[h=1]The Lexington/Central Kentucky Power Rankings – Sept. 27 Sponsored by Jess-105.9 [/h]

The Rankings

10) Henry Clay (6A / 3 – 2 / Streak 1L / Next Opp: Pulaski County)

The Blue Devils lost Lafayette 48 to 34 this past week. They stay in the ranking but only because the likely replacements were having bad weeks. Henry Clay is a good team but they are not currently in the top of the 6A pile as losses to St. X and Lafayette show. The Blue Devils have a tough stretch in their schedule that starts with a strong 5A Pulaski County team and then district games against Scott County, a surging Dunbar and top ranked Bryan Station

 

9) Madison Central (6A / 4 – 2 / Streak 1W / Next Opp: Tates Creek (Oct 9^th))

Madison Central comes back to the ranking after a big win over Woodford County, 55 – 0. That is a 96 point turnaround after their 41 to 0 loss to LexCath last week. The Indians open district play on October 9^th against Tates Creek.

 

8) Paris (1A / 6 – 0 / Streak 6W / Next Opp: Bracken County)

Coach Brian Williams has the Greyhounds running with 6 wins in as many games and an average of almost 40 points per game while holding opponents to less than 8. The ‘Hounds beat district rival Berea 59 to 7 this past weekend to move to 6 and 0 on the season. Senior Koebe Garrard quarterbacks the Greyhounds and was 25 of 55 with 343 yards and 5 TDs going into last week’s game. The running attack is lead by Senior James Clarke, who is averaging 118 yards a game.

 

7) Lexington Catholic (3A / 3 – 3 / Streak 1L / Next Opp: Western Hills (Oct 9^th))

The Knights challenges against the top Northern Kentucky teams continued as the Knights ran into the Cooper buzz saw. The Knights have the week off and then open district play against Western Hills October 9^th.

 

6) Danville (2A / 4 – 1 / Streak 2W / Next Opp: Campbellsville)

The Admirals defeated 2A Green County 41 to 0 last week. At this point in the season the Admirals only lost has been to region top ranked Boyle County. A 1A Campbellsville awaits the Admirals before they go into district play.

 

5) Lafayette (6A / 4 – 2 / Streak – 1W / Next Opp: Bryan Station)

The Generals ran all over Henry Clay in a 48 to 34, literally, with 626 rushing yards. Junior quarter back Walker Wood had 238 yards himself. Senior Mason Alstat had 230. The Generals seem to be leveraging their talented backfied and their line – that is anchored by UK commit Senior Landon Young.

 

4) Franklin County (4A / 6 – 0 / Streak – 6W / Next Opp: Collins)

The Flyers squeaked by 5A Shelby County 31 to 28 at home this past weekend. This is the second week in a row that the Flyers win by only a FG margin. But wins are wins. And the Flyers are now 6 – 0 on the season.

 

3) Bryan Station (6A / 5 – 1 / Streak – 4W / Next Opp: Lafayette)

Senior Devon Key was the do-it-all guy in the Defenders 54 to 21 win over Tates Creek. Key rushed for a TD, caught a pass for a TD and also returned a pick-6 over 100 yards. The Defenders take on Lafayette this week in an out of district game before closing with 3 straight district games that include Scott County, Henry Clay and surging Dunbar.

 

2) Scott County (6A / 5 – 1 / Streak – 2W / Next Opp: Henry Clay (Oct 9^th))

The Cardinals defeated a struggling Clark County 55 to 21. The Cardinals are off next week and pick back up against district rival Henry Clay October 9^th.

 

1) Boyle County (3A / 6 – 0 / Streak - 6W / Next Opp: Garrard County (Oct 9^th))

The Rebels took care of a struggling Lincoln County, 42 to 12. The Rebels are off this weekend and then open district play October 9^th against Garrard County. A notable statistic at mid-season includes a Rebel team that has twice as many passing yards as running yards – 1,337 to 599. That says a lot about likely Mr. Football candidate Josiah Robbins. He is completing almost 70% of his passes and has 18 TDs tosses and only 3 interceptions. Seniors Eric Brown and Mack Cox are the leading receivers in this air attack oriented team. Senior Cory Swanner is the leading rusher, averaging 55 yards a game. The leading Rebel tacklers are Seniors Austin Bodner with 25 solos and 26 assisted tackles; and Hagen Ellis with 17 solo and 25 assisted tackles. Notice the common theme above – Seniors – this is senior heavy squad that is on a mission.

 

Ranking Notes

The top 3 teams in the ranking are setting the bar in Central Kentucky. Unless one of these three hits the skids hard I think you have the top 3 teams for 2015 in Central Kentucky at this point. Boyles remaining roadblock is LexCath at home. Bryan Station has some interesting local district and a key non-district game this weekend. But Frank Parks has taken what looked like a possible rebuilding year and kept the new football tradition at Bryan Station on track. Scott County’s toughest game remaining is against Bryan Station on October 16^th.

