article 6A Notebook (Where are they now?)

As we enter the last week of the season I thought we would take a look back at the beginning of the season to compare our preseason Top 10 to see where they are now. Are these 6A teams who we thought they were?

Male Bulldogs entered the season as the number one team in class 6A. After two weeks they quickly dropped to number 2 not because of their performance but that others around them at the time had a couple of bigger wins. Week 4 rolled around and the Bulldogs quickly showed everyone why they are the number one team in Class 6A with a 29 point win over then number 1 ranked Trinity. Since then the Bulldogs have made quick work of their opponents rolling until they traveled St. Xavier Tigers. Male escapes with a 3 point win. Entering the last week I think Male has proven they are the number 1 ranked team in class 6A and will end the season undefeated.

The question everyone wants to know will Male be prepared for the rematch with Trinity in the playoffs?

Trinity Shamrocks started the season at number 2 in the poll. They had a pair of impressive wins against traditional out of state powers. The climb to number one in the polls and then the best private school in the state faced off with the state’s best public school. After being dominated by Male in week four the Rocks bounced back and won 6 straight games. Even pulling off the win against their biggest rival St. Xavier. I think it is safe to say that Trinity is currently the second best team in Class 6A. Trinity ends the regular season at 9-1.

Will the Rocks topple the Bulldogs in the playoffs again on their way to winning another title?

Scott County Cardinals entered the season at number three in the polls and has moved from that spot. They are 8-1 entering the last week of the season with their only loss to Ohio power Cincinnati Elder. Their average margin of victory has been 23 points a game. Scott County has handled the teams in the Lexington area. Scott County has proven so far they are deserving of their number 3 ranking.

Will this be the year that the Cardinals make a return trip to Bowling Green?

Manual entered the preseason Bluegrass preps poll at number four. They are entering the last week of the season with a 7-2 record. They have dropped 2 of their last 3 games. Their first loss of the season came at the hands of St. Xavier in a district showdown. Last week their oldest rival Male defeated them in dominating fashion. Manual has slipped a few spots over the past couple of weeks and has landed at the number 7 spot in the polls. Manual has a solid defense but lacks the offense to be a serious threat to the top teams of 6A.

Can Manual find enough offense to make a run in the playoffs?

The Lafayette Generals came into the 2015 season with a lot of hype. I admit I was one looking at the loads of talent on the roster and thinking this may be the year a Lexington School was ready to compete. Lafayette was preseason number 5 in the Bluegrass Preps Poll. Lafayette was brought down some in week three when they traveled to Jefferson County to take on Trinity in a lopsided loss. It wasn’t but two weeks later when the Generals fell to Scott County by giving up a total of 65 points to the Cardinals. In Lafayette’s two losses this year they have given up 135 points. They look to be second best in the Central Kentucky area at 8-2 on the season. Lafayette has won 5 straight to end the season. Some would argue that the Generals are a top ten material. I think they are in that 9-12 range.

Over the last 5 weeks has Lafayette found a way to compete with the top tier of Class 6A?

St. Xavier came into the season sitting at number 6 in the preseason Bluegrass Preps poll. They also entered the season with the one team that might having the most questions on how they fit in the overall scheme of 6A? Started out up and down each week with a couple of big wins and head scratching loss to 3A Central. Since then they have had two close losses to both Trinity and Male. They are 6-3 going into the final week of the season. They lost to 3 traditional powers by a total of 11 points. The Tigers have climb to number 5 this season and seem to be in the right spot.

Will St. Xavier be the surprise of the playoffs?

Simon Kenton opened the season at the seventh spot in the preseason Bluegrass Preps poll. It is safe to say that this team was the most overlooked team coming into the season. Even after a dominating performance in a preseason against St. Xavier many of us didn’t give the Pioneers the respect they deserve. Simon Kenton is 9-0 going into the final week of the season and should easily finish undefeated. They have been beating teams in dominating fashion as their average margin of victory is 27 points. The Pioneers have climb to number 4 in the polls and seem to have the Northern Kentucky region in their pocket. They have proven they belong in the conversation.

Is this the year Simon Kenton brings home the 6A crown?

McCracken County entered the season with a lot of expectations and some unknown. With a new coach coming in many of us wondered how he was going to use the talent. Bluegrass Preps had McCracken County starting out in the 8th position in the poll. Then after week one loss to Paducah Tilghman many thought this McCracken County team would need some time to work through growing pains with the new coach. So they dropped some. Eight weeks later they have won 7 straight and sitting at 8-1 on the year. They are sitting at number 7 and looks to be the odds on favorite to win the regional title.

Is McCracken County a true contender?

Central Hardin entered the Bluegrass Preps preseason poll at number 9 in the rankings. Many very impressed with the 2014 season and thought Central Hardin could pick up right where the left off. Central Hardin has been up and down for most of the season. They lost to Bowling Green 42-6 few weeks ago which was their worse loss of the season point wise. As of late they have went on a three game win streak and won their district. Central Hardin is no longer in the top ten, but lurking from the outside.

Can Central Hardin pull a few upsets in the playoffs?

We rounded out the preseason top ten at the beginning of the year with Ballard. Turns out that Ballard struggled this season and was not the team many thought they would be. Currently sitting at 5-4 on the season entering the last week of the regular season. Last week was defeated by Trinity 63-0.

Can Ballard rebound in time for the playoffs?

As you look at this week’s Bluegrass Preps top ten in 6A seven of the preseason top ten teams still sit in the top ten. Hats off to those that assist Bluegrass Preps with the polls. Looks like those folks know a few things about high school football.

Great article. Funny to note that the top three were called exactly correct as well.

Honestly, the top 3 wasn't that hard to project. 6A is fairly predictable.