Vikings set sail for uncharted waters and encounter ravenous Lions

There is much written on this site about the accomplishments of great programs. How Trinity looks like a sure thing to lock down state title #27, how a win by Mayfield this week puts them in the third round for the 23rd straight season, and so on. Those programs deserve all the praise heaped upon them, but the afterthoughts of Kentucky high school football, say for example, Boyd County and Rowan County, are no less deserving of the spotlight as they stand on the precipice of an achievement not seen in their communities in a generation or two.

Since the turn of the century, the Lions and Vikings have each won less than 40% of their games. Winning seasons have been few and far between. Boyd County has only advanced to the second round seven times in its history and haven't made it beyond that since the glory days of Rob Chaney and Terry Keelin in 1973. Rowan's past is even more devoid of playoff success. The Vikings have only made it to Round 2 on four occasions and have never made it a step further. 

This district championship game in Morehead carries with it an opportunity for football to have its moment in the sun at schools known more for triumphs on the hardwood and diamond. 

Boyd County (4-4) is just a handful of plays away from being 7-1, and threw down perhaps the most double-take inducing score from Round 1, a 55-14 thrashing of Holmes. They rely heavily on the run game, featuring a backfield trio of Carter Stephens, Jacob Kelley, and Logan Staten, who've combined for nearly 2,000 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns. Rowan County's offense revolves around the legs of Cole Wallace, who averages close to 200 yards rushing per game.

I’ll take the visiting Lions by 6. They are better than their record shows. 

Final. 18-6 Rowan County.