2006 Class 2A Kentucky High School Football Playoff Preview

[The Scribe]

Enjoy!

[The Scribe]

What was expected to be a wide-open race for the Class 2A state title has pretty much dwindled to a race featuring three to four favorites.

 

Mercer County, Russell, Western, and Middlesboro have been ranked in the Bluegrasspreps.com top five for most of the season, with many pointing to the first three as legitimate favorites to win the title.

 

You also can’t count out Belfry and Owensboro Catholic, who always seem to find a way to make a strong run in November.

 

REGION ONE – Owensboro Catholic (6-4) is the three-time defending region champion, but will have to make their 2006 postseason run from the #2 seeding position.

 

The Aces haven’t displayed the same consistency that saw them make back-to-back title game appearances in 2004 and 2005, but should have enough weapons to win a fourth straight region title.

 

Sophomore quarterback Evan Walker has struggled commanding the offense at times, but has still managed to throw for over 1,500 yards.

 

Senior receiver Neil Holland is one of the Aces’ top scoring threats, with over 600 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns. He’s also picked off three passes in the secondary.

 

While Owensboro Catholic doesn’t feature a lightning-fast running game, head coach John Edge has presented a more balanced attack between running and passing that has his club averaging 32.5 points and 320 yards a game.

 

If the Aces are to sustain another long run in the playoffs, their defense – which has allowed 20 points and 273 yards a game – must improve.

 

The team that knocked the Aces out of the top seed – Monroe County – may be the biggest unknown in Region One because of their proximity to the other schools.

 

The Falcons (7-3) rolled through district play by an average margin of 20 points a game, including a 27-21 win over Owensboro Catholic Oct. 6 in Tompkinsville.

 

Senior Seth Graves has made the smooth transition from quarterback to running back, already setting a new school record with over 1,700 yards of total offense, including a 448-yard rushing night against Edmonson County earlier this year.

 

Helping Graves find the holes he needs to pick up chunks of yardage is an offensive line that has gelled behind University of Kentucky signee Billy Joe Murphy.

 

Monroe County, who hasn’t won a playoff game in four years, will host Glasgow (3-7), who they beat 19-0 last week.

 

The Scotties endured their first losing season in a dozen years in 2006 and limp into the playoffs with a defensive unit that is allowing 28.6 points and 270 yards a game.

 

Corey Witcher leads the Glasgow ground game with over 700 yards and seven touchdowns.

 

Butler County (6-4) followed a 2-4 start with a four-game district winning streak that saw the Bears outscore their opponents 122-20.

 

Head coach Robert Tuck is hoping to figure out how to reverse his team’s 49-15 loss to Owensboro Catholic – their first round opponent – from mid-September.

 

Over in District One, coaches are quietly bemoaning the new intra-district playoff format. Instead of playing the teams from District Two and having a more than solid chance at a district sweep, the first round will feature two teams ranked in the BGP top ten and a third whose only losses have come in district play.

 

Caldwell County (9-1) beat Fort Campbell (14-13) and Trigg County (17-0) to claim the top seed in the playoffs and home field advantage in the first two rounds.

 

David Barnes’ Tigers have won nine straight games since a season-opening loss to Mayfield, but have struggled in recent weeks against district also-rans.

 

Senior Cameron Williams didn’t play hardly at all in Caldwell’s 21-14 win over Muhlenberg South last week, with Barnes opting to allow Williams’ sprained ankle more time to heal. Williams is a dual threat to run or catch, having already set several Caldwell County receiving records this year.

 

Sophomore quarterback Will Barnes has thrown for over 1,500 yards while completing a staggering 65-percent of his passes.

 

Speedster Rodney Bell is the workhorse in the backfield, and is the prime beneficiary of a large and experienced line that makes it tough for opposing defenses to shoot through the gaps, while giving opposing offenses fits up the middle.

 

Webster County (5-5) is in the playoffs for the first time since winning the region title in 2002 and won’t be a first round pushover for the Tigers.

 

The Trojans held a two-touchdown lead in the second half of their Oct. 13 game before Caldwell exploded for 41 second half points for a 48-28 win.

