Ryle defeated Covington Catholic 26–20 in a physical Week 1 matchup.
Raiders RBs Jacob Savage and Dameyn Anness combined for 174 rushing yards
Dylan Lee made two interceptions for Ryle, one setting up a touchdown
CovCath’s Dylan Gaiser (58-yard TD reception) and Cash Harney (173 passing yards, 145 rushing, 2 TDs) kept them in the game.
Mistakes (penalties, bad snap) hurt CovCath’s comeback chances.
The buzz of Friday Night Lights. A very unseasonably cooler August night. Two teams with state title aspirations and a preseason top 15 ranking, regardless of class.
You really couldn’t ask for much more on the opening night of the KHSAA prep football season in Park Hills at Covington Catholic High School.
With bleachers full on both sides, Ryle and Covington Catholic delivered a physical battle that had very much the feel of a late November game rather than Week 1. When the final seconds ticked off, it was the Raiders heading back to Union with a 26-20 victory.
“This is a great win,” Raiders coach Mike Engler said. “We overcame adversity. We fought hard. Had to make the adjustments.”
Both teams have a somewhat similar identity. Rely on the run game with quarterbacks who can extend plays with their feet, the passing game turning into somewhat of an extension of the run game.
Ryle’s Nathan Verax scrambles out of the pocket. Photo provided | Raider Sports Network
Ryle’s identity was on display early: power and more power behind bruising back Jacob Savage. He bulldozed his way to 82 rushing yards on the night, adding two touchdowns on the ground to boot. His second score came at a pivotal moment. With the game tied at 14 and seconds before the half was set to end, the Raiders were faced with a 4th and goal from the Colonels one. Every one in Dennis Griffin Stadium knew who the ball was going to…No. 21. He dashed his way around the left end of the Raiders line and found paydirt, giving the Raiders a 20-14 lead at the break.
“Just blessed to have coaches that believe in me so much and trust in me so much,” Savage said. “I got guys around me that I’m super confident they’re gonna do their jobs. And they know I’m gonna do my job. We’re so close and we all know we have trust in each other. I didn’t have a doubt I wasn’t gonna get that in the end zone.”
ent down with cramps in the second half, it was another bruiser coming in. Dameyn Anness powered his way to 92 rushing yards, picking up key yardage to help the Raiders control possession and the lead, thanks to two Gavin Moses field goals to make it 26-14 with 10 minutes remaining in the game.
The Colonels huddle up during Friday’s contest with Ryle. Photo provided | Pete Coleman
CovCath was game for the 6A state finalists. Digging themselves a 14-0 hole, it was senior running back Dylan Gaiser first on a 58-yard screen pass, eluding a couple tacklers and taking it to the end zone to make it 14-7. Quarterback Cash Harney followed with a 28-yard rush of his own to knot things up at 14 in the second quarter.
“Our guys were there,” Colonels coach Eddie Eviston said. “Just one of those things where we have to do a better job game one of being in-sync and we weren’t in-sync. We showed promise of it and know it’s there, just have to be more consistent.”
The Colonels struggled to find more offense from there as they found fewer answers after the break. Untimely penalties and a costly bad snap on a punt gave Ryle favorable field position, setting up Moses’ second kick.
“Very similar to last season. Very good game, back and forth and we’re playing from behind,” Eviston said. “You get those opportunities to move the ball and you go backwards and that’s not a good recipe for a chance to win. Bottom line is we’ve got to execute better.”
Not only were the two field goals impressive as the 42-yarder had at least 10 yards to spare, but Moses forced the Colonels to drive 80 yards nearly all evening with numerous touchbacks on kickoffs.
Ryle’s Gavin Moses attempts a field goal. Photo provided | Raider Sports Network
“Having him is a weapon,” Engler said.
Then throw in Raiders senior Dylan Lee, coming into the season everyone wanted to talk about his receiving ability, the team looking to replace record-setting Landon Lorms as he graduated. But it was Lee’s defense, two interceptions that made his night, the first interception being followed by a Nathan Verax seven-yard touchdown to the senior.
“Nothing but instincts. I’m not seeing much, just reacting. God is on my side, those plays came my way and I made them,” Lee said.
Verax may have completed just two passes on the evening, but he gave the Colonels headaches with his scrambling ability, rushing for 65 of the Raiders 277 yards.
CovCath added a late score, but fourth quarter game clock read zero when Harney’s 8-yard touchdown run made it 26-20. Harney’s scrambling ability was evident in his stat line as he totaled 328 yards, 183 passing and 145 rushing with the two rushing touchdowns.
Cash Harney ran for 145 yards and threw for 183 more. Photo provided | Pete Coleman
It wasn’t perfect — missed opportunities frustrated both sidelines — but for Ryle, it was exactly the kind of test they wanted to open a season defined by high expectations.
“We had to play four quarters of football,” Engler said. “We want that. That’s a good football team. We have to face those things to be a good football team down the road, because we’re not going to beat every team we run across with a running clock, especially when you get the playoffs. To play good football teams and to have to dig it out to the end is what we need.”
Ryle walks out of Park Hills 1-0, while CovCath drops to 0-1.
“This is the beginning of a long road hopefully. Fifty percent of the teams lost tonight, just a matter how we respond and hopefully we respond correctly,” Eviston said.
The Raiders will have their home opener with Conner next week while Covington Catholic heads across the River to the Pit to take on Elder. Both kickoffs are slated for 7 p.m.
RAIDERS 26, COLONELS 20
RYLE — 14-6-3-3 — 26
COVCATH — 0-14-0-6 — 20
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
(R) Savage 3-yard run (Moses kick) 9:20
(R) Verax 7-yard pass to Lee (Moses kick) :47
2nd Quarter
(CC) Harney 58-yard pass to Gaiser (Zembrodt kick) 10:43
