article Inside Western Kentucky Football: The Playoffs

[The Scribe]

When the curtain falls in Bowling Green next month, there is a good chance that three state championship trophies will make their way back to western Kentucky. The wildcard is the new McCracken County High School, which will have home field advantage throughout the Class 6A playoffs and presents an unknown for their opponents.

 

Like McCracken County, the other contenders for the state title will have home field advantage, which will be a major factor in how far they advance.

 

Class 1A

 

Mayfield (9-1) saw their 23-game winning streak snapped in the final week of the season to Class 2A number one Caldwell County. The setback isn’t expected to derail the title hopes of the Cardinals, who should cruise to easy wins in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

 

Mayfield hasn’t lost a first round playoff game since 1975 and have won four straight region titles.

 

The Cardinals are led by Jake Guhy, who has put up solid numbers in his senior season.

 

Running back Stuart Mills has proved to be a legitimate go-to guy on the ground, while receiver Deion Jackson is a threat to score through the air and on special teams.

 

The big advantage for the Cardinals is the talent gap in the first two rounds of the playoffs that will allow them to rest any inured starters in advance of a possible region title showdown with Russellville.

 

Caverna (2-8) just wrapped up the program’s ninth consecutive losing season and have won four games the past three seasons.

 

The Colonels have never won a postseason game outside of 8-man football. Mayfield won last year’s playoff match up 56-6.

 

Mayfield would likely face Louisville Holy Cross (5-5) in the second round at War Memorial Stadium. The Cougars won four straight games before a tough district loss to Bethlehem 35-28. They were shut out by Bardstown 42-0 last week.

 

Last year, Mayfield overcame a sluggish start to beat Holy Cross 38-14, ending the Cougars’ season for the third straight year.

 

Russellville (8-2) won eight straight games to start the season for the first time since 1984 but ended the regular season with losses to Mayfield and South Warren.

 

Quarterback Barrett Croslin left the South Warren loss with a leg injury but is expected to be ready to play this week. Backup quarterback and second-leading rusher Tacorian Darden also didn’t play in the South Warren game.

 

Interestingly, Russellville advanced to the region title game three times in the four years they played up in Class 3A. They haven’t played for a 1A region title since 1994.

 

The Panthers would like to exact some revenge on Kentucky Country Day (5-5), who bounced them from the postseason 27-12 last year.

 

However, the Panthers have to guard against a possible trap game in the second round when they will play at Bethlehem in advance of a showdown with Mayfield in the region championship.

 

Bethlehem (9-1) has flown under the radar of many with a two-point loss to Paris the only blemish on their record.

 

If Russellville is healthy, they should be able to overcome the long road trip in the second round and advance to a region title game for the fourth time in six years, setting up another showdown with Mayfield in the region title game. Russellville is 0-2 all-time vs. Mayfield in the playoffs with first round losses in 1996 and 2000.

 

 

Class 2A

 

Caldwell County (10-0) capped off an unbeaten regular season with an impressive 48-41 win over Mayfield last week. The Tigers had already secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs, but keep in mind; the Tigers had to win on the road at DeSales in the state semifinals last year.

 

Tiger opponents will have to slow down an up-tempo Caldwell offense led by junior quarterback Elijah Sindelar, who passed 8,000 career yards passing in the win over Mayfield.

 

Sindelar already owns school records for completions (541), passing attempts (882), yardage (8,203) and passing touchdowns (86).

 

For the season, Sindelar has thrown for 2,549 yards with 35 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

 

Caldwell will host Hancock County (2-8) in the first round, a team they have never lost to in four career meetings.

 

The Tigers could see Union County (8-2) in the second round. The Tigers beat the Braves 57-20 in the Crittenden County bowl game back on Aug. 31. Sindelar didn’t have one of his better games against the Braves, completing just 12-of-24 passes for 171 yards. He also threw two of his five interceptions this year in that game.

 

Union County should get past a Ballard Memorial team in the first round that lost three of their last five games after a 5-0 start. The Bombers can score (38 ppg.) but have struggled to stop good teams defensively, giving up 51 points a game in their three losses.

 

Murray (6-4) is a two seed but won’t have much of an advantage against a solid Butler County team whose three losses were to ranked teams.

