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CovCath returns to state finals with perfect record; Walton-Verona falls to perennial power


By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter

Covington Catholic’s football team is one win away from becoming undefeated state champions for the second consecutive year after defeating Pulaski County, 36-14, in the semifinals of the Class 5A state playoffs on Friday in Somerset.

Walton-Verona quarterback Garrett Jones, No. 7, scrambles to find an open receiver in the state semifinal game against Mayfield. (Photo by Carla Martin)

CovCath will play South Warren in the Class 5A championship game at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2 at Kroger Field in Lexington. Both teams have a perfect 14-0 record this season. The Colonels have won 29 straight games over the last two years.

In Friday’s victory, CovCath scored 36 unanswered points in the first half and the rest of the game was played with a running clock.

Sophomore quarterback Caleb Jacob threw three touchdown passes and scored on a 1-yard keeper. The other touchdown came on a 10-yard run by senior running back Casey McGinness. The running clock started with 9:49 remaining in the second quarter.

Jacob completed 7 of 8 passes for 161 yards. He got most of it on touchdown passes of 59 yards to Luke Summe and 55 yards to Jake Coldiron. McGinness also caught a TD pass and he picked up 70 of the team’s 93 rushing yards.

Pulaski County finished with 209 yards. The home team turned the ball over three times on two fumbles and a pass interception.

Mayfield 38, Walton-Verona 7

Walton-Verona’s best postseason playoff run ended in the Class 2A semifinals with a 38-7 loss to perennial power Mayfield on Friday.

Mayfield took a 17-0 lead in the first half and put the game away by scoring three touchdowns in the third quarter to start a running clock. Walton-Verona got its only touchdown on 76-yard run by Tyler Wagner with nine minutes left in the game.

Mayfield (14-0) advances to the state final and plays Christian Academy of Louisville (14-0) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1 at Kroger Field in Lexington. Walton-Verona ends the season with an 11-3 record.

This is the ninth time in 10 years that Mayfield has made it to the state finals. The Cardinals won four Class 1A state titles and one Class 2A title over the last nine years.

 


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