After losing 31-28 on Friday to district arch-rival Highlands in a game that came down to a final play touchdown, Covington Catholic is looking to rebound and return back to a winning record on the season as they welcome the Cathedral Irish from Indianapolis to Park Hills.

Cathedral is currently ranked at #8 in the Indiana-at-large by MaxPreps and is at #2 in the state's 5A (second-largest school) division. The Irish are coming into Friday night's game with a 5-2 record. Their two losses came back on Aug 29th when they lost 29-0 to Indiana's #1 program, Brownsburg (7-0), and then the following week when they lost 24-6 to Ohio's #11 program, Cincinnati St. Xavier (5-2). Cathedral can expect to move up in ranking when the latest polls are released following their 21-15 win on Friday over Indiana's #5 team, Center Grove (6-1).

With 19 seniors and 21 total players currently holding college offers, Cathedral is not short on talent. Their offense, captained by senior QB Cameron Koers, has a total 9 players holding college offers and has averaged 339 yards per game, 173 run/166 pass. Koers is 92-158 (58%) passing on the season, and has thrown for 7 touchdowns with 4 interceptions. With Eastern Michigan commit Van Krisiloff handling field goal and PAT duties for the team, the Irish are consistently a field goal threat behind his career-long 46yd field goal capability - a feat he's managed on three separate occasions, including twice this season. Cathedral has capitalized with their field goal unit 9 times in 7 games played, and Krisiloff is 9-14 on field goals. The Irish defense has 9 players currently holding college offers, including their entire starting defensive line and their entire starting linebacking corps.

Cov Cath will be looking to markedly improve on last week's rushing performance, with QB Cash Harney being held to a scant 11 yards on 14 carries after averaging 102 yards per game and 9.27 yards per carry this season coming into Friday night's loss to Highlands. Senior RB Dylan Gaiser managed his second best game of the season on Friday with 88 yards on 7 carries, but with 99 total yards on the ground in the game, the offense is undoubtedly working hard this week to plan their rushing attack facing Cathedral's impressive defensive front. In the air, the Colonels had their best passing performance of the season against the Bluebirds with 263 yards gained on 9 completions. Defensively, Cov Cath allowed 200 yards passing and 206 yards rushing on Friday, 3 yards shy of season-high 409 total yards allowed to Elder (OH) back on Aug 29, so Coach Brown and the defensive coaching staff will be working to shore things up on D as they prepare for the game on Friday.

Historically, this is only the third time that the Colonel football program has faced off against an opponent from the Hoosier state, with the other two games both taking place against Bishop Chatard high school in a home/away series from the 2017 & 2018 seasons. Cov Cath beat the Trojans 30-7 in Park Hills in 2017, and then traveled to Indianapolis in 2018 to beat Chatard 52-36. Bishop Chatard was beaten by their hometown rival, Cathedral, 4 weeks ago by a 46 yard field goal from Irish kicker Van Krisiloff that sealed the 23-20 win on the final play of the game.

What are your predictions for the game on Friday? Kickoff is currently set for 7:00pm in Park Hills.

This is one of our Pick 5 games.  I wonder if anyone will take the Colonels in this one.

Here's a look at Cathedral's recruited players:

Noah Beasley (WR, '26) - Hanover, Marian
Samuel Byrd (DL, '26) - Hanover, St. Mary of the Woods
Alex Couch (DB/LB, '26) - Butler, Wabash
Aiden Flournoy (LB Edge, '26) - Gannon, St. Francis
Kyle Harden (LB, '26) - Indianapolis, St. Mary of the Woods, Pikeville
Jackson Harvey (WR/LS, '26) - Butler University Commit
Zyon Hill (DB, '26) - Ball State, Butler, Sacramento State, Western Illinois
Trey Jefferson (OL, '26) - Gannon, North Park
Cameron Koers (QB, '26) - DePauw, Wabash
Van Krisloff (K/P, '26) - Eastern Michigan University Commit
Henry Lewis (K, '26) - Butler University Commit
Charlie Long (LB, '26) - Hanover, Wabash
Kaiden Marten (OL, '26) - Central State, Franklin College, Gannon, St. Francis, St. Mary of the Woods, Trine, Wabash
Eamonn Minch (OL, '26) - Hanover
Tim Onghetich (DB, '28) - Toledo
Jimmy Pappas (RB, '26) - Hanover
Owen Peterson (TE, '27) - Miami (OH)
Michael Pugh II (LB/Edge, '26) - Butler, Gannon, Mount St. Joseph, St. Francis, St. Mary of the Woods, Wabash
Lazzy Tipton (DT, '26) - Hanover, St. Francis, St. Mary of the Woods, Trine
Nate Van Vierzen (TE/WR, '26) - DePauw
Jack Watko (LB/DE, '26) - Anderson, St. Mary of the Woods, Wabash

28 minutes ago, theguru said:

This is one of our Pick 5 games.  I wonder if anyone will take the Colonels in this one.

