Rivalry Brings Family Together

Talk to anyone who has played in the biggest Northern Kentucky high school football rivalry, and they will say how much they despise the other school and how they look forward to the rematch every year. For two players in this year’s game, it’s much more than a rivalry.

Highlands senior linebacker Jared Dougherty and Covington Catholic senior running back Ryan McGinness are not only opposing players in a heated rivalry, they are cousins. Both will be playing in their fourth and final Highlands/Covington Catholic game on Saturday afternoon at Wooten Field.

Despite his cousin playing for his rival, Dougherty says the game is no different than any other game.

“I don’t think of it differently from playing any other team,” Dougherty said. “Playing CovCath is the biggest game of the year and it is a neat experience to get to share with my cousin.”

McGinness shared similar sentiments about playing against his cousin and Highlands.

“It’s actually pretty cool,” McGinness said. “Highlands is always the big game but having a cousin on the other side for four years makes it extra special. We talk some smack during the year but after the game it’s all family.”

Despite facing against each other in football, they have never played together in football. Dougherty began playing in third grade for the Fort Thomas Junior League, while McGinness began playing in sixth grade for the Boone County PeeWee Football League. They did, however, play AAU basketball together.

Dougherty and McGinness aren’t the first in the family to play in the annual rivalry game.

“A lot of the family members have played in this rivalry on the Highlands side including my dad and many of our other relatives whether it was cheerleading, football, or coaching,” Dougherty said. “My family thinks it is fun and exciting. It is always a competitive game.”

As for family events, the game is always brought up.

“Most of my dad’s side of the family went to Highlands so every year at our parties, I have to hear it,” McGinness said. “They’ve had our number for too long. It’s time to change that this year.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Dougherty, who has won two state championships with the Bluebirds, takes it a step further around Christmastime.

“Usually at every family Christmas party, the topic of the state game is always brought up,” Dougherty said. “He always shows up in his CovCath gear and I show up in my Highlands gear and I ask if he wants to try my state ring on.”

Dougherty has not decided where he is going to college or what he will be studying, but says that he plans on kicking for a Division I university in the fall of 2016.

McGinness has received college offers for both football and baseball, but has not reached a final decision on where he will play next fall.

Highlands (2-5) will look to put together their longest winning streak of the season on Saturday when the Bluebirds take on the Covington Catholic Colonels (2-5), who are coming off a 47-7 win over Grant County.

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