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EIGHTH GRADE...
Bobby Alexander and the eight graders went 7-0 last season. |
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SEVENTH GRADE...
The seventh grade class has plenty of talent, including Seth Canan. |
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The junior high program continues to produce numbers and the results are showing on the field as the talented eight grade class returns nearly the entire roster from the team that finished 7-0 a year ago.
Plus, the seventh grade class has fielded enough players to have a seventh grade schedule for the second straight year - providing additional opportunities to gain valuable experience.
Covington 40, National Trail 6 (8th Grade)
The Buccs thoroughly dominated the Blazers en route to the first win of the season, 40-6. Covington scored on several long runs in the first half and built a 32-0 lead.
Covington 18, Miami East 15 (8th Grade)
The Buccaneer eight grade squad pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the waning moments to claim a victory over a gritty and determined Miami East team. The winning score came with six seconds left in the game on a 30-yard halfback pass from A.J. Ouellette to Andre Benedict.
Miami East scored first on a well executed drive in the first quarter, but Covington knotted the score at 6-6 on a five-yard run by Bobby Alexander.
The score remained until the half, but the visiting Vikings struck again on their first possession of the third quarter to reclaim the lead, 12-6.
Alexander tied the score at 12-12 on his second touchdown run of the game after long runs by Ouellette and quarterback Justin Williams moved the Buccs into scoring position.
But Miami East responded again with an impressive drive deep into Covington territory before a penalty moved the Vikings into fourth-and-long. Miami East connected on a clutch field goal from 31 yards out to reclaim the lead 15-12 with 1:10 left in thee game.
Which was just enough time for the Buccs to put together one last attempt at claiming victory.
After a two short runs by Alexander put the Buccs into a third-and-short situation, Ouellette broke free down the home sideline for a 40-yard run to the Miami East 30.
Covington attempted two Alexander runs up the middle and an incomplete pass to the right side, which killed the clock with 12 seconds left.
Facing fourth down with no timeouts, the Buccs went to their bag of tricks for the winning score. Ouellete received the pitch-out from Williams and found a streaking Benedict in stride down the middle of the field behind the Miami East defense.
The victory improves Covington to 2-0.
Covington 60, Ansonia 6 (8th Grade)
The Buccaneer junior high team had its way with Ansonia on Tuesday 60-6 to remain unbeaten on the season at 3-0.
And it was an entire team effort that got the job done in the mind of coach Lee Donnan.
"I've got to spread the wealth on this one because each and every player had a hand in this victory," Donnan said. "Everybody, and I mean everybody played well tonight."
The Buccaneers, still flying high off a thrilling comeback victory over Miami East last week, scored at will on the host Tigers - building a 32-6 lead at the half and increasing them margin to 60-6 by game's end.
"Everyone played and played well," said Donnan. "We had a few kids we had to watch (for playing time) because they played a lot last night (in the seventh grade game)."
Donnan was most pleased with the play of the lineman, who opened up huge holes for the Buccaneer backs all night long.
"Those kids up front just blew them off the ball," said Donnan. "Most of the time our backs didn't get hit until they were five or ten yards downfield."
Covington looks to continue rolling next week at Arcanum.
SCORING SUMMARY
Covington: A.J. Ouellette run (2pt conversion good) - 8-0
Covington: Ouellette punt return (2pt conversion good) - 16-0
Covington: Bobby Alexander run (2pt conversion good) - 24-0
Ansonia: three-yard run (conversion failed) - 24-6
Covington: Alexander run (2pt conversion good) - 32-6
Covington: Alexander run (2pt conversion good) - 40-6
Covington: Ouellette pass to Andre Benedict (2pt conversion failed) - 46-6
Covington: Dalton Bordelon run (2pt conversion failed) - 52-6
Covington: Alexander run (2pt conversion good) - 60-6
Covington 36, Mississinawa Valley 0 (8th Grade)
In a battle between unbeaten teams, the Covington Buccaneers cruised to a 36-0 shutout victory over the Mississinawa Valley Blackhawks.
"The kids played a great game," said Lee Donnan. "We were physical in all areas of the game and it showed."
Covington set the tone of the game on the opening possession by pounding the football right at the Mississinawa defense - moving the ball into Blackhawks territory. Although the drive ended in a fumble, the physical play of the Buccaneer offensive line was apparent.
That physical play continued at the defensive end as the Buccs stuffed Mississinawa's running game and forced the 'Hawks to punt, which resulted in the first points of the game as A.J. Ouellette returned the punt for the score.
Covington continued to wear down the Blackhawks mentally and physically with two more well executed scoring drives to push the lead to 22-0 at the half.
The trend continued in the second half as the running lanes for Buccaneer backs opened even larger as the game went on. The result was two more touchdowns and a 36-0 victory.
"The offensive line did a great job of driving their man off the ball," Donnan said. "Our back ran hard, but the offensive line gave them some huge holes to run through."
On the negative side for Covington, three long touchdown runs by Ouellette, Bobby Alexander and Dalton Bordelon were negated due to penalties. Plus, Covington had three fumbles - two that killed potential scoring drives inside Mississinawa territory and another that gave the Blackhawks the ball at the Covington 18.
"We gave them the ball at the 18 and we shut them down," Donnan said. "The thing I like about these kids is when they get their backs against the wall they turn it up a notch."