Cov Cath had some struggles against Highlands on Friday night, but they also had a LOT of solid output. It definitely wasn't a bad game, so much as it it was just one of those games that was played really hard and didn't turn out the way you'd have hoped it would as a Colonel fan.

Looking at Cathedral and Elder's performances against Cincy St. X, matched to Cov Cath's performance against Elder, I think Cov Cath DOES certainly have the ability to win this one. Cathedral was handled by St. X 24-6, with the Irish scoring their only points in the game on two field goals. Elder beat St. X 23-13 three weeks later. Cov Cath put up more points against Elder than St. X did and had what may have been their best overall performance of the year against Elder when they lost 28-20 at The Pit back on Aug 29, in a game where they were threatening to come from behind and tie up the score late in the 4Q.

Just now, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Cov Cath had some struggles against Highlands on Friday night, but they also had a LOT of solid output. It definitely wasn't a bad game, so much as it it was just one of those games that was played really hard and didn't turn out the way you'd have hoped it would as a Colonel fan.

Looking at Cathedral and Elder's performances against Cincy St. X, matched to Cov Cath's performance against Elder, I think Cov Cath DOES certainly have the ability to win this one. Cathedral was handled by St. X 24-6, with the Irish scoring their only points in the game on two field goals. Elder beat St. X 23-13 three weeks later. Cov Cath put up more points against Elder than St. X did and had what was may have been their best overall performance of the year against Elder when they lost 28-20 at The Pit back on Aug 29, in a game where they were threatening to come from behind and tie up the score late in the 4Q.

I think so too, CWB, and that is one of the many reasons it is in the contest this week. We know "everyone" is going to take Cathedral and we also know that may result in another week like last week where only one member got all five games right. 

I like Cov Cath in a close one.

This is like playing a cousin of the GCL South teams, though it does not look like they have overwhelming talent. Cathedral is coming off a big win vs Center Grove so I'm sure they might be in letdown mode coming to face "only" a KY 4a school, so Cov Cath could definitely win this if they play well. 

I think Cash has really grown as passer this year and definitely helps in games like this vs equal or better talent. Should be another tight one. 

6 minutes ago, CCHFC said:

This is like playing a cousin of the GCL South teams, though it does not look like they have overwhelming talent. Cathedral is coming off a big win vs Center Grove so I'm sure they might be in letdown mode coming to face "only" a KY 4a school, so Cov Cath could definitely win this if they play well. 

I think Cash has really grown as passer this year and definitely helps in games like this vs equal or better talent. Should be another tight one. 

So it could be a "trap game" for Cathedral.  They are coming off a HUGE win and CovCath lost a game that will "haunt" those players for the rest of their lives.  Is there a better way to bounce back? ?

Also everyone, this game is available to purchase from Covington Catholic for $10 at the below link:

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

Cathedral 20

Cov Cath 28

I'm thinking Cathedral will not be ready for Cash Harney. 

On 10/5/2025 at 9:00 PM, Honey Badger said:

My brother didn't even know who Cash or Tayden was. All he knew was that he witnessed something spectacular. He saw Highlands and Cov Cath and he knew the magnitude of that moment. Now he is a little more briefed up on the scope of high school football. And amazed that is Jared Lorenzen's kid.

I forsee Cash Harney and Dylan Gaiser racking up those yards. Both are fierce on the field. 

35 minutes ago, Momofboyz said:

I forsee Cash Harney and Dylan Gaiser racking up those yards. Both are fierce on the field. 

They are definitely going to get there's.They have no issue getting up for a big game and they come into this one with a bad taste in their mouth after the way last weeks game ended. Good combination.

Massey ratings have it Cathedral 32-14. I like Cov Cath so we'll see.

Sagarin ratings for Indiana football. He only does Indiana since he's from there.

42 minutes ago, Tigerpride94 said:

He only does Indiana since he's from there.

That stinks. Glad we are from this side of the state line.