By Jakob Jones
NKyTribune contributor
On a chilly November night, Covington Catholic’s offense was hot from the start and melted Madison Southern’s playoff hopes, 49-9, in a Class 5A state quarterfinal game on Friday at CovCath.
The Colonels scored 36 straight points to initiate a running clock with 3:35 left in the first half and totaled 325 total yards on 40 plays in the rematch of the 2017 Class 5A state championship game.
CovCath (13-0) advances to the semifinal round of this year’s playoffs and has a home game against Bowling Green (9-3) at 6 p.m. next Friday. The semifinal winners will meet in the state championship game on Dec. 7 in Lexington.
Madison Southern was averaging 344 yards and 37 points coming into Friday’s game, but the Eagles did not get a first down until late in the third quarter and ended up with just 67 yards on 30 plays.
CovCath coach Eddie Eviston was happy with his team’s work preceding the game. “Our kids prepared well and our coaching staff prepared well,” he said.
For the Colonels, their offense scored early and often. Senior running back Daniel Felix was a big part of the game plan. He scored the team’s first two touchdowns and got two more later in the game.
“The win feels really good tonight,” said Felix, who picked up 86 yards on 10 carries. “Our team has really bonded this year. One of our goals this year was to be undefeated and win the state championship.”
Junior quarterback Caleb Jacob completed 9 of 11 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Late in the first quarter, he threw a 20-yard TD pass to senior receiver Andrew Molique. When an offsides penalty on the extra point allowed the Colonels to go for a two-point conversion, Jacob found senior tight end Michael Mayer to extend the lead to 22-0.
The Eagles were held to 4 yards in the first quarter while also surrendering an interception to the Colonels’ stout defense.
In the second quarter, Felix got his third touchdown on a 14-yard run and Jacob completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mayer to finish a seven-play, 45-yard drive. Junior placekicker Trey Gronotte added the extra point to make the score 36-0 and initiate the running clock.
The Colonels’ defense allowed only 9 yards in the second quarter. Struggling to move the ball on key plays, the Eagles were 0-6 on third down conversions in the first half.
With the running clock in effect, the Colonels added two touchdowns in the third quarter to put the game further out of reach. Felix found the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the day and Owen Nally added his name to the scoring summary with a 16-yard run.
Madison Southern avoided a shutout by getting a safety off a blocked punt. On their next possession, the Eagles put together a 40-yard touchdown drive that ended with Tobias Storm’s 5-yard run into the end zone.
COVINGTON CATHOLIC 22 14 13 0 — 49
MADISON SOUTHERN 0 0 0 9 — 9
CC — Felix 1 run (Gronotte kick)
CC — Felix 4 run (Gronotte kick)
CC — Molique 20 pass from Jacob (Mayer 2 pass from Jacob)
CC — Felix 14 run (Gronotte kick)
CC — Mayer 3 pass from Jacob (Gronotte kick)
CC — Felix 11 run (Gronotte kick)
CC — Nally 16 run (kick failed)
MC — Safety
MC — Storm 5 run (Willis kick)
RECORDS: CovCath 13-0, Madison Southern 7-6
Friday’s state quarterfinal games
CLASS 1A
Louisville Holy Cross 21, Newport Central Catholic 16
CLASS 2A
Breathitt County 57, Walton-Verona 28
Beechwood 42, West Carter 7
CLASS 4A
Boyle County 55, Scott 0
CLASS 5A
Covington Catholic 49, Madison Southern 9
CLASS 6A
Lexington Tates Creek 47, Simon Kenton 8
Next week’s state semifinal games
CLASS 2A
Beechwood (8-5) at Mayfield (12-1)
CLASS 5A
Bowling Green (9-3) at Covington Catholic (13-0)