The NKyTribune is featuring each of the 21 high school football teams in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties leading up to the first games of the 2019 season on Friday. We will then provide focused coverage of our local teams throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.
By Quinton Marksberry
NKyTribune contributor
Last year, Covington Catholic’s football team came close to a second consecutive perfect season. The Colonels’ only loss was to South Warren in the Class 5A state championship game and they finished with a 14-1 record.
CovCath lost eight starters on both offense and defense to graduation, but it helps to have two proven veterans – senior Michael Mayer and junior Caleb Jacob – back in the lineup to keep the Colonels on a winning track.
CovCath quarterback Caleb Jacob was the leading passer in Northern Kentucky last season, (Photo by Dale Dawn)
Mayer is a two-way starter who got offers from major colleges across the country after last season. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end committed to the University of Notre Dame after catching 46 passes for 1,029 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also plays linebacker for CovCath and made a team-high 98 tackles last year.
“Michael Mayer is a once in a generation athlete,” said CovCath coach Eddie Eviston. “I want to take him to the next level and make sure he is used properly in our offense this year.”
Jacob was the top quarterback in Northern Kentucky last season, completing 146 of 224 passes for 2,819 yards and 28 touchdowns in his first year as a varsity starter.
“He continues to grow as a leader,” said coach Eviston. “I am excited to see him grow more with this year’s team.”
Jacob will be operating behind a new offensive line. The only returning starter up front is senior guard Lucas Jones. The team’s all-time leading rusher, Casey McGinness, also graduated last spring. That could make it difficult for the Colonels to match last year’s averages of 385 yards and 39 points per game.
“We will have a new dimension to our offense this year,” Eviston said. “Of course, we lost some guys on the o-line, but I am confident in our (returning) guys to step up and fill the spots.”
Michael Mayer
The biggest spot to fill will be at running back. McGinness carried the ball on 240 of the team’s 461 rushing plays last year and scored 35 touchdowns. The top returning rusher is senior Michael Boydston, who picked up 144 yards on 47 carries.
“I’m feeling very good about this year’s offense,” said Jacob. “Obviously, we have the number one tight end in Michael Mayer, and we got guys such as Lucas Jones, Daniel Felix and Michael Boydston leading the charge alongside with me.”
Felix is one of three returning starters on defense along with Mayer and senior defensive back Andrew Molique. Last season, Felix was the team’s third leading tackler with 49 stops.
CovCath will compete in a new Class 5A district this season that includes Highlands, Cooper, Conner and Boone County. The Colonels have not lost a district game over the last three seasons. This year’s team will try to extend that streak with mostly first-year starters in the lineup.
“This team can go as far as it wants to go,” coach Eviston said.
COVINGTON CATHOLIC COLONELS
2018 SEASON: 14-1 record, lost in Class 5A state championship game.
DISTRICT: Class 5A, District 5 with Boone County, Conner, Cooper, Highlands.
HEAD COACH: Eddie Eviston (78-21 in six seasons overall, 43-13 in four seasons at CovCath).
2019 SCHEDULE
Aug. 23 – RYLE, 7 p.m..
Aug. 30 – at Campbell County, 7 p.m.
Sept. 6 – LEXINGTON CATHOLIC, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 – DIXIE HEIGHTS, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 – at Beechwood, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 27 – COOPER, 7 p.m.
Oct. 4 – BOONE COUNTY, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 – La SALLE (Ohio), 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 – at Highlands, 7 p.m.
Oct. 25 – at Conner, 7 p.m.
Other NKyTribune prep football previews:
BROSSART MUSTANGS
HOLY CROSS INDIANS
SCOTT EAGLES
BOONE COUNTY REBELS
RYLE RAIDERS
HOLMES BULLDOGS
BELLEVUE TIGERS
DIXIE HEIGHTS COLONELS
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC THOROUGHBREDS
HIGHLANDS BLUEBIRDS
WALTON-VERONA BEARCATS
DAYTON GREENDEVILS
COOPER JAGUARS
LLOYD JUGGERNAUTS
LUDLOW PANTHERS
BEECHWOOD TIGERS
NEWPORT WILDCATS
