article 1A Notebook: Regional Finals Matchups

Here are the regional finals matchups in 1A. (Stats included are from calpreps.com and khsaa.org)

Region 1

#13 Bethlehem (9-3) at #4 Russellville (10-2)

Both teams are #1 seeds. The key offensive performer for Bethlehem is QB Mathew Hagan who is 85-150 for 1,147 yards on the year. One concerning factor for Bethlehem is that Hagan has thrown 10 interceptions. The key offensive performers for Russellville are Joshua Bigbee 100 carries, 1,150 yards and 12 TD's and MJ Jones 66 carries, 1,026 yards and 16 TD's. (#6 in the state in 1A). Russellville's offense is the 3rd most prolific in the 1A averaging 47 points per game and Bethlehem's defense is #3, allowing 13.5 points per game. Russellville is the #1 rushing offense in 1A.

Strength of Schedule: Russellville -16; Bethlehem -22.6

Calpreps ranking: Russellville #6; Bethlehem #11

Best win:

Russellville = calpreps #6136 Butler County 52-42

Bethlehem = calpreps #7946 Campbellsville 14-13

Common Opponents:

Campbellsville ... Russellville W 38-36; Bethlehem W 14-13

Crittenden Co. ... Russellville W 46-21; Bethlehem W 48-21

Fulton Co. .........Russellville W 66-8; Bethlehem W 69-6

Fort Knox ..........Russellville W 67-0; Bethlehem W 62-0

Calpreps prediction: Russellville 35 Bethlehem 26

BGP Preview Prediction: Russellville 35 Bethlehem 14

Region 2

#1 Beechwood (11-1) at #10 Holy Cross (Louisville) (7-5)

Both teams are #1 seeds. The key offensive performers for Holy Cross are Evan Perry 219 carries (most in 1A) for 1,483 yards (#2 in 1A) with 18 TD's (#5 in 1A) and QB Allen Greenwell 91-182 for 1,236 yards. The key offensive players for Beechwood are RB Ethan Stringer 162 carries for 1,512 yards (#1 in 1A) with 21 TD's (#2 in 1A); WR Brett Slusher 45 catches (#4 in 1A) for 886 yards (#4 in 1A) with 138 points scored (#3 in 1A); and QB Kyle Fieger 109-148 (74% #2 in 1A) for 2,080 yards (#2 in 1A) 32 TD's (#1 in 1A) and only 2 INT's. Not surprisingly after seeing those stats, Beechwood has the highest scoring offense in 1A, averaging 50 points per game. Beechwood also is #1 in 1A in scoring margin, beating opponents by 35 points per game. Holy Cross has the #1 rushing defense in 1A, allowing only 86 yards rushing per game.

Strength of Schedule: Beechwood -9.9; Holy Cross -7.2

Calpreps ranking: Beechwood #2; Holy Cross #8

Best win:

Beechwood = calpreps #3522 Newport Central Catholic 31-14

Holy Cross = calpreps #7778 Grant County 20-14

Common Opponents:

Frankfort ... Beechwood W 48-10; Holy Cross W 31-0

Eminence ... Beechwood W 62-0; Holy Cross W 48-0

Dayton .......Beechwood W69-0; Holy Cross W 42-0

Calpreps Prediction: Beechwood 41 Holy Cross 17

BGP Preview Prediction: Beechwood 49 Holy Cross 14

Region 3

#2 Paintsville (12-0) at #5 Paris (11-0)

Both teams are #1 seeds and undefeated. The key offensive performers for Paintsville are Kent Phelps 129 carries for 1,267 yards and 16 TD's and QB Kash Daniel 62-105 for 1,027 yards and 11 TD's. The key offensive performer for Paris is James Clark 139 carries for 1,308 yards and 19 TD's. Paintsville has the #5 offense in 1A (44 ppg) and the #6 defense (14 ppg) making them #3 in the state in scoring margin at 30 points per game. Paris has the #1 scoring defense in 1A, allowing only 8 points per game. Paris is #4 in scoring margin at 28 ppg, right behind Paintsville. Paintsville is the #3 rushing team in 1A and Paris is #6. Paris is the #3 rushing defense allowing only 908 yards on the season. Those stats point toward the key matchup in this game being the Paintsville rushing offense versus the Paris rushing defense.

