[Bull got out!]

I think Covington Catholic is no doubt very well coached and has put together a very good season. This Johnson Central team is dangerous. They loss on two last minute drives and very easily could have won against Corbin or Ashland. Arguably should have won both games. Now they can no doubt go into Covington Catholic and come out with a win. Its hard to prepare for the type of running game that JC has, but JC lost not because of the offense but the defense giving up some last minute drives. I expect this game to be no different than the Corbin/Ashland Game for JC. They are healthy and a healthy JC team will not get spanked like last year. I do think Covington Catholic will ready but honestly, this one will come down to the wire. 


regular season (neutral field)
[2024] Covington Catholic (Park Hills, KY) 35 (53%), [2024] Johnson Central (Paintsville, KY) 34 (47%)

playoffs (neutral field)
[2024] Covington Catholic (Park Hills, KY) 35 (53%), [2024] Johnson Central (Paintsville, KY) 34 (47%)

https://www.calpreps.com/cgi-bin/2024/pr...atchup2.pl

[The Red Eminence]

I'm leaning towards Johnson Central. Two great teams here. I think Johnson Central's defense makes the necessary improvements and keeps strong at the end.

[Old School Hound]

I'm leaning towards Johnson Central. Two great teams here. I think Johnson Central's defense makes the necessary improvements and keeps strong at the end.

[Tbred]

It was early in season son it is a little foggy but Highlands ran the ball pretty effectively against Cov Cath. Now Highlands runs more on the outside than JC does, but they did have success up the middle. The more I think about this game I think JC may have enough success running the ball to keep it close if their pass D can play well.

You’re right. They sure did. I believe Jack White for Highlands had a big game. Overall, a good amount of kids carried the ball and had some success. I didn’t see that game, but I’ve seen HHS play and they like to spread you out and play the numbers game in the run game. Definitely different from JC. JC runs an offense that is very hard to prepare for and they run it about as well as you can. Covcath better understand the assignment, or JC will make hay in the trenches all night. What a 2nd round matchup!

[2000PHS]

Covington Catholic leads the All-Time series, 5-3.

2006: Covington Catholic 38-14 (Class 3A State Semi-Finals)
2008: Johnson Central 49-14 (Class 5A 2nd round)
2009: Johnson Central 51-32 (Class 5A 2nd round)
2010: Johnson Central 41-28 (Class 5A 2nd round)
2012: Covington Catholic 45-14 (Class 4A 2nd round)
2013: Covington Catholic 42-14 (Class 4A 2nd round)
2014: Covington Catholic 19-7 (Class 4A 2nd round)
2023: Covington Catholic 31-0 (Class 4A Regional Championship)

Wow not alot of close games over the years. Most of the games have been decided pretty decisive. I would not have guessed that.

The 2006 Covington Catholic team won the 3A State Championship.
The 2023 game & this years game are the only games in this series that have been played in Park Hills.
All nine of these games have been played in the playoffs.

I’m pretty sure JC had the lead at the half in 2006. Big FB/LB (Johnson?) was injured and that was the difference.

[Pulp Fiction]

Covington Catholic leads the All-Time series, 5-3.

2006: Covington Catholic 38-14 (Class 3A State Semi-Finals)
2008: Johnson Central 49-14 (Class 5A 2nd round)
2009: Johnson Central 51-32 (Class 5A 2nd round)
2010: Johnson Central 41-28 (Class 5A 2nd round)
2012: Covington Catholic 45-14 (Class 4A 2nd round)
2013: Covington Catholic 42-14 (Class 4A 2nd round)
2014: Covington Catholic 19-7 (Class 4A 2nd round)
2023: Covington Catholic 31-0 (Class 4A Regional Championship)

Wow not alot of close games over the years. Most of the games have been decided pretty decisive. I would not have guessed that.

The 2006 Covington Catholic team won the 3A State Championship.
The 2023 game & this years game are the only games in this series that have been played in Park Hills.
All nine of these games have been played in the playoffs.

