article BluegrassPreps - Western Kentucky Power Ranking - 10/16/16

BluegrassPreps 2016 Western Kentucky Power Rankings – Week 8 Edition

Concerning the top story line for this week, it’s Butt-Kicking Week! In our Top 13 (we had 2 BYE’s also), 9 teams won by a running clock and only 2 of those opponents EVEN SCORED, while 7 of our teams scored at least 50 points (SEVEN)! THAT’S TAKIN CARE OF BUSINESS!!! No losses until #14 Graves County who lost at #9 Christian County and #15 Adair County who lost to a good Etown squad. Lot of momentum for our teams!!! Going to be a heck of a playoff season this year!!!

Popcorn N Coke Top 10 Version – Week 8:

1. Bowling Green 5A (8-0): Win 50-0 at 5A Barren County

2. Mayfield 2A (8-0): Win 52-0 at 2A Ballard Memorial

3. Franklin Simpson 4A (8-0): BYE

4. Greenwood 5A (7-1): Win 63-6 at 5A Grayson County

5. South Warren 4A (6-2): Win 25-15 vs 4A Allen County Scottsville

6. McCracken County 6A (6-2): BYE

7. Owensboro Catholic (8-1): Win 56-7 vs 2A Todd County Central

8. Owensboro (6-2): Win 35-14 vs 5A Owensboro Apollo

9. Christian County 5A (6-2): Win 36-0 vs 5A Graves County

10. Hopkinsville 4A (7-1): Win 56-0 at 4A Calloway County

Week 8 Western Kentucky Game of the Week Recap: 5A Graves County (5-3) 0 at 5A Christian County (7-2) 36. Interesting game here where the score is “a bit” misleading. Score is 7-0 at the half with Graves fumbling at the Christian 1. Thanks to our good friend @Eagle_Pride!!, who reported the following stats for the first half (I think they are telling):

Graves: 20 rushes for 70 yards; 3 for 11 for 113 yards and 1 INT;

Christian: 15 rushes for 58 yards; 13 for 22 for 191 yards 1 TD and 2 INTs

Second half saw Graves County self-destruct with a total of 5 turnovers and Christian County play well and ran out to a running clock victory. Maybe not how you’d draw it up, but good teams adapt on the fly and get it done and that’s what Christian did.

Week 9 Western Kentucky Game of the Week: 7-1 5A Greenwood at 8-0 5A Bowling Green Purples. Through 7 games BG has scored 344 points this season to GWs 246; The Purple D has surrendered 61 points to Greenwoods 104 points. Greenwood is averaging almost 300 yards per game on the ground (about 2,100 yards in 7 games) Jackson Adams and the now departed Willie Reynolds account for about 1,200 total yards and 20 of their 37 total TDs this year (over 54%). BG surrendered 244 rushing yards to John Hardin (mass majority after the first string went out); 206 to Central Hardin (same as John Hardin); 171 to St Xavier; and 128 to Owensboro. All but St X ended in running clock games. The task is tall Gators, but now is the time to Rise Up! You have played valiantly this year and it’s time to see what you’ve got! The District Championship is on the line at El Donaldson Stadium!

Honorable Mention: Graves County at Owensboro, Glasgow at Metcalfe County, Hancock County at McLean County

Meat & Potato’s Version Week 8 Top 10:

10) Hopkinsville (4A) – PR: 9; LW: 10 - 2016 Record 7-1; [District Record 3-0] Week 8 Results: Win 56-0 at 4A Calloway County (6-2) According to our good friend @chrisjung, QB Jalen Johnson completes 9 of 14 passes for 188 yards and 2 TDs & 2 carries for 15 yards and 1 TD. Plus you might see another Tiger a little later! With this win, the Tigers win the 4A District 1 Championship for the second straight year! Week 9: vs Hopkins County Central (4-4). These teams have played 9 times between 1998 and 2015 – all Hoptown wins. The closest game I could find was 19-7 Tiger win in 2002. Believe it or not, Hop County Central was a very decent team in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but dropped off a cliff more recently with a terrible losing streak rivaling the current Logan County streak. No way Storm can reign in this one (Storm – reign….. we’re rollin here!!!) Storm cupcakes????? Not an easy match. Google said go with Storm Trooper (Star Wars) cupcakes.... So Be It!!!

