THE BUCCS IN THE STATE PLAYOFFS

Playoff football has become an annual event for the Covington Buccaneers as the program has consistently found success over the years.

The 1979 Buccaneers were the first to qualify for the state playoffs and they went on to the state finals. Mark "Mad Dog" Landis, Dave Tobias, Joe Schmidt and Jeff Cain celebrate after leading the Buccaneers to the state finals with a 20-0 win over Tiffin Calvert.

The Covington Buccaneers have have a rich tradition of success on the football field, which is evident by the number of years the program has qualified for the state playoffs. The Buccs have reached the tournament in 24 seasons.

Covington’s first playoff appearance came in 1979 and the Buccs have since built a 18-24 record in the post season. Of those 24 defeats, 11 of those came to eventual state finalists and 7 came to the eventual state champion.

The longest concurrent streak of playoff appearances by Covington is 12 seasons in a row – which ran from 2005 to 2016.

Covington’s lone appearance in the state finals came in 1979 with a 23-17 double-overtime loss to Mogadore.

STATE PLAYOFF RESULTS:
1979 – Tiffin Calvert – Win 20-0
1979 – Mogadore – Loss 17-23 2OT (State Champion)

1980 – Williamsburg – Win 27-0
1980 – Newark Catholic – Loss 10-14 (Eventual State Champion)

1985 – Southeastern – Win 35-0
1985 – Middletown Fenwick – Win 3-0
1985 – Delphos Jefferson – Loss 14-32 (Eventual State Finalist)

1996 – St. Henry – Loss 0-28 (Eventual State Finalist)

1999 – Ansonia – Loss 7-14

2000 – Bethel – Win 35-0
2000 – Ansonia – Win 26-6
2000 – Marion Local – Loss 6-41 (Eventual State Champion)

2001 – Williamsburg – Win 47-14
2001 – Southeastern – Loss 21-27

2002 – Troy Christian – Loss 16-20

2003 – Marion Local – Loss 8-35 (Eventual State Finalist)

2005 – Delphos St. John’s – Loss 13-56 (Eventual State Champion)

2006 – Marion Local – Loss 20-41 (Eventual State Champion)

2007 – Portsmouth Notre Dame – Win 44-12
2007 – Lehman – Loss 7-8

2008 – Lockland – Win 56-12
2008 – Mechanicsburg – Loss 14-40

2009 – Ansonia – Win 28-7
2009 – Marion Local – Loss 17-21

2010 – Ansonia – Win 49-6
2010 – Lehman – Loss 49-27

2011 – Coldwater – Loss 7-31 (Eventual State Finalist)

2012 – Dixie – Win 55-18
2012 – Cincinnati Summit Country Day – Win 58-14
2012 – Coldwater – 0-20 (Eventual State Champion)

2013 – Portsmouth Notre Dame – Win 46-0
2013 – Marion Local – Loss 28-35 (Eventual State Champion)

2014 – Lehman Catholic – Loss 7-42

2015 – Lehman Catholic – Loss 16-20

2016 – Cincinnati Hillcrest Academy – Win 49-0
2016 – Fort Recovery – Loss 14-42

2018 – Lima Central Catholic – Loss 40-18

2019 – Worthington Christian – Win 33-27
2019 – Chillicothe Southeastern – Win 36-20
2019 – Mechanicsburg – Loss 26-42

2020 – Arcanum – Win 30-24
2020 – West Jefferson – Loss 20-55

FAST FACTS:
Overall Playoff Record: 18-24
Playoff Losses to Eventual State Champions: 7
Playoff Losses to Eventual Finalists: 11
Playoff Record against Non-State Finalists: 18-13

PLAYOFF APPEARANCES BY COACH:
9 – Dave Miller (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
4 – Ted Peacock (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
4 – Tyler Cates (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020)
3 – Kevin Finfrock (2003, 2005, 2006)
2 – Larrie Tisdale (1979, 1980)
1 – Charlie Burgbacher (1985)
1 – Bob Riley (1996)

The senior class of the 2003 football team was the first class to finish their high school careers with a 40-0 regular season record and four state playoff births. Sitting (L-R) - BJ Barnes, Travis Bone, Dusty Rhoades, Ross Mohler, Jared Hague. Standing (L-R) - Dan Morrow, Tim Allison, Matt McCord, Brady Reck, TJ Warner, Ben Adams.