BluegrassPreps Football Rankings (11/9)

[TheDeuce]

Class 1A

It was slim pickin's for action this week in 1A - and everywhere else in Kentucky high school football for that matter. Only four of the 1A Top Ten were able to find a dance partner on Friday night. As slim as it was, it was more than we will see this Friday as the KHSAA has told everyone to sit things out this Friday until the decision makers figure out how to go forward in the face of COVID. Once we know what is going on, we will put together a playoff preview of 1A for you. Until then, let's savor these results from last Friday.

Raceland was feeling good about their momentum after three straight wins and a 3 point loss to 2A #5 Danville. They hosted 3A top ten Russell who was going the opposite direction, losing 2 in a row after a 5-0 start. So much for momentum. Russell took a 14-7 lead to halftime then used a 20 point third quarter to remove any thoughts the Rams may have had about a second half comeback - final score 41-21 in favor of Russell. 

Speaking of momentum, the Newport Catholic Thoroughbreds momentum is going the wrong way with the playoffs looming. The Breds hosted the 4A Holmes Bulldogs one week after being shut out 45-0 by Beechwood. Holmes didn't treat New Cath much better pinning a 20-0 loss on the Breds. Those back to back shut out losses dropped Newport Catholic all the way down to #9 in this week's rankings.

Louisville Holy Cross got back on track after suffering their first loss of the season the week before. The Cougars hosted Eminence and got their high powered offense restarted in a 55-36 win. That win moved Holy Cross up into the #6 ranking occupied by Newport Catholic the week before.

The final game last Friday for a 1A top ten team saw #9 Williamsburg roll over top of 2A Leslie County 45-7. Williamsburg QB Sydney Bowen threw for 351 yards and 5 touchdowns in the win. WR Gavon Thomas caught all 5 of those touchdown passes and had 271 receiving yards. This game was the first time Williamsburg played two weeks in a row since the end of September. Now they get a week off along with everyone else. 

Here is your season ending 1A Top Ten:

1. Pikeville

2. Kentucky Country Day

3. Crittenden County 

4. Raceland

5. Paintsville

6. Louisville Holy Cross

7. Bethlehem 

8. Williamsburg

9. Newport Central Catholic

10. Campbellsville

 

Class 2A

There was not a single game this week featuring the best teams in 2A. The Top 10 remains the same as everyone sits in anticipation of what should be a dandy of a playoff.

Lexington Christian Academy finished in the top spot, a well deserved honors with wins over a handful of teams expected to factor heavily in their respective class' playoff pictures. Beechwood has been able to ride a historic season from Senior signal caller Cameron Hergott and seem well positioned to make another patented Tiger playoff push.

Somerset probably is the only team who is thankful for the delay to the playoffs. The Briarjumpers need to heal up and they are certain to have perhaps the toughest path in the State opening with fellow Top-5 Danville. West Carter benefited from the RPI formula and had the ability to host the Eastern side of the bracket as long as they win, LeeTavious Cline has been instrumental in a banner year for the Comets. Out West, both District 1 and 2 have been perhaps the most even. Drama may ensue once play resumes.

1. Lexington Christian Academy 

2. Beechwood 

3. Somerset  

4. Mayfield

5. Danville

6. West Carter 

7. Murray 

8. Caldwell County

9. Breathitt County

10. Hancock County

 

Class 3A

The regular season went out with a whimper instead of a bang in Class 3A, as seven of the BluegrassPreps Top Ten were open. Of the three teams that did play, the results were expected, but also significant.

Fourth-ranked DeSales, playing their first game in 28 days, took care of district foe Western Hills with ease, winning 41-0. Jayden Scroggins passed for two scores and James Johnson rushed for two more for the victorious Colts. With DeSales having missed regular season meetings with Mercer County and Christian Academy-Louisville, the RPI was used to seed District 4. DeSales is the three seed and should travel to Christian Academy-Louisville for the opening round (although no official bracket has been released by the KHSAA).

Mercer County continued their hot streak, winning a sixth consecutive game, this time topping Anderson County, 58-22. Quarterback Trosper Buchanan passed for 250 yards and five touchdowns on the evening. The Titans are the top seed in District 4 after the RPI calculations were finalized.