I’m pretty sure JC had the lead at the half in 2006. Big FB/LB (Johnson?) was injured and that was the difference.

I don't remember the score at halftime.... but Shaun Grimm & Blake Johnson were running the ball over CovCath before Blake went down with a leg injury.
Grimm was fast enough on the edges to keep CovCath from loading the box & Blake was strong enough up the middle to keep the chains moving.  Tommy Taylor & Michael Tackett were good enough to have the DB's respect them as well and that opened up the middle for Blake.  

That 2006 game still hurts.... not sure if JC would have beat Bowling Green in the Class 3A state finals, but seeing JC's Long Black Train go down and the game totally changed with CovCath's late TD's was painful.

[2000PHS]

Covington Catholic leads the All-Time series, 5-3.

2006: Covington Catholic 38-14 (Class 3A State Semi-Finals)
2008: Johnson Central 49-14 (Class 5A 2nd round)
2009: Johnson Central 51-32 (Class 5A 2nd round)
2010: Johnson Central 41-28 (Class 5A 2nd round)
2012: Covington Catholic 45-14 (Class 4A 2nd round)
2013: Covington Catholic 42-14 (Class 4A 2nd round)
2014: Covington Catholic 19-7 (Class 4A 2nd round)
2023: Covington Catholic 31-0 (Class 4A Regional Championship)

Wow not alot of close games over the years. Most of the games have been decided pretty decisive. I would not have guessed that.

The 2006 Covington Catholic team won the 3A State Championship.
The 2023 game & this years game are the only games in this series that have been played in Park Hills.
All nine of these games have been played in the playoffs.

I’m pretty sure JC had the lead at the half in 2006. Big FB/LB (Johnson?) was injured and that was the difference.

I don't remember the score at halftime.... but Shaun Grimm & Blake Johnson were running the ball over CovCath before Blake went down with a leg injury.
Grimm was fast enough on the edges to keep CovCath from loading the box & Blake was strong enough up the middle to keep the chains moving.  Tommy Taylor & Michael Tackett were good enough to have the DB's respect them as well and that opened up the middle for Blake.  

That 2006 game still hurts.... not sure if JC would have beat Bowling Green in the Class 3A state finals, but seeing JC's Long Black Train go down and the game totally changed with CovCath's late TD's was painful.

JC led 14-10 at the half. 

Cov Cath won the Championship 27-8.

[know1]

I'm pulling for Johnson Central in this one. I just hope their one dimensional running offense - even though it's a very good running offense - is enough to overcome the lack of a passing game.

[The Red Eminence]

I'm leaning towards Johnson Central. Two great teams here. I think Johnson Central's defense makes the necessary improvements and keeps strong at the end.

Haha, I certainly can be an optimist. By optimist, read fool. Maybe it is my bias (I respect them, but I was never a Cov Cath fan. Nothing against the program, but my favorite teams have all been dealt bad losses by them, so I might be bitter), but I'm hoping Johnson Central pulls out the win!

[Central Kid]

I'm leaning towards Johnson Central. Two great teams here. I think Johnson Central's defense makes the necessary improvements and keeps strong at the end.

Haha, I certainly can be an optimist. By optimist, read fool. Maybe it is my bias (I respect them, but I was never a Cov Cath fan. Nothing against the program, but my favorite teams have all been dealt bad losses by them, so I might be bitter), but I'm hoping Johnson Central pulls out the win!

OSH knows the only way to improve soft defenses are transfers. ??

---

I'm leaning towards Johnson Central. Two great teams here. I think Johnson Central's defense makes the necessary improvements and keeps strong at the end.

Haha, I certainly can be an optimist. By optimist, read fool. Maybe it is my bias (I respect them, but I was never a Cov Cath fan. Nothing against the program, but my favorite teams have all been dealt bad losses by them, so I might be bitter), but I'm hoping Johnson Central pulls out the win!

OSH knows the only way to improve soft defenses are transfers. ??

