Covington Catholic quarterback AJ Mayer (7) breaks a tackle attempt by South Warren defensive lineman Jacob Lacey as Mayer carries for a touchdown during South Warren's 43-7 loss to Covington Catholic on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at South Warren. (Austin Anthony/photo@bgdailynews.com)

The clock struck midnight for the South Warren football team, which fell to No. 1 Covington Catholic 43-7 in the Class 5A semifinal Friday at South Warren High School – ending the team’s Cinderella postseason run.

After road wins against Christian County and Bowling Green the previous two weeks, South Warren hung around with Covington Catholic for a half before the Colonels’ high-powered offense pulled away.

The loss snapped a 36-game home winning streak for South Warren (11-3), dating back to 2012.

“We came off a couple of emotional games in a row and I think it finally caught up to us,” South Warren coach Brandon Smith said. “I don’t think we got here by accident. I don’t think it was luck, or we’re a fluke, but you get to a group like (Covington Catholic) and they’ve got a special group over there. There’s not many teams we’ve come across in our history as good as that one.

“You couldn’t make any mistakes and we made too many to stay in the game.”

Covington Catholic (14-0) scored twice in a three-minute span in the first quarter, both coming on long pass plays from AJ Mayer to Jack Coldiron.

The duo hooked up on a bubble screen that Coldiron turned into a 54-yard score with 9:47 left in the quarter.

A fumble by the Spartans gave Covington Catholic the ball near midfield. A penalty set up Mayer’s keeper to convert a fourth down and on the next play Mayer found Coldiron in stride for a one-handed catch streaking into the end zone for a 14-0 lead.

The Colonels added to the lead in the second period. Grant Dyer took off on a fake punt on fourth down for a 39-yard gain. On the next play, Mayer avoided a sack, spinning away to find Casey McGinness in the flat with McGinness going 16 yards for the score.

South Warren got a bit of momentum right before half, with a 12-play, 99-yard drive capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass from Gavin Spurrier to Marcus Elmore to cut the deficit to 21-7.

“We didn’t have our heads down (at halftime),” Elmore said. “We were so up. We knew we had to stay focused and we were trying to concentrate on what to do to build off this touchdown.”

The Spartans’ momentum quickly faded. A three-and-out gave the ball back to Covington Catholic, which marched down the field 52 yards in eight plays with McGinness running it in from 9 yards out to extend the lead to 28-7.

Covington Catholic methodically pulled away from there, scoring touchdowns on three of four second-half drives.

Mayer’s 1-yard keeper early in the fourth quarter made the score 35-7 and Mayer’s fourth touchdown pass of the night and a subsequent two-point conversion by McGinness gave the Colonels a running clock with 8:53 remaining.

“We felt good at halftime,” Smith said. “I thought we had kind of weathered the storm. We come out opening series and we have a drop – it’s going to be 50 yards or a touchdown. I thought kind of after we punted and they put things together and did a great job. Their offense is very effective and they’ve got a lot of weapons. It’s hard to stop everybody.

“You are not going to stop them the whole game. You just can’t make mistakes, and we made too many and didn’t take advantage of the opportunities when we had them.”

Covington Catholic outgained South Warren 481-281.

Mayer threw for 340 yards and ran for 51, while Coldiron had 118 yards receiving.

“(South Warren) is a really good football team,” Covington Catholic coach Edward Eviston said. “They do some good things, but obviously we are a good football team, too. When we focus and execute, good things happen.”

Spurrier threw for 180 yards for the Spartans. Christian Winn had 72 yards rushing and Elmore had 113 yards receiving.

Friday’s loss ends the careers of a senior class that was a part of three region titles, at three different levels, and a Class 4A state title in 2015. The Spartans finished 48-8 over the four-year span, with Friday’s loss the only home defeat in that span.

“We talk all the time about leaving the program better than when you started,” Smith said. “There is no question they’ve done it. They’ve won a region title in 3A, 4A and 5A. I’m proud as I can be of them. There is not many of them, but they are a tough, resilient group. They are not big kids, but they’ve got tremendous heart and tremendous resilience. They responded every time and I am as proud as I can be of them.”

CCHS 14 7 7 15 – 43

SWHS 0 7 0 0 – 7

First quarter

CC – Jack Coldiron 54 pass from AJ Mayer (Trey Gronette kick), 9:47

CC – Coldiron 45 pass from Mayer (Gronette kick), 6:55

Second quarter

CC- Casey McGinness 16 pass from Mayer (Gronette kick), 7:58

SW – Marcus Elmore 8 pass from Gavin Spurrier (Alex Cohron kick), 0:18

Third quarter

CC- McGinness 9 run (Gronette kick), 7:13

Fourth quarter

CC – Mayer 1 run (Gronette kick), 11:57

CC – Luke Lenihan 20 pass from Mayer (McGinness run), 8:53{&end}