Ignore these four at your own risk

 

From the northern reaches of Park Hills, to the "farm(s)" of central Kentucky, to Corvette City, we're pretty familiar with most of 5A's contenders, but there's a middle tier of teams that have largely been glossed over. This week, we're going to turn our attention to 5A's equivalent of the "middle child".

 

#6 South Oldham - In regards to the Dragons, it's easy to see why they're consistently overlooked every year around this time. In 2017 and 2018, they dropped the season opener to the Christian Academy of Louisville before embarking on a long winning streak that featured dominant performances against numerous teams that, frankly, were overwhelmed from the opening kick and were not equipped to stay on the field with them for four quarters. Up to this point, that same pattern is playing out this year. CAL has been the only remotely marquee name on the regular season schedule for South Oldham, and a win over the Centurions would elevate the Dragons to a seat at the table for a conversation they're usually not a part of. But that conversation altering victory continues to evade them. This season, however, differs slightly from the previous two. Bookending the CAL opener is a regular season capper with Central Hardin, currently unbeaten and ranked #6 in 6A. There lies a rare second opportunity for South Oldham to turn heads before the start of postseason play. That game could be just what South Oldham needs to reset/sharpen their focus before the second season gets underway. Their 42 points allowed this season and average margin of victory of 40.4 trail only Frederick Douglass among 5A teams. And quarterback Anthony Pierce is doing what he does best, smoothly operating SO's offense while being very efficient (67% comp.) and careful (only one pick) when he puts the ball in the air.

 

#7 Pulaski County - Of all the programs featured here, the Maroons easily have the most successful recent history. They ran off four straight championship game appearances from 2013-2016, reaching a zenith with the 2014 5A state title. Behind Johnny Hines, Pulaski County has been remarkably successful for a "County" school over the last dozen years, or so. With the return of all but just a few starters from last year's 11-win, semifinal team, expectations were sky high. Those expectations seemed justified at halftime of their Week 1 encounter with Lexington Catholic, which the Maroons led 14-0 at intermission before Beau Allen engineered a second half comeback. They've since won seven in a row, but are lacking any eye opening results. The last time we saw Pulaski against one of 5A's other heavyweights, they were on the receiving end of a running clock early in the second quarter against CovCath last year. The stain from that loss no doubt lingers over this year's squad when it comes to the perception of how they stack up to the upper crust of this class. They have two of 5A's best players in Cox and Sloan, and a sophomore quarterback playing beyond his years - Drew Polston is averaging 300+ yards of offense per game with 20 touchdowns scored. The defense features one of 5A's best linebacking corps.

 

#8 Conner - Everything about Conner's season so far revolves around their stunning victory over Highlands in Fort Thomas. Nothing about the previous several weeks indicated that the Cougars might be a force to be reckoned with in 5A this year, but that October 4th date with the Birds changed everything. Quarterback Jared Hicks pilots the ship in Hebron, accounting for over 2,000 yards of total offense and 23 touchdowns. He's got a strong group of receivers to throw to and a solid defense, but make no mistake, Hicks is the heart and soul of this team. They'll ride a six game winning streak and a week off into this Friday's tussle with Covington Catholic for the district's top seed. Barring an upset of Buster Douglas/Mike Tyson proportions against CovCath, we could get a Conner/Highlands rematch in the first round and an opportunity to show everyone that what happened three weeks ago was no fluke.

 

#9 Owensboro - The Red Devils with Imonte Owsley and Austin Gough felt like a team that could give anyone in 5A problems. After suddenly losing both in the preseason to serious injuries, Owensboro found themselves adrift in this sea of middle tier teams destined for possibly very good, but not quite great seasons. But the team has pulled together and proven that they are much more than their two injured all state talents. The lone blemish on their record is a two point setback to Evansville Central, a top 10 team in Indiana's class 4A. Sophomore quarterback Gavin Wimsatt hasn't quite duplicated Will Warren's production, but he has proven a worthy successor to last year's record setting gunslinger with an experienced group of pass catchers aiding in his development. And the defensive line is one of 5A's very best. They get after the quarterback and anchor a defense allowing just 153 yards and 5.2 points per game. State championship aspirations may or may not be too far out of reach, but this is a team that no one wants to see in the later rounds.

 

 

 

Offensive balance propelling resurgent Fairdale

 

Football and Fairdale have never really been synonymous. Like so many others, they've spent decades languishing in the vast wasteland of JCPS football programs, alternating good seasons with bad, but struggling to sustain long term success. They're a school better known for their achievements on the hardwood, winning three state basketball championships during a dominant five year run in the first half of the 1990's. This fall, however, the Bulldogs are attempting to bring football back to the forefront in the south Louisville community.

 

Coach Dover was hired in 2017 after spending time on Ty Scroggins' staff at Central and serving as the head coach at Seneca for several years. His first two years at Fairdale were sub-par, but this season has seen a giant leap forward for the program. The Bulldogs have ridden a senior laden roster to an 8-1 record thus far, with a likely ninth win waiting for them in the regular season finale against Jeffersontown. They've already clinched the 1 seed in their district and should have no trouble navigating their way to a district title and a possible 11-1 record entering the third round of the playoffs.