9) Christian County (5A) – PR: 5; LW: 9 - 2016 Record 7-2; [District Record 3-1] Week 8 Results: Win: 36-0 vs 5A Graves County (5-3). Our good friend @chrisjung is a real leader for sports coverage for the Kentucky New Era in Hopkinsville and reports the Colonels outgained the Eagles 418 to 162. Graves County had 5 turnovers, but none more critical than the fumble at the Christian County 1 late in the first half. Add the injury to their fine WR Trevor Grant and it was uphill sledding for the Eagles against a Colonel team likely hitting their stride now. Our good friend @TackleTrap reports QB Langhi’s INTs were tipped balls and the Colonels Defense is clearly playing better now than in the first part of the season and that is likely the key for a deep Colonel run in the playoffs. Week 9: BYE. It’s been a long season Colonels! You’ve earned a breather. Still a long way to go! Use the BYE week efficiently as an interesting matchup with John Hardin awaits the final week of the season. Of Course on the horizon, your view is a Purple sunset! You must begin planning your strategy for Week 2 right now to give yourself the best chance of competing! I can send over some leftover Charles Chips, Jolt Cola and BG tapes from the Gator Compound if you’re interested!!! Give me to Thursday as the Gators may want them till then!!!

8) Owensboro (5A) – PR: 7; LW: 8 - 2016 Record 6-2; [District Record 3-0] Week 8 Results: Win: 35-14 vs 5A Owensboro Apollo (2-6). According to our good friend @Bowtieguy, the Red Devils were up 41-0 early in the 4th Quarter. Only problem was the final tally for the Red Devils was only 35, but I like an aggressive play caller like Bowtie any day of the week!!! Owensboro JV team was well represented with 2 minutes inside the second half. QB Zach Gross and RB Landon Board were steady as usual for the Red Devil O. Malik Munday is having a fine season joining 2 other Red Devil defenders with 8 tackles on the night. Week 9: vs 5A Graves County (5-3). On top of a 4 hour round trip to Owensboro, the Eagles must deal with the potential loss of top WR Trevor Grant, which is a very big loss. If the Eagles turn it over this week at Rash Stadium, it will simply be a running clock game for the Red Devils. Plus Owensboro is playing very well right now.

7) Owensboro Catholic (2A) – PR: Top 15; LW: 7 - 2016 Record 8-1; [District Record 4-0] Week 8 Results: Win: 56-7 vs Poor Ole Todd County Central 2A (0-8). Could the Aces have matched the 220 to 0 Georgia Tech Win over The Cumberland back in 1916? If you told Coach Edge it was life or death, I think they get it done! Just a VAST, VAST difference in these teams! Week 9: BYE. I’m not sure what happened in the first game of the year vs Evansville Mater Dei but the Aces have been ROLLIN ever since! These last couple games haven’t challenged the Aces, but their last regular season game “should” when 6A (6-2) North Hardin comes to town. Very nice out of district scheduling Aces! I think that pays off for you in the playoffs! Rest up for you have a long way to go!

6). McCracken County (6A) – PR: 4; LW: 6 - 2016 Record 6-2; [District Record 3-0] Week 8 Results: BYE. Mustangs should be re-energized and ready to march on! One easy game and one tough game left but both at home makes it nice to end the year, plus a guaranteed home First Round Game. So get your tickets now Mustang Fans and come out to support your team! You did an awesome job of that last year with a big crowd making the 300 miles round trip to BG! I don’t expect that big of a crowd to travel to Paducah as available game video will cut down on crowd size. But BG will test you and prepare you for your first round Matchup with the Pleasure Ridge Park Panthers, who have only lost this year to the Old Super District 4 Teams (Trinity, St X, Male and Manual). Rise up Mustangs!!! Week 9: vs 6A Muhlenberg County (6-2) The All-Mustang Bowl should be over quickly. However, I have recently seen some very good team’s look sluggish coming out of the BYE week and I think that could happen here, but McCracken has better horses and will ultimately be too much for Muhlenberg. But Muhlenberg has had a good season and I’m happy for Coach Browning and company!

5) South Warren (4A) – PR: 3; LW: 5 - 2016 Record 6-2; [District Record 2-1] Week 8 Results: Win: 25-15 vs 4A Allen County Scottsville (4-5). Cody Eblen started at QB for the Spartans again while normal QB Ryder Litten started at WR and DB. Litten had an INT on the night and Eblen had some good runs! Kayron Namvong had 2 TDs! You might see another Spartan below!!!! Very, very interesting dynamics of who is playing right now and where they are playing for the Spartans. Coach Smith can see who he has and if he feels he can plug them in different spots for later in the year it appears. Week 9: at 4A Warren Central (0-8). Enjoy playing in a REALLY nice new stadium. Plenty of opportunity to return players at Coach Smith’s discretion. I look for a running clock late 2nd Quarter. Sorry Dragons.