 

Some questioned Lexington Christian staying in the rankings after one loss last week. There is no need to question this week. The Eagles dropped their 2^nd in a row to Fairview 50 to 34.

 

Garrard County gets upset by Lloyd Memorial and drops out of the rankings.

 

Madison Central bounces back in with their whipping of Woodford County. The Indians are probably not as bad as they looked vs LexCath or as good as they looked against Woodford.

 

LexCath and Henry Clay stay in the rankings this week even though they had losses that were by big margins. But….none of my watch list teams won. It was a rough week for Central Kentucky teams.

 

Paul Lawrence Dunbar under Paul Rains has won three in a row and evened their record at 3 and 3. But they have tough road in districts.

 

It’s hard to compare one of the state's smallest independent school to some of the state’s largest public school teams. But at 6 – 0, with an average margin of victory of over 3 TDs – the 1A Paris Greyhounds are in.

 

Game of the Week

Lafayette (6A #5) vs Bryan Station (6A #3), October 2, 7:30. Bryan Station High School

 

It’s a non-district game but it will impact the Lex/CKY BGP rankings. Coaches Frank Parks and Eric Shaw square off with teams that are leading the resurgence of the Fayette public school football programs. Future UK lineman Landon Young will lead the General's block schemes that seem to be working. The Defenders counter with at young team that has a special senior in Devon Key.

 

For radio with local focus be sure to check out our sponsor WNJK FM / Jess FM 105.9.

Boyle over Scott County? I don't have a dog in the fight and have not seen either play. But if Boyle is indeed that good, 3a may as well go ahead and hand them the trophy.

Having seen both play Scott Co. is better than Boyle Co. but Boyle Co. is a really good team (led by a great h.s. QB), By the time the 4th quarter hits Scott Co. has too much depth and speed.The wildcard in this area is Bryan Station if they can continue to play disciplined football, they have a real chance to beat SC for the 2nd straight year.

PLD has improved a lot this year but they've already lost to TC who is also much improved this year.

I know Paris is off to a great start but could they beat #9or 10?

Koebe Garrard isn't the starting QB for Paris now. Aaron Maggard took it back over after the 3rd game.

I know Paris is off to a great start but could they beat #9or 10?

 

As I indicated in the notes, its hard to compare a school with a total enrollment of around 200 with less boys in the entire school than some teams in the state have on their varsity roster. But the lower ranked teams and the teams in the watch list had a rough weekend. Along with LexCath and Henry Clay; Bourbon, Woodford, Montgomery, Anderson, Lexington Christian, Garrard all lost this past weekend.

 

My bet would be that the Greyhounds could hang with lower tier ranked teams for a half or three quarters at least. At 6 - 0 and the last two games being big wins score-wise they are solid team for sure.

Koebe Garrard isn't the starting QB for Paris now. Aaron Maggard took it back over after the 3rd game.

 

Thanks. I was going off of KHSAA statistics that had the first 5 games. Was this injury driven or just a change? The Greyhounds seem to have step it up a notch the last couple of games.

Boyle over Scott County? I don't have a dog in the fight and have not seen either play. But if Boyle is indeed that good, 3a may as well go ahead and hand them the trophy.

 

Having seen both play Scott Co. is better than Boyle Co. but Boyle Co. is a really good team (led by a great h.s. QB), By the time the 4th quarter hits Scott Co. has too much depth and speed.The wildcard in this area is Bryan Station if they can continue to play disciplined football, they have a real chance to beat SC for the 2nd straight year.

 

Boyle seems to be playing less 'iron-man' and has less players going both ways with this senior heavy team. The wear-down factor is what probably cost them the games against LexCath last season. They are probably even stronger than any of the scores indicate since most are decided before half time and Smith seems to be spreading out the playing time during the running clock.

 

Scott County defense is not ultra-stout this year. It would interesting to see the Josiah Robbins- led Rebels against the Cardinals this year.

Maggard was injured in the spring and finally was cleared. Garrard is back to running back. Kind of the thunder to James Clark's lighting.

Boyle seems to be playing less 'iron-man' and has less players going both ways with this senior heavy team. The wear-down factor is what probably cost them the games against LexCath last season. They are probably even stronger than any of the scores indicate since most are decided before half time and Smith seems to be spreading out the playing time during the running clock.

 

Scott County defense is not ultra-stout this year. It would interesting to see the Josiah Robbins- led Rebels against the Cardinals this year.

 

Scott County is a running team as well and that typically doesn't work against the Rebels. It would be an interesting game for sure.

Here is my list:

 

1. Scott County

2. Boyle County

3. Bryan Station

4. Franklin County

5. Lafayette

6. Danville

7. Lexington Catholic

8. Henry Clay

9. Madison Central

10. Tates Creek

Here is my list:

 

1. Scott County

2. Boyle County

3. Bryan Station

4. Franklin County

5. Lafayette

6. Danville

7. Lexington Catholic

8. Henry Clay

9. Madison Central

10. Tates Creek

 

Looks good, though I'd think teams in 6-8 could be switched around.