath (Eviston) beat Johnson Central (Peck) 31-0

*  Playoffs

40 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Series Record:
2006* Cov Cath (Rodenberg) beat Johnson Central (Matney) 38-14
2008* Johnson Central (Matney) beat Cov Cath (Brossart) 49-14
2009* Johnson Central (Matney) beat Cov Cath (Wirth) 51-32
2010* Johnson Central (Matney) beat Cov Cath (Wirth) 41-28
2012* Cov Cath (Wirth) beat Johnson Central (Matney) 45-15
2013* Cov Cath (Wirth) beat Johnson Central (Matney) 42-14
2014* Cov Cath (Wirth) beat Johnson Central (Matney) 19-7
2023* Cov Cath (Eviston) beat Johnson Central (Peck) 31-0

*  Playoffs

I’m sure that’s accurate, but it just feels like we’ve played more often than that.

Those photos are all great, thanks CWB!

Excited for this game.

27 minutes ago, colonel-fan said:

I’m sure that’s accurate, but it just feels like we’ve played more often than that.

It really does in a lot of ways, when you look at the history of the series. It wasn't until Jim Matney took the Johnson Central job in 2004 that the program really took off and would land opportunities to play schools the caliber of Covington Catholic. Since 1970 (Johnson Central first opened when four schools consolidated in 1968) Johnson Central played 11 games in 1977 going 9-2 and did have an undefeated regular season in 2000 before losing in the second round of the 4A playoffs, but outside of that the program was dominant at the grade school and middle school levels but oftentimes the success would fizzle out by the time the players reached high school. Even with the successful 1977 season, I don't think the program had an official playoff appearance until 1995. With the exception of being placed in the same region, the lack of a deep playoff run probably prevented the matchup and even they may not have met as Johnson Central was in 4A for a number of years (When there were four classes) and if I recall Covington Catholic was mostly in 3A during that time. It wasn't until 2005 Johnson Central went down to 3A.

2006, in my opinion, was the BIG breakout year for Johnson Central. Multiple things happened that year:

1. Beating Ashland 35-7 in the regular season, avenging a controversial 13-10 loss from the prior year. Ashland was 5-1 beforehand against Johnson Central, the lone loss to Johnson Central coming in 1986 when they went 1-9. That 35-7 win Johnson Central had, I don't know if I have seen a team come out so focused like they did that night. They would follow that up with a 28-21 playoff victory over Ashland on a last second reverse pass in the second round of the playoffs in a two year period when the teams would play through their districts to get to the regional finals.

2. Winning the region - something they have never done before and it had to be done against a Rockcastle team that returned a vast majority of a team that defeated Ashland 32-14 the prior year and shut out Bell County 21-0 to win the region in 05. That Rockcastle team had Brad Durham who one year later would earn extensive playing time for UK at tackle as a freshman on an 8-5 Kentucky team that won the Music City Bowl. Johnson Central would hold a commanding lead for much of the game, winning 29-7 and their first ever regional title.

3. The state semifinal against Covington Catholic had an enormous turnout and whether they won or lost by 50, it was a special moment for the program because of the level of attention it attracted and the crowd it drew toward the EKY area. I was at that game - this was before JC had turf and at the time they didn't even have opposing bleachers. Covington Catholic's student section, who was quite organized I remember, came out in full force and the crowd for each team was booming. Shawn Grimm would bust loose early for 50 yards to put JC ahead 7-0 and I think JC led 14-10 at halftime, it really hurt them when fullback Blake Johnson went down with and injury. But Covington Catholic that year, they were as dominant as just about any team that has come through that school and would win the state title the next game against Bowling Green. Their line had the height of a basketball team and they were equally effective with both the run and the pass.

You are a SERIOUS wealth of knowledge @TCR...I can't tell you how much I love reading your posts!

Who are the possible opponents for the winner next week?

1 hour ago, MorrowManiac said:

Who are the possible opponents for the winner next week?