4). Greenwood (5A) – PR: 10; LW: 4 - 2016 Record 7-1; [District Record 2-0] Week 8 Results: Win: 63-6 vs 5A Grayson County (1-7). Gators gained 292 yards on the ground and 13 in the air. Jackson Adams was spectacular again. You might see him again! I’m glad Grayson County got their win earlier in the year because they aren’t a good football team right now. Week 9: Western Kentucky Game of the Week! At District Rival 5A Bowling Green (8-0). Well it comes down to this Friday night Gator Fans! The Gators got a program-changing win already this year when they stopped South Warren the third game of the season. Can they add a monumental book-end victory this 9th game of the season? Come out to the El and find out! Last season was a gritty performance by Greenwood. In order for the Gators to win, IMO, they have to rush for over 200 yards and pass for 80-100 yards and win the turnover battle. Very difficult to accomplish against THIS BG team. But Coach Seabolt & Company will give it all they got!!

3) Franklin Simpson (4A) – PR: 8; LW – 3 - 2016 Record 8-0; [District Record 3-0] Week 8 Results: BYE. Good time to be a Wildcat Fan! Your team is 8 and 0 and your next 2 games should challenge you but not so much to take a loss. You have home field (if I’m correct) all the way to the State Semi-Final Game! You have little injuries and most of those should have a good chance to be mended over the BYE week. Warning: You likely will be sluggish the first half against an improving Warren East squad. Week 9: at 4A Warren East (3-6). The Raiders christened their new Smurf Turf :confused: with a 49-0 white-washing of the Warren Central Dragons. Raider QB Greer is a terrific athlete and the Wildcats will likely pay him special attention. But I think the Wildcat D is playing WAY too well for this game to be close. Then it’s on to likely undefeated Russellville in a GREAT Rivalry game to finish the regular season!!!

2) Mayfield (2A) – PR: 2; LW: 2 - 2016 Record 8-0; [District Record 2-0] - Week 8 Results: Win: 52-0 @ 2A Ballard Memorial (4-4). Quack, Quack. The Cardinals pushed Ballard Memorial 1 step closer to Duck Season with an outright assault of the Bombers on Friday night. Coach Morris is one of the best coaches around and knows how to re-insert injured players as well as anyone and how to give an “in your grill” pep talk to inspire a sputtering offense! Superstar Trajan Bright got back on the field last week, but in a limited capacity. Perfect! No sense risking getting tired and re-injured! Thanks to our good friend @Mayfieldsportsfan, who posted QB Landon Arnett passed for 166 yards and 3 TDs; while RB Trajan Bright rushed 12 times for 110 yards and 1 TD! Cardinal D was very good again this week. Week 9: In Trojan Country at 2A Webster County (2-6). Well Webster just got their doors blown off by Murray 55-19. Mayfield waxed Murray. Not good news for the Trojans. Has Webster County ever beaten Mayfield? I would think maybe 1 time at the most. Great Game on the Horizon Cardinal Fans as the Caldwell County Tigers will be headed West soon! This game will help get you prepared for the post season for sure, unlike this coming Friday night!

1) Bowling Green (5A) – PR: 1; LW: 1 - 2016 Record 8-0; [District Record 2-0] Week 8 Results: Win: 50-0 at Poor Ole 5A Barren County (0-8). Purples come off the BYE/Fall Break Week in a bit of a Haze! Dropped passes, 7 penalties on offense, couple turnovers, and several starters didn’t participate due to missing required assignments. I assume the half-time talk from Coach Wallace was spirited and I think he will have full attention to detail this week in practice. And BG creamed em 50-0 anyway; so am I Debbie-Downer here. Yes and no! But give Barren County credit as they tried and gave good effort I thought, just completely overmatched. Total yards were BG-369 to BC- 111. RB Jamale Carothers with 2 TDs; QB Clark Payne 7 for 10 for 193 yards and 3 TDs! Solid! Week 9: Western Kentucky Game of the Week & 5A District 2 Championship vs (7-1) 5A Greenwood. Greenwood has played as well as I can ever remember this season and would give their first-born to beat the Purples after 24 straight defeats. Will it happen? While I do see a very competitive game in the first half, I also feel Coach Spader will make the adjustments necessary to keep the BG offense on the field and that’s trouble for Greenwood. But it will be a very good test for both teams!

Week 8 Players of the Week: (I am going to try to pick different guys for this list to try and provide more hardworking young men a chance to get highlighted than to keep going to the same ones over and over. Also, I do not get all the stats by the time this edition goes out, so please add to the list and thank you for it!)

