CCHFC

Yeah...maybe. Highlands will be better up front, but Cov Cath has some good size and talent working its way up as juniors and sophomores. Going in Cov Cath's favor would be: - A better coaching staff, especially since the QB run game got modernized last year. Highlands has a good staff though. - Harney and Gaiser will touch the ball 40+ times in every big game. While Highlands has some good players, those guys are better and more explosive than what they will be rolling out there. Highlands throws it better, but Litmer turned it over three times in the game last year when he was asked to do extremely little. They lose two really good receivers from 24 the team, are they going to be better throwing it this year? I see it as a toss up.

Thanks for posting this. It is not comparable. Cov Cath pre-Scott was a respected, quality 9th region program. After Scott - they are arguably as good as any program in the state (or at least 3 to 5). Scott jumped them up levels. Unless there was some truly bad off court stuff, there is no reason to have the Athletic HOF is Scott is not in there. Parents of fringe athletes are always going to be upset about playing time, but it is actually crazy to me how some think they should be given that based upon where they went to grade school. I've seen/heard that a few times about the basketball program and was shaking my head at the level of entitlement. I mean come on, life and competitive athletics does not work that way, this isn't rec basketball when your kids are 6. The goal is to get talent in the door, develop them as players (and young men through values of effort, discipline, time management, etc.) and win. Scott did that at an incredibly high level.

I am a little surprised too that he doesn't have any other offers than that. You could say his size is probably a little small (though he looks 6'2 to me standing next to Brian Brohm) and he's a fine, but not a great athlete, but I thought his arm talent would be good enough to get some ACC/Big 10 schools interested. They still may be, but most of these spots are filling up. I think being skinny is actually a positive at this position. No team wants to play a freshman at QB and once he starts hitting the training table and a college weight room to fill out physically and get stronger, I think that he will surpass a lot of guys ranked above him. Looking at the 4 star recruits under 6-3 - you either have to be a really good athlete (ex. Tait Reynolds -Clemson) or do it vs high level competition (ex. Helman Casuga - A&M) to generate some larger offer lists. Transferring to X or Elder wouldn't help him out now since almost all of the QB recruiting for P4 will be wrapped up by the summer.

After losing many contributors off a 14-1 State Runner-Up team, Cov Cath reloaded with a strong 11-3 season highlighted by an upset playoff win over nationally ranked Boyle County in the 4A Quarterfinals. While they fell short of a state title with a tight four point road loss to Franklin County in the Semifinals, they return a lot of production for 2025. The team again will revolve around two very dynamic athletes in the backfield: 1. Cash Harney - QB/S (1303 passing yards, 13 TDs/2 INTs, 8.8 YPA, 1476 rushing yards, 9.8 YPA, 19 TDs) https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17009639/6775c345be38c7d23affc8bc 2. Dylan Gaiser - RB/CB (1571 yards from scrimmage, 10.5 YPA, 17 Total TDs) https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17735121/674c040ec61a256d98490b93 Joining these two in the defensive backfield are returning starters Logan Sanning and Zach Brooks. Sanning will be a three year starter at safety and I expect him to have a much bigger role on offense this year. I think he is a very good player. Brooks started at receiver along with corner last year. With four returning starters plus two backups that played, the secondary should be very strong. Two two-way stud rising juniors should develop into big time All-NKY level players this year with another year in the weight room and experience. 1. Owen Pitzer - ILB/TE/FB (57 tackles on defense, 6 TDs on offense) https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19449438/675a3e1f9750d4a498d9eff6 2. Jonny Lind - OT/DT (30 tackles on defense, offensive starter - sorry Jonny, no PFF ratings for HS O-Line are available ?) https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19449414/6753a7c548507fa07b109495 Other starters/contributors returning are: Brady Guard - Sr Edge/TE, Tucker Evans - Sr. IOL/DT, Mitchell Woolf - Sr. IOL/DT, Donovan Bradshaw - Sr. WR, Jackson Payne - Jr. Slot Defender, Gabe Weis, Sr. S Underclassmen to keep an eye on: Landon Robinson - So. OL/DL, Cash Myers - So. LB/TE, Evan Link - So. LB/TE/QB, Mac Cogswell - Jr. Wr, Jason Fedor - Jr. WR/DB, Spencer Clukey - Jr. TE/DT/Edge. There are probably a few Jr Lineman to add too like Kyle Collins and Michael Vinson. Personally - barring major injuries or [redacted] from other top 4A teams, I think it's either Cov Cath or Highlands for the 4A title. I think Cov Cath gets it done if: 1. Cash Harney can keep developing as a passer to just get to a B-. I think this will happen. 2. They find 3-4 quality lineman to step up to match Highlands (I'm looking at rising sophomore Landon Robinson for one). 3. Special Teams has to improve and not cost them points like they did in so many of the bigger games in 2024. I'm in a wait and see mode here. Can Coach Eviston bring home his first ring since 2019?

