How about a matchup of 19 combined state titles for your palate on Friday night?
That’s what you’ll get when Covington Catholic takes on Boyle County at Kroger Field in Lexington at 8 p.m. for the Class 4A state championship.
The Rebels have 11 state titles as they seek a fourth straight in Justin Haddix’s fourth season as the leader of the program. The former Western Kentucky quarterback in Haddix’s tenure has guided the Rebels to a 52-3 record and a perfect 18-0 in the playoffs.
“This group is special to me because this being my fourth year here, this is the first group I had since they were freshman,” Haddix said.
The Colonels have eight state titles and carry an impressive 8-1 record in state championship games (Boyle no slouch either with an 11-2 record in the championship). Eddie Eviston is looking for his third title with the program, winning in 2017 and 2019 and most recently picking up his 100th win with the Colonels since taking over in 2015. In nine seasons under Eviston, the Colonels are 100-22 and 28-6 in the playoffs.
“Our seniors got to see those state championship teams when they were in middle school. They haven’t had that moment yet, so they did a great job of understanding what it takes to get here,” Eviston said. “They have one more ultimate goal and I think they’re ready for it.”
It’s the only matchup of the six games over championship weekend that features two undefeated teams at 14-0. While both may be undefeated, Covington Catholic enters as an underdog, many touting Boyle County as not only the best team in Class 4A, but the entire state.
“We don’t really pay attention to that, but if you do, that’s the vibe across the state,” Eviston said. “Lot of talk about how the state championship was two weeks ago when Boyle played Corbin. We can only control what we control and taking that approach each week. Who is the opposite school we have this week and what we need to do to knock down that obstacle. But yes, I feel like that’s the vibe.”
Here’s a breakdown of Friday night’s matchup that will be sure to garner a lot of attention:
OFFENSE
Both display weapons all over the field that could go for six on any given play. Boyle County averages 45.2 points per game, Covington Catholic at 41.6 per contest. The Rebels average 416 yards per game, 200 of them through the air, 216 on the ground. The Colonels average 379 yards per game, 185 through the air and 194 on the ground.
The Rebels run some unique stuff to get their speed to the edge and in space and it shows with Avery Bodner (1,529 combined yards, 24 touchdowns), Montavion Quisenberry (1,535 combined yards, 29 touchdowns) and Demauriah Brown (750 combined yards, eight touchdowns). Sage Dawson is the signal caller and has thrown for 2,378 yards and 28 touchdowns and ran for 320 yards and three touchdowns.
“They’ll get something going and have some gimmick things to get their athletes in space,” Eviston said. “They’ve got some really good and talented athletes that makes them explosive as best they can. So many good athletes that produce some really big plays.”
CovCath is similar. They spread it around and get the ball to their playmakers.
Four different guys have at least 20 receptions, led by Braylon Miller with 59 receptions for 859 yards and eight touchdowns. Any time Willie Rodriguez catches the ball, good things happen. He’s got 28 catches for 485 yards and 12 touchdowns. Oliver Link (25 receptions, 457 yards, four touchdowns) and Noah Johnson (21 receptions, 346 yards, two touchdowns) are also receiving threats.
Owen Leen is the featured back in the backfield with 834 yards and 12 touchdowns while quarterback Evan Pitzer can certainly tuck and run it with 636 yards and 11 touchdowns to go with 2,556 passing yards and 32 touchdowns.
“It starts with their QB. He’s really good and is a really physical runner,” Haddix said. “They’ve got a couple of really good weapons and Eviston does a good job of moving Willie and Braylon around in good ways. Willie is also a really good blocker and they do a good job of making him the lead blocker on runs. Owen Leen, a lot like the QB, physical kid and their o-line does a good job. They’re pretty balanced in what they do and you have to pick and choose what you take away.”
DEFENSE
Sound would be a good word to describe the two defenses. Boyle County allows 204 yards per game, 124 passing and 80 rushing. Covington Catholic allows 245 yards per game, 122 through the air and 123 on the ground.
What sticks out with Boyle County is the 20 fumble recoveries. That doesn’t happen by accident.
“Our D-coordinator and staff do a great job on that side,” Haddix said. “We run a turnover circuit and tackling every Tuesday and Wednesday and focus on getting the ball back. Getting the ball back is huge. There’s a lot of talk surrounding our offense, but defense wins games.”
Bodner is the Rebels leading tackler with 80, 12.5 of them for loss with five sacks. Brock Driver (71 tackles, 9.5 for loss, four sacks), Jayce Crowe (64 tackles, 11 for loss, four sacks), Gage Feltner (61 tackles, five for loss, five sacks) and Bryce Bullock (59 tackles, 9.5 for loss, four sacks) really get after the quarterback, combining for 23 of the team’s 34 sacks on the year. Demauriah Brown is the ballhawk in the secondary with five interceptions on the season. The Rebels have forced 29 turnovers on the season.
Covington Catholic has really ramped things up defensively over the last two weeks after allowing 28 points to Ashland in the second round. They shut out Johnson Central’s bruising rushing attack and allowed 14 points to Paducah Tilghman’s aerial assault.
Tate Kruer leads the team in tackles with 109 while Ben Reeves leads with seven sacks with 61 tackles. Josh Flood has 58 tackles, Logan Sanning with 50. Willie Rodriguez comes off the edge and has collected three sacks. Cash Harney is the guy to throw away from, Harney with five of the team’s 12 interceptions this season including two last week in the win over Tilghman. The Colonels have forced 21 turnovers this season.
What’s the key in stopping Boyle?
“We’ll have to make them earn it. Can’t give them freebies,” Eviston said. “Good teams capitalize on that. We just have to play good, sound football and a clean game as much as possible.”
SPECIAL TEAMS
This is where Boyle can be really scary. They have five special teams touchdowns, three kickoff returns for a touchdown and two punt returns for a touchdown. Quisenberry has four of them, Brown with the other.
“If teams kick it deep to us, we feel pretty good about it,” Haddix said.
Covington Catholic has a punt and kick return for a touchdown, Dylan Gaiser with the punt return, Harney the kick return.
In the kicking game, Boyle’s Andrew Carr is 74-for-79 on PATs and 1-for-3 on field goal attempts. CovCath’s Andrew Weitzel is 71-for-76 on PATs and 2-for-4 on field goal attempts. The Rebels have converted five two-point conversions, the Colonels with four.
MISCELLANEOUS
Despite the high rate of success between the two, this is the first ever meeting between the two storied programs. Boyle County has two 2A titles, four 3A titles and five 4A titles. CovCath has six 3A titles and two 5A titles.
Haddix is aiming to match Eviston for state titles with four. Eviston led Newport Central Catholic to state championships in 2010 and 2012. Haddix was close twice with Corbin, losing in the Class 3A state title game in 2017 and 2018.
BIG KEY
In closing out the interviews with both coaches, I asked them what the biggest key was to winning Friday night’s game:
Haddix: “Field position and turnovers. Special teams will play a big role.”
Eviston: “Again I go back to the freebies. The freebies and the big play and really making them have to earn it. We just have to be smart with what we do and play sound and disciplined.”
COOL TIDBIT
When Haddix was a quarterback at WKU, Covington Catholic offensive line coach Greg Ryan was an offensive lineman with the Hilltoppers.