 

For Webster to have a shot, they must control the clock and limit turnovers. Webster’s Deadrian Rollins will be the main focal point of the Tigers, who held the junior running back to 96 yards on 19 carries in their first game.

 

In perhaps the best first round matchup in Class 2A, Trigg County travels to Fort Campbell in a game pitting squads with identical 8-2 records.

 

The Wildcats choked up a 21-point lead to the Falcons in their Sept. 15 game in Cadiz that saw Fort Campbell escape with a 28-21 win.

 

The Falcons have been winning with defense, entering the playoffs with three straight shutouts and allowing just 11 points a game on the season.

Spearheading the Falcon offensive attack has been speedy freshman Troy Turner, who has rushed for 1,300 yards this year, including 250 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Reidland last week.

 

Falcon head coach Shawn Berner can rotate two players at quarterback as the game dictates. Junior quarterback C.J. Croft is a dual threat to run or throw, but has been hampered by an ankle injury throughout the season.

 

Backup Matt Levin gives the Falcons more a threat to pass when he’s in the game.

 

It was the Falcons’ ability to throw on Trigg County earlier this season that saw them erase a 21-point deficit.

 

The Wildcats are in the midst of one of their better defense seasons (10.5 points, 181 yards a game), but will play a first round road playoff game for the first time in four years.

 

Sophomore running back Brandon Bridges topped the 1,000-yard mark for the season last week, and junior Scotty Mayes has added 7-3 yards, as the once pass-happy Wildcats are now intent to line up and run at the opposition.

 

One thing head coach Curtis Higgins will look to correct is Trigg’s offensive disappearance in district losses to Fort Campbell and Caldwell County.

 

Region Finals Prediction: Fort Campbell 28 Owensboro Catholic 14

 

 

REGION TWO – Western (9-1) was rolling right along with a nine-game winning streak until last week’s 14-9 loss to Washington County derailed their chances at a perfect season.

 

First year head coach Doug Preston hasn’t allowed the Warriors to miss a beat, putting up 41 points a game behind one of the state’s best backfields.

 

Justin Collins and Ronnie Darden have combined to rush for over 3,000 yards and 40 touchdowns for the Warriors, who are looking to avenge last year’s blowout loss in the region finals.

 

Senior quarterback Brett Newton has done a solid job of directing the Western offense, throwing for nearly 1,000 yards and eight scores.

Western’s first round opponent is an Elizabethtown team that enters the playoffs on a three-game winning streak.

 

The Panthers (7-3) lost a 21-7 rain-shortened game to Western earlier this year and will look to their talented underclassmen to pull the first round upset.

 

Junior quarterback J.D. Tanner threw for 101 yards and three touchdowns last week, while junior Jaron Skillman has overcome an early season injury to lead E-town in rushing.

 

Washington County (6-4) avoided the tie-breaker with their upset win over Western last week and will travel to Larue County in the first round.

 

The Commanders haven’t advanced to the second round of the playoffs in nine years and must beat a Larue County team that beat them 22-7 two weeks ago.

 

Larue County (8-2) features a potent 1-2 offensive punch in running back Justin Thurman (1,200 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns) and quarterback Chris Singleton (1,300 yards, 19 touchdowns).

 

The Hawks’ only two losses have come to Bardstown (34-14) and Western (33-18), with a rematch with Western likely looming next week.

 

Instead of facing the Corbin district, the winner of District Three will face the winner of District Five, which features new 2A juggernaut Mercer County.

 

The new-look Titans, a combination of the merged Mercer County and Harrodsburg schools over the summer, has run roughshod over the competition this year and is the only school in 2A to finish the regular season unbeaten.

 

Mercer’s offensive machine is averaging a staggering 55 points and 424 rushing yards a game, making them the team with the target on their backs entering the playoffs.

 

Seniors Brandon Ford and Corey Jackson are approaching 1,500 yards and 25 touchdowns apiece, while Donald Walker, Mercer’s leading returning rusher, has returned from an injury and is providing a nice alternative in the backfield to Ford and Jackson.

 

Because of their lopsided margins, head coach Marty Jaggers hasn’t seen the need for a passing game, with the Titans throwing for less the 250 yards all season. However, Jaggers set several passing records as a quarterback at Trigg County and Western Kentucky University and is likely to have an ace or two up his sleeve if the Titans need to take to the air.

