I told you they would be close. Readers of last week's Notebook saw me pick three of the four regional finals to be very close games. I predicted only an eight point total differential in three of the games and it turned out to be thirteen. I'm a genius, right? Well, only at spotting games that will be tight. Because in all three close games I had the wrong team winning!

 

After a week of excitement leading up to the regional finals few of us were disappointed. We saw one game decided on two missed field goals, one on a Hail Mary, one a confirmation of a win earlier in the season, and one a resounding claim to being the best team in Class 3A. Now we get to Thanksgiving Week, time of the state semifinals. And just like last week, we should have another good slate.

 

Lexington Catholic Knocks off #1

Lexington Catholic has spent much of the season being doubted. Perhaps it was the revolving door at quarterback or the defense that allowed nearly 20 points per game. Maybe it was the belief that Boyle County was better and it took a hook-and-ladder to beat the Rebels. Or it might be the tough early schedule that saw the Knights lose three times to highly ranked teams from larger classes. Whatever the reason, many questioned the Catholic. Perhaps they shouldn't.

 

Lexington Catholic (10-3) went on the road and picked up the second most impressive win in Class 3A this season, defeating #1 Central 14-13. In a game that saw Central move out to a 13-0 halftime lead, #3 Lexington Catholic never quit, scoring twice in the second half to win their fifth consecutive regional title. Central (10-3), however, will lament the fact that they missed three field goals and an extra point that went a long way toward keeping them from yet another trip to Bowling Green.

 

Elizabethtown Hail Mary Knocks Out Caldwell

In a game that went back and forth all evening, Elizabethtown quarterback Jack Wilson hit Peyton Payne on a 37-yard Hail Mary with one second left to knock off Caldwell County and give the Panthers their first regional championship since 2003. Undefeated #6 E-town was led by running back Bernil Cecil's 123 yards on the ground and Wilson's 184 yards and three touchdowns through the air. The Panther defense allowed 318 passing yards to Caldwell (10-3), but stymied the typically potent Tiger ground game to a mere 27 yards, 116 yards below their season average.

 

Elizabethtown (13-0) now gets Lexington Catholic at home for a chance at their first state title game appearance since 2003. Meanwhile for #5 Caldwell County, it is another season of "what if?" The Tigers have seen the last three seasons come to a close in the regional final after a heart-breaking state championship game loss in 2012.

 

Corbin Proves First Time Was No Fluke, Eliminates Bell

Corbin was able to score twice on offense in the second half, including once in the fourth quarter, to pick up their second win of the season against Bell County, 21-14. The Redhounds (9-4), who had won by fourteen at Bell (10-3) five weeks ago, played ball control football all evening, keeping #10 Bell County's potent offense on the sidelines.

 

The regional championship was Corbin's fifteenth in school history and first since 2010. Now #9 Corbin travels to Belfry to face a Pirate team clicking on all cylinders. Corbin and Belfry have met twice in postseason play, the last coming in 1969 when the Redhounds beat Belfry 6-0.

 

Belfry Dominates Lawrence, Sets Eyes on 3rd Straight Title

In a rematch of a close game from early October, Belfry had little trouble dismantling #8 Lawrence County, picking up a 52-12 victory in front of the home folks on Friday night. Second-ranked Belfry forced five Lawrence (9-4) turnovers and scored on two of them. Those two scores give the Pirates five defensive touchdowns in the playoffs alone. On offense, the Pirates ran for close to 350 yards, including over 150 yards from super back Xondre Willis.

 

After securing their 20th regional championship in school history, Belfry (12-1) now has a chance to make it six straight state championship game appearances. The Pirates will host Corbin and should be a heavy favorite.

 

Prediction Time

 

Lexington Catholic 31 Elizabethtown 28

Look for Elizabethtown's well balanced offense to give Lexington Catholic trouble on defense. The Knights haven't seen a truly diversified offensive attack of this caliber since Boyle County on October 16. However, the E-town defense will have to contend with an emerging star at quarterback in Andy Thompson, along with a litany of talented backs and receivers. I look for this game to come down to the wire, just like both experienced last week.

 

Belfry 34 Corbin 6

Corbin has had a terrific year. The Redhounds have overcame close losses during the regular season to earn their regional championship. If Corbin can force Belfry to turn the ball over, like Cabell-Midland and Lawrence County (in game 1) did, while also holding on to the ball themselves for extended possessions like they did against Bell County, then we could see an upset. But Belfry is on another level. With a dominant defense and a punishing offensive game, the Pirates should have little trouble at home against Corbin so long as they execute the game plan. And that win should set up a classic state final.

ttt

The LexCath-E-town game, as noted, should be a dozy. Two teams who had to fight back from deficits to be in the semis. But each did it in very different ways. E-town with a spectacular offensive ending and the Knights with hard-nosed defense from start to finish.

 

The Knights are doing all the "little" things as they go through the post-season. Case-in-point: at the 5:55 mark of the video below. After taking the lead the Yellowjackets take a bouncing kickoff on the run and break through coverage - leaving only the kicker, sophomore Francisco Rios, in the middle of the field, as the only player who can stop an apparent TD. He catches the return man on the Knights 20 and saves what could have been the game winner for Central. The Knights D then came in, in the shadow of their own goalpost, and get the stops to get the ball back.

 

On the offensive side it appears senior Andy Thompson will be the quarterback going forward. Brumbaugh is available and Fagot has done a great job this season. Thompson give the Knights that 'dual threat'. But Thompson has been excellent when passing as well. Going into the Central game he was 22 for 29 with 9 TDs and no interceptions. His effeciency rating was 328. So the Knights can leverage their typical spread offense but will have to account for both Thompson and Jaylen Jones as running threats.

 

Flip flop the prediction of E Town vs Catholic, our kids enjoy when they have doubters......

The LexCath-E-town game, as noted, should be a dozy. Two teams who had to fight back from deficits to be in the semis. But each did it in very different ways. E-town with a spectacular offensive ending and the Knights with hard-nosed defense from start to finish.

 

The Knights are doing all the "little" things as they go through the post-season. Case-in-point: at the 5:55 mark of the video below. After taking the lead the Yellowjackets take a bouncing kickoff on the run and break through coverage - leaving only the kicker, sophomore Francisco Rios, in the middle of the field, as the only player who can stop an apparent TD. He catches the return man on the Knights 20 and saves what could have been the game winner for Central. The Knights D then came in, in the shadow of their own goalpost, and get the stops to get the ball back.

 

On the offensive side it appears senior Andy Thompson will be the quarterback going forward. Brumbaugh is available and Fagot has done a great job this season. Thompson give the Knights that 'dual threat'. But Thompson has been excellent when passing as well. Going into the Central game he was 22 for 29 with 9 TDs and no interceptions. His effeciency rating was 328. So the Knights can leverage their typical spread offense but will have to account for both Thompson and Jaylen Jones as running threats.

 

 

 

Look at the 6 second mark at the start of the video. The official closest to the play and Central's sideline. He had a pretty good view and he pointed to the ground twice when the other officials came in and gave the ball to Central. I was losing it