1) Shorty Cager – WR/Returner – Hopkinsville – Completes the Triple Crown: 55 yard punt return for a TD; 43 yard reception for a TD; and a 6 yard run for a TD vs Calloway County!

2) Jackson Adams – QB – Greenwood – 6 rushes for 119 yards and 3 TDs. Passing 1 for 2 for 3 yards and 1 TD vs Grayson County!

3) RaiShawn Washington – WR & CB – Owensboro – 2 catches for 66 yards and 1 TD; while making 8 tackles on an improving Red Devil D vs Owensboro Apollo!

4) Jack Wiley – WR/Returner – South Warren – 88 yard Kickoff Return for a TD and a nice TD catch as well! Compliments CJ Hayes very well!

Week 8 “Big Droppers”

Adair County (3A) – Down – Just wasn’t meant to be Indians. On the road against a better than their record suggests Etown squad, just couldn’t make the plays to get it done. But I still say it had A LOT to do with getting upset at Edmonson County and then sitting on it over the BYE week. Plus you were likely a little rusty and playing a quality opponent like Etown puts you behind early and makes it very difficult to rally from there. Still going to host a playoff game and you have the potential to pull an upset, but you’ll have to Rise Up to do it!! Good Luck!!!

Graves County (5A) – Down – May be unfair of me to play the Eagles here, but you are the only ones other than Adair County in the Top 15 to lose! I recognize you were not the favorite in this game. I realize you were on the road in a tough District environment. I realize you lost your best receiver in the 2nd Quarter. But you did turn it over 5 times and get shut out and running clocked when you shouldn’t have. Still have a pretty good team, but don’t like your chances at Rash Stadium this coming Friday night. Chin up Eagles!!!

Week 8 “Big Risers”

Paducah Tilghman (3A) – Up – Team Casino (as predictable as rolling the dice!!!) produced an eye-popping win in Morganfield against a typically gritty Union County squad 54 to 0 on Friday Night! Congrats to Coach Barber and Company for the great effort. This win secures the #2 District seed and a home game for the Blue Tornado’s. I would not want to play this team in the playoffs as you’re just not sure what you’ll get. But make no mistake they have talent and am impressed with Coach Barber keeping this team together. If they can keep turnovers down, look out!!! Good Luck!

Butler County (2A) – Up – Left on the road for dead! The Bears won a close game with a talented McLean County squad 44-32 and earned the #2 district seed and a home playoff game! I’m happy for King Rex Henderson for this on his senior year! Don’t like your chances against the Big Boy 2A squads, but do like you to get there for them to take you out! Good luck!!!

11 Thru 15

11. Russellville (1A) – Preseason Rank (PR): Top 15; Last Week (LW): 11 - 2016 Record 8-0; [District Record 2-0] Week 8 Results: Win: 55-0 vs 1A Fulton City (1-8). Team Cupcake just keeps eating! Not their fault as their district is their district. Would like to see them move their district opponents up in the year a few weeks to keep that lethargic insulation away from the end of the regular season/start of the post season as much as possible. Week 9: vs 1A Crittenden County (4-5). This will be the Panthers toughest district challenge and they should put a running clock on the Rockets as they are down from last season. Get your Halloween War Paint on Panthers, as the stout Franklin Simpson Wildcats comes calling for a Trick or Treat Showdown off West 9th Street and will try to make you permanently bob for apples :jimlad: !!!!!

12. Glasgow (2A) – PR: Top 15; LW: 12 – 2016 Record: 6-1: Win 56-0 at Monroe County (2-6). Been a long year for Monroe and the Scotties made it a lot longer by pummeling the Falcons in Tompkinsville. No stats available, but a lot to a little! They finish off district play at a tough and scrappy Metcalfe County (6-2) team before a terrific regular season finale at 3A Etown. Good scheduling for the playoffs! Go Scotties!!!

13. Caldwell County (3A) – PR: 9; LW: 13 – 2016 Record: 6-3: Win 38-0 at Fort Campbell (2-6). The government might send you a bill Tiger Fans after shellacking Fort Campbell like that!!! Make it 6 in a ROW! Heading into your BYE week ahead of a GREAT Game at Super-tough Mayfield! You’ve been there before and know the mountain is tall, but this is how you prepare for the playoffs! OH, don’t waste you gas driving to Webster County this week; just focus on the McCracken County and Corbin (2nd Half) game films to help you! Still think you can go a Long way Tigers!!!

14. Butler County (2A) – PR: Top 15; LW: Top 20 – 2016 Record 5-3: Win: 44-32 vs 2A McLean County. The Bears won a close, competitive game vs a gritty McLean County squad. No stats available, but Butler County’s remaining schedule includes very winnable games at Poor Ole winless Todd County Central and at 6A down-trodden Ohio County. Should be a winning streak at 4 in a row off that. Then a home playoff game, where I like your chances Bears!!! After that… We’ll Talk Later!!!

