By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Covington Catholic scored a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and went on to defeat Conner, 38-8, in a Class 5A district final on Friday to remain undefeated at 12-0.
The Colonels advance to the quarterfinal round of the Class 5A playoff bracket and have a home game against Madison Southern (7-5) at 7:30 p.m. next Friday. Conner ends the season with an 8-4 record.
In Friday’s game, CovCath senior Michael Boydston returned the opening kickoff to the 40-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Boydston took a hand off, swept around the right side and raced 60 yards to the end zone without anyone laying a hand on him.
That set the stage for a dominant first half performance by the Colonels, who scored points on all six of their first-half possessions to open up a 38-0 lead. The second half was then played with a running clock.
At the halftime break, CovCath had 280 yards of offense while holding Conner to 39. The final yardage margin was 391-160. Conner’s only touchdown came with 4:51 left in the game.
CovCath junior quarterback Caleb Jacob completed 15 of 19 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns. All three of his TD passes came in the second quarter with senior tight end Michael Mayer catching two of them. Mayer also had one of this team’s two interceptions in the second quarter.
After getting off to a rough start in the first half, Conner senior quarterback Jared Hicks completed 11 of 13 passes for 77 yards and one touchdown in the second half. He ended up going 18-for-27 for 151 yards and finished his senior season with a school-record 2,756 yards in 12 games.
The other local teams that won district finals on Friday were Newport Central Catholic in Class 1A, Beechwood and Walton-Verona in Class 2A, Scott in Class 4A and Simon Kenton in Class 6A.
Based on the RPI ratings being used for state playoff seedings, Beechwood and CovCath are the only local teams that will play quarterfinal games at home next Friday. West Carter will be Beechwood’s opponent.
The other quarterfinal matchups will be NewCath at Louisville Holy Cross, Walton-Verona at Breathitt County, Scott at Boyle County and Simon Kenton at Lexington Tates Creek.
COVCATH 17 21 0 0 — 38
CONNER 0 0 0 8 — 8
COV — Boydston 60 run (Gronotte kick)
COV — Gronotte 23 FG
COV — Felix 7 run (Gronotte kick)
COV — Mayer 4 pass from Jacob (Gronotte kick)
COV — Reardon 8 pass from Jacob (Gronotte kick)
COV — Mayer 22 pass from Jacob (Gronotte kick)
CON — Daniels 8 pass from Hicks (Hicks run)
Records: CovCath 12-0, Conner 8-4.
Friday’s district football finals
CLASS 1A
District 4 — Newport Central Catholic 40, Ludlow 20
District 5 — Nicholas County 18, Brossart 13
CLASS 2A
District 5 — Walton-Verona 48, Owen County 20
District 6 — Beechwood 38, Newport 19
CLASS 4A
District 6 — Scott 40, Holmes 29
CLASS 5A
District 5 — Covington Catholic 38, Conner 8
CLASS 6A
District 6 — Simon Kenton 41, Dixie Heights 17
Next Friday’s state quarterfinal games
CLASS 1A
Newport Central Catholic (10-2) at Louisville Holy Cross (10-2), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 2A
Walton-Verona (8-4) at Breathitt County (12-0), 7:30 p.m.
West Carter (9-3) at Beechwood (7-5), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Scott (8-4) at Boyle County (12-0), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 5A
Madison Southern (7-5) at Covington Catholic (12-0), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 6A
Simon Kenton (8-4) at Lexington Tates Creek (8-4), 7:30 p.m.