On Friday, Covington Catholic’s football team had what was their biggest-ever win over Ryle in the programs’ 23 games played against one another, beating the Raiders 50-6 in the season opener. Context is important, and Ryle was playing with a virtually brand-new cast of players on their varsity squad; however, on the Cov Cath side of things, they had more than half of their team making their first varsity starts as well.

The Colonels scored early and often on Friday, with sophomore Brandon Smith returning the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and then senior Mac Cogswell repeating the feat with a 76 yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter. Cov Cath scored on the ground, through the air, and on special teams, with sophomore RB Kiyan Miller logging his first varsity 100+ yard rushing game in his varsity debut; Miller tallied 2 rushing TDs and 1 receiving TD in the process. Junior QB Dylan Courtney was 7-12 passing for 122 yards and 2 TDs with 0 INTs in his first varsity start, and junior WR Evan Link and sophomore WR Jamir Kirtley added the remaining 2 touchdowns for Cov Cath. The Colonels added 16 points to their score in a mere 1 minute 9 seconds off the clock in the third quarter with a touchdown followed by 3 straight tackles for loss by the Cov Cath defense resulting in a safety (senior DL Jonny Lind tallied two sacks and was credited for forcing the safety in the process), and then they returned the ensuing free kick after the safety for a touchdown completing the scoring frenzy.

Elder is coming off of their own big win in Week 1. The Panthers, the #4 team in the state in MaxPreps’ preseason rankings, hosted the Middletown Middies, ranked at #44 in the state. Middletown, alma mater of Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter, left The Pit on the wrong side of a 35-3 final score, with their only points in the game coming via a 21-yard field goal in the 2nd quarter. Elder had a touchdown each in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th quarters, and two touchdowns in the 3rd quarter. Senior QB Kaden Estep, a Miami (OH) commit, was 11-18 passing for 195 yards and 4 TDs with 1 INT, including a 61-yard touchdown connection with WR Andrew Lyman in the 4th quarter. Estep also pumped out 81% of Elder’s rushing yards in the game, carrying the ball 12 times for 147 yards and 1 TD, including a 67-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Andrew Lyman, who came to Elder as a senior after playing the previous three seasons at Kings High School in Kings Mill, OH, had 145 of the Panthers’ 195 yards receiving, coming up with 7 catches for 4 of the team’s 5 touchdowns.

Both teams have big offensive playmakers in their stables. Elder’s skills players are more tenured with Estep in his second year as the starting QB and Lyman in his third year as a starting WR, but that may not be the real story of the game this week. Defensively, both teams absolutely shut down their opponents on the ground on Friday; Cov Cath only allowed 6 rushing yards and 112 total yards offense by Ryle and Elder only allowed 16 rushing yards and 229 total yards offense by Middletown. Elder’s D also tallied 5 total sacks while Cov Cath’s D had 4 sacks plus an interception.

On paper, this looks like a dandy of a match-up for Friday night, but two looming questions remain: How much of an actual test did both teams’ opening week opponents really add up to be? And how will a very talented-but-young Colonel squad stack up against the veteran talent rolling into Park Hills on Friday with the Panthers?

Complete Series Results:

2003: Elder (Ramsey) 49 Cov Cath (Ray) 21
2004: Elder (Ramsey) 10 Cov Cath (Ray) 9
2006: Elder (Ramsey) 13 Cov Cath (Rodenberg) 3
2007: Elder (Ramsey) 35 Cov Cath (Brossart) 6
2008: Elder (Ramsey) 56 Cov Cath (Brossart) 7
2021: Elder (Ramsey) 28 Cov Cath (Eviston) 6
2022: Elder (Ramsey) 42 Cov Cath (Eviston) 21
2025: Elder (Ramsey) 28 Cov Cath (Eviston) 20

I think Elder wins because of Estep. I've seen him play against St. X last couple years and he's a smooth operator that can beat you with his legs and arm. I think can be a competitive game.

I’ll let @theguru take care of sharing my thoughts on the game as I know how much He loooooves to share what I posted some 6/7 (yes, I went there) months ago on my prediction for this matchup😂….and I still stand by it 1,000%. Roll Colonels!!!

Good news: I think Cov Cath is going to look close to Elder physically.

Bad news: I think this inexperienced secondary is going to get cooked and Elder wins by a couple scores. Dropping in an FBS receiver like Lyman with a QB like Estep (who I’m sure is like a coach on the field at this point, but also runs low 4.6) feels like a move that gets Elder over the hump as long as they have their typical physicality and coaching.

Only the second time Elder has visited Park Hills:

2003 Sep 26, 2003 Elder - 'The Pit' 49 21

2004 Oct 15, 2004 Elder - 'The Pit' 10 9

2006 Aug 26, 2006 UC - Nippert Stadium 13 3

2007 Oct 12, 2007 Elder - 'The Pit' 35 6

2008 Oct 10, 2008 Elder - 'The Pit' 56 7

2021 Aug 20, 2021 Elder - 'The Pit' 28 6

2022 Aug 19, 2022 Covington Catholic 42 21

2025 Aug 29, 2025 Elder - 'The Pit' 28 20

If memory serves, CovCath missed a field goal wide right at the horn that would have won the 2004 game.

Never say never! Roll Colonels!

This game will be available for a fee from the Colonel Athletic Network:

Audio and Video streaming
Video Streaming AND Audio Broadcasts available. 

In partnership with BoxCast, live video streaming for Varsity home athletic events, as well as Junior Varsity and Freshman games is now available from the Colonel Athletic Network. Video Streaming is a great benefit for the Colonel nation to see our games, plus a very critical help to the Athletic Department.

We also offer an audio only version of games free of charge via MIXLR.

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

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Varsity Football vs. Elder High
Friday, August 28th at 7:00 PM
Covington Catholic High School
1600 Dixie Hwy, Park Hills, KY 41011

Event Policy: No Refunds, all sales final - This event has a no refund policy.

- Tailgating at Covington Catholic High school and the Gardens of Parks Hills parking lots is prohibited.

- Please Respect all Referees and Game officials.

- No signs/posters, no pets and no outside food/drinks permitted in stadium

- Outside soccer balls, footballs, volleyballs, and baseballs are prohibited from being brought into Dennis Griffin Stadium.

- Covington Catholic holds all broadcast rights. Any unauthorized broadcasting or livestreaming of the event is prohibited.

- Violation of the above policies will result in ejection from the stadium and no refunds will be issued

Massey Ratings prediction for game. Elder 35-14.

I don't give the Colonels a lot of a chance, but I don't think 35-14 Elder comes to fruition either. If the Colonels defensive front can't bother Estep (and hit him), I think he'll have plenty of open options down the field. I'm not sure Elder's defense is terrific, by their standards, so I think an improving Courtney can make some plays with his weapons.

I'd say something like Elder 27-16.

22 hours ago, colonel-fan said:

If memory serves, CovCath missed a field goal wide right at the horn that would have won the 2004 game.

It was wide left.

My heart says Cov. Cath. My brain says Elder.

6 hours ago, bruin66 said:

My heart says Cov. Cath. My brain says Elder.

Let’s go Colonels!