What a second-round match-up!! If JC can play their game, I give them the edge. No doubt CC has the potential to take care of business too, but if that JC run game is going and they make some stops on defense, those runs can wear down a defense. This may very well be the game of the night, in my opinion.

I'd love to see Johnson Central win this, just to have them back in the mix. 

I'll go with my heart on this one, but I'm not sure it'll happen. 

JC 31 

CovCath- 28 

I have attended this match-up twice in Paintsville, and while the drive is long, the environment is amazing!  If CovCath had a little more "real" balance (they can throw it, but they aren't really THAT dangerous when doing so), I'd think another 42-14 ish game would be in the cards, but given that the Colonels are also on the one-dimensional side (if we're being honest), I think this game hangs around the two-touchdown margin throughout.

I'll go with CovCath 24-14.

WOW!!! This should be a state semi game instead of a 2nd round. JC has quietly continued to win and go about there business. Cov Cath has played a brutal schedule, to say the least. JC is gonna make you stop the run and if you can’t, well it’s gonna be a long night. I know the Harney kid is a big part of there offense. Should be a good one.

JC 24—Cov Cath 20

hsratings.com projected result:

Covington Catholic 28 Johnson Central 27

These two teams have a really difficult path to the title game. JC is undefeated but their likely path if they keep winning is Cov Cath, Highlands, Franklin Co. then Boyle or Paducah in the Finals. All at home in the first 4 rounds but Wow. Cov Cath would have at JC, at Boyle, at Franklin County then Padcuah or Highlands in the title game. Wow again. I have not seen JC in person but I am very familiar with coach Eviston and the Colonels. Eddie always does a nice job in the playoffs taking away the other team's strength. Harney and Gaiser are a difficult 1-2 punch to plan for. You need size on the D Line paired with Length and athleticism on the Edges to contain them. Harney can do just enough in the passing game to keep drives alive. CCH with Lind and Reeves will slow JC's run game just enough and will be heading to Boyle Co. next week. I want to say something like 28-21 Cov Cath.

11 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

hsratings.com projected result:

Covington Catholic 28 Johnson Central 27

In addition, Massey has Cov Cath as 7 point favorites over JC (35-28) with a 61% chance of victory.

CovCath is rolling. I can see them making the title game.

The Blue Colonels will roll in this one. JC won't go down easy. It will be a close/competitive game. 

Just now, BlueBloodedColonel said:

The Blue Colonels will roll in this one. JC won't go down easy. It will be a close/competitive game. 

Covington Catholic indeed has a tough mountain to climb if they want to appear in the title game, but I believe in this team.

6 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

hsratings.com projected result:

Covington Catholic 28 Johnson Central 27

I’ll say CC 28 JC 27

6 hours ago, FirstTimeLongTime said:

In addition, Massey has Cov Cath as 7 point favorites over JC (35-28) with a 61% chance of victory.

I’ll say CC 35 JC 28. 

Don't know much about Covington Catholic past looking at their schedule and listening to their fans. The bus ride is a tough one and JC is hard to beat in "Matneyville". Pulling for Johnson Central but I'm kind of thinking the Cov Cath faithful may be right.   CC 28  JC 21

1 hour ago, rerun said:

Don't know much about Covington Catholic past looking at their schedule and listening to their fans. The bus ride is a tough one and JC is hard to beat in "Matneyville". Pulling for Johnson Central but I'm kind of thinking the Cov Cath faithful may be right.   CC 28  JC 21

Cov Cath is 4-3 in games played at Paintsville. They've won the last three there.

Have a blue bus; will travel. ? ?...

On 11/9/2025 at 12:22 AM, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

(11-0) Johnson Central Golden Eagles
Aug 23:  48-6 WIN on the road over 3A Letcher County Central
Aug 29:  15-14 WIN at home over 6A Madison Central
Sep 6:  46-21 WIN on the road over 2A Belfry
Sep 12:  35-14 WIN at home over 1A Pikeville
Sep 19:  50-30 WIN at home over 5A Pulaski County
Sep 26:  21-14 WIN at home over 4A Boyd County (District)
Oct 3:  37-34 WIN on the road over 4A Corbin
Oct 10:  63-6 WIN on the road over 4A Rowan County (District)
Oct 17:  48-14 WIN on the road over 4A Greenup County (District)
Oct 24:  35-0 WIN at home over 4A Ashland (District)
Nov 6:  48-16 WIN at home over 4A Harrison County (Playoffs)

Looking at their closes three games this season, a 1-point win over Madison Central, a 7-point win over Boyd County, and a 3-point win over Corbin:

Madison Central Offense:
- 2847 yards rushing, 385 yards passing (88% run, 12% pass) this season
- 361 carries for 2847 yards rushing (7.9 yards per carry) this season
- 33 carries for 259 yards rushing averaged per game this season
- 36 carries for 173 yards rushing (4.8 yards per carry) against Johnson Central
- 16-30 for 385 yards passing (24 yards per completion) this season
- 1.4 completions for 35 yards passing averaged per game this season
- 2-5 for 15 yards passing (7.5 per completion) against Johnson Central

Boyd County Offense:
- 1315 yards rushing, 1777 yards passing (42% run, 58% pass) this season
- 168 carries for 1315 yards rushing (7.8 yards per carry) this season
- 15 carries for 119.5 yards rushing averaged per game this season
- 20 carries for 92 yards rushing (4.6 yards per carry) against Johnson Central
- 133-228 for 1315 yards passing (9.9 yards per completion) this season
- 12.1 completions for 119.5 yards passing averaged per game this season
- 14-28 for 114 yards passing (8.1 per completion) against Johnson Central

Corbin Offense:
- 1805 yards rushing, 2080 yards passing (46% run, 54% pass) this season
- 252 carries for 1805 yards rushing (7.2 yards per carry) this season
- 23 carries for 164.1 yards rushing averaged per game this season
- 14 carries for 94 yards rushing (6.7 yards per carry) against Johnson Central
- 98-154 for 2080 yards passing (21.2 yards per completion) this season
- 8.9 completions for 189.1 yards passing averaged per game this season
- 21-34 for 461 yards passing (21.9 yards per completion) against Johnson Central

So Madison Central is obviously a rushing offense...to the extent that their lack of a passing performance against Johnson Central isn't really relevant to the discussion. Plus that was an early season game and we all know that most good high school teams take big steps forward from the first two weeks of the regular season to the last two.

However, Boyd County and Corbin are both slightly favor the pass with their offenses. Johnson Central's defense was able to make a little bit of a dent in Boyd County's ability to pass, holding them about 1.75 yards below their season long average per completion, and about 5% below their season long average for passing yardage per game. They definitely didn't stop Corbin from passing. Corbin had more than twice their per-game average in passing yardage against Johnson Central and they also averaged an additional 3/4 yard gained per completion against Johnson Central. That tells me that Johnson Central's D has a problem with teams that are competent at passing.

Cov Cath's offense does slightly favor the run game this season at 2246 yards rushing and 1999 yards passing (53% run, 47% pass), but they have more passing yards than Boyd County and they're within 9 yards of Corbin's passing total this season in additon to having more rushing yards than both of those teams. Johnson Central might be averaging 8.5 yards per rush this season, but Cov Cath's offense is averaging 8.74 yards per rush (albeit with 193 fewer rushing attempts than Johnson Central.) We're also averaging 17.25 yards per completion passing though, too. And we've piled up over 4200 yards of offense against a schedule that's pretty undoubtedly tougher than anyone Johnson Central has seen yet this season. When Cov Cath's offense is able to switch between run and pass as well as they have, I see that making some real issues for Johnson Central's defense.