COVINGTON, Kentucky – With momentum hanging in the balance, the Ryle Raiders defense was able to create two huge turnovers, both orchestrated by Raiders senior defensive back Dylan Lee, leading the visiting Ryle squad to a road victory over the Covington Catholic Colonels, 26-20.
“Right place, right time,” said Lee. “It’s nothing but instincts, I’m not seeing much, to be honest, I’m just reacting. But I stepped up and made the big play.”
After winning the opening coin toss, the Raiders looked to make an early season statement by taking the ball to start the game. It did not take long for Ryle’s running game to flex its muscles early, as senior halfbacks Jacob Savage and Dameyn Anness pounded the rock against the Colonels defense, culminating in a 5-yard Savage rushing touchdown to open the scoring on the 2025 KHSAA season.
Covington Catholic looked to conjure up a quick response, but had to overcome multiple offensive penalties and third-and-long situations to make it just to midfield. With only 3 minutes left in the game’s opening quarter, Colonels senior quarterback Cash Harney made a mistake, underthrowing his receiver, allowing Lee to step into an interception, giving Ryle the football back and all the momentum.
Lee wasn’t done making his early presence felt on the field there, however. On a second down from inside the redzone, Raiders senior quarterback Nathan Verax rolled right, avoided some Colonels pass rushers, and looped a ball to the corner of the endzone, where Lee managed to rise up and grab the ball, coming down with the touchdown. Quickly, the Raiders had seized the momentum early in the game.
The Colonels were not fazed however, with two impressive offensive drives to tie the game back up at 14-14. Senior tailback Dylan Gaiser caught a screen pass from Harney, and managed to break out of at least four different tackles before he tightroped all the way down the sideline to cash in his first touchdown of the season.
Covington Catholic’s defense fed off of Gaiser’s huge play, igniting a spark that they had not had early in the contest, and forced Ryle to send out the punting unit for the first time. Harney was surgical from under center, leading the Colonels straight down the field and capped it off with a 15-yard touchdown scamper of his own, tying the game at 14.
As fast as Covington Catholic could tie the game, the Raiders offense regained their dominance quickly, answering the Colonels with another impressive drive. Despite a strong goal line stand by the Colonels defense, the Raiders elected to go for it on 4th and short from their own 3, with just 6 seconds left in the half. Savage was called upon again, and he delivered, smashing it in for the score, giving Ryle a 6-point lead at the half.
With the Colonels getting the ball to start the second half, Harney and his offense looked poised to strike quickly, until Dylan Lee made another play to set the tone for the Raiders. Harney rolled out to his left, and had to scramble all the way back to his right, before he flung a late pass to Gaiser in the flat. The Colonels tailback tipped the ball in the air, and Lee made a diving play to pick up his second takeaway of the evening.
Lee’s interception once again set the tone, and both the Raiders and Colonels defense were up to the challenge. Ryle wanted to pound the rock and eat away clock, but Covington Catholic was able to hold their opponents to just 2 field goals, both kicked by senior kicker Gavin Moses.
The Colonels looked to get back into the game behind the arm – and legs of Harney. Ryle’s secondary was unfazed, locking down Covington Catholic’s passing game.
Punting became the theme of the second half, with neither side able to move down the field effectively, giving Ryle’s two-headed backfield monster the opportunity to control the clock – and the game.
Ryle’s star Savage dealt with cramps midway through the third quarter, however. Anness and Verax answered the call, putting the Raiders in prime position to take home a victory.
Covington Catholic gave it everything they had, even coming up with a late interception by senior Zach Brooks and a rushing touchdown by Harney, but it was not enough. Ryle, looking to get back to Lexington in December this year, got their 2025 off to the right start with the win over the Colonels.
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Ryle: 14-6-3-3-26
Covington Catholic : 0-14-0-6-20
SCORING PLAYS
R: Jacob Savage 3-yard run (Moses Kick)
R: Dylan Lee 13-yard pass from Nathan Verax (2-pt failed)
CC: Dylan Gaiser 56-yard pass from Cash Harney (kick good)
CC: Cash Harvey 22-yard run (kick good)
R: Moses 34 field goal
R: Moses 41 field goal
CC: Cash Harney 8-yard run (no PAT)
RECORDS: Covington Catholic (0-1); Ryle (1-0)
UP NEXT: Ryle hosts Conner (0-0), Covington Catholic heads to Elder (1-0)
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