Finally, Russell returned to the winning side with a 41-21 victory over neighbor Raceland. The win broke a modest two game losing streak for the Red Devils, who finished second in District 7.

1. Ashland 

2. Belfry

3. Elizabethtown

4. DeSales

5. Mercer County 

6. Christian Academy-Louisville 

7. Bardstown 

8. Russell 

9. Taylor County

10. Glasgow 

 

Class 4A 

Five out of the top ten teams were in action this week, but two games in particular stood out.  The first, was #6 Lexington Catholic's stunning upset over 5A #2 Covington Catholic.  After a scoreless first, the Knights scored 14 straight to take a 14-7 lead at the break, and ultimately 21 in a row to hold a 21-7 lead after three.  A furious comeback by Covington Catholic made it 28-21 with 1:10 remaining in the game.  Lexington Catholic drove 62 yards for the score, and converted a two point pass to finish the upset. It was easily the best win of the year for the Knights, and they will need a similar effort in a potential future meeting with Boyle County. The other key result was Logan County falling to Warren East.  In the old cross-districting setup, this would have been the #1 vs. #4 matchup in the first round of the playoffs, rather than a regular season game.  Warren East was just 2-5 entering the game, but piled up 373 yards of offense in pulling an upset to knock the Cougars from the rankings.  

Hopefully that isn't the last word on 4A this season.  In particular, it seems we would be cheated of a likely rematch between Johnson Central and Boyle County.  Time will tell.

1. Johnson Central

2. Boyle County

3. Central

4. Franklin County

5. Lexington Catholic

6. Corbin

7. Wayne County

8. Russell County

9. Knox Central

10. Letcher County Central

 

Class 5A

With the cancellation of approximately two-thirds of the Week 9 schedule, the 2020 regular season was slowed to a crawl at its conclusion. There was, however, a palpable convergence of jubilation and heartache emanating from the heart of Lexington. Covington Catholic, winner of 51 of its last 52 contests, hadn't lost a regular season game since dropping a seven point decision to Scott County in 2016, but Lexington Catholic embraced the age old proverb that "fortune favors the bold" to terminate CovCath's 37 game regular season winning streak in dramatic fashion. The Knights made good on a two point conversion in the final minute before blocking a field goal attempt as time expired to send the Colonels home dejected and shake up the final 5A rankings. Accordingly, CovCath takes a slight tumble to #4, the first time in four years they haven't been 1 or 2.

Another thriller unfolded in Mount Washington, as North Bullitt survived, 60-59, in overtime against Bullitt East to sweep the county and claim the Bullitt Cup. The 9th ranked Eagles and Chargers ran stride for stride with one another in a defense optional affair until a missed extra point by East on its first OT possession opened the door for North. After the Eagles answered East's score, kicker Lacie Badgett did what her Charger counterpart could not, and booted the ball through the uprights to seal the win for North Bullitt.

Frederick Douglass closes out the regular season atop the 5A poll, but the Broncos check in at #9 in the final RPI, meaning their quest to return to Kroger Field could be littered with challenging road games. And as we move from the top of the rankings to the bottom, Fairdale repeats last year's final poll placement by hanging on to the ten spot. It's a tremendous achievement for a program that lost a great deal of its production from last year and was nowhere to be found in the 5A top 10 conversation to start the season.

1. Frederick Douglass

2. South Warren

3. Bowling Green

4. Covington Catholic

5. Owensboro

6. Scott County

7. Pulaski County

8. Southwestern

9. North Bullitt

10. Fairdale

 

Class 6A

All the top 10 6A teams were off this week except the 3 of Bryan Station, Henderson County, and Ryle and they all won. The rankings this week hold steady with no changes.

Bryan Station won their 8th straight game with the stellar play of QB Mikaleb Coffey throwing 3 touchdowns and RB Joseph Bond rushing for 4 touchdowns. Bryan Station defeated Simon Kenton 54-39.

Henderson County won their 6th straight game by defeating  Marshall County 51-21.

Ryle won their 5th straight with a 34-14 defeat of 5A Conner.

All teams now await the 6A playoff bracket as the playoffs are tentatively scheduled to start on November 20th.

1. Trinity

2. Male

3. North Hardin

4. Manual

5. St. Xavier

6. Ballard

7. Bryan Station

8. Henderson County

9. McCracken County

10. Ryle