[Rainmaker33]

Johnson Central- Cov Cath cannot throw it well enough

[fansville]

Johnson Central- Cov Cath cannot throw it well enough

I agree, I think cov cath vs Johnson central head to head run game favors JC. I think JC wins this one in an entertaining game that I would love to watch. 48-34

I think for Cov Cath to have a shot they will have to have 3 TDs passing, which will be tough because they average 1 per game

[Upnorth]

Drove through Paintsville the past two days coming home from work and they have been done with practice early. JC must be confident in their defense. Short practices this time of year can be a good sign or a bad sign.

[TheOracle]

Wow not alot of close games over the years. Most of the games have been decided pretty decisive. I would not have guessed that.

The 2006 Covington Catholic team won the 3A State Championship.
The 2023 game & this years game are the only games in this series that have been played in Park Hills.
All nine of these games have been played in the playoffs.

I’m pretty sure JC had the lead at the half in 2006. Big FB/LB (Johnson?) was injured and that was the difference.

I don't remember the score at halftime.... but Shaun Grimm & Blake Johnson were running the ball over CovCath before Blake went down with a leg injury.
Grimm was fast enough on the edges to keep CovCath from loading the box & Blake was strong enough up the middle to keep the chains moving.  Tommy Taylor & Michael Tackett were good enough to have the DB's respect them as well and that opened up the middle for Blake.  

That 2006 game still hurts.... not sure if JC would have beat Bowling Green in the Class 3A state finals, but seeing JC's Long Black Train go down and the game totally changed with CovCath's late TD's was painful.

JC led 14-10 at the half. 

Cov Cath won the Championship 27-8.

In 2006 JC scored on the first drive and then CCH tied it up at 7-7 on the next drive. CCH stopped JC's next drive and went up 10-7 on a field goal, and JC responded with about a 40yd pass followed by a 5yd TD run to go up 14-10 on CCH. CCH was about a foot short of the cross-bar on a 56yd field goal attempt on the next drive. Then they forced JC three and out on the next drive. CCH drove down to the 1 yard line, and on the last play of the half CCH had a wide open receiver in the endzone. The ball hit him in the hands and he just dropped it, and that ended the half with JC leading 14-10.

In the second half CCH received the kickoff and went down and scored on their first drive to take a 17-14 lead. They stopped JC on the next drive. CCH scored again on the following drive and went up 24-14. After that CCH and JC traded fumble recoveries. Then CCH stopped JC's drive again, and responded with a touchdown to go up 31-14. CCH stopped another JC drive and scored one more TD to make it 38-14 final.

[Hoot Gibson]

The 2006 Covington Catholic team won the 3A State Championship.
The 2023 game & this years game are the only games in this series that have been played in Park Hills.
All nine of these games have been played in the playoffs.

I’m pretty sure JC had the lead at the half in 2006. Big FB/LB (Johnson?) was injured and that was the difference.

I don't remember the score at halftime.... but Shaun Grimm & Blake Johnson were running the ball over CovCath before Blake went down with a leg injury.
Grimm was fast enough on the edges to keep CovCath from loading the box & Blake was strong enough up the middle to keep the chains moving.  Tommy Taylor & Michael Tackett were good enough to have the DB's respect them as well and that opened up the middle for Blake.  

That 2006 game still hurts.... not sure if JC would have beat Bowling Green in the Class 3A state finals, but seeing JC's Long Black Train go down and the game totally changed with CovCath's late TD's was painful.

JC led 14-10 at the half. 

Cov Cath won the Championship 27-8.

In 2006 JC scored on the first drive and then CCH tied it up at 7-7 on the next drive. CCH stopped JC's next drive and went up 10-7 on a field goal, and JC responded with about a 40yd pass followed by a 5yd TD run to go up 14-10 on CCH. CCH was about a foot short of the cross-bar on a 56yd field goal attempt on the next drive. Then they forced JC three and out on the next drive. CCH drove down to the 1 yard line, and on the last play of the half CCH had a wide open receiver in the endzone. The ball hit him in the hands and he just dropped it, and that ended the half with JC leading 14-10.

