Interesting matchup in Crestwood.

 

South Oldham (5 and 1 overall) vs. Bullitt East (3 and 3).

 

(sorry, the "dash" on this pc keyboard is dead! LOL!!)

 

Both teams are undefeated at 2 and 0 in district play. Both blasted Nelson County and both survived tough challenges from in county rivals (South defeated Oldham Co by 10 and BE survived by six over Bullitt Central).

 

South hasn't lost since a 28 to 14 defeat at the hands of defending 2A state champion CAL in week one of the season. BE has won 3 of their last 4 with the only loss during that stretch a narrow 22 to 21 defeat at the hands of a pretty decent Shelby County team on the road.

 

The game will feature two of the district's better runners: Keaton Martin (averaging 93 yards / game) of South and Logan McKenna (95 yards / game) for BE.

 

Both teams prefer to run the ball, but the difference offensively may be South's ability to pass if they need to / want to. Senior Drew Zaubi is a three year starter who showed what he's capable of three weeks ago against Boone County on the road with a 9 for 11, 130 yards, 3 TD 0 INT performance. He's been careful with the ball this year, and has thrown 9 TDs against just 1 INT.

 

But honestly, the key to this game is how BE handles the South defense. Since giving up 28 points to CAL in week one, the Dragons have surrendered just 20 points in five games and have shutout three of their past four opponents. Those three shutouts are the most shutouts South has had in a single season since the 2005 South Oldham squad finished the year with four shutouts....and this season still has 4+ games to go. Junior LB Mason Bowman (40 total tackles), junior DL Jack Harold (thirty six total tackles), and junior DL Tyrelle Love (30 total tackles) have led the way for a defense that came into the season with question marks and seems to be answering them.

 

Mark Sander, the 2nd year head coach of BE, seems to have his defense maturing as well. After surrendering 97 points in an 0 and 2 start to the season, the Chargers have settled down a bit in the last four games, giving up 13 points or less in the three wins during that stretch.

 

Who wins and why?

 

CM

South has won the last two meetings by a combined score of 93-27. Bullitt East needs to stop the South offense first. Keaton Martin had 274 yds and 6 TD runs last year. That puts a lot of pressure on the Bullitt East offense to move the ball and to keep the South offense off the field.

South's defense is way ahead of last season and playing very well. They are playing aggressive yet disciplined football with a lot of young guys stepping up. Bullitt East is going to have their hands full Friday night in Crestwood. South rolls.

South Oldham is no where near the Bullitt Central, Nelson County or Spencer County teams that Bullitt East has defeated this season. They won't be able to stop the South offense and the South defense is the better of the 2 defenses, so there's going to have to be ALOT of turnovers and kick 6s to keep Bullitt in the game.

South BIG!