The Class 2A playoff race appears to be top-heavy with only a handful of teams having a legitimate shot to bring home the championship trophy. Making matters tough is the fact the 2013 playoff road will likely run through the home fields of last year’s finalists – Caldwell County and Newport Central Catholic.

 

Region 1

 

Top-ranked Caldwell County (10-0) is the prohibitive favorite to come out of the west, helped by the fact they will get to play at home through the first four rounds of the playoffs. Caldwell has won 10 straight playoff games dating back to last year and 11 of their last 12.

 

The Tigers capped off the regular season with an impressive 48-41 win over Class 1A power Mayfield, rolling up over 600 yards of offense.

 

Most of the chatter surrounding Caldwell County is centered around junior quarterback Elijah Sindelar and junior back Jalyn Boyd. However, Sindelar throws to a much underrated receiving corps that does not have a main target. Five different receivers have 20 or more catches in the Tiger offense that averages over 50 points a game.

 

If there is a chink in the Caldwell County armor, it may be their defense. The Tigers give up 20 points a game, including 146 yards per game through the air.

 

The Tigers should have no trouble in the first two rounds of the playoffs, facing Hancock County (2-8) and a likely second round game with Union County (8-2), who they beat 57-20 back in the second week of the season.

 

However, it should be said that Union County has improved throughout the season, winning eight of their final nine games. Their only loss in that span was a one-point district loss to Owensboro Catholic.

 

If Union gets past high-scoring Ballard Memorial in the first round, they would accomplish just the school’s fifth 9-win season in 50 seasons of Union County football.

 

Owensboro Catholic (8-2) and Murray (6-4) are the favorites to claim first round victories, although Murray has the toughest opening round game.

 

Butler County (7-3) has three losses to ranked teams and gives up just 15 points a game. Despite the long road trip from Morgantown, don’t be surprised if the Bears pull off the first round upset.

 

REGION PREDICTION – Caldwell County 45 Owensboro Catholic 31

 

Region 2

 

This will be the most exciting region to watch with four teams, given the right circumstance, having a shot at coming out standing tall.

 

DeSales (9-1) and Christian Academy-Louisville (9-1) are the favorites to meet for the region title.

 

DeSales has the more powerful offense (48 ppg.), while CAL has the stingier defense (8.9 PA). In their first matchup CAL won 27-24, DeSales ran for over 250 yards but couldn’t stop the Centurions’ passing attack as Nathan Christmas threw for 214 yards and four touchdowns.

 

Because they play opposite a three-team district, CAL gets a first-round bye and will play the winner the Bardstown-Green County contest. If CAL wins that game to advance to the region final, they would tie a school record for wins set by the 2002 team.

 

Bardstown (8-2) may be the best three seed in the smaller classes thanks to district losses to DeSales and CAL. The Tigers enter the postseason on a four-game shutout streak and blanked Green County (5-5) 26-0 back in the opening week of the season.

 

The wildcard in this region is Glasgow (9-1), whose only loss was to Somerset. The Scotties feature a balanced offensive attack led by running back Marquez Trigg.

 

Glasgow has allowed just 27 points the last four games and should have no trouble with Washington County (4-6) in the first round.

 

Glasgow would like another shot at DeSales in the second round of the playoffs. The Colts came away with an odd 10-2 win over the Scotties last year on their way to the state semifinals. A second round win by Glasgow would mean another home game in the third round.

 

REGION PREDICTION – Christian Academy-Louisville 21 DeSales 20

 

Region 3

 

Just go ahead and send the region trophy to Newport Central Catholic.

 

Gallatin County (8-2) and Walton-Verona (8-2) would like to think they have a shot to knock off the ‘Breds in the playoffs, but it just isn’t happening.

 

After stumbling to a 1-4 start and losing four games to larger teams that have a combined record of 27-13, NCC (6-4) has rallied to win their final four games capped off with a 34-31 win over rival Beechwood.

 

Newport (5-5) and Gallatin County are playing good football down the stretch and should meet in the second round.

 

Walton-Verona (8-2) could be a team to watch but it is hard to get a read on them because of their soft schedule.

 

Like we said before, just send the region trophy to Newport Central Catholic. There’s nothing to see here. Please disperse.

 

REGION PREDICTION – Newport Central Catholic 48 Newport 7

 

Region 4

 

Call this the ‘Forrest Gump Bracket’ because, like a box of chocolates, you just don’t know what you are going to get.

 

Middlesboro (8-2) is the top seed and they get to host in the first two rounds. But this is a region that saw Middlesboro beat Danville (5-5), who beat Somerset (5-4), who beat Middlesboro.

 

And then you have Prestonsburg (5-5), the other top seed, who beat Betsy Layne, who is 9-1 but beat nobody during the season.

 

If Middlesboro wants to make a deep run, their defense must get better. The Jackets give up 22 points a game and allowed an incredible 77 points in a loss to Class 1A Pikeville.

 

Somerset is Jekyl-Hyde at best but should benefit by entering the postseason off a bye week despite a first-round game at Betsy Layne.

 

The Bobcats didn’t play a postseason game until 2008 and have lost all four of previous postseason games.

 

Prestonsburg should have the easiest path to the region finals with a first round game against Lexington Christian (1-9) and a likely second round game with an inconsistent Danville team.

 

You can pretty much put the top four teams in hat and draw out a region champion. Here goes….

 

REGION PREDICTION – Somerset 35 Prestonsburg 26

 

STATE SEMIFINALS – Caldwell County 42 Christian Academy-Louisville 33

Newport Central Catholic 27 Somerset 7

 

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION – Caldwell County 48 Newport Central Catholic 42

Pretty Good Assessment!

 

Just hoping that Danville beats Prestonsburg so that if Somerset makes the finals it's in Danville and not 1000 miles away in Floyd Co.

Fun breakdown. NCC players shouldn't read this and need to stay focused on the big prize.

If everyone brings their best game, I still think Desales is better than CAL .