Both teams showed they have work to do - especially on the defensive side and in the kicking game.

 

Ballard leveraged their speed and size advantage at the wide-outs to strike often. LexCath scored on the ground and in the air on long plays.

 

For the Lexington Catholic Knights notables include an excellent game on both sides of the ball by senior Noah Mitchell. Long runs from the full back position and excellent defense playing in the linebacker role. Senior Justin Brownell had 2 receptions for a TDs. Cody Mitchell is adjusting well to the OLB spot and had several tackles. Senior Marty Brown was on both side of the line and lead the way for Mitchell on a couple of long runs. Senior Josh Mesmer had a solid game in the Mike position. Junior quarterback Reese Ryan had strong throws to Senior David Bouvier. But play calling that relied too much the passing game - especially on first down - put Ryan in some tough spots and Ballard was able force some 3 and outs. Two players who will be factors for the Knights this season did not play. Sam Letton did not dress (knee) and Braxton Couch stayed on the sidelines after a game time decision on pulled muscle. Both should play next week against Bowling Green. Sophomore Andy Hickey filled for Couch and had a solid game.

 

Ballard has some good firepower on offense with some athletic wide-outs. They were able to leverage it well against the Knights man-to-man coverage.

 

The Knights open the season against Bowling Green next week in Bowling Green and then come home and host St. X in the Republic Bank Bluegrass bowl. To stay competitive in these games better playing calling on the offensive side will be needed. The pass-first, run-later strategy puts them in too many holes and leads to a lot of 2nd and longs and 3rd longs. More running on first down. With the way Mitchell ran last night he would be the option to set-up more 2nd and shorts and the allow for more options on 2nd and 3rd downs. Defensively, the Knights may have to back off their attacking defense and let the safeties help the corners. Athletic wide-outs are going to be problem this year if the Knight only one their 1 on 1 coverage in the secondary. And Bowling Green definitely has a passing game that will be troublesome if some adjustments are not made.

 

Ballard has good team this year. They seemed very athletic all around.

 

 

# 22 Noah Mitchell scores on a long run

 

 

 

#16 Justin Brownell hauls in a Reese Ryan pass for a TD.

 

Holy crap....LexCath plays BG and St. X back to back. Yikes.....

 

Now that's a schedule.

I was thinking LexCath might be able to give BG a bit of a run. Not so certain now....

The line was better than I thought it would be last night so that was pleasing. The secondary needs a lot of work it looks like and so does the kicking game and kickoff coverage. Offense looked like it struggled but still put up 33 points in 3 quarters. Wish the game could have been 4 quarters of varsity play. Ballard will have a very solid team this season.

The line was better than I thought it would be last night so that was pleasing. The secondary needs a lot of work it looks like and so does the kicking game and kickoff coverage. Offense looked like it struggled but still put up 33 points in 3 quarters. Wish the game could have been 4 quarters of varsity play. Ballard will have a very solid team this season.

 

 

I hear you there. Anyone familiar with LexCath knows that they play their best football in the 4th quarter. You can write that in pen!!!!!!!!!!