BluegrassPreps Football Rankings (10/28)

Class 1A

There were big moves on both sides of the bracket. Paintsville had just enough in the tank to hold off Raceland to put the final key puzzle piece together in the east. The Tigers now look for a major shot of momentum if they can knock off a second Class 2A powerhouse. Louisville Holy Cross forced a three-way tie by showing serious backbone against Campbellsville. The Eagles will need a bounce back, but it will be no easy task against Kentucky Country Day in a possible playoff precursor. Newport Central Catholic, Pikeville, and Hazard all will have solid curtain calls to their season.

1. Pikeville vs. Ridgeview (VA)

2. Paintsville vs 2A #1 Lexington Christian

3. Newport Central Catholic at 2A #4 Beechwood

4. Hazard at 5A Whitley County

5. Raceland vs. 3A Lawrence County

6. Kentucky Country Day vs. #10 Campbellsville

7. Williamsburg at 4A Perry County Central

8. Bethlehem at 3A Estill County

9. Louisville Holy Cross vs. 2A Walton-Verona

10. Campbellsville at #6 Kentucky Country Day

Class 2A

Mayfield has found their defensive stride and the rest of Class 2A should serve notice. The Cardinals shut down Murray and will get one last tune up when they take on Mr. Hightower and his Madisonville squad. Beechwood is also peaking at the right time as they posted their second straight dominating win against solid competition. They will look to keep the mojo going against Newport Central Catholic. Lexington Christian Academy and Somerset both know what looms in Round 2, but before then they each have stout season finales. Eyes will also be on Breathitt County as the Bobcats get to face essentially the only non-district foe with a winning record.

1. Lexington Christian Academy at 1A #2 Paintsville

2. Somerset at 4A #6 Corbin

3. Mayfield at 4A #7 Madisonville-North Hopkins

4. Beechwood vs. 1A #3 Newport Central Catholic

5. Owensboro Catholic vs. 6A Apollo

6. Caldwell County at 3A Trigg County

7. Breathitt County vs. 3A Pike Central

8. Murray at 1A Fulton County

9. Lloyd Memorial vs. 3A #6 Elizabethtown

10. Newport -- OPEN

Class 3A

DeSales earned a big win over Mercer County, but in the process the Titans certainly made many people believers. Belfry got a huge RPI boost this week after defeating Pike Central and now look for their second straight leap if they can upset powerhouse rival Johnson Central. Ashland is also in RPI purgatory as a stout Spring Valley, WV team is almost a "must win" situation. Elizabethtown pulled out a tough victory in extra time over Bardstown, they now must keep their focus against a ranked Lloyd Memorial team.

1. DeSales at 6A Meade County

2. Belfry vs. 4A #2 Johnson Central

3. Ashland at Spring Valley (WV)

4. Bell County vs. 4A Harlan County

5. Mercer County at 5A West Jessamine

6. Elizabethtown at 2A #9 Lloyd Memorial

7. Russell at 2A West Carter

8. Christian Academy of Louisville vs. 5A Bullitt Central

9. Bardstown vs. 4A Anderson County

10. Paducah Tilghman at 4A #8 Hopkinsville

Class 4A

Two statement games lived up to their billing. Wayne County stunned Corbin on the road with a dramatic victory. Franklin County kept their unbeaten season alive by edging past Central in a true defensive slug fest. This week the games feature teams from other classes, but there should still be major drama to unfold. Johnson Central has been locked in cruise control but will stretch their legs against Eastern Kentucky small-school titan Belfry. Lexington Catholic doesn't want to be considered the third best team in their city, but Frederick Douglass will be a very tall task. Madisonville, Hopkinsville, and Logan County have a three-way tie to settle and all have key games to go toward that result against three ranked foes. Corbin desperately needs a rebound but will have a tough challenge against Somerset.

1. Boyle County at 5A Madison Southern

2. Johnson Central at 3A #2 Belfry

3. Franklin County at 5A Great Crossing

4. Lexington Catholic vs. 5A #2 Frederick Douglass

5. Wayne County at 5A North Laurel

6. Corbin vs. 2A #2 Somerset

7. Madisonville-North Hopkins vs. 2A #3 Mayfield

8. Hopkinsville vs. 3A #10 Paducah Tilghman

9. Logan County at 5A #5 South Warren

10. Central -- OPEN

Class 5A

Pulaski County had perhaps the biggest story line of the week in Class 5A when they fell to rival Southwestern. The Maroons now need a win over Tates Creek if they want to be considered a viable threat to make noise. Scott County is a team firmly in that discussion but there shootout win over Ballard certainly raised eyebrows that they may be a step behind. Frederick Douglass, Bowling Green, South Warren, and South Oldham all have chances to dramatically improve their season resume and RPI rating. Owensboro seems to be a team flying under the radar and they need to handle a solid 6A Henderson County squad.

1. Covington Catholic -- OPEN

2. Frederick Douglass at 4A #4 Lexington Catholic

3. Scott County -- OPEN

4. Bowling Green vs. 6A #2 Trinity

5. South Warren vs. 4A #9 Logan County

6. South Oldham vs. 6A #6 Central Hardin

7. Owensboro vs. 6A #10 Henderson County

8. Highlands -- OPEN

9. Conner vs. George Rogers Clark

10. Pulaski County vs. Tates Creek

Class 6A

We will probably see North Hardin and Central Hardin meeting again, but the first game was a decision that made defensive minded folks very happy as North Hardin eeked out a victory by about as minimal of a margin as possible. Central Hardin doesn't have time to let that loss haunt them for Halloween, they still have an extremely dangerous South Oldham team to play. Manual has quietly positioned themselves as a threat most did not anticipate in Jefferson County. If they can shock rival Male they suddenly become a major Title threat. Simon Kenton and Henderson County are each welcomed back to the Top 10 after big time wins, but both will need wins this week to stay there.

1. Male at #4 Manual

2. Trinity at 5A #4 Bowling Green

3. North Hardin vs. Pleasure Ridge Park

4. Manual vs. #1 Male

5. St. Xavier vs. St. Xavier (OH)

6. Central Hardin at 5A #6 South Oldham

7. Fern Creek -- OPEN

8. Ballard at Henry Clay

9. Simon Kenton at Little Miami (OH)

10. Henderson County at 5A #7 Owensboro