15. Paducah Tilghman (3A) – PR: Top 15; LW: Top 20 – 2016 Record: 3-5. Blue Tornados blow into Morganfield and blow the doors off usually gritty Union County 54-0. Terrific Win on the road to secure #2 district spot! Blue Tornado’s finish out the year with Fort Campbell and Murray. Both very winnable games!!! This team is capable of an upset in the playoffs!!!

Others Receiving Votes: Graves County, Adair County, Muhlenberg County, Allen County Scottsville, Metcalfe County, McLean County, and Edmonson County

THE FORMIDABLE 4: STRONG Group right here! Franklin Simpson was on the BYE week, but our other 3 Leaders - Laid The Hammer Down - winning 50-0, 52-0 and 54 to 0! That’s wood shed material!!! You know the showdown between Franklin and Russellville is coming and 1 of them will be forced out of this group! Will BG or Mayfield join them?

Team (% likely to remain undefeated all season) (biggest challengers remaining)

(In alphabetical order):

Bowling Green (95%) (Greenwood and McCracken County)

Franklin Simpson (65%) (Russellville)

Mayfield (85%) (Caldwell County)

Russellville (50%) (Franklin Simpson)

“Broke Their Maiden” – In horse racing, when you break your maiden, you win your first race. Well this category is for teams that don’t get as much love, but did get their first victory of the season here and I think that’s significant:

Either Logan County or Todd County Central have to come here right! I hope they don’t tie 0 to 0. Anybody else likely to join them? Don’t think so…

THE FORGOTTEN 6: These 6 have had really tough years and I don’t see a lot of great things on their horizon, but respect them for competing and being positive influences in the lives of their young men to make them better men and citizens. Best of luck!!!

Team (% likely to get a win this season) (best chance at a win remaining)

(In alphabetical order):

Barren County (35%) (Grayson County and Edmonson County) – No more Purple crayons in Barren County – New Mandate by the school board after last Friday’s beat down! BUT you play Grayson County next week Trojans and you can win that game! I’m pulling for you! Rise up!!!

Caverna (0%) - Well I’m CRUSHED over this loss to Fort Knox! Just wasn’t meant to be Colonel Fans! Hate it for your team! Better luck next year!

Fulton County (0%) Just no winnable games for them! I really feel for the Pilots!

Logan County (50%) (Todd County Central) The Tidy Bowl Game is coming vs Todd County Central on the 28th! Rise Up Cougars!

Todd County Central (50%) (Logan County) The Tidy Bowl Game is coming vs Logan County on the 28th! Rise Up Rebels!

Warren Central (0%) Warren East is a good team and you had to play them opening game on their new turf. Tough proposition considering the circumstances. Still respect the heck out of you for competing all season! Better luck next year!

Great job! I really enjoyed reading your article every week.

Wonderful read P88. Great job!

Well done again, P88....Webster County will be the visitors this week as they will be the ones traveling to play the Big Red at War Memorial.

Well done again, P88....Webster County will be the visitors this week as they will be the ones traveling to play the Big Red at War Memorial.

24-7, I must have mis-read that! EVEN quicker running clock then!

Do you know if Weber have ever beaten the Cardinals?

Purple88,

I am not sure if Webster Co has or not. They have only actually played a handful of times. I remember going to a good one as a kid at War Memorial in 1993. It was a Playoff match up that ended with a 14-0 win for Mayfield, on their way to a Title.

Muhlenberg County

Hunter Combs 12 rushes 136 yards and 3 td’s

5-9 passing 167 yards and 2 td’s

84 yard kickoff return td

2-2 point conversions

5 Pats

10 tackles

Great job as always

The quality of articles is great this year.

GO BIG RED!

To my knowledge, Webster has never defeated mayfield

To my knowledge, Webster has never defeated mayfield

Some close calls like in 1993 but I don't think they have ever beat us either

To my knowledge, Webster has never defeated mayfield

Some close calls like in 1993 but I don't think they have ever beat us either

So Let It Be Written; So Let It Be Done!

Muhlenberg County

Hunter Combs 12 rushes 136 yards and 3 td’s

5-9 passing 167 yards and 2 td’s

84 yard kickoff return td

2-2 point conversions

5 Pats

10 tackles

Cats,

That's a fine day's work!

I think Muhlenberg County is a good story this year. They can't compete with the big teams, but most years they just get blown totally out by everyone!!!