article BluegrassPreps.com Football Rankings (8/26)

Class 1A

 

The opening week in Class 1A proved to be very different outcome depending on where you fell in the pecking order. The Top 9 teams all survived without taking loss, but for the team competing for the tenth and final spot, it was a roller coaster affair. When the dust settled, Lynn Camp's win over Frankfort moved the Wildcats into the Top 10. Expect the Top 10 to see some potential drama this week with several big games including the reigning 1A Champion Beechwood reappearing in the picture when they take on Paintsville on a neutral field. Pikeville, Raceland, Hazard, and Newport Central Catholic all have tough tests as well.

 

1. Pikeville vs. Mingo Central (WV) (8/31)

2. Campbellsville vs. 3A Adair County

3. Williamsburg at 2A Middlesboro

4. Raceland at 3A Russell

5. Newport Central Catholic vs. 5A Cooper

6. Paintsville vs. 2A #2 Beechwood at Georgetown College

7. Hazard vs. 4A Harlan County

8. Crittenden County at 3A Webster County

9. Kentucky Country Day vs. 3A Thomas Nelson

10. Lynn Camp at 3A Jackson County

 

 

Class 2A

 

Two teams in the Top 10 took on their first loss of the season in the season's first week. Murray has nothing to hang their heads about as they came one yard shy against a ranked 5A team. Expect them to bounce back against their cross-county rival in a big way. Walton-Verona took one on the chin against Lloyd Memorial, as a result the Juggernauts move into the Top 10 and the Bearcats free-fall out. Lexington Christian Academy draws possibly the toughest test of the week travelling to Pike County to take on traditional power Belfry. Danville's margin of victory surprised many, but they draw a Bardstown team that will certainly test their mettle.

 

1. Mayfield at 4A Hopkinsville

2. Beechwood vs. 1A #6 Paintsville at Georgetown College

3. Somerset at 5A Montgomery County

4. Lexington Christian Academy at 3A #3 Belfry

5. Murray vs. 4A Calloway County

6. Owensboro Catholic at 6A Daviess County

7. Breathitt County vs. 5A South Laurel

8. Caldwell County vs. 6A Apollo

9. Danville at 3A Bardstown

10. Lloyd Memorial at 4A Scott

 

 

Class 3A

 

It is safe to say that the top 3A teams have not been afraid to kick the season off with a few challenges. Last week, six teams faced ranked foes, highlighted by Christian Academy of Louisville's 6-0 win over 5A South Oldham and Tilghman's wild win over 6A McCracken County. This week, four more teams will look to add a win over a ranked team. DeSales will have the distinction of being the first team to see ranked foes in successive weeks. They were outclassed by an excellent St. Xavier team and will now focus on 6A Butler instead. Bell County has faced criticism for their strength of schedule in recent years, but a win over Knox Central may go a long way toward earning credibility. Elizabethtown looked very impressive in their opener but take a huge step up in competition against one of the best North Hardin teams in recent seasons.

 

1. Christian Academy of Louisville at 5A Christian County

2. DeSales vs. 6A #9 Butler

3. Belfry vs. 2A #4 Lexington Christian Academy

4. Bell County vs. 4A #9 Knox Central

5. Ashland vs. 4A Boyd County

6. Elizabethtown vs. 6A #5 North Hardin

7. Paducah Tilghman vs. 1A Louisville Holy Cross at Central (8/31)

8. Glasgow at 1A Russellville

9. Taylor County at Larue County

10. Mercer County vs. 4A Allen County-Scottsville at Boyle County (8/31)

 

 

Class 4A

 

The new look Class 4A got off to a wild start. Two-time defending champion Franklin-Simpson was the victim of one of the most eye opening upsets against Greenwood. Coach Preston's squad will look to bounce back against 6A Meade County. Johnson Central made a statement by taking 6A Lafayette to the woodshed, but will get tested against Capital, WV. The Cougars defeated Johnson Central last year for a rare regular season loss. Corbin avoid an upset against 5A Whitley County and get their own test from a different state. Lexington Catholic is in a similar boat, as they take on a team from Indianapolis on the heels of their come from behind win against 5A Pulaski County. Knox Central suffered a heartbreaking loss to Ashland and look to bounce back against their second highly regarded 3A team in successive weeks.

 

1. Boyle County vs. 5A Bullitt Central (8/31)

2. Johnson Central at Capital (WV)

3. Corbin vs. Notre Dame (TN) (8/31)

4. Madisonville-North Hopkins at 6A Marshall County

5. Lexington Catholic vs. Indianapolis Howe (IN)

6. Central vs. 5A Iroquois (8/31)

7. Franklin-Simpson vs. 6A Meade County

8. Franklin County vs. 3A Western Hills

9. Knox Central at 3A #4 Bell County

10. Wayne County vs. 5A #8 Pulaski County

 

 

Class 5A

 

Three of Class 5A's top teams ended up on the wrong end of the scoreboard. Bowling Green, South Oldham, and Pulaksi County all three suffered from a severe lack of second half points and all three found themselves wishing for a "re-do" after coming up short by a TD in all their outcomes. Bowling Green and Pulaski County each need to bounce back quickly against ranked opponents capable of beating them. Graves County denied Murray's upset bid at the goal line to keep their spot. The toughest test of the week will come for Highlands. The Bluebirds took care of business against Scott, despite a slow start, but will need to put together four full quarters against Tennessee powerhouse Knoxville Catholic on a neutral field. Owensboro also has a stiff test, Evansville Central is the reigning Indiana 4A Runners-Up.

 

1. Scott County at 6A Lafayette

2. Frederick Douglass vs. 6A Tates Creek

3. Covington Catholic at 6A Campbell County

4. Highlands vs. Knoxville Catholic (TN) at Corbin (8/31)

5. South Warren vs. 4A Warren East at Western Kentucky University

6. Bowling Green at 6A #10 McCracken County

7. South Oldham at 6A Eastern

8. Pulaski County at 4A #10 Wayne County

9. Owensboro vs. Evansville Central (IN)

10. Graves County -- OPEN

 

 

Class 6A

 

This time last year, we were questioning if Class 6A was wide open after Trinity and St. Xavier each took losses to Carmel, IN and DeSales respectively. In 2019, both teams opened with statement victories instead. The Shamrocks will get their second Indiana powerhouse, but Warren Central may be the best the Hoosier State has to offer as the reigning 6A Champions. Male did not disappoint in their debut, and now bring us the first Jefferson County 6A clash of note against Ballard. Fern Creek and Manual also will fit this description and will be a game to follow for sure. North Hardin has a ton of swagger and momentum and will get their first challenge against a very solid 3A Elizabethtown team. Simon Kenton opened with a nice win over Henry Clay and will take on a quality foe from the Buckeye State in Anderson.

 

1. Trinity at Warren Central (IN)

2. Male vs. #7 Ballard

3. Saint Xavier vs. Henry Clay at Lexington Catholic

4. Simon Kenton vs. Anderson (OH)

5. North Hardin at 3A #6 Elizabethtown

6. Manual at #8 Fern Creek

7. Ballard at #2 Male

8. Fern Creek vs. #6 Manual

9. Butler at 3A #2 DeSales

10. McCracken County vs. 5A #5 Bowling Green