Friday night in Park Hills will put a bow on the 2026 regular season for Covington Catholic. Currently sitting on an overall record of 5-4 this season, Senior Night for the Colonels will also determine the final standings in 4A District 5, with both Cov Cath and Mason County sitting on 1-1 records in district play. Cov Cath opened their district play against Highlands on October 2nd, losing 38-20 to the Bluebirds before defeating Harrison County last week 35-12. Mason County, whose current regular season record is 5-3, opened their district play against Harrison County on October 9th with a 25-0 victory over the Thorobreds and then lost 61-0 to Highlands this past Friday.

In addition to having the same record in district play heading into Friday night's game, the Royals and the Colonels have also both played their last two games with a backup quarterback behind center. Mason County QB1 Camden Gregory, whose season was ended last year by a broken thumb, quit the team following the Royals' game against Lawrence County. Covington Catholic QB1 Dylan Courtney left the Highlands game mid-4th quarter and has also spent the last two games on the sidelines recuperating from an injury. No word on whether either quarterback will see the field this Friday, but Cov Cath has turned their offense over to sophomore QB Charlie Hull and Mason County has turned their offense over to sophomore QB Brylee Gardner.

Looking at their two common opponents this season:

Highlands:

Covington Catholic struggled in the game, giving up 17 points before scoring their first touchdown. Highlands then extended their lead over Cov Cath to 38-7 by the end of the 3rd quarter before the Colonels scored twice in the 4th quarter to bring about the final score of 38-20.

Against the Birds, Mason County's offense netted -6 yards in the first half and was unable to break into positive yardage figures until the 4th quarter, finishing the game with 8 total yards offense. Even after taking over 1st and goal on the Highlands 8 yard line following an errant snap on a Highlands punt play, the Royals were unable to advance the ball at all and ended up missing their 25-yard field goal attempt from the right hash. Highlands won 61-0.

Harrison County:

After Brylee Gardner came in for quarterback Camden Gregory during the Lawrence County game, and when Gregory dropped off the team following the game, Gardner had his first start of the season against Harrison County. The Royals leaned harder on their running game against the Thorobreds, giving their new QB time to warm up to his new starting position, and the Royals racked up 286 rushing yards in the game while Gardner went 8-17 passing for another 95 yards. Senior RB Leonard Avery cranked out 158 yards on the ground, accounting for 2 of the team's 3 touchdowns.

Also playing with a backup QB starting against Harrison County, Cov Cath's Charlie Hull was in his second start of the season after starting against Indy Cathedral the week prior. Hull was 6-9 passing for 128 yards and 1 touchdown, while star RB Kiyan Miller had 55 yards and 2 touchdowns rushing. Miller has tallied 5 games with 100+ rushing yards this season, and would have likely repeated the feat against the Thorobreds were it not for the fact that Covington Catholic pulled their starters at the end of the first half of the game after going up 35-0. Harrison County's two touchdowns of the game came against Cov Cath's JV backups.


What are your predictions for the game on Friday?

Series History:

2023 - Cov Cath (Eviston) beat Mason County (Wynn) 50-14
2024 - Cov Cath (Eviston) beat Mason County (Wynn) 49-0
2025 - Cov Cath (Eviston) beat Mason County (Boone) 52-0

Long and early ride back down the AA for the Royals.

From Cov Cath Football Alumni:

It's gameday, baby!! All You Colonels...tonight's Senior Night in Park Hills as Covington Catholic Football wraps up the 2026 regular season against Mason County!

#RollColonels #WASTWND #Team60

🏈 Covington Catholic vs. Mason County
📍 Art's Rental Field at Dennis Griffin Stadium
🕖 7pm
🎙️ https://colonel-athletic-network.mixlr.com/
📽️ https://www.covcath.org/athletics/tickets-and-broadcasting.cfm

CCH, game over very early.

Senior Night activities have just wrapped up here in Park Hills tonight with about 10 minutes to go until kickoff.

Dylan Courtney and Spencer Clukey were both out on the field working out during pregame warmups, so I'm assuming we'll be seeing those two in action tonight.

Looking over at the visitors stands, I'm counting 43 Mason County fans who made the drive up for the game tonight.

Captains are headed out to midfield for the coin toss.

Just now, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Captains are headed out to midfield for the coin toss.

Cov Cath won the toss and has elected to receive the opening kickoff.

Making County will be defending the left goal line, looking out from the pressbox, and the Colonel offense will be heading right to left to start the game.

Jamir Kirtley and Kiyan Miller back deep for the Colonels tonight receive the opening kick.

Just now, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Jamir Kirtley and Kiyan Miller back deep for the Colonels tonight receive the opening kick.

Shallow kick is caught out of the air by Carson Grainger at the 35 yard line and is returned out to midfield.

1st and 10 Colonels on the 50 yard line.

Dylan Courtney throws deep to Brandon Smith who is tackled as he catches the ball at the 10 yard line.

1st and goal Colonels on the 10.

Jamir Kirtley on a jet sweep avoids being tackled behind the line and is stopped for no gain.

2nd and goal Colonels on the 10 yard line.

Kiyan Miller up the middle for 3 yards.

3rd and goal Colonels on the 7 yard line.

Dylan Courtney drops to pass, then he opts to tuck it and runs around his right end for an 8 yard touchdown.

Roco Gillette's PAT is good.

Covington Catholic leads Mason County 7-0 with 9:48 left in 1Q.