BluegrassPreps Football Rankings (11/2)

[TheDeuce]

Class 1A

Ouch! That was a rough week for the 1A Top Ten last Friday. Yes, the Top Ten stepped up in class and took on tough opponents, but only three of the Top Ten were able to get wins. Kentucky Country Day handled top ten opponent Bethlehem with relative ease, getting a 29-7 win. With the other teams ahead of the Bearcats losing, KCD moves up to the #2 slot in this week's rankings. The other Top Ten team winning teams last week also had a easy wins as Williamsburg rolled past Jellico TN 47-16 and Campbellsville defeated 2A Washington County 35-7.  

On the losing side last week, #1 Pikeville found out how good 2A #1 Lexington Christian is in a 35-13 loss. Despite that result, the Panthers hang on to their #1 ranking. The most surprising loss of the week was Louisville Holy Cross taking a lopsided loss to unranked 2A opponent Walton-Verona. That was a bad loss for the Cougars and they took a hit in the rankings because of it, dropping all the way from #2 to #7. Raceland hung tough with 2A #5 Danville in a 28-25 loss. Paintsville lost for the second week in a row, dropping to 4A Letcher County Central 18-7. Newport Catholic had a rude awakening as 2A #2 Beechwood left the Thoroughbreds in the gate in a 45-0 loss for NCC. Crittenden County was much more impressive in a 10-9 loss to 6A #7 Henderson County. Despite the loss, the voters were thought enough of the performance to lift the Rockets up to #4 in this week's rankings. 

There is another slate of tough games against higher class teams on tap this week for the 1A Top Ten. Hopefully the 1A ranked teams can make a better showing this week.

1. Pikeville - OPEN

2. Kentucky Country Day at 3A #7  Bardstown

3. Raceland vs. 3A #8 Russell

4. Crittenden County vs. 3A Paducah Tilghman

5. Paintsville vs. 2A #9 Breathitt County

6. Newport Central Catholic vs. 4A Holmes

7. Louisville Holy Cross at 4A Marion County

8. Bethlehem vs. 3A Thomas Nelson

9. Williamsburg at 2A Leslie County

10. Campbellsville at 2A Monroe County

 

Class 2A

Sometimes you just need a good plot twist. Last week delivered some mystery, drama, and cliff hanger style questions setting up the regular season finale and ultimately the playoffs. We start at the top where top-ranked Lexington Christian added an eleventh game that so happened to be the state's premier Class 1A team and made an emphatic statement that the Eagles are definitely the team to beat. District mate Somerset didn't fare so well. The Briarjumpers were out-classed and literally out-manned as injuries played a huge role in a thumping by Corbin. The biggest story though was star QB Kaiya Sheron being an addition to the injured and unavailable list in a twist that may have huge playoff impact.

Walton - Verona provided the biggest "hold on is that score correct?" moment by shocking the second ranked team in Class 1A Louisville Holy Cross. Hancock County's quest for perfection was interrupted by Larue County and they must center their focus to close out the District with dangerous McLean County remaining. Breathitt County also turned in an eye-opening performance by having their regular season winning streak come to a screeching halt at the hands of 3A Pike Central. The Bobcats need to regroup in a hurry because 1A Paintsville is desperate to stop a losing streak.

West Carter got their long awaited statement win by outlasting a ranked 3A Russell squad. The Comets seem to be playing well and will be a tough out for anyone. Perhaps know 2A team is as hot as Beechwood though. The Tigers trounced Newport Central Catholic and appear to be clicking on all cylinders in every aspect of the game. Murray also kept their dark horse status in tact by winning easily over upstart Calloway County.

1. Lexington Christian Academy  -- OPEN

2. Beechwood -- OPEN

3. Somerset -- OPEN

4. Mayfield at 1A Fulton County

5. Danville at Washington County

6. West Carter  -- OPEN

7. Murray -- OPEN

8. Caldwell County at 5A Christian County

9. Breathitt County at 1A # Paintsville

10. Hancock County at McLean County

 

Class 3A

With the penultimate week of football complete and one Friday night left in the regular season, its time to begin looking at the RPI in relation to potential playoff matchups. Third-ranked Elizabethtown, fresh off a 55-41 victory over ranked 5A power North Bullitt, holds an almost insurmountable lead atop the Class 3A RPI. E-town should be a heavy favorite this weekend over John Hardin and a top place finish in RPI would assure the Panthers of home field advantage throughout the postseason.

First in the BluegrassPreps rankings, but only second in RPI, Ashland did what they've done all season, whipping Rowan County, 46-0. The Tomcats have allowed a mere 35 points total in six games while averaging 45. Ashland is off this weekend and will open postseason play against either East Carter or Greenup County. Third place in RPI is Ashland's district mate Russell, who drops to eighth this week after a second consecutive loss, this time to West Carter for the first time in school history. The Red Devils have a lot of ground to cover to catch Ashland, who defeated them 41-7 two weeks ago.

Second-ranked Belfry took it on the nose against 4A #1 Johnson Central, 35-14, but the Pirates were competitive, which bodes well for yet another deep postseason run. Belfry is fourth in the RPI, second among potential third round competitors in the east. Belfry and Ashland are both favored to get to the state semifinals, where Belfry would have to travel to Putnam Stadium, a place they've won just once in eleven visits.

Fourth-ranked DeSales stays ahead of district foes Mercer County and Christian Academy - Louisville, although the Colts still have not played since October 9. DeSales is scheduled to play Western Hills this Friday. The RPI numbers in District 4, however, favor fifth-ranked Mercer County, who beat Western Hills last weekend and will face neighbor Anderson County this week. Sixth-ranked Christian Academy-Louisville is off this Friday, but barring any strange occurrences, will host DeSales in the playoff opener.

