article BluegrassPreps Rankings (8/20)

Class 1A

For the seven teams in Class 1A's Top 8 who were in action, Week 1 was ripe with victory and great starts. Nearly every team overwhelmed their opponent and got 2018 off to a roaring start. Week 2 will be ripe with challenges. Five different teams will face ranked foes, headlined by defending champion Beechwood taking the field for the first time against Lloyd. Perhaps the most anticipated match-up will come as Raceland challenges one of 4A's top teams in a huge rivalry game.

 

1. Beechwood vs. 2A #8 Lloyd

2. Pikeville vs. 2A #10 Lexington Christian (8/25)

3. Raceland at 4A #3 Ashland

4. Hazard at 5A Harlan County

5. Paintsville vs. Harlan

6. Campbellsville vs. 3A #7 Casey County

7. Crittenden County -- OPEN

8. Williamsburg at 2A #7 Somerset

9. Paris -- OPEN

10. Louisville Holy Cross at 4A Valley

 

 

Class 2A

 

If any class took the Week 1 headlines, it would be Class 2A. Mayfield, CAL, and DeSales all secured monster victories. Mayfield defended the honor of Kentucky by taking down Tennessee's Class 2A Champion for the second consecutive season. CAL made a statement against a very good 5A South Oldham. The main course was DeSales shocking the Bluegrass State by taking down St. Xavier. There is no rest for the weary as Mayfield and DeSales each turn around against ranked foes. Danville will get their first major challenge as the defending champions with a very good Corbin team

 

1. Mayfield vs. 4A #5 Hopkinsville

2. DeSales at 6A #5 Butler

3. Christian Academy of Louisville at 6A Eastern

4. Danville at 3A #4 Corbin (8/25)

5. Glasgow vs. 3A Bardstown

6. Newport Central Catholic at 6A Cooper

7. Somerset vs. 1A #8 Williamsburg

8. Lloyd at 1A #1 Beechwood

9. Owensboro Catholic at Evansville Memorial (IN) (8/25)

10. Lexington Christian at 1A #2 Pikeville (8/25)

 

 

Class 3A

 

Call it 3A powers TWO and Louisville 6A ranked teams ZERO. Boyle County and Central each opened the year with quality wins against teams from the largest classification, cementing their place as title contenders. Belfry and Corbin have a chance to make their own statement in Week 2 with a pair of huge early season games. The Dudley Hilton effect has Bell County talking in the wake of a blowout of rival Middlesboro. The Bobcats ride that momentum back into the Top 10 for the first time in a long while. Caldwell County will have the eyes of voters upon them after losing a heart breaker to Christian County. The Tigers draw a tough Graves County team.

 

1. Boyle County vs. 4A #10 Franklin County (8/25)

2. Central vs. 4A Western

3. Belfry vs. Huntington (WV)

4. Corbin vs. 2A #4 Danville

5. Lexington Catholic vs. 6A Ryle

6. Elizabethtown -- OPEN

7. Casey County at 1A #6 Campbellsville

8. Caldwell County at 5A Graves County

9. Larue County vs. 4A Russell County

10. Bell County at 5A Letcher County Central

 

 

Class 4A

 

For those doubting if last year's Champion Franklin-Simpson was just going to go quietly back into the pack, the Wildcats served notice by humbling Elizabethtown in Week 1. Ashland looked very good in their season opener and will have a chance to turn heads once more against last year's Class 1A Runner-Up. Johnson Central will return to action against arguably the second best team from West Virginia. Hopkinsville did not open the year the way they hoped in an anticipated battle with South Warren. It will be imperative for the Tigers to rebound with a better showing against 2A powerhouse Mayfield.

 

1. Johnson Central vs. Capital (WV)

2. Franklin-Simpson vs. 2A Monroe County

3. Ashland vs. 1A #3 Raceland

4. Knox Central vs. Alcoa (TN) at Corbin (8/25)

5. Hopkinsville at 2A #1 Mayfield

6. Logan County at 6A Muhlenberg County

7. Wayne County at 5A Pulaski County

8. Greenup County vs. 3A Russell

9. Madisonville-North Hopkins vs. 5A Marshall County

10. Franklin County at 3A #1 Boyle County (8/25)

 

 

Class 5A

 

Despite losses to graduation, Covington Catholic served notice that they were not planning to hand over the trophy by obliterating 6A Ryle. The Colonels will look for their second straight 6A conquest against Henry Clay. Speaking of 6A challenges, Bowling Green had plenty enough of a challenge holding off Central Hardin and will look to better their second half performance against PRP. South Warren was brilliant in Week 1 and will begin their attempt at being crowned kings of Bowling Green with Warren Central. Keep an eye on Southwestern. The Warriors had an excellent pre-season and opened the year looking excellent. Expect that to continue against an underdog Dunbar squad. Anderson County looks much improved but should have a stiff test against Meade County.

 

1. Covington Catholic vs. 6A Henry Clay at Lexington Catholic

2. Bowling Green vs. 6A Pleasure Ridge Park

3. South Warren vs. 4A Warren Central at Western Kentucky University (8/25)

4. South Oldham vs. Doss

5. Highlands at 6A Campbell County

6. Southwestern vs. 6A Paul Laurence Dunbar

7. Anderson County vs. 6A Meade County

8. Owensboro at Reitz (IN)

9. Montgomery County at 4A East Jessamine

10. Apollo at Mater Dei (IN)

 

 

Class 6A

 

On one hand the rest of Class 6A had to be excited when both of the Louisville private school powerhouses posted an "L" by their name. On the other hand, not many teams had room to brag as several schools either took losses or struggled to make statements in their season openers. Scott County emerges as the heir apparent to challenge the top of the rankings. The Cardinals will open with Lafayette and should have ample opportunity to turn heads. Male looked good against Floyd Central from Indiana and will square up against a solid Ballard team. Butler is the surprise team of the Jefferson County publics, but they draw the dubious task of taking on the same DeSales squad who just beat St. Xavier. The toast of Fayette County may be Frederick Douglass. The Stallions looked great against 4A Wayne County and most likely will be the team the rest of Lexington is chasing.

 

1. Trinity vs. Warren Central (IN)

2. Scott County vs. Lafayette

3. Male vs. #10 Ballard

4. St. Xavier -- Open

5. Butler vs. 2A #2 DeSales

6. Frederick Douglass at Tates Creek

7. Simon Kenton vs. Bryan Station

8. Manual vs. 5A Fern Creek

9. Central Hardin at 5A Bullitt East

10. Ballard at #3 Male

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