Enjoy!

Another football season, another season for the “Big Three” to dominate the Class 4A landscape.

 

Male has been the top-ranked team since the preseason and they’re one of two unbeaten teams (Lafayette) in the 4A playoffs.

 

Trinity (4) and St. Xavier (1) have combined to win the last five 4A titles. The “Big Three” have combined to win the last nine 4A titles and 18 of the last 21.

 

And in 2006, the “Big Three” have been ranked in the top three all season.

The biggest challengers to knock them off appear to come from Lexington (Lafayette) and western Kentucky (Warren Central).

 

With the new playoff alignment this year, only one of the “Big Three” will advance to the final four.

 

REGION ONE – This might be the state’s most balanced region, with both districts harboring two teams with legitimate hopes of advancing to the final four, and that balance was reflected in the regular season.

 

In District 1, Warren Central emerged as the top seed, beating Christian County 15-8 in the final game of the regular season. Owensboro came from behind in the fourth quarter, scoring three touchdowns on defense and special teams to beat Henderson County 29-12 in their late-season contest.

 

The rematches should be exciting, assuming all four teams survive their first-round games. Owensboro has the breather, playing a Grayson County club that won a three-way tiebreaker and lost its games to the other three playoff clubs in the district (Owensboro, Henderson and Apollo) by a combined score of 140-12.

 

Owensboro features a stout defense that’s allowed just 88 points all season and only 47 in their last seven games. A small unit by 4A standards, the Red Devils swarm the ball led by LBs Frankie Duncan, Eric Sapp and Blake Roberts and DE Neil Johnston.

 

Nick Hall has developed into a game breaking TB — Hall (5-7, 160) had 276 yards and five TDs against Apollo in the season-ender.

 

Owensboro has won eight consecutive games since a season-opening loss to Evansville Mater Dei, a perennial power in Indiana. The Red Devils were scheduled to play top-ranked Male, but the game was cancelled because of inclement weather.

 

Henderson County had a tough preseason, which began when lineman Ryan Owens collapsed and died following a morning workout in July, during the first week in practice. But the Colonels, expected to decline after losing a talented senior class, have put together an impressive campaign led by a formidable backfield tandem in Antionne Lightfoot and Jesse Gilliam.

 

The Colonels’ first-round foe is Apollo, who attracted some attention in going 6-0 against a soft early schedule but went 1-3 in its final four games.

 

To the west and south, Warren Central might have the best collection of weapons on the offensive side. Blake Ayers is a proven QB and WR Nikko Beason has been a reliable big-play guy. TB Darrius Brooks is back from a midseason ankle injury.

 

Defensively, end Aaron Rhodes is a pass-rushing force and LB Jake Forrester is a reliable run-stopper.

 

Christian County QB Keith Tandy is a legitimate Mr. Football contender with more than 3,000 yards in total offense. Tandy can throw on the run and his ability to scramble puts immense pressure on opposing defenses.

 

Tandy, who is being recruited as a DB by the higher-level Division I teams, also figures to see time in the secondary in the postseason. He also returns punts and kickoffs.

 

Ramone White and C.J. Trotter have emerged as capable receivers. James Shepherd, a 6-7, 300-pound offensive tackle, recently gave Purdue a verbal commitment.

 

Christian’s run defense appeared soft at midseason, but a commitment to a more blitzing and stunting style has improved things immensely. The Colonels have also welcomed back defensive end Dee Lett, who returns after injuring his knee in the spring. Lett set a new school record for sacks last year.

 

The Colonels host Graves County in the playoff opener and beat the Eagles handily in the regular-season meeting.

 

Warren Central’s playoff opener is against Marshall County, which has one of the state’s most versatile and productive players in RB Alan Williams, also an excellent receiver.

 

Regional finals prediction: Warren Central 14, Owensboro 7

 

 

REGION TWO – The big sigh of relief heard statewide when the new playoff alignment was announced came from Elizabethtown and northern Kentucky. Instead of drawing a district containing the “Big Three,” they drew each other. The last northern Kentucky team to make the finals was Boone County in 1994. The last time a team from south of Louisville made the finals was Nelson County in 1996.

 

John Hardin (6-3) overcame big losses in the offseason to roll undefeated through their district. The Bulldogs were two minutes away from upsetting St. Xavier in the region finals last year.