 

Lack of a close game (only two games decided by fewer than 40 points) could be the one drawback for a Titan team that hasn’t played their starters for more than a half for much of the season. When faced with a close game late in the fourth quarter, it will interesting to see how Mercer County responds.

 

That likely won’t happen this week as Lloyd Memorial (4-6) comes to Harrodsburg for the second time in three weeks, losing 64-14 two weeks ago.

 

Lloyd has been a juggernaut in nickname only this year, although quarterback Jesse French has tossed for over 1,000 yards this year.

 

Newport (7-3) will host Spencer County (6-4) in a rematch of their Oct. 6 contest won by Spencer County 14-6.

 

Wildcat quarterback J.J. Hesch hasn’t put up the same numbers he did as a junior when he had more offensive weapons around him. The senior has still managed over 1,200 total yards and nine touchdowns.

 

Ryne Wilfong leads Newport in rushing with over 900 yards and 11 scores.

In just their third season of existence, Spencer County is in the playoffs for the first time.

 

Matt Poweski’s Bears feature a balanced rushing attack with three players (Chris Riggs, Wayne Lyons, and Matt Parsons) all over 400 yards on the ground.

 

This is another first round game worth watching.

 

Regional Finals Prediction: Mercer County 49 Western 21

 

 

REGION THREE – For Corbin and Wayne County, it’s pick your poison.

 

Instead of a potential matchup with Western in the regional finals, it’s likely they will have to travel to defending state champion Russell for a shot at the state final four.

 

The Redhounds (5-5) once again played a killer non-district schedule with hopes that it pays off in the playoffs. Corbin has advanced past the second round of the playoffs five of the last seven seasons.

 

Clint Cashen has thrown for over 1,600 yards and ten scores, while fullback Josh Sanders has rushed for over 700 yards.

 

While the Redhounds aren’t expected to be challenged hard in the first two rounds, their defensive unit must improve if they are to make a serious November run.

 

Corbin has allowed 20 or more points four times and is giving up 275 yards a game.

 

Corbin meets Garrard County (2-8) for the second consecutive week after drumming them 61-6 last week.

 

Sanders and Freshman Ryan Fritts combined for 214 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the win, Corbin’s 25th straight against district opponents.

 

The team most likely to end the streak is Wayne County (6-4), who dropped a 23-14 decision to the Redhounds three weeks ago.

 

The Cardinals feature dual threat quarterback Jordan Steele, who has thrown for over 800 yards and rushed for 500 more.

 

Wayne County proved to be a tough out in the playoffs last year, winning their first postseason game in six years before falling to Western 21-7 in the second round.

 

The Cardinals face Casey County (2-8), who they beat 18-0 last week.

Instead of a potential third round game with top-ranked Mercer County, defending state champion Russell saw their chances of repeating as region champ improve with the new playoff format.

 

Except for a hiccup in the week’s second season (a triple OT loss to Ashland), the Devils (9-1) have rolled as expected over the rest of their schedule.

 

All-everything Kasey Clark has once again showed why he is one of the best players in the state with over 1,200 rushing yards and 28 TDs, to go with 300 receiving yards and two interceptions on defense.

 

But it’s the defense of the Devils that has proved tough for their opponents to overcome, allowing just nine points and 188 yards a game.

 

Russell hosts East Carter (5-5), who they beat 41-6 two weeks ago.

 

With another regional championship, Russell head coach Ivan McGlone will tie Mayfield’s Jack Morris for 12th on the state’s all-time coaching win list with 254.

 

East Carter has alternated wins and losses each week during the season, with the pattern leaning toward a loss this week. Barring a meteorite crashing into Ivan McGlone Field this week, the win-loss pattern should continue for East Carter.

 

An intriguing two-three matchup has Fleming County (7-3) hosting West Carter (5-5), who is making their first appearance in the playoffs since 1994.

 

West avoided the first round trip to Russell with a one-point win over rival East Carter on Oct. 6. It was also the last time the Comets won a game.

 

West Carter quarterback Ace Puckett has played like his name, throwing for 865 yards and nine touchdowns. A big line has given quarterback James Frint time to pick his way to 792 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.

