1A Notebook (10/29) - It isn't Over till it's Over

The district games might be over but all the district seeding races are not. We still have some drama in District 2 with a three way tie for first. That will make this weekend’s games important watching for those teams. The three way tie was set up by Louisville Holy Cross getting the upset win over Campbellsville. Our other top 10 face off had Paintsville edging Raceland for the top seed in District 6. More about those two games in our weekly review.

The rest of the district seedings are finished and we will run through that quickly below. Next week will be the playoff preview so we are not going to spend time trying to size up the playoffs this week.

Weekly Review

1. Pikeville (9-0) --- OPEN

2. Paintsville (7-2) WON vs. #5 Raceland 19-15

3. Newport Central Catholic (7-2) WON at Bellevue 50-7

4. Hazard (6-3) WON vs. Phelps 43-7

5. Raceland (5-4) LOST at #2 Paintsville 15-19

6. Campbellsville (6-3) LOST at #10 Louisville Holy Cross 12-28

7. Williamsburg (7-2) WON vs. Lynn Camp 43-22

8. Kentucky Country Day (9-0) WON vs. Eminence 62-13

9. Bethlehem (6-2) WON vs. Fort Knox 45-0

10. Louisville Holy Cross (7-2) WON vs. #6 Campbellsville 28-12

Not much drama for most of the top 10 this week with lopsided district wins being the theme. But we did have two games that we need to take a closer look at.

First up is the annual district clash between Paintsville and Raceland. Both these teams played a number of games this year without their starting quarterbacks but they were both back in time for this key game. However, it was the defenses that ruled in this game and both of those quarterbacks struggled passing the ball. The difference in the game was Paintsville’s rushing attack. The Tigers outrushed the Rams 174 to 71. While Tigers QB Jake Hyden may have struggled on the passing side he had the key run in the game when he scored from 48 yards out early in the second half. That run put Paintsville ahead 19-6. However, as it happens so often when these two play, Raceland had a late charge in them. Rams QB Jacob Heighton finally started connecting in the passing game. Two 50 yard plus touchdown passes to Ethan Cox got the Rams within a score of taking the lead. With 1:39 to go the Rams started their final drive at their own 10. Heighton passed Raceland down field and with 5 seconds left the Rams were at the 21 with time for one final pass attempt. However, in a game dominated by the defenses, it was a defensive play that sealed it when Paintsville’s John Phelps intercepted the pass in the end zone. The Tigers and Rams almost never disappoint their audience and they sure gave everyone their money’s worth in this one.

Our other top battle had Louisville Holy Cross hosting Campbellsville with the District 2 top seed and home field advantage in playoff rounds one and two at stake. Campbellsville went to battle in this one without WR/RB extraordinaire Malachi Corley. It looked like it might be a tough night for the Eagles as they threw three interceptions and only totaled 34 yards in the first half. The Eagles defense kept stride though and Campbellsville had a 6-5 lead in the third quarter. From that point on though it was all Cougars. QB Chaz Geraghty used his legs to get the go ahead score and then passed for another score to get Holy Cross an 18 -6 lead. Eagles QB Arren Hash fought off a tough night to lead Campbellsville back to within a score with 7:46 left in the fourth quarter. But it was not to be for the Eagles. Holy Cross kicked a field goal and then scored on a late touchdown run by Larry Davis to get the 28-12 win.

Now the tiebreaker comes into play with Campbellsville, Holy Cross and Bethlehem all at 2-1 with wins against each other. The tiebreaker is add the total wins of your four best opponents not including any of the teams you are tied with. Currently Holy Cross leads with 16 wins, Bethlehem has 11 and Campbellsville has 9. I don’t want to eliminate the drama, but if my calculations are correct Bethlehem cannot get the top seed. The best they can hope for is they win and Holy Cross and Campbellsville lose. Then Bethlehem will be tied at 16 with Holy Cross. Then as you look at each opponent’s fifth opponent’s wins they are still tied. Then you go to the sixth opponent and Holy Cross wins the tiebreaker by 1. If Holy Cross beats Walton-Verona, they will be the #1 seed. If Holy Cross loses and Campbellsville wins, then Campbellsville is #1. So, there is still some drama. To be decided Friday night.

1A District Standings

District 1

1. Crittenden County 7-2; 3-0 in district

2. Russellville 2-7; 2-1 in district

3. Fulton County 6-3; 1-2 in district

4. Caverna 1-8; 0-3 in district

Crittenden County had a bit of a surprising struggle in beating Russellville 21-14 and earning the top seed.

District 2

? Louisville Holy Cross 7-2; 2-1 in district

? Bethlehem 6-2; 2-1 in district

? Campbellsville 6-3; 2-1 in district

4. Fort Knox 2-7; 0-3 in district

Playoff seeds will be decided this Friday as detailed above.

District 3

1. Kentucky Country Day 9-0; 3-0 in district

2. Eminence 7-2; 2-1 in district

3. Frankfort 3-6; 1-2 in district

4. Berea 6-3; 1-2 in district

Kentucky Country Day made sure there was no doubt who the top team is in District 3 with a 62-13 win over Eminence. Meanwhile Frankfort shut out Berea 34-0 to grab the #3 seed.

District 4

1. Newport Central Catholic 7-2; 3-0 in district

2. Ludlow 6-3; 2-1 in district

3. Bellevue 2-7; 1-2 in district

4. Dayton 4-5; 0-3 in district

No sweat in this district for Newport Central Catholic. Ludlow survived a valiant challenge in a shoot out with Dayton, winning 54-46 to earn the #2 seed.

District 5

1. Nicholas County 6-3; 3-0 in district

2. Bishop Brossart 5-4; 2-1 in district

3. Paris 2-7; 1-2 in district

4. Bracken County 0-10; 0-3 in district

No drama in this district as there is clear separation between each of the four seeds.

District 6

1. Paintsville 7-2; 3-0 in district

2. Raceland 5-4; 2-1 in district

3. Betsy Layne 4-6; 1-2 in district

4. Fairview 2-6; 0-3 in district

Paintsville wins the top seed over Raceland in another classic.

District 7

1. Pikeville 9-0; 2-0 in district

2. Hazard 6-3; 1-1 in district

3. Phelps 4-5; 0-2 in district

This district finished up last week.

District 8

1. Williamsburg 7-2; 3-0 in district

2. Pineville 7-2; 2-1 in district

3. Lynn Camp 3-5; 1-2 in district

4. Harlan 1-8; 0-3 in district

Williamsburg is the clear #1 here.

Friday Night Lineup

Here is the lineup for this Friday for the 1A top 10. All eyes in 1A will be on the games being played by 8-10 as they go after tough opponents in trying to earn the top seed in their district. The top 4 all face top notch opponents as they toughen up for the playoffs.

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