Finally, welcome back to the rankings Glasgow. The Scotties rolled Franklin-Simpson, 41-14, and crack the rankings at number ten this week, one spot behind district opponent Taylor County. Taylor County stayed hot, winning a sixth consecutive game over Bourbon County, and will face Class 4A surprise Russell County this week. Taylor beat Glasgow on October 16, although a second round playoff rematch is almost a guarantee.

1. Ashland -- OPEN

2. Belfry -- OPEN

3. Elizabethtown vs. 4A John Hardin

4. DeSales at Western Hills

5. Mercer County vs. 4A Anderson County

6. Christian Academy - Louisville -- OPEN

7. Bardstown -- OPEN

8. Russell at 1A #? Raceland

9. Taylor County vs. 4A #? Russell County

10. Glasgow vs. Adair County

 

Class 4A

This week saw a relative rarity this year with almost every top ten team in action.  Only Central, which is sidelined along with the rest of the JCPS, was out of action.  And the results were pretty uniform as well, with each top ten team winning, and no game was closer than 21 points.  The marquee matchup was Johnson Central hosting 3A #2 Belfry, and while the Golden Eagles had their closest result of the year, they still won with ease in a 35-14 result.  Dillon Preston carried the load again, with 191 yards and three touchdowns on 29 attempts. QB Grant Rice chipped in with 68 yards and 2 touchdowns on nine attempts.  Johnson Central is just a machine. Boyle County kept pace in a 53-7 victory over Madison Southern, piling up 430 yards of offense.  These two once again appear on a collision course. There are a few ranked vs. ranked matchups this week, with Lexington Catholic hosting Covington Catholic and Russell County visiting Taylor County, but it's the Wayne County/Knox Central tilt that will carry implications.  The winner of that game will get the privilege of hosting the rematch the following week.

1. Johnson Central - OPEN

2. Boyle County at Bourbon County

3. Central - OPEN

4. Franklin County - OPEN

5. Corbin at 5A Whitley County

6. Lexington Catholic vs. 5A #2 Covington Catholic

7. Wayne County at #10 Knox Central

8. Russell County at 3A #9 Taylor County

9. Logan County vs. Warren East

10. Knox Central vs. #7 Wayne County

 

Class 5A

With one last opportunity remaining to grab those precious RPI points, this week's top three hope to put a bow on the regular season in style. Frederick Douglass has tacked on a huge Fayette County/Jefferson County tilt against St. X. A Fayette County public school hasn't defeated one of Louisville's "big three" since Bryan Station toppled Trinity in 1999. Covington Catholic hopes to avoid the drama of last year's shootout with 4A #6 Lexington Catholic. Will a possible win over the Knights be enough to catch an idle Owensboro for the top spot in the RPI? And finally, South Warren has perhaps the biggest opportunity for an RPI boost as the Spartans tangle with 6A #3 North Hardin in one of Week 9's marquee games. Scoring will be at a premium, as both defenses are among the state's best. North Hardin has pitched four shutouts in seven games, while South Warren has only surrendered double figures once this season. 

Bowling Green has a much needed week off to recover from its loss to Trinity. The Purples' open week is the first of several among 5A's Top 10. Covid has had its way with every other class this season. This week, it's 5A's turn to join the party no one really wants to attend.

North Bullitt was the week's big mover, but the Eagles are going in the wrong direction. They drop two spots this week after failing to contain Elizabethtown's explosive offense. 

1. Frederick Douglass vs. 6A #5 St. Xavier

2. Covington Catholic at 4A #6 Lexington Catholic

3. South Warren at 6A #3 North Hardin

4. Bowling Green -- OPEN

5. Owensboro -- OPEN

6. Scott County -- OPEN

7. Pulaski County at 4A Harlan County

8. Southwestern -- OPEN

9. North Bullitt at 6A Bullitt East

10. Fairdale -- OPEN

 

Class 6A

Trinity rolled to victory over 5A #4 Bowling Green 42-7 with the Trinity offense having no trouble with the Bowling Green tough defense led by QB Nathan McElroy's 4 touchdown passes. Trinity will host 5A North Laurel.

Male was open due to JCPS Covid policy and open again this week.

North Hardin imposed their defense on Central Hardin by defeating them 23-0. North Hardin will host 5A #3 South Warren in what should be a low scoring game with two of the best defenses in the state.

Manual was open due to JCPS Covid policy and open again this week.

St. Xavier was open and will travel to 5A #1 Frederick Douglass which will be a key RPI game for the Tigers as a win will put them ahead of Manual to host a 2nd round playoff game.

Ballard was open due to JCPS Covid policy and open again this week.

Bryan Station outlasted Paul Dunbar 35-28 behind RB Joseph Bond's 193 yards and 4 touchdowns. Bryan Station will host Simon Kenton.

Henderson County through a good defensive effort and one touchdown by RB Edmund Brooks along with a field goal by Colton Evans to get by 1A #4 Crittenden County 10-9. Henderson County will host Marshall County.

McCracken County was open and will host 5A Graves County.

Ryle made it 4 straight wins with the defeat of 5A Cooper 35-14. Ryle will travel to 5A Conner.

1. Trinity vs. 5A North Laurel

2. Male - OPEN

3. North Hardin vs. 5A #3 South Warren

4. Manual - OPEN

5. St. Xavier at 5A #1 Frederick Douglass

6. Ballard - OPEN

7. Bryan Station vs. Simon Kenton

8. Henderson County vs Marshall County

9. McCracken County vs. 5A Graves County

10. Ryle at 5A Conner