[Stardust]

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll...309190031/

Improving CovCath wallops Beechwood
By Jason Williams • Enquirer contributor • September 19, 2009

• • Print • ShareThis • Type: A A • Click-2-Listen


With parents, fans and coaches’ wives standing on the periphery of a postgame team huddle at midfield on Saturday afternoon, first-year Covington Catholic football coach Dave Wirth told his players to keep their recent success in perspective.


“Do not think you have arrived,” Wirth said, minutes after CovCath had cruised to a 43-14 win over visiting Beechwood.

But Wirth’s message certainly could be translated as the rebuilding program gradually is “getting there.”

After opening the season 0-3, CovCath has won two straight games and shown signs of adjusting to its new coach’s system.

“You’re not going to ever get a 2-3 coach to say he’s happy where he’s at,” said Wirth, whose team is ranked No. 7 in the Enquirer coaches’ poll. “But I’m happy with the progress we’ve made recently. A lot of the questions we’d get before and after plays in practice earlier this season really aren’t there anymore.”

Perhaps no player exemplifies the Colonels’ overall progress more than senior quarterback Brayden Erpenbeck, who rushed for three touchdowns and passed for another score Saturday. In his first season as the full-time starting quarterback, Erpenbeck ran the offense quite efficiently against No. 10 Beechwood, completing 17 of 20 passes for 163 yards and an interception. He also rushed for 102 yards on 11 carries.

“At the beginning of the season, I wasn’t confident in myself,” Erpenbeck said. “I didn’t feel like we could put a drive together. But now I just feel like we’re going to score every series. Everyone’s clicking.”