 

The Comets has last week off, giving them an extra week to get healthy and prepare for Fleming County, who beat them 38-21 two weeks ago.

 

The Panthers wrapped up their seventh straight winning season despite a loss to Russell last week.

 

Regional Finals Prediction: Russell 48 Corbin 12

 

 

REGION FOUR – Belfry owns the last three region titles, but the Pirates face more competition this year from a Sheldon Clark team that has already tagged them for a loss, a Middlesboro team ranked in the top ten all season long, and an improved Breathitt County team.

 

Both losses for Belfry (8-2) came in overtime on the road. The good news for Phillip Haywood’s Pirates is that the playoffs run through Pond Creek through the first four rounds of the playoffs.

 

Junior Dustin May has lived up to preseason expectations with over 1,000 yards rushing, and Corey Chapman has added nearly 800 for a Belfry offense that’s averaging 36 points and 301 rushing yards a game.

 

For the Pirates, it’s a first round rematch against Shelby Valley (5-5), who they thumped 49-6 last week.

 

The Wildcats have been bothered by injuries this year and could start seven freshman and sophomores on both sides of the ball this week.

 

Sheldon Clark (9-1) is the only nine-win three-seed in the state thanks to a three-way tiebreaker for first place. The Cardinals finished one-point behind Prestonsburg (6-4) for second seed and will travel to the ‘burg this week looking to avenge a 20-17 overtime loss suffered on Sept. 22.

 

Junior Adam Dials and Ryan Kelly spearhead a Sheldon Clark running attack that has put up 34 points a game. Junior quarterback Damien Hensley has also matured down the stretch for the Cardinals, who torched region favorite Belfry for a bundle of second half points.

 

The Cardinals made a surprise trip the region finals last year before falling to Belfry 47-7. To repeat the feat, they will have to beat the Pirates one round earlier.

 

Meanwhile, Prestonsburg would also like another shot at the Pirates.

 

The Blackcats have been a tough team to figure out but come into the playoffs giving up just a touchdown in four of their last five games.

 

Lincoln Slone has over 600 yards rushing and nearly 300 receiving to lead a Blackcat offense averaging 22 points a game. Over the last five games, they are scoring over 30 points a game.

 

But John Derossett’s ‘Cats will have to find a way to stop the run, which hasn’t been easy for them at times, allowing over 200 rushing yards a game.

 

Middlesboro (9-1) hasn’t lost to a Kentucky team and enters the postseason on a nine-game winning streak.

 

The Yellow jackets get a 3-7 Cawood team they throttled 46-18 back on Sept. 16.

 

Led by quarterback Trevor Hoskins (1,559 yards, 15 TDs) and running back Casey Earls (942 yards, 12 TDs), Middlesboro has one of the top offenses in Class 2A, averaging 42.5 points and 439 yards a night.

 

However, they have allowed over 40 points in three games this year. They were fortunate to win two of those thanks to scoring more than 55 points in both games.

 

Hunter Adams has caught 27 passes from Hoskins and six more from the other team’s quarterback this year. Stopping the run will be the key for the Jackets.

 

Cawood beat Knott County Central two weeks ago, which got them into the playoffs for a ninth straight year. They haven’t won a playoff game during that time and haven’t earned a postseason victory since 1993.

 

Cawood is led by T.J. Green’s 728 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

 

Breathitt County (8-2) hosts Leslie County (5-5) in another must-see two-three seed game.

 

Mike Holcomb has the Bobcats back in the playoff chase for 19th straight year – one of the longest streaks in the state.

 

Running back Beckham Herald is one of the reasons why the Bobcats are averaging 33 points a game this year.

 

Breathitt beat Leslie 20-6 Oct. 6 in Hyden.

 

The Eagles graduated a lot of seniors but have returned to the playoffs behind the legs of Ryan Howard and the arm of Jimmie Morgan.

 

The last time Leslie County advanced past the second round of the playoffs was 1995, and it would take avenging two-touchdown losses to Middlesboro and Breathitt County to end that streak in 2006.

 

Regional Finals Prediction: Belfry 35 Middlesboro 33

 

State Semifinals: Mercer County 42 Fort Campbell 7

Russell 14 Belfry 13

Finals: Mercer County 27 Russell 20