In general, yes, I don't think three schools in three years is a good sign. However, QB is a different position where only one guy plays as opposed to DB, DL, WR, etc. The two guys Queen was behind were: - A kid in the same class who had 2k yards of total offense as a sophomore in the GCL South. (https://gcls.gclsports.com/fbPlayerStats.aspx?player=780424) - Probably the most dynamic athlete Cov Cath has had in the last 10 years who throws it just ok enough to stick at QB. If I was Beechwood fan, the transfers would not scare me off, and I think you got a really good player.

Good for Nick for calling this out and it’s a little ridiculous for Scott to not be in based off his accomplishments. Going in with his son would be very cool and clearly well deserved. What was so bad that the Bishop decided it was worth his time to stop this?

http://www.hudl.com/v/2PzfCF Yes ^. Typically, not a fan of JV highlights, but you can see the arm talent. The throw at 1:00 is ridiculous. If I was still coaching, I would be extremely interested in pairing this with two stud pass catchers in the same class.

This would make a lot of sense and would be an absolute steal for Beechwood imo. I’m probably the highest of the Cov Cath posters on Queen, but I think he’s going to be a really high end NKY starter the next two seasons.

My guess is these have never been hit with over a full decade (ex. 1990s). Main reasons are Beechwood winning a bunch of games in the 90s and then running into Highlands earlier in the playoffs then they would now with RPI would cut down on the final fours.

For Cov Cath I’d say it’s probably: 1. Two state titles per decade 2. Five final fours per decade 3. Beating Highlands 50% of the time 4. Beating Beechwood 90% of the time That means you have a state championship caliber team every other year and are getting over the hump a couple times a decade. You’re also splitting with your comparable rival and almost always beating your smaller rival. Unless the team is looking unprepared, undisciplined and you get embarrassed a few times, I’m going to give a coach five years before considering a change.

Does he have a real chance to beat out Litmer next year? Non-trolling question, because I thought Harris was very good in the JV game and has more talent.

- FC is really big and physical up front on the D Line. 13 is outstanding and they really set the edge well. Tough to run the ball against them. - Cov Cath was 2 for 5 in the redzone. Not good enough to win if you aren’t generating explosives. - Harney took some big hits tonight and still delivered some big throws on the last drive. You love to see that toughness from your QB. - Disappointing last play, but objectively a great season for Cov Cath. 11-3, semis appearance and beating Boyle, Johnson Central and Beechwood after losing so much last year. The team next year should be very good.

I was extremely impressed last week with the coaching staff. Like you mentioned, very wing-T-ish with a mix of wildcat. It was the shotgun version of their short yardage package with an unbalanced line, 2 backs and a jet/orbit player (Gaiser). Using shotgun allows for more QB run game and with an extremely athletic QB like Harney, you will get gashed if not gap sound. A big, physical defensive line would be the antidote for that, but that is much easier said than done. The QB run scheme this year has grown leaps and bounds since the few years the staff was (justifiably) getting crushed on here for being very simple.

Franklin County could definitely win with run game/defense/special teams, but their margin for error isn’t high. If they don’t stay ahead of the chains on offense, I don’t see this going well for them. Respectfully, Clay Hayden had an off night vs this defense, so I have a hard time seeing this freshman QB having success. Only 2 throws shown, but with the team speed on defense plus turnover machine Tate Kruer at LB, my guess is they’ll be real hesitant to throw the ball. https://www.hudl.com/profile/22661988/Knox-Barrett

I think Cov Cath wins unless Cash Harney and Dylan Gaiser are completely worn out. 1. A harder schedule - 3-2 vs. Ryle, Highlands, Beechwood, Johnson Central and Boyle preps you for games late in the playoffs. Not entirely their fault, but FC has played one team in that tier and they’re on the bottom with Beechwood. 2. It’s asking a lot for a freshman QB to beat this defense. I remember the speed of the game was too fast for the PT QB last year and he’s a G5 commit. Almost of those dudes are back and that’s reflected in the passing defense numbers this year.

