REGION I

Sometimes it just does not seem fair. Thanks to Cross-District assignments Region I sees District 6 join Western Kentucky's District 1 and no one is feeling the heartburn more than McCracken County. The Mustangs cruised to a District Title but now must draw the District of death featuring St. Xavier, Male, PRP, and DuPont Manual. All Top 10 teams in Class 6A. To add insult to injury even if McCracken survives the Rounds 1 & 2, it would mean a 3rd Round sojourn to Louisville. Don't bank on that as Male will end the Mustang's ride in the second week.

 

Manual and St. Xavier should advance with little resistance to set up a re-match of an earlier 16 point win by the Tigers. Expect a similar margin as Male and St. Xavier square off in one of the State's "must see" Regional Finals.

 

The Tigers surprised the Bulldogs and many fans across the state with their regular season victory. The Tigers have been a different monster since Desmond Ridder emerged as the QB1. With that said, the element of surprise is now gone and Coach Wolfe is tough to beat in re-match settings.

 

Region I Championship: Male 24 St. Xavier 20

 

 

REGION II

Central Hardin was the surprise delegate in the 2015 Class 6A Semi-Finals after advancing out of Region I against McCracken County. Though District 4 does not prove the same daunting task as what District 3 brings to the table, the Bruins shelf life is noticeably less as 6A's flagship program now stands in their path.

 

Trinity is the gorilla in the Region II room and will coast through the first two rounds without breaking a sweat. The best match-up on paper in this region will be the 2nd Round clash for "Bruin Braggin' Rights" when Central Hardin hosts Ballard. All three of Ballard's defeats have came at the hands of Jefferson County's Old Money (Manual, Trinity, and Male). Ballard's tough schedule will have them prepared for the road game and a tight victory.

 

Trinity will be happy to stretch their legs and Ballard may be able to make them earn it a little better than their initial regular season meeting. With that said, let's be honest here; no one is knocking off Trinity without a pedigree to their name in this year's 6A bracket.

 

Region II Championship: Trinity 42 Ballard 13

 

REGION III

The KHSAA decided it might be a little more fun to separate the NKY Districts from the CKY Districts so as a result the drama will be twice as nice in perhaps the most captivating Region. The stronger NKY District proved to be District 5 with undefeated Ryle led by Mr. Football Tanner Morgan outlasting both Cooper and Conner, as well as a non-district tilt with Simon Kenton to claim big school superiority in the regular season. The Raiders' First Round opponent is no stranger to them. Ryle survived a 34-28 scare against Henry Clay back in T-shirt weather, don't expect this one to be as competitive.

 

One of the State's best First Round games will be Cooper taking on Bryan Station. Cooper enters with a chip on their shoulder as the Jaguars had much higher hopes than a 3 seed entering September. Bryan Station is a scary team when they are on, but they didn't frighten Cooper too bad when Dante Hendrix and company rolled past them 52-28 earlier this year. Both teams are kind of wildcards after stumbling down the stretch, but expect Cooper to get a needed shot in the arm before falling to Ryle.

 

Scott County anchors District 7 and have been able to live up to their lofty standards this year including a nice statement win in Week 10 to enter the playoffs. The Cardinals will get a stiff test in Round 2 against a Conner team who has a very stout Defense, but Scott County should have a few too many big play threats for the Cougars to overcome.

 

With perfection hanging on by a thread, Ryle will have to find a way to maintain success in their passing game against a team who can match them at nearly every position. In the end though, when two pretty evenly matched teams play it comes down to that one player who is simply the best on the field. In this Regional Final that player will be Tanner Morgan and with Mr. Football voters' eyes firmly fixed on him he will make a statement with a key drive late to seal the victory.

 

Region III Championship: Ryle 33 Scott County 28

 

REGION IV

Lafayette and Simon Kenton expected a little more fan fare as their playoffs began. Both teams seemed poised to be arguably the two largest favorites heading into the 2016 playoffs, but both somehow lost favor in the eyes of the pundits. Simon Kenton's fall is a little more cut and dry after losing to Ryle late in the season in a tight game. Lafayette is a different story. The Generals, much like almost any other team, took a beating at the hands of Trinity. The odd part of Lafayette's fall from grace is a controversial "forfeit win" in the record books against Scott County, yet somehow the Cardinals have became the trending team.

 

Lafayette, last year's State Runner-Up, now gets the enviable task of getting to fly under the radar a bit and should have no problems coasting right into the Regional Finals. Simon Kenton will need to be on upset alert in Round 2 as Madison Central is the potential fly in the ointment in this Region. The Indians will make Simon Kenton earn it, but the balance of the Pioneer Offense should pull them ahead down the stretch.

 

With the table set for a dinner all can enjoy, who will feast more on a "Chip" on their shoulder with revenge set in their minds? Lafayette has to want the opportunity to return to Bowling Green and furthermore prove they can hang with the Jefferson County elite. Simon Kenton has to be wanting another go at it with Ryle. In the end big players make the plays come November and it is the slippery Walker Wood who makes just a few more in a game filled with more highlights than an ESPN New Year's Eve montage.

 

 

Region IV Championship: Lafayette 46 Simon Kenton 36

 

 

STATE SEMIFINALS:

Trinity 31 Male 14

Lafayette 38 Ryle 35

 

STATE FINALS:

Trinity 42 Lafayette 21

I enjoyed reading this. Gave me a little insight into the rest of 6A.

I think a potential Ryle/ LaFayette matchup could swing either way, and could definitely be a barn burner.

But has LaFayette improved enough (and Trinity not) to put up 21 on the Rocks?

Thanks for doing these awesome read!

Thanks for doing these awesome read!

That is one of the great things about Bluegrasspreps. You get statewide coverage and insightful information that you just can't get anywhere else.

 

We at Bluegrasspreps are glad we can supply great articles like these to keep the football fans of the Bluegrass State in the know. Plus, our knowledgable members will always add additional information to the articles in their comments. It's an evolving article with great information.

Any more thoughts before the games begin?

Good luck to all those young men playing tonight. Especially the ones that are suiting up for the last time. Have fun.