BluegrassPreps Football Rankings (9/28)

[TheDeuce]

Class 1A

Pikeville keeps looking for a challenge. The kings of 1A traveled to Lexington to face 6A Henry Clay last week and celebrated a 59-41 win on the drive home as their junior WR Zac Lockhart broke a state record with 388 yards receiving. This coming week they will venture even further as they face another 6A team, the Campbell County Camels. That will be a different challenge for Pikeville as Campbell County Coach Mike Woolf is known for his defenses. The Camels have only allowed 260 passing yards in three games this year.  

As we survey the rest of 1A and wonder if anyone can threaten Pikeville, the Paintsville Tigers made a statement that Pikeville may have a serious challenge in their class by blasting Hazard 54-0. Kentucky Country Day, Newport Central Catholic and Louisville Holy Cross all posted wins to keep their title hopes rolling. Crittenden County got back on track with a nice 35-14 win over 2A #9 Murray. Raceland also righted their ship with a 48-20 win over 3A Greenup County. Williamsburg and Russellville took on the top two teams in 2A and discovered first hand just how good those two teams are. Bethlehem cruised to a win over Lynn Camp.

The 1A Top Ten will keep taking on upper class teams to fine tune themselves for district play and the playoffs. The games to watch this week are the aforementioned Pikeville at 6A Campbell County and Raceland taking on 3A Ashland. 

1. Pikeville at 6A Campbell County

2. Paintsville at 4A Perry County Central

3. Kentucky Country Day at 6A Bullitt East

4. Newport Central Catholic - OPEN

5. Louisville Holy Cross vs. 6A Southern

6. Crittenden County at 3A Trigg County

7. Raceland vs. 3A #7 Ashland 

8. Bethlehem vs. 2A Washington County

9. Williamsburg - OPEN

10. Russellville at Fulton County

 

Class 2A

District play began this past Friday, but it takes on prime form this week with a handful of key games on the slate. West Carter made a statement by cruising past Shelby Valley and in the process put themselves at the head of the table in District 8. McLean County was the last team standing in District 2 in 2019 after stunning Owensboro Catholic in the playoffs, those two will square off in a game with major implications for the post-season. The western part of the state will also host another huge showdown as Caldwell County travels to War Memorial Stadium to try the rare feat of removing Mayfield from the alpha position in the district.  District 7 also has a key tilt as Middlesboro will look to make a more respectful showing in 2020 taking on Breathitt County in Jackson. Though District 4 is yet to have one of their headliner match-ups against one another, all three teams continued to demonstrate their dominance. Somerset and LCA made short work of ranked 1A foes, meanwhile Danville got a major statement win over a ranked 4A Wayne County squad. Murray suffered their first set-back but have a chance to rebound against surprising 4A Calloway County.

1. Somerset vs. 1A Hazard

2. Lexington Christian Academy at 6A Paul Lawrence Dunbar (10/1)

3. Beechwood vs. 6A Dixie Heights

4. Mayfield vs. #8 Caldwell County

5. Danville at 4A Allen County-Scottsville

6. West Carter at Bath County

7. Breathitt County vs. Middlesboro

8. Caldwell County at #4 Mayfield

9. McLean County at #10 Owensboro Catholic

10. Owensboro Catholic vs. #9 McLean County

 

Class 3A

District play began for much of the Top Ten in Class 3A and after two weeks of surprising scores, things settled in a bit in Week Three. The most noticeable score, however, was unranked Mercer County topping Christian Academy - Louisville in overtime on a 27-yard Noah Davis field goal. The win pushed the Titans into eighth this week, while the Centurions dropped to ninth. Mercer coach David Buchanan will face his old team, Mason County, this weekend, while Christian Academy-Louisville will look to stop their two-game losing streak at home against Henry County.

The second new arrival isn't really new, as they've been ranked all along. However, after two weeks of being sidelined due to Covid restrictions, the Ashland Tomcats roared out of the gate with a 44-6 trouncing of Bourbon County. Ashland moves up a spot to number six and will face a second straight road challenge, this time at neighborhood rival Raceland.

DeSales maintains their spot at the top of our rankings, but travel restrictions will strip away what should have been a Top Ten showdown with Paducah Tilghman this week. As of press time, both the Colts and Blue Tornado are without games this Friday. Meanwhile, second-ranked Belfry, fifth-ranked Elizabethtown, and seventh-ranked Bardstown should all be heavy favorites this weekend.

We finish the Top Ten with two terrific matchups. First, number three Bell County travels to Rockcastle County in a meeting of old rivals with the likely number one seed in District 5 on the line. Bell handled Rockcastle twice last season and it will be interesting the see if the gap has closed in 2020. Fourth-ranked Russell will play host to 6A power Simon Kenton, who is licking their wounds after being beaten by Johnson Central. Russell's stingy defense will look to stop a balanced Simon Kenton offense that averages 334 yards per game.

