article Bluegrassprep's Football Rankings (9/12)

The Class 1A has taken shape and the majority of the names are familiar. You will see little movement in the Top 5 after all the teams held serve this week with victories. The back half of the Top 5 is a different story all together and has been a revolving door of teams. Hazard still remains at the #6 spot despite a loss, while both Holy Cross and Fairview hold on to the Top 10 despite also tasting defeat. This week expect those Top 5 teams to be put to the test with Beechwood, Raceland, and Pikeville drawing very difficult opponents.

 

Class 1A

1. Russellville at 2A Todd County Central

2. Beechwood at 5A #3 Covington Catholic

3. Paintsville at Williamsburg

4. Raceland vs. Lucasville- Valley (OH)

5. Pikeville vs. 3A #1 Belfry

6. Nicholas County vs. 3A West Carter

7. Hazard vs. 2A Prestonsburg

8. Fairview at 4A East Carter

9. Kentucky Country Day vs. Bethlehem

10. Holy Cross (Louisville) vs. 4A Western

 

 

The majority of the Class 2A Top 10 faced tough games last week to larger schools, some of which entering with a single digit number by their name. Though Danville and Newport Central Catholic fell decisively to the top teams in 3A, #1 Mayfield made a statement by defeating a ranked 6A McCracken County while raising eyebrows in the process. This week's slate of games is seemingly a bit of a step back in competition as most teams look to gear up for their District Schedules over the next few weeks. With that said, the headliners will be DeSales taking on one of Class 5A's top teams and #1 Mayfield drawing rival Graves County without the services of Trajan Bright.

 

Class 2A

1. Mayfield at 5A Graves County

2. Christian Academy- Louisville vs. 4A North Oldham

3. DeSales vs. 5A #4 Fern Creek

4. Owensboro Catholic at 5A Apollo

5. Danville -- OPEN

6. Newport Central Catholic vs. 4A Harrison County

7. Lexington Christian Academy at Walton-Verona

8. Glasgow vs. 4A Warren East

9. Lloyd Memorial -- OPEN

10. Covington Holy Cross at 4A Scott

 

 

At this point in this season it is very difficult to debate who the top two teams in Class 3A are. Belfry and Corbin made huge statements last week and continue along a collision course path with an estimated arrival of Black Friday. The remainder of Class 3A on the other hand has been a roller coaster rivaling any structure found at Kings Island. Lexington Catholic, Central, Garrard County, and Russell all went down last week against pretty stiff competition. The ten teams of this week's Top 10 remain the same just in an updated order. Adair County (4-0) continues to lurk just outside waiting for someone to slip up. In what is becoming a tradition the Class 3A Top 5 will once again face extremely tough competition this week.

 

Class 3A

1. Belfry at 1A #5 Pikeville

2. Corbin at 5A #6 Southwestern

3. Lexington Catholic vs. 6A Madison Central

4. Caldwell County vs. 6A Henderson County

5. Boyle County vs. 4A #10 Collins

6. Central -- OPEN

7. Bardstown vs. Elizabethtown

8. Waggener at 5A Atherton

9. Russell vs. 4A Boyd County

10. Garrard County at 4A East Jessamine

 

 

Class 4A made a strong showing this past week with only two of the Top 10 losing, John Hardin against a very good 6A PRP and Mercer County in a nail biter to a Top 10 5A Southwestern. Two wins which created movement though were Knox Central's "closer than expected" victory over 5A Harlan County and "barely outside the Top 10" Rockcastle County's dominating win over 3A Top 10 Garrard County. As a result the Panthers are out and the Rockets are in, but with the Rock taking on 5A Pulaski County will it be short lived? The biggest spotlight game of the week will be #3 Wayne County taking on #9 Mercer County in a huge Regional tilt.

 

Class 4A

1. Johnson Central at 5A Harlan County

2. South Warren vs. 6A North Hardin

3. Wayne County vs. #9 Mercer County

4. Franklin-Simpson vs. 2A Monroe County

5. Hopkinsville vs. 5A #2 Christian County

6. Shelby County at 5A Bullitt East

7. John Hardin at 6A Central Hardin

8. Rockcastle County at 5A #9 Pulaski County

9. Mercer County at #3 Wayne County

10. Collins at 3A #5 Boyle County

 

 

In Class 5A we saw an intra-class challenge as #1 Bowling Green remained king by making short work of Owensboro. Fresh off their upset of 4A South Warren the Greenwood Gators made a massive leap inside the Top 5, but could not parlay their momentum into a win over a very good 4A Franklin-Simpson. Northern Kentucky delegates Covington Catholic and Highlands each faced Top 10 foes from other classes, CovCath passed their challenge but Highlands took a substantial loss. No class has a tougher slate of games against teams from other divisions as six of the Top 10 will take on ranked foes for bragging rights within their geographical regions. In Northern Kentucky it will be Covington Catholic taking on 1A powerhouse Beechwood. Out West, Christian County draws 4A Hopkinsville and their dynamic Quarterback. Meanwhile in Southern Kentucky, Southwestern challenges red hot 3A Corbin.

 

Class 5A

1. Bowling Green vs. 4A Warren Central

2. Christian County at 4A #5 Hopkinsville

3. Covington Catholic vs. 1A #2 Beechwood

4. Fern Creek at 2A #3 DeSales

5. Greenwood at 4A Logan County

6. Southwestern vs. 3A #2 Corbin

7. Highlands at 6A #6 St. Xavier

8. South Oldham vs. 6A Boone County

9. Pulaski County vs. 4A #8 Rockcastle County

10. Owensboro vs. 6A Daviess County

 

 

With a slew of starters lost to graduation most expected defending Class 6A Champions Male to take a step back, especially compared to #1 Trinity who had started the season with statement wins coming hand over fist. Male proved they are still clearly a player in the 6A picture as they pushed the Shamrocks to their limits before a late comeback. Ryle and St. Xavier both secured statement wins as did un-ranked PRP. The Panthers of Pleasure Ridge Park parlayed this victory into a Top 10 debut. This week Class 6A will do their best "Silence of the Lambs" impersonation as they attempt to cannibalize each other with three different showdowns between ranked teams. The best of the bunch may be the battle for supremacy of the Lexington metro area as Scott County and Lafayette square each other up.

 

Class 6A

1. Trinity at #9 Pleasure Ridge Park

2. Male vs. Seneca

3. Simon Kenton at #10 Cooper

4. Scott County vs. #5 Lafayette

5. Lafayette at #4 Scott County

6. St. Xavier vs. 5A #7 Highlands

7. Ryle at Campbell County

8. DuPont Manual at Ballard

9. Pleasure Ridge Park vs. #1 Trinity

10. Cooper vs. #3 Simon Kenton