Covington Catholic Flexes in Blowout Over Harrison County in Kroger KSR Game of the Week
Covington Catholic has had the pleasure of rostering some great players over the years. Michael Mayer, most notably, won a state championship with the Colonels in 2019 while Covington Catholic still competed in 5A. Mayer is now in the NFL, playing every Sunday for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Now, the reins have been handed off to Kentucky commit and fellow tight end, Willie Rodriguez. And while Rodriguez may not look ready for Sundays quite yet, he seems more than prepared for SEC Saturdays. His two first-half touchdowns and excellent play from senior quarterback Evan Pitzer led the No. 5-ranked Colonels to a dominant 56-6 victory over Harrison County on Friday night during the Kroger KSR Game of the Week.
Covington Catholic is Ready for the Big Time
While some debated whether Covington Catholic was ready for different competition in Class 4A, the Colonels looked determined to prove everyone wrong.
Last season, they came up just short of a state championship at Kroger Field, getting dismantled by Frederick Douglass 33-6. However, another season of Pitzer and Rodriguez looks mighty scary for the teams in 4A. Corbin and Boyle County dominated that class for a long time. If Covington Catholic continues to play the way they had all year, the powers may shake up in the class.
When facing a district opponent in the middle of October, most squads are looking to survive. Some have letdowns; some shrink to outside pressure. Entering a game ranked No. 5 in KSR’s rankings can’t be easy for the new guys. However, Rodriguez isn’t worried about that.
“We’re gonna come out, you only get one opportunity to show how hard you practice throughout the week,” he said. “No matter what team we’re playing, we want to execute our plan.”
Future Wildcat Willie Rodriguez Shines
When watching Covington Catholic, it’s easy to get enamored by the skill of Willie Rodriguez. He’s a 6-foot-4 tight end who’s built like a linebacker. He can move, he can catch, and he can block. His blocking was what impressed KSR the most on Friday night. Granted, two touchdowns in one half are pretty exciting, especially when Liam Coen is your future offensive coordinator. Teams must figure out how to stop Rodriguez for the rest of this season. Considering his tall frame and broad shoulders, he’s a significant problem at the point of the catch.
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Rodriguez spoke on his game, “I’m a versatile tight-end. I love being physical in the run game, and also being in the receiver game. That’s why I love playing tight end, I’ll do anything they need me to do.”
Additionally, he has above-average hands and elite athleticism when jumping. It’s easy to see why programs such as Purdue, Virginia Tech, Louisville, and Cincinnati were after him. In fact, UC’s campus is closer to Covington Catholic than to UK. When recruiting against a school that’s closer to a kid, that’s made a College Football Playoff, and wants the kid badly, it’s hard to win. However, that’s the change in Kentucky’s new program. When sending Mark Stoops, Coen, and Vince Marrow into a room, most Wildcats are confident they’ll get their guy.
“I love Coen, I think he has a great offense going,” Rodriguez said. “I think I can add a lot to the run game and pass game. The coaches brought me in and treated me like family.”
Harrison County’s Bounce Back
Harrison County fought hard, and they fought until the final whistle. It was clear that the physical talent was just different on both sides of the ball. However, the Thorobreds still have a chance to finish with a great season, and competition like what they faced Friday night will only help that cause.
Quarterback Kaydon Custard dazzled in the backfield with top-tier escapes from the pocket. He gave the Colonels’ defense something to think about all night. However, Covington Catholic’s defense showed their strength. Next week, Harrison County will take on Holmes at home. The Colonels will head to Mason County.
After tonight, one thing is for sure: a new dog has arrived in 4A.
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