 

Looking over Fairdale's numbers this year, the offensive firepower and balance immediately stand out. They're averaging a 5A best 47 points per game, and they've been consistent, topping 40+ in seven of their nine games. The distribution and run-pass balance has been incredibly impressive. On the season, Fairdale has run for 1,872 yards and passed for 1,742. The bulk of the running game has revolved around the trio of Mekale Buckner (600 yards/8 TDs), Earl Cameron (529 yards/11 TDs), and Travis Helm (428 yards/5 TDs), while Matthew Morgeson, Tyjuan Walter, Stephen Moore, Helm, and Joshua Kennebrew have combined for 67 catches for 1,500 yards and 23 TDs. There isn't one skill guy making all of the plays. Coach Dover has several players capable of stepping up and producing any given Friday. The one common thread every week has been the play of QB Trey McCoy, who has quietly put together one of the most productive passing seasons in the state, let alone the class. He ranks fifth in 5A in passing yardage and leads the class in touchdown passes with 26. His TD/Int. ratio of 5 to 1 also tops 5A for quarterbacks with at least 100 pass attempts.

 

The Bulldogs ran through their district without much resistance and now enter a bye week to rest up and heal any bumps and bruises that may need healing. Whether or not Fairdale is gearing up for a modest playoff run or a march toward late November remains to be seen, but right now, only the basketball diehards are looking forward to the sound of balls dribbling on the hardwood. It's still football season on Fairdale Road.

 

 

 

Hurry Up Offense

 

- Covington Catholic won its fifth straight over Highlands (5-4) and shut the Birds out for the third time in four games. It wasn't pretty, but the Colonels got the job done behind a huge game from Ethan Reardon - 9 catches/174 yards/1 TD. His 69 yard catch on the game's third play was CovCath's only touchdown of the night.

 

- Frederick Douglass (8-0) pitched its sixth shutout in a row, and seventh in eight games, while demolishing Great Crossing 50-0. The Broncos amassed 426 yards of offense on 34 snaps with the starters seeing limited action. Cincinnati commit Devin Neal touched the ball twice and scored both times, while UK and UofL target Dane Key returned a punt for a touchdown.

 

- Scott County (8-1) scored 50+ for the third straight game since the loss to Douglass. This week's victim was Montgomery County, who provided little resistance in a 55-0 blowout. Quarterback Cade McKee and running backs Bronson Brown and Jaxon Saylor each accounted for two touchdowns.

 

- Bowling Green (5-2) rolled over winless Christian County 49-0 behind Conner Cooper's three touchdowns. He completed scoring strikes to Elvin FoFanah and Jordan Dingle in the first half before running one in in the third quarter.

 

- South Warren (7-1) got 100+ yards rushing and two touchdowns from Kobe Martin and a strong third quarter to put away a stubborn Greenwood team, 36-18. The Spartans owned the third frame 21-3 after trailing by a point at halftime.

 

- Treyvon Tinsley snagged three touchdown receptions from Gavin Wimsatt to help distance Owensboro (7-1) from a tough Graves County squad. The Red Devils led just 13-8 at the half before settling in a 27-8 final. Cameron Thompson did work on the ground for the victors with 109 yards and a touchdown.

 

 

 

Scanning the periphery

 

- The connection of Seth Mills to Caleb Irwin was clicking and the defensive front seven were in fine form for Whitley County (5-3) in Week 9's only Thursday night game. Mills threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns in the Colonels' 28-22 win over North Laurel, with 110 of those yards and one of the scores finding their way into the hands of Irwin. The defense lived in the Jaguars' backfield, recording five sacks as well as several other tackles for loss. Whitley has played well of late, winning three in a row, while North Laurel has dropped back to back games following a four game winning streak.

 

- Madison Southern (4-4) overcame the turnover bug and a second half comeback attempt from West Jessamine to emerge victorious in a 63-40 shootout. After trailing by three scores on multiple occasions, the Colts pulled to within 49-40 in the fourth quarter before a couple of late scores touchdowns salted the game away for the Eagles.

 

- Woodford County (5-3) got 184 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Amartae Rice to push past Collins, 24-19. This victory gives the Yellow Jackets their most wins in eight years and continues the Titans' struggles, as they fall to 1-7.

 

 

 

Co-GOTW For Week 9

 

Covington Catholic at Conner - With both teams dispatching Highlands in recent weeks, as well as the other two teams in the district, this game will determine the District 5 one seed. Both teams come in streaking. CovCath is 9-0 this season and the Cougars have won six in a row since the loss to Ryle, but Conner hasn't seen anything like the offensive scheme or personnel that the Colonels will throw at them.

 

Southwestern at Pulaski County - This may seem like an odd choice for a GOTW, with the Warriors struggling in Jason Foley's first year at the helm. But this rivalry always seems to bring out the competitive spirit in both sides. Nothing would change the mood on the "Reservation" like upending the Maroons when Pulaski enters as a clear favorite. Tristan Cox came up big with 121 yards rushing in last year's Pulaski playoff win.

Updated 5A RPI standings:

 

1. Covington Catholic - .708

2. Pulaski County - .671

3. Frederick Douglass - .666

4. Scott County - .657

5. Owensboro - .651

6. Conner - .633

7. South Warren - .613

8. South Oldham - .612

9. Highlands - .584

10. East Jessamine - .571

 

 

Projected 3rd Round Games:

 

East Jessamine at Covington Catholic

Frederick Douglass at Pulaski County

South Oldham at South Warren

Fairdale at Owensboro

Obviously, these projections don't take into account district seeding or who beat who in the regular season, because South Warren is projected to win their district despite losing to Bowling Green. The Purples sit at #11 in the latest RPI.

What’s up with the injured QB from South Warren? Is he doing better?