1. DeSales -- OPEN 

2. Belfry vs. Floyd Central

3. Bell County at Rockcastle County

4. Russell vs. 6A #10 Simon Kenton

5. Elizabethtown vs. 5A West Jessamine

6. Ashland at 1A #7 Raceland

7. Bardstown vs. Nelson County

8. Mercer County vs. Mason County

9. Christian Academy - Louisville vs. Henry County

10. Paducah Tilghman -- OPEN 

 

Class 4A

The beat goes on at the top of the rankings.  None of the top four teams were challenged, with each that played winning by a minimum of 30 points - Franklin County was open.  Central made their season debut with a dominating shutout, and Corbin blanked Leslie County as well in a 49-0 drubbing.  The most shocking result was Hopkinsville, falling to last year's #4 team in District 1, who had finished 1-10 last year.  The 14-7 result saw Hopkinsville turn the ball over on every second half possession.  Wayne County and Knox Central's results were more understandable, falling to ranked opponents out of class.  Those two will both have open weeks to regroup, along with three other top ten teams.  The game to watch this week will be #9 Hopkinsville at #10 Logan County.  The Cougars lost their QB to a broken leg their last time out, and the Tigers will be looking to wipe away that ugly result against Calloway County.  The loser may find themselves on the outside looking in next week, and if Hopkinsville were to fall, they will see their #1 seed hopes end in an 0-2 district start.

1. Johnson Central at Clay County

2. Boyle County - OPEN

3. Franklin County - OPEN

4. Central vs. Shelby County

5. Corbin at 6A Lafayette

6. Lexington Catholic - OPEN

7. Wayne County - OPEN

8. Knox Central - OPEN

9. Hopkinsville at #10 Logan County

10. Logan County vs. #9 Hopkinsville

 

Class 5A

When one door closes, another one opens. Frederick Douglass had to scramble to find another door after the anticipated showdown with Scott County was postponed. Enter Ballard, fresh off a big win the week prior. On paper, a tight contest appeared in the making, but the bucking Broncos battered the Bruins to remind everyone what they're capable of. 

Strides were made from weeks two to three, but Covington Catholic still has kinks to iron out. A sloppy start against Cooper eventually morphed into a lopsided blowout, but the Colonels are still searching for the four quarter efficiency we're accustomed to seeing. They'll attempt to hunt down some Rebels this week and smooth out those rough edges in Florence. 

South Warren avoided falling prey to a potential trap game against Glasgow. The Spartans dog walked the Scotties to set the stage for a monumental clash with top ranked Bowling Green in a game that could have major poll implications next week.

Southwestern has quietly put together one of 5A's best resumes. The Warriors are the only team in the class with three wins over ranked opponents. They've won shootouts and defensive slug fests alike, and they haven't lacked for drama, winning those three games by a total of five points.

Following a humbling defeat at home to Boyle County, the Bluebirds have flown south of the top 10, opening the door for Conner to make its debut. The Cougars have won two straight over Highlands and will look to make it three this Friday. 

1. Bowling Green vs. #5 South Warren 

2. Covington Catholic at Boone County

3. Frederick Douglass vs. Grant County (10/1)

4. Owensboro at Muhlenberg County  (10/1)

5. South Warren at #1 Bowling Green 

6. Scott County vs. 6A Ryle

7. Southwestern at North Laurel 

8. South Oldham vs. Atherton

9. Conner vs. Highlands 

10. North Bullitt at Seneca (10/1)

 

Class 6A

Trinity holds #1 spot and were idle this week due to their game with St. Xavier rescheduled to this Friday at St. Xavier.

North Hardin moves to #2 after defeating Bullitt East 40-0, and their Week One opponent looking impressive with Frederick Douglass rolling over Ballard 49-21. North Hardin will travel to Meade County.

Male falls to #3 after defeating a rebuilding Butler 56-0. Male hosts an improved Pleasure Ridge Park.

Manual holds at #4 after defeating a good 5A North Bullitt 48-21. Manual will host Eastern.

St. Xavier stays at #5 after being idle and will host Trinity.

McCracken County moves into #6 after defeating Apollo 45-21 and will travel to Daviess County for a pivotal district game.

Ballard falls to #7 after a 49-21 loss to a very talented 5A Frederick Douglass. Ballard is Idle this week.

Fern Creek was idle this week and holds the #8 place. Fern Creek travels to Eastern.

Bryan Station moves up to #8 after blanking Lafayette 41-0. Bryan Station travels to Henry Clay.

Simon Kenton falls to #10 after a 47-17 loss to 4A power Johnson Central. Simon Kenton travels to ranked 3A Russell.

1. Trinity at #5 St. Xavier

2. North Hardin at Meade County

3. Male vs. Pleasure Ridge Park

4. Manual vs. Eastern on (10/1)

5. St. Xavier vs. #1 Trinity

6. McCracken County at Daviess County

7. Ballard -- Open

8. Fern Creek at Oldham County

9. Bryan Station at Henry Clay

10. Simon Kenton at 3A #4 Russell