 

Butler County has stiffened up on defense, allowing just 22 points the last four weeks.

 

Murray must find a way to contain the two-quarterback system of Butler County. Jimmy Burns has thrown for 933 yards and seven touchdowns, while Bryce Shanklin has thrown for 857 yards and nine touchdowns and added 478 yards and 10 scores despite being dinged up at times this season.

 

If Murray’s ball control offense can keep Butler’s offense off the field, they should advance.

 

After not winning a playoff game from 1991-2007, Butler County has won three of their last eight postseason games. On the other hand, Murray has won nine of their last 13 playoff games. Friday will be the first postseason game between the two schools.

 

Owensboro Catholic (8-2) should have no problem with Crittenden County in the opener. That could set up yet another classic showdown with Murray, the team their postseason fate has been linked to the past three seasons.

 

The Tigers won last year’s game 29-22 in double overtime, handing OCath their only loss of the season.

 

Murray also won the 2011 region title game 17-14 in overtime. In 2010, it was Owensboro Catholic who handed Murray their only loss of the season in the region title game.

 

Caldwell County beat Murray 42-13 on Oct.18. If the Aces come to Princeton for the region title three weeks deep, there could be over 800 passing yards in the game between Elijah Sindelar and Houston Hartz, who has thrown for 2,873 yards and 33 touchdowns.

 

Owensboro Catholic has won four of the five career postseason meetings with Caldwell County.

 

Class 3A

 

Fans in this bracket are pretty much forgoing the first two rounds of the playoffs and looking ahead to a potential region showdown between Paducah Tilghman and South Warren.

 

There isn’t a team outside of Louisville and northern Kentucky that has played a tougher schedule than Tilghman, whose five losses were to Evansville Reitz, Mayfield, Graves County, Highlands, and Henderson County. The Tornado also handed McCracken County one of their two losses this year and breezed through the district by outscoring their opponents 116-19.

 

Tilghman (5-5) should have no trouble with Adair County (4-6) in the first round. The Indians lost to Tilghman 57-14 in last year’s first round and have never won a playoff game in seven career appearances.

 

The best first round game should be in Tompkinsville where Trigg County (5-5) plays at Monroe County (7-3) for the second time in three seasons. Trigg will be looking to snap a four-game postseason losing streak that has seen them score just 34 points in the four games.

 

The Wildcats will have to stop the balanced Monroe rushing attack that features four running backs with over 75 carries.

 

South Warren (9-1) has shut out six of their ten opponents and allowed just 25 points for the entire season. Webster County (1-9) averages 11 points a game on offense and is struggling through a nine-game losing streak.

 

The Spartans would likely see Fort Campbell (4-6) in the second round. The Falcons have the playmakers to score but not the size and depth up front to sustain it for an entire game. Tristan Luke has been bothered by a nagging leg injury and has still rushed for 1,120 yards.

 

But the Falcons have struggled defensively, giving up 33 points and 363 yards of offense a game.

 

Tilghman would host a likely showdown with South Warren. The Spartans fell in last year’s region title game to Monroe County. Tilghman saw a streak of four straight appearances in the region title game end last year.

 

Tilghman has the size and speed to match South Warren. They also have the running backs who can power and speed their way to yards, something other teams who have played South Warren have struggled with.

 

If Tilghman brings their ‘A’ game, they should beat South Warren and win their fifth regional title in a decade.

 

 

Class 4A

 

Owensboro (7-3) is far and away the favorite to win this region, helped by hosting the playoffs as long as they win.

 

The Red Devils have to shake off a tough loss to Henderson County in the regular season finale that saw them lose an 11-point lead with five minutes left.

 

They should have no trouble with Breckinridge County (1-9), who picked up their first win of the season last week over Class 2A Hancock County.

 

Breckinridge County lost to Owensboro last year 56-0 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2000.

 

Warren East brings a 6-4 record into their first round game with Calloway County (5-5). The Raiders have won three straight games heading into the postseason, while the Lakers have won five games against teams that have won seven games. The Raiders should have no trouble getting their fourth consecutive win.

 

Topping Owensboro in the second round will be a tougher challenge.

 

The unknown of the bracket is Madisonville. The Maroons (5-5) have adjusted to the loss of the quarterback T.J. Phaup to injury and have won three of four down the stretch.