 

John Hardin enters the playoffs on a five-game winning streak – all in district play. Matt Denham leads the Bulldogs with 893 yards rushing and 11 TDs, and is active on defense as well.

 

The Bulldogs will play Nelson County (3-7), who are back in the playoffs after a one year absence.

 

Bart Bruner’s ground-oriented attack is centered around running back Devin Boone, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards this year.

John Hardin dealt Nelson County a 38-14 loss on Oct. 13.

 

North Hardin (6-4) and Meade County (5-5) meet for the first time in the postseason Friday in Radcliff.

 

The Trojans’ only loss in the district came to John Hardin 22-10, and North disposed of Meade County 25-21 on Oct. 6.

 

North Hardin senior running back Mark Terry rushed for 132 yards and four touchdowns in the win over the Green Wave and has rushed for over 1,100 yards this year.

 

Meade County is led by junior quarterback J.L. Cannady, who completed 18-of-24 passes for 161 yards against the Trojans, and senior running back Michael Harris, who rushed for 101 yards in the first game.

 

Campbell County (7-3) won seven games but finished as a four seed in their northern Kentucky district.

 

The Camels are in the playoffs for the first time since 2001 and are looking to win their first postseason game in nine years.

 

Troy Styer’s senior-laden team is led by quarterback Steven Brown, who has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards, and receiver Brandon Griffin, who has nearly half of the Camels’ receiving yardage.

 

The Camels play a Boone County team they thumped 48-21 on Oct. 13 for the Rebels’ only district loss.

 

Boone County (6-4) is looking to advance to the region title game for the third straight season. The last time that happened was 1992-97.

 

The Rebels started slow with three straight losses to begin the season before rebounding to win six of their last seven games.

 

Cory Ferris has shown why he is one of northern Kentucky’s top running backs with nearly 1,500 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns.

 

After struggling on defense early, the Rebels have allowed two touchdowns or less in five of their last seven games.

 

Ryle (8-2) only lost one district game, but it was a loss to Boone County, which dropped them to a second seed in the playoffs. The Raiders are one win away from tying the school record for wins set in 1997.

 

They will play Dixie Heights (5-5), who they edged 16-14 last week at RHS.

 

Heights presents a balanced offensive attack behind the legs of running back Marty Malony, who has nearly 900 yards rushing, and the arm of Joey Bricking, over 1,000 yards passing.

 

Regional Final Prediction: John Hardin 21 Boone County 16

 

 

REGION THREE – For the first time in 20 years, all of the Louisville 4A schools are lumped into one region, meaning only one of the “Big Three” have a shot at advancing to the final four.

 

Male (9-0) was ranked #1 in the preseason BGP Poll and not loosened their grip on the top spot, averaging 51.7 points and winning by an average of 41 points a night.

 

Doug Beaumont has scored 20 of his 28 touchdowns on the ground and has racked up over 1,200 yards of offense – mostly in the first half of blowouts.

 

Quarterback Corey Gainey (1,481 passing yards) and receiver Josh Williams (705 yds., 9 TDs) compliment Beaumont in the potent Male offense that shredded PRP for 59 points on Sept. 29.

 

Male hosts PRP (7-3) again this week, with Panther head coach Chris Wolfe looking for a way to figure out how to slow down the Male offense.

 

PRP has never won more than two playoff games in a season and will rely on the running of Jherry Smith, who is approaching 1,000 yards, to try and solve the Male pressure defense.

 

St. Xavier’s only loss was an overtime setback to Male that cost the Tigers the top seed.

 

Like Male, the Tigers (8-2) boast a Mr. Football candidate in running back Victor Anderson, who has rushed for over 1,000 yards and 19 touchdowns. St. X is looking to get back to the 4A title game for the fourth straight year for the first time in over 50 years.

 

For that to happen, the Tigers would have to survive a series of playoff games that could include Manual, Male, Trinity, and Lexington’s survivor in consecutive weeks.

 

DuPont Manual (6-4) has advanced past the first round just twice in the past 17 years, and faces an uphill task if they are to better that percentage.

 

Don’t let their 6-4 record fool you. The Rams’ losses are to the “Big Three” and Tennessee power Brentwood Academy.

 

Manual gave up 278 rushing yards to the Tigers in their first meeting, and Rams quarterback Joey Harness completed just 10-of-29 passes for 85 yards. Both must improve for the Rams to pull off the upset.

