"WE'RE NUMBER ONE"...says Miami East's Tyler Dunivan after his team defeated Covington 28-21 in a gruelling battle that went down to the final play.

September 25, 2009 - CASSTOWN
This isn't 2008 and for Miami East coach Max Current and his current group of Vikings, the success of the 2008 conference champs and state playoff team is a distant memory.

That's because the 2009 team wants to establish their own identity - an identity of eliminating those doubters who said they lost too much talent to reclaim the CCC throne.

And what better way to begin establishing that identity than defeating perennial CCC power Covington for the second straight season.

"These kids want to create their own legacy," said Current on WPTW's 5th Quarter Show after his team defeated Covington in a thrilling 28-21 battle. "They want their own place in the history of Miami East football."

Miami East waisted little time getting rolling as senior tailback Tyler Dunivan raced 64 yards for the game's first score on the Viking's opening drive.

The lead increased to 13-0 midway through the first quarter as Dunivan took advantage of a Covington fumble by plowing his way in from five yards out. Dunivan ended to contest with 115 yards on 18 carries.

"Covington is known for playing a physical style of football and we wanted to show them we could be physical too," Current said. "And we did that by hitting hard and taking it to them right away."

The fast start is something the Viking faithful has witnessed in the recent ascension of Miami East football.

"We've been known for starting fast in games," said Current. "The idea is to make the other team play catch up, putting the pressure on them to chase us from behind."

Covington chased and managed to catch the Vikings early in the fourth quarter on a five-yard run by Tyler Noffsinger, who had 198 rushing yards on 29 carries.

But Jared Brown took the momentum right back on the ensuing kickoff by racing 65 yards for the go-ahead and ultimately winning score.

"That (the kickoff return) hurt," said Covington coach Dave Miller. "We had all the momentum with the game at 21-21 because we were controlling the line of scrimmage and the clock. Then we let him (Jared Brown) go right up the middle for a touchdown. That was disappointing."

Covington still had its chances to tie the game as it drove inside the Viking 20 twice in the fourth quarter alone.

Each time the Miami East defense stiffened, turning Covington away a final time with under a minute to go on a fourth-and-three play inside the ten.

"We did exactly what we needed to do (in the second half), but we didn't finish," Miller said. "You work so hard to get down there (in scoring position), you have to find a way to finish. We didn't get it done."

Both teams hurt themselves with turnovers as Covington lost four of six fumbles and Miami East had three turnovers, two via fumble and one on an interception.

"Too many mistakes on our part," said Miller. "We didn't protect the football and we didn't finish. That will get you beat every time."

Current wasn't pleased with his team's turnovers either.

"We had our problems holding on to the football too," he said. "We had the one at our own three that they recovered and turned into a touchdown."

Current also felt the game brought back memories of other great Covington - Miami East games.

"This was one of those great Covington - Miami East games, just like the good old days," he said. "It was really another classic between two good football teams. When you have two teams with equal talent turnovers are usually the difference."

The difference in Miami East moving to 4-1 overall and 4-0 in the CCC and Covington dropping to 3-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

Scoring by Quarters:
Covington .........7....0....7....7 - 21
Miami East ......13....8....0....7 - 28

SCORING SUMMARY:
FIRST QUARTER:
ME: Dunivan 64-yd run (kick good) - 10:33
ME: Saylor 1-yd run (kick failed) - 4:52
COV: Clark 3-yd run (Christian Kick) - 1:09
SECOND QUARTER:
ME: Dunivan 5-yd run (Dunivan 2-pt run) - 7:11
THIRD QUARTER:
COV: Clark 1-yd run (Christian Kick)
FOURTH QUARTER:
COV: Noffsinger 3-yd run (Christian Kick) - 11:12
ME: Brown 65-yd kick return (Kick Good) - 10:59