Strength of Schedule: Paintsville -2.7; Paris -13.2

Best win:

Paintsville = calpreps #4088 Pikeville 23-22

Paris = calpreps #6919 Fairview 44-38

Common opponents:

Fairview ... Paintsville W 38-12; Paris W 44-38

Frankfort ... Paintsville W 43-0; Paris W 21-12

Bracken Co.... Paintsville W 50-24; Paris W 52-0

Calpreps Prediction: Paintsville 35 Paris 14

BGP Preview Prediction: Paintsville 42 (Fairview) 20 ... BGP had Paris losing to Fairview

Region 4

#8 Hazard (10-2) at #3 Pikeville (10-2)

Pikeville is the #1 seed and Hazard a #2 seed, playing from the same district. This game is a rematch. Key offensive performers for Hazard are Cory Smith 160 carries for 1,357 yards (#5 in 1A) and 13 TD's; QB Cory Smith 104-171 for 1,788 yards (#5 in 1A) 16 TD's and 7 INT's and WR Jason Johnson 50 catches (#3 in 1A) 885 yards (#5 in 1A). Pikeville's top offensive performers are Daric Pugh 121 carries for 1,315 yards and 27 TD's (#1 in 1A) and QB Wayne Battaile 44-56 (78% #1 in 1A) for 777 yards and 10 TD's. Pikeville is the 2nd highest scoring offense in 1A (47 ppg) and is #2 in scoring margin (34.6 ppg). Pikeville has the #2 rushing defense and hazard has the #4 rushing defense. This game looks like the key matchup being Daric Pugh versus the Hazard rushing defense.

First game between these two: Pikeville 56 Hazard 28

Strength of Schedule: Pikeville -17.2; Hazard -19.4

Best win:

Pikeville = calpreps #7487 Hazard 56-28

Hazard = calpreps #8326 Somerset 28-25

Common Opponents:

Prestonsburg ... Pikeville W 43-6; Hazard W 34-32

South Floyd, Jenkins and Phelps ... both won over these 3 by very lopsided margins

Calpreps Prediction: Pikeville 44 Hazard 22

BGP Preview Prediction: Pikeville 48 Hazard 31

well put together. I'm a numbers guy so I like the set up. All you can look at are numbers, the intangibles you have to watch and see on Friday nights. Good luck to all teams this Friday!

Russellville vs Beechwood

Paintsville vs Pikeville

Pick em after that

Russellville vs Beechwood

Paintsville vs Pikeville

 

Pick em after that

I wonder about Russellville. If they are missing the two players people are talking about being injured, they might be in line for an upset versus Bethlehem. Earlier in the year I would have picked Russellville to win that game by 2 or 3 scores but I now think it is a close game, possible upset.

The other 3 - I will be very surprised if any of them lose this week.

I wonder about Russellville. If they are missing the two players people are talking about being injured, they might be in line for an upset versus Bethlehem. Earlier in the year I would have picked Russellville to win that game by 2 or 3 scores but I now think it is a close game, possible upset.

 

The other 3 - I will be very surprised if any of them lose this week.

For Pikeville fans next week, I've gone ahead and given you directions to Paris High School

Start out going southeast on Championship Dr toward N Mayo Trl/KY-1460.

Then 0.02 miles

Turn left onto N Mayo Trl/KY-1460.

Then 0.78 miles

Turn left onto N Mayo Trl/US-23 S/US-460 E/US-119 S/KY-80. Continue to follow US-23 S/US-460 E.

Then 22.69 miles

Take the KY-114 ramp toward Lexington/Prestonsburg.

Then 0.30 miles

Turn left onto KY-114/KY Route 114. Continue to follow KY-114.

Then 18.50 miles

KY-114 becomes Mountain Pkwy W.

Then 75.72 miles

Take I-64 W.

Then 0.88 miles

Take the KY-627 exit, EXIT 96, toward Paris.

Then 0.31 miles

Turn right onto KY-627/Paris Rd. Continue to follow KY-627.

Then 14.71 miles

Turn left onto E 10th St/KY-627.

Then 0.09 miles

Take the 2nd right onto Main St/US-68 Bus E/KY-627.

Then 0.12 miles

Take the 2nd left onto W 8th St/KY-627.

Then 0.20 miles

Turn right onto Henderson St.

Then 0.12 miles

Turn left onto W 7th St.

Then 0.05 miles

310 W 7TH ST is on the right, where the Panthers will find out Cats can't run with BIG DOGS!

Lol ! That's good. Only flaw I see in your directions is, you " went pass go." i.e. Paintsville Tigers.