 

They host an Allen County-Scottsville team headed in the other direction. The Patriots (4-6) ended the season with three straight losses. Madisonville averages 30 points a game offensively, while ACS gives up 30. Madisonville won last year’s first round match up 21-6.

 

Franklin-Simpson (6-4) was impressive in district wins over Warren East and Allen County-Scottsville which landed them the top seed in the district.

 

They host a Hopkins County Central team that has lost 25 straight games and hasn’t won a playoff game in a decade.

 

The Wildcats should carry a five-game winning streak into their second round home game with Madisonville.

 

 

Class 5A

 

It’s Bowling Green’s region. Let’s just go ahead and skip to Class 6A

 

But seriously. Bowling Green carries a 39-game winning streak into the postseason. Their last loss came to Christian County in 2010.

 

The Purples (10-0) are the overwhelming favorite not only to win the region, but win their third straight Class 5A state title.

 

Unless they make a stunning postseason run, Christian County (4-6) is looking at their first losing season since 2001. The Colonels have been bothered by injuries, most notably to standout safety Devon Wharton who is gone for the season. Wharton had three interceptions in six games, with two of those returned for a touchdown.

 

The Colonels should get past Barren County (4-6) in the first round. In fact, Christian County has ended Barren County’s last four postseason appearances. The Trojans only have one career playoff win, that coming in 1992. They will try and snap a 13-game playoff losing streak Friday.

 

Graves County (8-2) is district champs for the second straight season, and they get to avoid Bowling Green for the first two rounds.

 

The Eagles open with an inconsistent Greenwood team that finished 3-7 and failed to score double figures in half their games.

 

Graves County will be looking to advance to the region title game for the first time in school history.

 

The team that knocked Graves County out of the postseason last year, Warren Central, hosts Hopkinsville in the first round.

 

The Dragons (5-5) finished the season strong, winning five of seven. Their only losses were to number ones Highlands and Bowling Green.

 

They face Hopkinsville (4-6), who is looking for the school’s longest postseason drought in 20 years. Hoptown’s last postseason win was in 2008.

 

Warren Central won last year’s first round game with Hopkinsville 67-7.

 

 

Class 6A

 

One of the main criticisms of six class football is the travel distance in first round playoff games. Need proof? Ask Boone County how they feel.

 

The Rebels (0-10) will drive 300 miles to face Class 6A newcomer McCracken County. Boone will then likely travel the 300 miles back to Florence with their first winless season in a long time.

 

The Rebels are one of four 0-10 teams that will get to play in a postseason game this year.

 

The Mustangs (8-2) enter the postseason winners of eight straight games and are averaging 45 points a game behind the play of sophomore quarterback Zyaire Hughes.

 

As long as McCracken County wins, they get to play at home.

 

However, they could face a tougher than expected second round game with Central Hardin.

 

The Bruins’ only loss came to Meade County, and their slate features impressive wins over Collins, Madisonville, and Bullitt East. Central Hardin (9-1) faces Daviess County (6-4) in the first round.

 

Muhlenberg County (6-4) has wrapped up the program’s first-ever winning season. Their reward is a first round game at Henderson County (8-2), whose only losses are to ranked teams McCracken County and Covington Catholic.

 

Meade County (8-2) has flown under the 6A radar for most of the season. Their two losses came to John Hardin and Male. The Green Wave give up just nine points a game and have allowed 19 points in their current four-game winning streak. Their task will be to stop a Marshall County team that has a record of 1-9 but is averaging 31 points a game on offense the past three weeks.

 

Don’t be surprised to see Meade County sneak out of this region and advance to the state semifinals.

[DragonFire]

You always do a great job Scribe. Great stuff.

[twenty4seven]

Great, great job, Scribe....again. You have my vote for the BGP Pulitzer.

[tsyoung7]

Awesome look at the classes!!! Great read Scribe...

[redleg13]

Great job Scribe. I respect the tough games coming up for the Mustangs. However, I'm not sure Central Hardin, Meade or Henderson have the offensive weapons to stay with the Mustangs. We'll see.

[Bluebird]

Paducah and Warren Central both showed me a lot; wish them well!