article Class 4A Football Notebook (9/27): This Class Needs Some Chaos

It seems like many of our 4A headlines are about the relative lack of movement in the class and ranks, and this week is no different. The class has by and large stabilized, with only minor movements. The top four in the rankings has remained the same since Week 1. Scott has now nestled into the 5th spot, and spends their second straight week there. In all, nine of the top ten teams remained the same, and seven of them are in the exact same spot this week.

The closest we came to introducing a bit of instability came via District 4, which had four of our top ten teams last week. #4 Franklin County hosted #6 Shelby County, and it was a nailbiting 31-28 victory for the Franklin County Flyers. Senior kicker Seiver Tandy hit the game-winning field goal with 21 seconds left in the game, and then the Flyers weathered a 52 yard field goal attempt as time expired that would have sent it to overtime. Franklin County rolled up 468 yards of offense, keyed by Denzell Vance’s 200 yards on the ground. Shelby County was led by Malik Manica’s 153 yards. The win puts Shelby County behind the 8-ball in their attempts to grab the #1 seed, but should still compete for a home playoff game, and only dropped one spot in our ranks. The other big District 4 game was #1 0 Collins at #7 Spencer County, won by the Spencer County Bears 35-14. But with seven minutes left in the game, it appeared that the Titans would be grabbing the crucial win. They led 14-13, but JR Lucas was picked off by Kadin Smith, who returned it 40+ yards to the house for what ultimately was the game-winning score. The Bears would get two more touchdowns in the next minute and a half for a 22 point flurry that left the Titans stunned, and 0-1 in the district. Spencer County continues their best-ever start in moving to 6-0.

Elsewhere, Warren Central moved back into the top ten this week, replacing departing Collins, after a 22-0 shutout win at Allen County-Scottsville. It was the first shutout of the year for the Dragons, holding Allen County to just 132 yards of offense, and forcing four turnovers. Knox Central got back on track in their candidacy for a top ten ranking with a 41-0 whitewashing of Russell County. The Lakers gained only 49 yards on the night, while Knox Central grinded 450 yards on the ground, led by Donavan Arthur’s 165 yards. They’re likely heading for a showdown with Wayne County, another team looking to move into the ranks after improving to 4-2 after a 64-0 win at Clay County. The Cardinals have won four of five, and will have to take care of Rockcastle County before looking forward to an October 9th showdown with Knox.

This week on the Quenton Baker watch finds him with merely 171 yards on 18 carries, five of which were for TDs. That yardage, which some teams would love to have, put him over 1,000 just halfway through the year.

This week is a little lighter on the marquee matchups, but there are a few to eyeball. #4 Franklin County hosts Collins in a District 4 matchup, and North Oldham will host #6 Spencer County in another key matchup from that district. North Oldham is a very dangerous opponent for the Bears, and could catapult themselves into legitimate district contention with a win. Hopkinsville/Madisonville lost a little luster after the Maroons dropped a decision to Calloway County, but could still be the deciding factor in the winner of that district. Warren Central takes on Franklin-Simpson in a traditional rivalry game that will likely decide who ends up with the 2 seed there.

Every week District 4 plays will equal a shakeup.

Nobody on S. Warren Schedule will beat them.

JC/Ashland will solve something in the East.

Cant say I disagree with anything you said...BUT the 800 lb. Gorilla in the room is Johnson Central! guess you couldn't find anything to say there.

It seems like many of our 4A headlines are about the relative lack of movement in the class and ranks, and this week is no different. The class has by and large stabilized, with only minor movements. The top four in the rankings has remained the same since Week 1. Scott has now nestled into the 5th spot, and spends their second straight week there. In all, nine of the top ten teams remained the same, and seven of them are in the exact same spot this week.

 

The closest we came to introducing a bit of instability came via District 4, which had four of our top ten teams last week. #4 Franklin County hosted #6 Shelby County, and it was a nailbiting 31-28 victory for the Franklin County Flyers. Senior kicker Seiver Tandy hit the game-winning field goal with 21 seconds left in the game, and then the Flyers weathered a 52 yard field goal attempt as time expired that would have sent it to overtime. Franklin County rolled up 468 yards of offense, keyed by Denzell Vance’s 200 yards on the ground. Shelby County was led by Malik Manica’s 153 yards. The win puts Shelby County behind the 8-ball in their attempts to grab the #1 seed, but should still compete for a home playoff game, and only dropped one spot in our ranks. The other big District 4 game was #1 0 Collins at #7 Spencer County, won by the Spencer County Bears 35-14. But with seven minutes left in the game, it appeared that the Titans would be grabbing the crucial win. They led 14-13, but JR Lucas was picked off by Kadin Smith, who returned it 40+ yards to the house for what ultimately was the game-winning score. The Bears would get two more touchdowns in the next minute and a half for a 22 point flurry that left the Titans stunned, and 0-1 in the district. Spencer County continues their best-ever start in moving to 6-0.

 

Elsewhere, Warren Central moved back into the top ten this week, replacing departing Collins, after a 22-0 shutout win at Allen County-Scottsville. It was the first shutout of the year for the Dragons, holding Allen County to just 132 yards of offense, and forcing four turnovers. Knox Central got back on track in their candidacy for a top ten ranking with a 41-0 whitewashing of Russell County. The Lakers gained only 49 yards on the night, while Knox Central grinded 450 yards on the ground, led by Donavan Arthur’s 165 yards. They’re likely heading for a showdown with Wayne County, another team looking to move into the ranks after improving to 4-2 after a 64-0 win at Clay County. The Cardinals have won four of five, and will have to take care of Rockcastle County before looking forward to an October 9th showdown with Knox.

 

This week on the Quenton Baker watch finds him with merely 171 yards on 18 carries, five of which were for TDs. That yardage, which some teams would love to have, put him over 1,000 just halfway through the year.

 

This week is a little lighter on the marquee matchups, but there are a few to eyeball. #4 Franklin County hosts Collins in a District 4 matchup, and North Oldham will host #6 Spencer County in another key matchup from that district. North Oldham is a very dangerous opponent for the Bears, and could catapult themselves into legitimate district contention with a win. Hopkinsville/Madisonville lost a little luster after the Maroons dropped a decision to Calloway County, but could still be the deciding factor in the winner of that district. Warren Central takes on Franklin-Simpson in a traditional rivalry game that will likely decide who ends up with the 2 seed there.

Cant say I disagree with anything you said...BUT the 800 lb. Gorilla in the room is Johnson Central! guess you couldn't find anything to say there.

I hit on Johnson Central most weeks, but honestly, what is there to say about a 59-12 beating? The rushing was extremely balanced, though I was impressed with Workman going 4/4 for 104 yards. That's decent productivity from a day with no incompletions.