article 3A Notebook: Welcome to Class 3A

Welcome to Class 3A

With the most recent round of realignment few classes were impacted as thoroughly as Class 3A. A quick glance at the Bluegrasspreps.com preseason rankings shows five new faces in the top ten. Judging by the opening weekend, those five may be here to stay.

Preseason #1 Christian Academy of Louisville battled 5A #7 South Oldham for four scoreless quarters before winning in overtime, 6-0. Harrison Zimmerer scored from six yards out on the Centurions' opening possession and the CAL defense held South Oldham to seal the victory. As a team, CAL rushed for 191 yards on the evening while holding South Oldham's leading returning rusher Keaton Martin to just 47 yards on 12 carries.

Perhaps the second most impressive victory came from the Ashland Tomcats who ventured to Knox Central and beat the home-standing Panthers, 21-13. It was a battle throughout, with the score knotted at 7-7 at halftime. Running back Blake Hester rushed for over 200 yards in the victory while Keontae Pittman cleared the 100 yards mark for the Tomcats.

Eighth-ranked Glasgow won the Scottie Bowl, toppling 10th ranked Larue County, 35-13. Nick Mitchell, who ran for over 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2018, picked up right where he left out, scrambling for 168 yards and four touchdowns on fifteen carries in the victory.

Finally, number nine Taylor County had to wait until Saturday to play their opener, but wasted no time in taking care of business, rushing to a 30-0 halftime lead over Western Hills before polishing off the Wolverines, 37-8. All of the Cardinals damage was done on the ground as Taylor County rushed for 383 yards and five touchdowns. EKU commit Tre Goodin ran for 209 yards and a touchdown while Wes Oliver scored another three times.

Old Friends of Class 3A Still Getting it Done

While much of the preseason conversation in Class 3A has centered around what is new, a handful of annual powers used opening weekend to remind the commonwealth that they'll still be forces to reckon with in 2019.

Third-ranked Belfry won on the road at Southwestern, 31-7. The Pirates' always powerful run game produced 331 yards on the evening but it was the defense that was dominant, holding the Warriors to 123 total yards. Isaac Dixon scored twice on the ground and returned a punt for a touchdown in the win.

Bell County had little trouble with Collins, winning 37-14 at the Bob Allen Pigskin Classic at Danville High School. Next Friday Bell County will host a Knox Central team that Ashland beat this week in a game that could help establish the pecking order in Class 3A.

Number Six Elizabethtown posted an opening week shutout, stymying Allen County-Scottsville, 42-0. Quarterback Clay Games was perfect, completing all eight of his pass attempts for 88 yards and a touchdown. Joe Becherer ran for 168 yards and a touchdown as well.

One of the wilder games of opening weekend was seventh-ranked Paducah Tilghman's 47-43 victory over rival McCracken County. Damien Ford's 224 yards rushing and four touchdowns powered the Blue Tornado to a second consecutive win in the series.

Finally, the Russell Red Devils, who started the 2018 campaign with three consecutive losses, began 2019 on a better foot, whipping Mason County, 49-13. Quarterback Charlie Jachimczuk passed for 90 yards and ran for 74, helping spur a Red Devil offense to 510 total yards.

Fresh Starts to 2019

Webster County, Magoffin County, and Pendleton County, three programs that have struggled to build consistent winners over the years began this season with victories. Webster County beat Hopkins County Central, 20-14. Junior quarterback Mason Wilson completed 18 of 26 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns in the Trojans' first season opening win since 2014.

Seven different players scored in Magoffin County's 51-22 win over Knott County Central. Zach Conley, Caleb Howard, and Fernando Irvin scored rushing touchdowns, Brad Standifer caught a touchdown pass, Jaylon McDuffus returned a punt for a score, Mason Lovely scored on a pick six, and Nick Caldwell scored on a fumble recovery to cap an impressive opening night win for the Hornets.

Pendleton County opened the year with a 46-0 throttling of Gallatin County. The shutout was the first for Pendleton County since beating Bracken County, 42-0, on September 18, 2009.

Around the Rankings

#2 DeSales fell 38-7 to 6A #3 St. Xavier in one of the toughest opening games of any team in Kentucky. Jayden Scroggins' five yard circus catch for a touchdown was one the few highlights for the Colts.

#10 Larue County lost at #8 Glasgow, 35-13. The Hawks, who lost several key contributors from last season's state semifinal squad, rushed for 162 yards on the game while allowing 208 yards on the ground.

Extra Points

Henry County fell behind by two touchdowns early but roared back to defeat Thomas Nelson, 34-28. The win snapped a five-game Wildcats losing streak dating back to last season.

Trigg County broke open a close game in the third quarter with three quick scores to best Muhlenberg County, 40-0. Quarterback Cam Jordan ran for 55 yards and passed for 76 in the victory.

Mercer County, new to Class 3A, shutout West Carter 21-0 in the Fort Harrod Bowl at Harrodsburg. Malachi Yulee and Brayden Dunn each had short touchdown runs while Dillon Warren scored on a 24-yard interception return.

Three to See

(Each week the 3A Notebook will preview the three best games featuring Class 3A teams for the coming week)

1. North Hardin at Elizabethtown. Highly ranked county rivals square off in what should be a classic. Elizabethtown is ranked 6th in Class 3A while North Hardin is ranked 5th in Class 6A. The two schools have split the last four meetings.

2. Butler at DeSales. Two teams coming off Week One losses to top-tier opponents meet in hopes of avoiding an 0-2 start. DeSales and Butler share a district in all boys sports besides football and are huge rivals. DeSales won at Butler, 35-34, in 2018.

3. Knox Central at Bell County. Bell County had little trouble with Collins in their first game of the season but will have to step up a level to beat the neighboring Panthers. Bell's schedule is far from a juggernaut is this marks a rare occasion for the Bobcats to get a marquee win.

Just One More

(Tired of the same teams every week? Want to go off the beaten path for a 3A game this Friday night? Each week we'll look at an under-the-radar matchup to watch in Class 3A)

Taylor County at Larue County. Two Fifth Region rivals are in the same football class for the first time in years and meet this Friday in Hodgenville. Taylor County was impressive in their season opener while Larue fell to Glasgow in the Hawks' lid lifter. Both schools were state semifinalists in their respective classes in 2018.

gchs, very well played... great insight in this review of the week... Job Well Done...