Still, Covington's defense was up to the task, shutting out Mississinawa and only allowing the Blackhawks across midfield just three times in the contest.
SCORING SUMMARY:
8-0 - A.J. Ouellette, 60-yd Punt Return (2pt Run Bobby Alexander)
16-0 - 40-pass from Justin Williams to Andre Benedict (Alexander 2pt run)
22-0 - Bobby Alexander 30-yd run (Run Failed)
30-0 - Bordelon 42-yd run (Alexander 2pt run)
36-0 - Bobby Alexander 35-yd run (Kick Failed)
Covington 36, Bradford 14 (8th Grade)
The Buccaneer junior high football team had all it could handle against rival Bradford, Tuesday.
But big plays by the Buccs turned a 14-14 halftime score into a 36-14 victory and an unbeaten 6-0 record heading into Saturday's CCC Championship Game against Bethel.
Covington struck first on the opening play of the game as A.J. Ouellette raced untouched 65 yards for the score and a 6-0 lead as the point-after attempt was blocked.
The Railroaders responded with two straight touchdowns, one via the passing game and another on the ground, to take a 14-6 lead midway through the second quarter.
Ouellette worked his magic again by cutting back across the field for the 22-yard score. But the score remained 14-12 as the Buccs were stuffed on the two-point attempt.
Covington's defense held true on Bradford's next possession, forcing the Railroaders into a punting situation. Andre Benedict blocked the punt, which rolled out of the end zone for the safety and a 14-14 tie at the half.
The Buccs took over the contest in the second half with three touchdowns, one each by Ouellette, Bobby Alexander and Benedict.
The victory sets up a huge season finale against Bethel at the friendly confines of Smith Field in Covington. The game is slated to start at 7:00pm.
Covington 44, Bethel 7 (Jr. High Championship)
Covington junior high football coach Lee Donnan was emotional after his team physically and mentally manhandled the Bethel Bees to claim the CCC Championship.
"This group of kids is special," said Donnan with a crack in his voice. "They are great kids, I mean really, really good kids. But on the football field, man do they love to hit people. They just love football and it shows with the way they play."
It showed all season long and once again Saturday night in the CCC Championship game against Bethel as the Buccaneers took command on the first snap and never let up until the clock ticked zero. In between 44 points went on the board for Covington to just 7 for the Bees, that one score coming late in the fourth quarter.
"Everyone, from the seventh graders to the eighth graders to the coaches had a part in this," Donnan said. "This was a complete effort by everybody."
Covington started the scoring on its opening drive with a 45-yard run by Justin Williams on a keeper off the option and then ran in the two-point conversion with A.J. Ouellette.
"Justin's going to be a bear as he gets older," Donnan praised. "He's really good now as an eighth grader running the option, so imagine what he'll be like when Coach Miller gets a hold of him."
The Buccs followed with a bruising drive that picked up chunks of yardage on each snap. The drive was capped with a five-yard run by Bobby Alexander and a two-point run by Dalton Bordelon.
Leading 16-0 after one quarter of play, the Buccs continued to roll through the second frame with three more scores.
Alexander broke loose on a perfectly executed option play and raced 30 yards for the score and then A.J. Ouellette closed out the half with a 10-yard run and a 35-yard jaunt to push the lead to 38-0.
"The kids were really pumped up at halftime," Donnan said. "You could sense they wanted to put another 38 points on the board and they would have if it was up to them."
But there was no need to as Covington kept the starters in for one more scoring drive that resulted in a one-yard touchdown run by Chance Setters to push the lead to 44-0.
Bethel did manage to hit pay dirt in the fourth quarter with a 20-yard pass and the extra point kick made the final score 44-7. But it came with the Bethel starting offense against Covington's seventh graders.
"We wanted to give the seventh graders a chance to get out there and get some action in a big game like this and they did a good job," said Donnan. "It was good experience for them."
Which will be beneficial next year as they younger kids grow into eighth graders.
"I really like what we have coming back with those seventh graders," Donnan continued. "Those kids improved a lot since their first game against (Miami) East and a year of maturity will make a world of difference. With them and the sixth grade class coming up, we could make another run at this again next year."
The future for the eighth grade class is filled with promise as well - promise that could lead to special things should the kids stay together over the next four years.
"If all of these kids play four years of high school ball, watch out," said Donnan. "These kids can do things no other class (in school history) has ever done. They'll have better coaching in high school with Coach Miller and his staff and you combine that with the passion these kids have for the game, it's a deadly combination."
Eighth graders, are you listening? The sky is the limit for you "IF" you stick together as a unit and accept the coaching that awaits you.
SCORING BY QUARTERS:
Bethel ................0......0.....0....7 - 7
Covington .........16....38....6....0 - 44
SCORING SUMMARY:
1st - COV: Justin Williams 45-yd run (A.J. Ouellette Run)
1st - COV: Bobby Alexander 5-yd run (Dalton Bordelon Run)
2nd - COV: Bobby Alexander 30-yd run (Run Failed)
2nd - COV: A.J. Ouellette 10-yd run (Run Failed)
2nd - COV: A.J. Ouellette 35-yd run (Bobby Alexander Run)
3rd - COV: Chance Setters 1-yd run (Run Failed)
4th - BET: 20-yd pass (Kick Good)