 

Trinity (9-1) takes on a Southern team that is in the playoffs for the first time since 1998 and hasn’t won a game in the postseason in 22 years.

 

The Shamrocks cruised past Southern 49-7 back on Sept. 15 as Tim Phillips rushed for 124 yards and three scores. Phillips has rushed for more than 900 yards in just seven games this year.

 

Trinity rolled up 600 yards of offense against the Trojans as Nick Petrino threw for 176 yards on 8-of-11 passing.

 

Detrick Biggs, who rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown in the first game against Trinity, has rushed for over 1,200 yards this season for Southern (5-5).

 

Ballard (6-4) is looking to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2003 and will go as far as their defense allows.

 

The Bruins are giving up 27 points a game, including 40 or more three times this season.

 

Junior running back Sir Weakley rushed for a season-high 208 yards and two scores in Ballard’s 32-29 win over Seneca back on Sept. 15.

 

Seneca (5-5) is back in the playoffs after a three year absence and ride a four-game winning streak into the postseason.

 

The Redhawks, like Ballard, have a potent offense and a porous defense.

Junior running back Anthony Knott has topped 100 yards in six games this year, including 255 yards on 24 carries against Ballard in their first game.

 

Senior quarterback Dexter McAtee was 9-of-14 for 169 yards and two scores.

 

Regional Finals Prediction: Trinity 24 Male 20

 

 

REGION FOUR – Most people had Henry Clay penciled in as the favorite to put up the best record in Lexington, but Mike Harmon’s Lafayette Generals put together the school’s first undefeated regular season in 43 years.

 

Quarterback Logan Bunch has thrown for 2,100 yards and 22 touchdowns, helping the Generals average 30 points and 340 yards of offense a night.

 

Chris Tune is a dual threat to run or catch the ball, but Lafayette defense came on strong in the final month, holding Henry Clay and Scott County to a combined 30 points the final two games of the season.

 

Lafayette hasn’t won more than two playoff games in a season since losing to Trinity in the 1985 state title game.

 

The Generals host a Woodford County team they edged 31-27 in a game postponed and replayed the following day.

 

The Yellowjackets (7-3) rebounded from a mid-season three-game losing streak to win seven games for the first time since 2002.

 

Trenton Fields has thrown for 1,663 yards and 17 touchdowns in Woodford’s pass-happy attack.

 

Henry Clay (9-1) lost to Lafayette 25-13 two weeks ago, ruining their bid for a perfect regular season.

 

Sam Simpson’s Blue Devils are quietly hoping for a second round rematch with Lafayette but must first get past a Scott County team they edged 43-42 back in September.

 

While most of the focus on Henry Clay has been on Virginia-bound Chase Minnifield, quarterback Ryan Phillippi (2000 yards, 24 TDs) and receiver Clark Jeter (899 yds., 15 TDs) have been putting up big numbers in 2006.

 

Scott County (7-3) has lost three games by a total of 14 points.

 

Quarterback Cody Andrews leads the Cardinal offense, which is averaging 37 points a game.

 

Lincoln County (9-1) posted their first winning record in six years and won nine games for the first time since 1999.

 

After a season-opening loss to PRP, the Patriots fired off nine straight wins, including a 41-7 win against Madison Central in Stanford.

 

Senior running backs Braxton Miller and Trent Calhoun have been carrying the offensive load for the Patriots. Last week, Miller ran for 204 yards and two scores against the Indians, while Calhoun added 158 yards and three scores.

 

Madison Central (6-4), who features the two-headed rushing attack of Ricky Rhodes and Keshawn Simpson, is looking to avoid back-to-back first round exits for the first time in four years.

 

Dan Gooch took over at Montgomery County last year and has the Indians in the playoffs for the first time since 2001. If they are to win their first playoff game in ten years, the Indians will continue to put the load on quarterback Kaleb Curtis, who has nearly rushed for and passed for 1,000 yards this year.

 

Montgomery County travels to George Rogers Clark (6-4), who they fell to 23-15 on Sept. 22.

 

GRC, who has won five of seven games, has posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 11 years, which was also the last time they advanced past the first round of the playoffs.

 

Regional Finals Prediction: Henry Clay 35 Lincoln County 14

 

Semifinal Predictions

Warren Central 22 John Hardin 14

Trinity 45 Henry Clay 24

 

Championship

Trinity 35 Warren Central 7