COVCATH 28, RYLE 14

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'Bring on Highlands'

BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CovCath's Kevin Schneider drags Ryle's Rocky Zdravecky on an 18-yard TD run. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

PARK HILLS - As Ryle and Covington Catholic football players drifted through handshakes after their playoff game Saturday, one Raider repeated a heartfelt plea: "Kick Highlands' (butt) for us."

So begins the hype for another installment of Highlands-CovCath. Northern Kentucky's fiercest football rivalry will be staged again Friday at Highlands, thanks to CovCath's 28-14 victory Saturday over the visiting Raiders. Asking his players their feelings about a rematch, CovCath coach Lynn Ray said, "We got the matchup we wanted, right?"

The 150-decibel answer: yep.

"I've been excited about (the possibility of) a rematch since the last time we played," CovCath senior defensive back Chris Sterling said. "I don't think anybody on our team doubts we can win."

Wait. Who wants the revenge here?

CovCath wants to atone for a 70-26 beating it suffered Oct. 9 at Highlands, one in which the Colonels accused Highlands of running up the score. But Highlands wants playoff vengeance - hoping to atone for the 41-35, double-overtime loss to CovCath in last year's regional finals.

Highlands (12-0), ranked No. 1 in Class AAA and No. 20 nationally by USA Today, will be a prohibitive favorite. But CovCath (8-4) has found new life, having gone 5-0 since the loss to Highlands, and can't be counted out.

"We moved some people around in midseason, and the team has jelled from there," Ray said. "We believe in ourselves now. I'm very proud of this football team."

CovCath, ranked No. 7 in AAA, saw a stiff challenge in Ryle - a team ranked No. 4 in the state in midseason and No. 9 in the final poll. After CovCath marched 76 yards in 17 plays for a score on the opening drive, the Raiders clamped down the rest of the first half.

Ryle tied the game on a nine-play, 56-yard drive late in the second quarter, then took a 14-7 lead when freshman Travis Grant returned the second-half kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.

"We didn't get nervous," CovCath senior wideout Tom Huller said. "We're a second-half ballclub. And this team has a lot of heart."

Its heart beat big from that point. Sterling picked off Willie Schrage on Ryle's next possession, and CovCath junior quarterback Brett Dietz hit Huller with a 31-yard bomb on the ensuing play. That keyed a 10-play, 63-yard scoring drive that tied the game.

Beginning the fourth quarter, Dietz hit Huller on a 37-yard pass on third-and-15, setting up fullback Kevin Schneider's second TD of the game.

Now leading 21-14, CovCath tried an onside kick, and Sterling and teammate David Neff pounced on it. That set up the final scoring drive.

CovCath held Ryle to seven second-half yards, and outgained it 306-121 on the day. Dietz hit 10 of 15 passes for 155 yards and a TD, and sophomore tailback Cole Chadwick totaled 88 yards on 30 carries.

Ryle (7-5) lost three of its final four games.

"We played well for awhile, then quit for awhile," coach Dave Eckstein said. "The last month, we haven't been able to put a whole game together."

The Colonels sure have. The defending AAA state champs insists Highlands still has to come through them.

"We know we can give 'em a game now," Sterling said. "We can't wait."

Ryle 0 7 7 0-14
Covington Catholic 7 0 7 14-28

C-K. Schneider 18 run (Goetz kick)
R-Elliott 1 run (Galbraith kick)
R-Grant 85 kickoff return (Galbraith kick)
C-Chadwick 1 run (Goetz kick)
C-K. Schneider 2 run (Goetz kick)
C-Leong 7 pass from Dietz (Goetz kick)
Records: Covington Catholic 8-4, Ryle 7-5.