In the second half CCH received the kickoff and went down and scored on their first drive to take a 17-14 lead. They stopped JC on the next drive. CCH scored again on the following drive and went up 24-14. After that CCH and JC traded fumble recoveries. Then CCH stopped JC's drive again, and responded with a touchdown to go up 31-14. CCH stopped another JC drive and scored one more TD to make it 38-14 final.

With the score 24-14, Blake Johnson was running for good yardage on every carry until he went down with an injury. He was sorely missed on both sides of the line, and Covington Catholic dominated the rest of the game. CC made some good adjustments at halftime and moved the ball much better in the second half. The Colonels probably would have won the game, even if Johnson had not been injured, but IMO, the margin would have been much closer because JC was dominating the time of possession until his injury and there was a good chance that they would have narrowed the margin to 24-21 on that drive. It was a great game and one of several regional finals where either Highlands or Covington Catholic beat Johnson Central before winning a state title.

[pjdoug]

Colonels 35-14

[know1]

If there's a free link, I will try to watch this game if I don't have a conflict.

[sstack]

Hearing JC has top player out hurt tonight, hopefully bad rumor and they come into town guy strength

[Wildcat09]

Any Video Feed for This Game

[Landsten88]

JC defense is pretty poor but their offense makes up for it.

Cov catch 38

JC 31

[TheOracle]

Any Video Feed for This Game

CCH streams them for ten bucks. Same as a ticket at the gate.


https://www.covcath.org/athletics/ticket...asting.cfm

[know1]

Any Video Feed for This Game

CCH streams them for ten bucks. Same as a ticket at the gate.


https://www.covcath.org/athletics/ticket...asting.cfm

No thanks.

[jetpilot]

Rooting big for JC but afraid CC is going to shred that secondary. Would be a pretty big upset and JC needs an almost perfect game.

[IAM22]

Any Video Feed for This Game

CCH streams them for ten bucks. Same as a ticket at the gate.


https://www.covcath.org/athletics/ticket...asting.cfm

No thanks.

They do a great job with their broadcast! The broadcast has replays from multiple angles, good commentators, and play by play.

[pjdoug]

I'm leaning towards Johnson Central. Two great teams here. I think Johnson Central's defense makes the necessary improvements and keeps strong at the end.

Neither team is great.

[Golden Predator]

Covington Catholic leads the All-Time series, 5-3.

2006: Covington Catholic 38-14 (Class 3A State Semi-Finals)
2008: Johnson Central 49-14 (Class 5A 2nd round)
2009: Johnson Central 51-32 (Class 5A 2nd round)
2010: Johnson Central 41-28 (Class 5A 2nd round)
2012: Covington Catholic 45-14 (Class 4A 2nd round)
2013: Covington Catholic 42-14 (Class 4A 2nd round)
2014: Covington Catholic 19-7 (Class 4A 2nd round)
2023: Covington Catholic 31-0 (Class 4A Regional Championship)

Wow not alot of close games over the years. Most of the games have been decided pretty decisive. I would not have guessed that.

The 2006 Covington Catholic team won the 3A State Championship.
The 2023 game & this years game are the only games in this series that have been played in Park Hills.
All nine of these games have been played in the playoffs.

I’m pretty sure JC had the lead at the half in 2006. Big FB/LB (Johnson?) was injured and that was the difference.

I don't remember the score at halftime.... but Shaun Grimm & Blake Johnson were running the ball over CovCath before Blake went down with a leg injury.
Grimm was fast enough on the edges to keep CovCath from loading the box & Blake was strong enough up the middle to keep the chains moving.  Tommy Taylor & Michael Tackett were good enough to have the DB's respect them as well and that opened up the middle for Blake.  

That 2006 game still hurts.... not sure if JC would have beat Bowling Green in the Class 3A state finals, but seeing JC's Long Black Train go down and the game totally changed with CovCath's late TD's was painful.

The score at halftime was 14-7 should’ve been 21-7. CovCath had like 500yds rushing against Bowl Green. Should’ve been Matney’s first state championship.