article Bluegrassprep's Football Rankings (10/17)

Class 1A

 

A light schedule last week saw no ranked team challenged by another foe with a number out to their left. The week's action was highlighted by Williamsburg taking control of the driver's seat in District 7 by taking care of Pineville on the road. Bishop Brossart also improved their stock and cemented themselves as a Dark Horse type of contender by taking care of Paris. Where last week lacked in having that truly marquee match-up, this week brings potentially the biggest regular season game of the year in Class 1A. Paintsville and Raceland will clash in a game certain to have the eyes of the entire state fixed upon the community on the Ohio River.

 

1. Paintsville at #3 Raceland

2. Russellville vs. Crittenden County

3. Raceland vs. #1 Paintsville

4. Beechwood at Dayton

5. Pikeville vs. Jenkins

6. Hazard -- OPEN

7. Nicholas County at Bracken County

8. Kentucky Country Day vs. Frankfort

9. Louisville Holy Cross at Eminence

10. Williamsburg at Lynn Camp

 

 

Class 2A

 

Two key battles between Class 2A Contenders from the East were the red meat of the previous week. Somerset and LCA battled back and forth in game that lived up to the hype, but the LCA Offensive machine slowly broke the Jumpers down and pulled out the win. In Northern Kentucky it was a slightly different narrative. Newport Central Catholic jumped out to a big lead but had to withstand a late surge by Llloyd Memorial to hold on to a hard fought win that locked up yet another District Title for the powerhouse Breds. Those Districts remain in the spotlight for one more week. With NewCath the 1 seed, we still have to determine who the runner-up will be and the Covington Holy Cross versuses Lloyd Memorial game appears about as even as you can get on paper. The heavy hitter of the week though will be the long awaited clash of Danville and LCA to determine the District 7 winner.

 

1. Mayfield vs. Webster County

2. Christian Academy- Louisville at Washington County

3. DeSales at Shawnee

4. Owensboro Catholic -- OPEN

5. Danville at #7 Lexington Christian Academy

6. Newport Central Catholic at Newport

7. Lexington Christian Academy vs. #5 Danville

8. Covington Holy Cross vs. #10 Lloyd Memorial

9. Glasgow at Metcalfe County

10. Lloyd Memorial at #8 Covington Holy Cross

 

 

Class 3A

 

Three key face-offs between Top 15 teams highlighted a pretty busy slate in Class 3A. The biggest game was the latest installment of Lexington Catholic and Boyle County. Coach Perry's squad kept their winning streak in the rivalry in tact by handling the Rebels with surprising tact. There was very little separation in another clash of Top 7 teams as Bardstown and Central fought for the District 3 lead. Central showed the importance of "points after" surviving the Tigers by two. A third game of note was Elizabethtown continuing their impressive season by hammering Adair County. This week the two feature games shift to the East where District Titles are to be handed out. Belfry will be the heavy favorite against Pike Central, but can the Hawks catch a banged up Pirate team looking ahead? The biggest game may be the most surprising. Casey County is both ranked and undefeated as they host Corbin in what will probably be the biggest regular season game in Rebel history.

 

1. Belfry vs. Pike County Central

2. Corbin at #10 Casey County

3. Lexington Catholic at Garrard County

4. Central vs. Henry County

5. Caldwell County -- OPEN

6. Bardstown at Thomas Nelson

7. Russell at Bath County

8. Boyle County at Western Hills

9. Elizabethtown at Larue County

10. Casey County vs. #2 Corbin

 

 

Class 4A

 

Two crazy Districts helped receive some closure during the past week's games. District 4 has been a very balanced District but with numerous plot turns. For a while it looked as if the trend would continue but Shelby County found their footing and pulled away in the Second Half to strengthen their resume with a win over Spencer County. The Rockets are only a win against cross-county rival Collins away from locking up the 1-seed. Dudley Hilton's Taylor County squad has to be feeling a bit snake bitten. The Cardinals fell to the third spot in District 5 losing their second consecutive nip and tuck game to Mercer County. Two Eastern Kentucky showdowns will lead the focus of this week's drama. Johnson Central and Ashland have no love lost and have became one of the State's top rivalries over the past decade. In South Eastern Kentucky the final pieces of the District 6 puzzle will be put together when Rockcastle County and Knox Central get together in what should be the hardest hitting game in the State this weekend.

 

1. Johnson Central vs. #10 Ashland

2. Franklin-Simpson at Warren East

3. South Warren at Warren Central

4. Hopkinsville vs. Hopkins County Central

5. Rockcastle County vs. #9 Knox Central

6. John Hardin vs. Western

7. Wayne County -- OPEN

8. Shelby County at Collins

9. Knox Central at #5 Rockcastle County

10. Ashland at #1 Johnson Central

 

 

Class 5A

 

The word to best describe the top games in Class 5A this past weekend would be "margin". A narrow margin opened eyes as Pulaski County survived South Laurel thanks to a penalty and a blocked Field Goal, it also described the battle for the parity filled Bullitt County as North Bullitt edged Bullitt East by a single point. Whitley County won a District Title over Harlan County with a comeback 8 point win and a stand at the buzzer in the redzone. The wide margin of Christian County's win over Graves County is surprising due to the 0-0 score at the Halfway point of the game. The biggest buzz though comes from Covington Catholic not only ending a losing streak to Highlands, but ending it by a frightening margin. The slate this week is probably the most action packed of any classification. The focal point will be the de-facto Warren County Championship as surprising Greenwood challenges big brother Bowling Green. In the Lake Cumberland region the Pulaski County vs. Southwestern game has became one of the State's tightest rivalries in recent years. Covington Catholic will need to put their celebration to a quick rest with a very tough Dixie Heights looking to take the District Title.

 

1. Bowling Green vs. #3 Greenwood

2. Covington Catholic vs. #10 Dixie Heights

3. Greenwood at #1 Bowling Green

4. Owensboro vs. Graves County

5. Christian County -- OPEN

6. Pulaski County at #7 Southwestern

7. Southwestern vs. #6 Pulaski County

8. Fern Creek at Atherton

9. South Oldham vs. North Bullitt

10. Dixie Heights at #2 Covington Catholic

 

 

Class 6A

 

Most thought Jefferson County 6A Football was quickly becoming the "Big 2" instead of the "Big 3", but St. Xavier put to rest any rumors of their demise by making a statement over Male. DuPont Manual also kept their nose in the Louisville pecking order by outlasting PRP. Conner was a trendy upset pick, but Ryle continued to build their impressive resume with a solid victory. Madison Central gave Lafayette a battle, but the Indians did not have enough guns to outflank the Generals. Class 6A keeps the soap opera going in Week 9. Trinity will get one last challenge from Ballard and Male will look to right the kennel against Manual. Fayette public school superiority will come down to Tates Creek and Lafayette. The marquee though will go to the two best teams in Northern Kentucky. Simon Kenton and Ryle has been a game people have anticipated since the season kicked off.

 

1. Trinity vs. #9 Ballard

2. Simon Kenton at #6 Ryle

3. Scott County vs. Dunbar

4. St. Xavier at Butler

5. Male vs. #8 Manual

6. Ryle vs. #2 Simon Kenton

7. Lafayette vs. Tates Creek

8. Manual at #5 Male

9. Cooper vs. Conner

10. Ballard at #1 Trinity