By Brendan Connelly
NKyTribune sports reporter
On a cold, wet Friday night at Dennis Griffin Stadium, Covington Catholic downed Ryle, 10-3, in the regular season finale for both teams. Ryle outgained CovCath, 183 to 173, in total yards, but the Colonels used a combination of good defense and field position to get their fifth straight win.
CovCath running back Reid Hummel breaks into open field. (Photo by Dale Dawn)
With the heaviest rain coming down at kickoff, the game began with both teams accruing less than 40 yards of offense in the first quarter.
After a three-and-out on their first drive of the game, the Raiders punted the ball to CovCath, who subsequently muffed the punt. Regaining the ball at the 43-yard line, Ryle looked to be in prime position to score, but a red zone fumble gave the ball back to the Colonels.
In the second quarter, CovCath received the ball at its own 33-yard line. After two Raider penalties, senior quarterback Preston Agee led the Colonels on a nine play, 49-yard drive, highlighted by a 23-yard completion to Brayden Collins. The drive stalled, but Eli Nally put CovCath on the board with a 36-yard field goal.
Ryle’s best scoring chance came at the end of the first half. With the ball on the 45 and 1:45 to play, Logan Verax engineered an eight play drive to the 10-yard line, but time ran run out before the Raiders could put points on the board.
Coming out of halftime, the Colonels looked to expand their lead. After forcing a quick three-and-out, they took over at the 50 and Agee conducted a 14-play drive that took eight minutes off the clock.
CovCath quarterback Preston Agee looks for an open receiver. (Photo by Dale Dawn)
The drive was punctuated by two fourth-down conversions. The second conversion was a 7-yard run by Agee, who then scored the game’s only touchdown on a 3-yard burst into the end zone.
Ryle finally got on the board in the fourth quarter . The Raiders put together a nine play, 55-yard drive capped off by a 33-yard Summer Denigan field goal. The drive featured two passes from Verax to Kaden Gardner, including a fourth-down conversion that put the Raiders in field goal position.
With just over four minutes to play, the Colonels ran the ball on seven consecutive plays, culminating in a successful fourth-down conversion with 1:35 to play. That enabled the home team to run out the clock since Ryle had no timeouts remaining.
The two quarterbacks led their teams in total yardage. Verax had 139 yards passing with Gardner getting 90 yards on five receptions. Agee had 97 yards rushing and 41 passing for a total of 138.
CovCath’s defensive leaders were senior linebackers David Sullivan and Nicholas Darpel with six tackles each. Dallas Wirth and Trevor Wilson had fumble recoveries for the Colonels.
Both teams will have home games in the first round of the state playoffs next Friday. Highlands will be at CovCath in Class 5A and Campbell County will visit Ryle in Class 6A.
Brendan Connelly is a student at Northern Kentucky University and the Mike Farrell intern at the NKyTribune.
Ryle linebacker Dillon Ciulla tries to pull down CovCath quarterback Preston Agee. (Photo by Dale Dawn)
Ryle running back Jayce Harden breaks through CovCath’s defense. (Photo by Dale Dawn)