I'm anticipating the winner will be on the road, regardless of who wins. Districts 1 - 4 are grouped together and seeded, as are district 5 - 8. 

RPI rankings (Which will not change) for districts 5 - 8

1. Boyle County
2. Corbin
3. Ashland
4. Covington Catholic
5. Johnson Central
6. Letcher County Central
7. Wayne County
8. Mason County

I'm always hesitant on predictions, but I will go with the consensus and say that Boyle County and Corbin emerge from their brackets to make the regional final. Here is how the situation would work out based on who wins.

Johnson Central vs. Covington Catholic and Ashland vs. Mason County

• If Covington Catholic and Ashland win: Ashland will play at Corbin, Covington Catholic at Boyle County.
• Covington Catholic and Mason County win: Covington Catholic at Corbin, Mason at Boyle County.
• Johnson Central and Ashland win: Ashland at Corbin, Johnson Central at Boyle County.
• Johnson Central and Mason County win: Johnson Central and Corbin rematch at Corbin, Mason County goes to Boyle County.

@Colonels_Wear_Blue Thank you for the kind words, and Glory to God for the memory He gave me. If I'm mentioning numbers, some I do know from history (Like Johnson Central's founding, just about any season under Matney and Peck) but seasons like the 1977 one and the 1995 playoffs I wanted to verify. So I do a lot of fact checking on it....and even then, have been wrong sometimes haha. Love your posts as well and enjoy the conversation! Hopefully at some point I'll be able to make it out to Covington Catholic for an athletic event.

On 11/13/2024 at 10:21 PM, TCR said:

I'm anticipating the winner will be on the road, regardless of who wins. Districts 1 - 4 are grouped together and seeded, as are district 5 - 8. 

RPI rankings (Which will not change) for districts 5 - 8

1. Boyle County
2. Corbin
3. Ashland
4. Covington Catholic
5. Johnson Central
6. Letcher County Central
7. Wayne County
8. Mason County

I'm always hesitant on predictions, but I will go with the consensus and say that Boyle County and Corbin emerge from their brackets to make the regional final. Here is how the situation would work out based on who wins.

Johnson Central vs. Covington Catholic and Ashland vs. Mason County

• If Covington Catholic and Ashland win: Ashland will play at Corbin, Covington Catholic at Boyle County.
• Covington Catholic and Mason County win: Covington Catholic at Corbin, Mason at Boyle County.
• Johnson Central and Ashland win: Ashland at Corbin, Johnson Central at Boyle County.
• Johnson Central and Mason County win: Johnson Central and Corbin rematch at Corbin, Mason County goes to Boyle County.

@Colonels_Wear_Blue Thank you for the kind words, and Glory to God for the memory He gave me. If I'm mentioning numbers, some I do know from history (Like Johnson Central's founding, just about any season under Matney and Peck) but seasons like the 1977 one and the 1995 playoffs I wanted to verify. So I do a lot of fact checking on it....and even then, have been wrong sometimes haha. Love your posts as well and enjoy the conversation! Hopefully at some point I'll be able to make it out to Covington Catholic for an athletic event.

Tough road for both it is a shame JC and Ashland do not rematch in the playoffs. Thank you for the insight.

From Cov Cath Football Alumni on Social Media:
 

It's gameday, baby!! All You Colonels....big night tonight with Cov Cath heading off against the Johnson Central Golden Eagles!
 

This is a big game, so make sure not to miss tonight's slobberknocker and come cheer the Colonels onward to victory!
 

Cov Cath vs. Johnson Central

Art's Rental Field at Dennis Griffin Stadium

7:30pm Kickoff

colonel-athletic-network.mixlr.com/

www.covcath.org/athletics/tickets-and-broadcasting.cfm

The Paintsville Herald game preview article mentioned the Johnson Central football team would be heading to Covington tonight. That gave me a chuckle thinking back to the Johnson-ville silliness from nearly 20 years ago.