6A - Ryle - If Savage is healthy, I think they do this. Quality roster, big OL, multiple P4 difference makers. 5A - Cooper - best player (O'Hara), surrounded by high end talent and experience. 4A - I don't know enough about Corbin and Franklin County to make a prediction. If Cov Cath matches up against PT, I think the Colonels win based on what I saw last year. 2A - I think Beechwood gets beat this week after looking at the preview thread.

This was me! Obviously very happy to be wrong in an offseason thread and for things to turn out like this ? Last night was definitely the best case scenario for an athletic QB vs a high end team. You get +1 in the run game and can shorten and control the tempo of the game. A major key was no major drive killing penalties or turnovers. Constantly staying ahead of the chains was the one of the two deciding factors along with the two fumbles from Boyle. I can’t say enough good things about the team and staff. Extremely impressive.

- As good of a win in school history along with 92 Moeller and 19 LaSalle. Wow. - Eddie Eviston. Masterful gameplan and coaching job controlling the pace. Ran an unplaced hybrid wing T/Wildcat most of the game on offense. Something we hadn’t ever shown and we go to it for 75% of the offensive snaps. - Cash Harney. Incredible game, his athleticism, conditioning and toughness is outstanding. What a player. - I thought the entire team brought it tonight and, outside of Quisenberry, we were as good or better at almost every position. - Quisenberry really stands out. His change of direction and stop/start is rare. I’m happy he’s in Lexington next year. The best high school guy I’ve seen since Mayer. - Seneca Driver is going to get a lot of attention from power 4 school. Wearing number 18 at 6’7 and running the way he does, he looks like Colston Loveland from Michigan.

I think Eviston will probably have his best non-Mayer team next year with the guys coming back. For non Cov Cath followers, he’s been there since 2015 and 17-19 was when Michael Mayer was on the roster. Highlands will also be very good and I assume Boyle will be too. The players need a big offseason and the coaches will need to be on their A game to win a title next year.

Outside of their top guys, Quisenberry and Driver specifically, the thing that stood out most about playing Boyle last year was how well coached they were. Add Brown in there and they have 3 total studs and are really well coached. That explains beating Cleveland St Ed’s by 17 on the road. If Cov Cath has this within 2 scores at half that would be a great effort and momentum for 2025 when hopefully things in 4A will be more open.

Hard to see this going well for Cov Cath, but will be a good measuring stick game for the program.

To come back from down 13-0 and JC has the ball when you know you’re only going to get maybe 6 to 8 possessions is culture and toughness win. End of the 3rd quarter and Cov Cath runs down the field to get ready for the 4th and JC walks down half way before a light jog. It’s a little thing, but it says a lot and EE always has his teams like this. Nick Krallman played a monster of a game on the DL for Cov Cath. He’s been really good this season. Cov Cath only had 26 offensive snaps in this game. Not a whole room for error when the other team is eating up the clock.

You can only do so much at the high school level, but a quality to high end strength, condition and nutrition program would go a long way here. More than other programs. This is a good job for the right candidate.

I think Cov Cath gets this done. A big, talented line, like Highlands, will give CCH trouble. Having said that, they also have two G5 receivers and a competent NKY passing QB to worry about. JC does not have that, which will allow the defensive staff to devote more resources to stopping the run. I also don’t think Cov Cath is that far off from last year’s team at this point and 31 points is hard to make up in one offseason. JC will probably pop a few big runs, but I would be a little surprised to see them win on the road.

In my opinion, Clay Hayden at Beechwood is by far the best of the QB we have faced this year, so we'll see how Boyd's guy compares after tonight. Not to get ahead of ourselves, but I think Cov Cath has a real shot next year to win 4A and will be better than the 23 team that went 14-0 before getting smacked by Boyle in finals. Highlands will be very good and Boyle will be very good, probably not beating Cleveland St. Ed's by three scores level good, but still very good even after losing Quisenberry/Brown/Driver.