BluegrassPreps.com Football Rankings (9/23)

Class 1A

If there were any doubts that Pikeville was the the team most deserving to be at the top of the Class 1A Rankings, the Panthers' come from behind victory at Belfry has to weigh heavily toward erasing any doubt. Williamsburg lost their unblemished record hosting 2A Somerset, they will need everything in their arsenal to avoid a two-game losing streak as another loaded 2A team is up next in LCA. Hazard edged Danville by a point, and now will take aim at a Paintsville team looking to make their own statement. In Newport, it is a good ole fashioned rivalry with the rare occasion both teams enter ranked.

1. Pikeville at 3A Lawrence County

2. Paintsville at #7 Hazard

3. Raceland vs. Portsmouth West (OH)

4. Williamsburg at 2A #3 Lexington Christian Academy

5. Newport Central Catholic at 2A #10 Newport

6. Campbellsville vs. Fort Knox

7. Hazard vs. #2 Paintsville

8. Kentucky Country Day vs. 6A Southern

9. Crittenden County at 3A Union County

10. Louisville Holy Cross at Providence (IN)

Class 2A

Though Lexington Christian Academy did not see their ranking improve, their perception as a legitimate State Title contender certainly improved with their shocking shootout victory over 4A Lexington Catholic. The Eagles will try to continue to strengthen their resume against a ranked Williamsburg squad. Somerset knows Williamsburg well after knocking them off this past week, the Briarjumpers will keep it in Class 1A for another week, but Russellville should be a very winnable game. A pair of undefeated teams will risk their pursuit of perfection as Breathitt County will go on the road to upstart Middlesboro, and surprising Todd County Central will search for a shocking upset hosting Owensboro Catholic.

1. Somerset vs. 1A Russellville

2. Mayfield at Fort Campbell

3. Lexington Christian Academy vs. 1A #4 Williamsburg

4. Beechwood vs. Taft (OH)

5. Murray -- OPEN

6. Caldwell County at Ballard Memorial

7. Owensboro Catholic at Todd County Central

8. Breathitt County at Middlesboro

9. Lloyd Memorial -- OPEN

10. Newport vs. 1A #5 Newport Central Catholic

Class 3A

It was not pretty for two of the top three teams as Belfry and Christian Academy of Louisville each had losses that left people doubting their credibility against top-ranked teams from other classes. The Pirates from Pond Creek fell victim to the Panthers of Pikeville and many questions remain in the wake. The Centurions had little alliteration, but they gave up a ton of points, 71 to be exact, to Boyle County. DeSales benefits from the losses as well as their lopsided win over Cooper, allowing them to take the top spot. Ashland got back on the winning side with a great victory over Ironton, Ohio. A week heavy on intra-class competition does have one big game. Glasgow has been cruising, but may face their stiffest regular season test against defending 5A champion South Warren. Bardstown and Larue County should be a game to keep on your radar as well.

1. DeSales vs. Henry County

2. Belfry vs. Magoffin County

3. Christian Academy of Louisville vs. Mercer County

4. Ashland -- OPEN

5. Bell County at McCreary Central

6. Elizabethtown at Nelson County

7. Paducah Tilghman at Trigg County

8. Glasgow vs. 5A #5 South Warren

9. Russell vs. Fleming County

10. Bardstown vs. Larue County

Class 4A

Boyle County is kind of good at scoring points. The Rebels went "beast mode" on defending 2A champions and previously top-ranked 3A Christian Academy of Louisville to the tune of 71 points and a 43-point win. The Rebels won't back down in scheduling as they take on another proud powerhouse in Highlands. Lexington Catholic's momentum came to a screeching halt in a crossfire of points against 2A Lexington Christian Academy, they need a big bounce back against 6A Tates Creek. Johnson Central hosts their own 6A foe in Simon Kenton, making for one of the more intriguing games in the state. Logan County enters the Top 10 after handling Greenwood, they now take aim at a Madisonville-North Hopkins team that is looking the part of a legit threat.

1. Boyle County vs. 5A #4 Highlands

2. Johnson Central vs. 6A Simon Kenton

3. Lexington Catholic vs. 6A Tates Creek

4. Madisonville-North Hopkins vs. #10 Logan County

5. Franklin County at Shelby County

6. Corbin vs. 5A #6 Bowling Green

7. Hopkinsville vs. Calloway County

8. Wayne County vs. 2A Danville

9. Central at 6A Meade County

10. Logan County at #4 Madisonville-North Hopkins

Class 5A

On a week where the usual players in the Class 5A Top 10 mostly handled their business, Bowling Green was the lone familiar face posting a "L" as 6A St. Xavier was a little too much. The Purples need a rebound and will look for it against 4A Corbin. All eyes may be on Lexington as Scott County travels to Frederick Douglass in a massive Central Kentucky match-up. Highlands is still flying under the radar a bit, something not familiar for the perennial heavyweight. The blue blood Blue Birds will look to announce their presence if they can knock off 4A's top-ranked team Boyle County. Conner sneaks into the Top 10 and are off to a great start, they cannot afford to slip up over Boone County.

1. Frederick Douglass vs. #3 Scott County

2. Covington Catholic vs. Cooper

3. Scott County at #1 Frederick Douglass

4. Highlands at 4A #1 Boyle County

5. South Warren at 3A #8 Glasgow

6. Bowling Green at 4A #6 Corbin

7. South Oldham vs. Jeffersontown

8. Pulaski County at Whitley County

9. Owensboro at Ohio County

10. Conner at Boone County

Class 6A

Perhaps the biggest regular season game in Kentucky lived up to the hype as it took plenty of extra time for Male to sneak by Trinity, and in the process set themselves up as the team to beat in Class 6A. The Bulldogs cannot rest on their laurels as Butler is a team who would love to see them looking at the rear view. Trinity must also set their eyes forward, they now get their arch nemesis St. Xavier. Fern Creek secured their second big win of the season by knocking off Ballard, the Tigers now must keep their guard up against an Eastern team that is better than their 2-3 record would indicate. Central Hardin has been slowly creeping up the rankings and will get their chance to further impress against Henry Clay.

1. Male vs. #7 Butler

2. Trinity vs. #3 St. Xavier at Cardinal Stadium

3. St. Xavier vs. #2 Trinity at Cardinal Stadium

4. North Hardin vs. Bullitt East

5. Manual vs. 5A North Bullitt

6. Central Hardin vs. Henry Clay

7. Butler at #1 Male

8. Fern Creek vs. Eastern

9. Ballard at George Rogers Clark

10. McCracken County at Apollo