2006 BGP 2A Playoff Preview

[The Scribe]

Enjoy!

[The Scribe]

For the complete 2006 BGP 2A Playoff Preview Click Here

 

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.

 

Region Finals Prediction: For the complete 2006 BGP 2A Playoff Preview Click Here

 

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.

 

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: For the complete 2006 BGP 2A Playoff Preview Click Here

 

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.

 

Regional Finals Prediction: Belfry 35 Middlesboro 33

 

State Semifinals: For the complete 2006 BGP 2A Playoff Preview Click Here

Finals: For the complete 2006 BGP 2A Playoff Preview Click Here

[theguru]

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