38 minutes ago, cincyswords said:

This was the beauty of no lights at CovCath.  We could do our Saturday morning film sessions then head over to watch a varsity game.  Yes I am getting old.

I think that was a trend for alot of kids in the tri state. I remember seeing kids from all over. No lights at Cov Cath wasn't that long ago tho.

2 hours ago, Breds82 said:

In the past when the varsity roster included freshmen, did that mean they were going to contribute or just get some mop up time throughout the season.

I know Cov Cath Hall Of Famer Mark Brueggemann (CCH '81) started as a varsity running back as a freshman, and I'm sure there were some freshmen who played up on varsity in the early years of the football program before we found our stride and drew more kids to go out for the team. But typically there just haven't been freshmen on the varsity roster...period. Bringing up freshmen for the post-season didn't even start at Cov Cath until Coach Ray decided to in 1993, and those guys were essentially all on mop-up time, like you said.

Brad Fritz and Tim Grogan were both freshmen quarterbacks on the '98 varsity roster. I know Fritz was on the roster before the end of the regular season because I remember him starting games as the JV quarterback, and I think he saw some playing time at corner in a varsity game or two that year, too. I don't think he was on varsity from the get-go of the season, though. Grogan definitely didn't begin the season on varsity, and I can't remember if he came up to varsity during the regular season or if he was only up for the post-season, but as the senior center that season I remember snapping to both of them in practice since it was only me and a junior playing center that year.

As great as Casey McGinness was, he didn't get pulled up to varsity as a freshman until the 2016 post-season. Trey Gronotte was on the 2017 roster from the onset of the varsity season, though - he is the only true "freshman starter" on varsity that I can think of in my lifetime. The Giesler kid that bounced around between Highlands, New Cath and Cov Cath as a freshman about 5 years ago, and he made the varsity roster mid-season. Then two years ago Owen Pitzer, Jonny Lind and Spencer Clukey were all pulled onto the varsity roster mid-season. All three of them saw quality time on the field as freshmen, albeit in less important games. Last year they brought up a handful of freshmen maybe a couple of weeks before the freshman season wrapped up (Dylan Courtney, Jonny Danneman, Evan Link, Thomas Van Auken, Landon Robinson, and Sam Miller). Again, they all saw some quality playing time, but it all came in the dregs of the season when were were strolling through district competition.

Anyway...I'm being wayyyyy too long-winded. Basically, yeah, freshmen on the varsity roster at the very beginning of the season is super rare. As in, this is roundabout the third time in the last 45 years that it's happened. Based on that, it's hard telling what the plan is for them.

1 hour ago, Honey Badger said:

Do you know their names? I imagine Smith, Miller and Kirkley are among those 8.

Donovan Eviston, Brandon Smith, Jamir Kirtley, Parker Payne, Carson Grainger, Kiyan Miller, Miles Woolf, and Charlie Hull.

4 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Donovan Eviston, Brandon Smith, Jamir Kirtley, Parker Payne, Carson Grainger, Kiyan Miller, Miles Woolf, and Charlie Hull.

From a group of 39 per Arbiter, which is one of the largest frosh classes I can remember.

Just checked over the forecast for this evening. All of the meteorologists in town are calling for it to be around 77° and mostly sunny at 7pm. Perfect.

From Cov Cath Football Alumni on social media:

It's gameday, baby!! All You Colonels...we'll see you in Park Hills tonight when Cov Cath Football opens up the 2025 season against the Ryle Raiders!! Kickoff is at 7:00pm.

#RollColonels #WASTWND #Team59

? Cov Cath vs. Ryle
? Art's Rental Field at Dennis Griffin Stadium
? http://colonel-athletic-network.mixlr.com
? http://covcath.org/athletics/tickets-and-broadcasting.cfm

1 hour ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Donovan Eviston, Brandon Smith, Jamir Kirtley, Parker Payne, Carson Grainger, Kiyan Miller, Miles Woolf, and Charlie Hull.

CCH "rostered" all their frosh this year with the KHSAA.  Now, all 8 of those you list may be dressing tonight.  Smith will be dressed for sure because he is a varsity player and will see action.  Not sure whether Miller is on any special teams or not.   

Looking forward to an awesome battle! Thanks to all of the players and coaches from both teams who have put in the work for many years to get us to tonight's great contest. Looking forward to attending while Ru sips on a soda!

Just now, StraightShooter said:

Looking forward to an awesome battle! Thanks to all of the players and coaches from both teams who have put in the work for many years to get us to tonight's great contest. Looking forward to attending while Ru sips on a soda!

Probably just water, I need to bring my A Game tonight to BGP. 

7 minutes ago, James Graham said:

CCH "rostered" all their frosh this year with the KHSAA.  Now, all 8 of those you list may be dressing tonight.  Smith will be dressed for sure because he is a varsity player and will see action.  Not sure whether Miller is on any special teams or not.

The roster I saw is not the roster on the KHSAA Scoreboard that is populated from Arbiter. Those are still showing all of the current freshman players. This one specifically has the varsity freddies narrowed down to the 8 that I mentioned above.

On 8/17/2025 at 2:08 PM, NeuroColonel said:

I think that this game is super important for Cov Cath, not only to start the season out right with a win but also due to how arduous the schedule is. 
 

I expect the offense to pick up where they left off from last year, and with all the continuity I think that’s reasonable to assume. We know how spectacular the duo of Harney and Gaiser are in the backfield, but the passing game gives me pause. I’m interested to see what it will look like. 
 

I think this is ultimately a coin flip but I’ll say the Colonels take it at home. 

Agree CCH needs a bit of a passing game to open the run. 

On 8/17/2025 at 6:22 PM, NKY-guy said:

I’m taking Covington Catholic in this one and a bold prediction that I don’t think it’s going to be as close as everyone thinks. 

Interesting.

Is it 7:00 PM yet! I love High School Football! Let's Go !!!!!

You can't make this stuff up.  So earlier in the week Ryle took a shot at CCH and perceived money.  But tonight for Ryle, the Student Section Theme is Country Club!! ? I am hoping that means cowboy hats and stuff.

1 hour ago, NKYBornandBred93 said:

Agree CCH needs a bit of a passing game to open the run. 

Will be interesting to see tonight if Cash has taken a jump as a passer both vertically and outside the numbers. He's always going to be limited over the middle in the drop back game because of his size, but some improvement here would do wonders for the offense against good competition.