The must see games of Week 1

[DevilMayCare]

The highlight of last year's Week 1 was a game winning field goal by North Hardin over Frederick Douglass as the clock hit zero. There's no guarantee we see that level of drama in this season's opening weekend, but 2021 offers a feast of high profile games to kick things off.

- Douglass visits Bryan Station for the first leg of the Lexington city championship series. The Broncos could be preseason #1 in 5A, while the Defenders are a buzzworthy top 5 caliber squad from 6A.

- Franklin County hosts Scott County in a clash of contenders and neighboring counties that haven't met in nearly twenty years.

- Covington Catholic ventures across the Ohio River to test its mettle against Elder of the vaunted GCL South.

- The Rafferty's Bowl at WKU serves up a tantalizing double header with Bob Sphire's Bluebirds jumping right into the deep end with reigning 5A champion Bowling Green and North Hardin battling South Warren, one of the favorites this year in 5A.

- The Jay Cobb era at Trinity begins with the Shamrocks hosting perennial Indiana big school powerhouse Carmel.

- And the state's top prospect and Mr. Football contender Gavin Wimsatt leads his Red Devils against visiting St. Xavier, which features maybe the best defensive front seven Wimsatt will see all year.

This is the biggest slate of marquee opening week games I can recall, at least in recent memory. I just hit the high spots of Week 1, but there are several other games that appeal to a wide range of fan bases here. Which one will hold your attention most on August 20th/21st?

[Tigerpride94]

I'm really looking forward to St.X playing Owensboro. Gavin Wimsatt will be a big test to the secondary and I want to see how they do.

[MaddenCurse44]

Oldham County at Simon Kenton.

[Brown]

Good story - and like @Tigerpride94 I will be watching O vs X.  X is a top 3-5 team in the state IMHO (sorry Troy).  Great team - huge test early on for both teams.

Owensboro returns 1 of the 4 WR positions, but in the end, I think this group can be better than last year.  Pendleton is a 6-4 junior who was 2nd at 3A high jump at state, Rodgers needs to up his game this season and I think he will.  Eli Early should have had MANY reps last year and will be a breakout performer, IMHO.  A number of guys can fill the 4 spot (Moorman, Taylor, etc.)  O has a very solid O-line with 4 guys that started at sometime 1st year.  Lindsay (UK offer) and Miller (EKU offer) are D1 Tackles and are both still underclassmen.  Chaney was hurt, but started at C last season, and Williams is another great lineman who filled in.   It looks like they have the speedy LB Goodwin playing some TE (6-2).  I love this idea because he is a game breaker.  At RB will be Carbon, Robinson and X. Early.  I think O upgrades at RB this year.  O's secondary is tight, I believe 4  returning from nickel defense (Moorman, Carbon, Taylor and Clark), but who will play offense instead of defense?  Red devils return 2 of 3 on D line including Hines who is a beast 6-1 220 and Barksdale.  Goodwin is back at LB, but the biggest holes are the 2 interior LB positions.  I'm guessing X. Early (transfer from Hancock) will fill 1 of the 2.  I can see Austin Gough's brother filling one of the spots too, even as a freshman.

Coach Wallace loves playing AND BEATING O at Rash, so I expect X to be primed and ready (hopefully no CoVid issues!)

 

1 more game to add would be McCracken vs. Tighlman for the battle of Paducah.

[Joe Tracy]

I'll be there, this is a funny series Tilghman plays better in this game with a big crowd Home or Away than any game including Mayfield. I would think McCracken is the favorite, but they have to play the game.

[Purple88]

33 minutes ago, Brown said:

Good story - and like @Tigerpride94 I will be watching O vs X.  X is a top 3-5 team in the state IMHO (sorry Troy).  Great team - huge test early on for both teams.

Owensboro returns 1 of the 4 WR positions, but in the end, I think this group can be better than last year.  Pendleton is a 6-4 junior who was 2nd at 3A high jump at state, Rodgers needs to up his game this season and I think he will.  Eli Early should have had MANY reps last year and will be a breakout performer, IMHO.  A number of guys can fill the 4 spot (Moorman, Taylor, etc.)  O has a very solid O-line with 4 guys that started at sometime 1st year.  Lindsay (UK offer) and Miller (EKU offer) are D1 Tackles and are both still underclassmen.  Chaney was hurt, but started at C last season, and Williams is another great lineman who filled in.   It looks like they have the speedy LB Goodwin playing some TE (6-2).  I love this idea because he is a game breaker.  At RB will be Carbon, Robinson and X. Early.  I think O upgrades at RB this year.  O's secondary is tight, I believe 4  returning from nickel defense (Moorman, Carbon, Taylor and Clark), but who will play offense instead of defense?  Red devils return 2 of 3 on D line including Hines who is a beast 6-1 220 and Barksdale.  Goodwin is back at LB, but the biggest holes are the 2 interior LB positions.  I'm guessing X. Early (transfer from Hancock) will fill 1 of the 2.  I can see Austin Gough's brother filling one of the spots too, even as a freshman.

Coach Wallace loves playing AND BEATING O at Rash, so I expect X to be primed and ready (hopefully no CoVid issues!)

 

1 more game to add would be McCracken vs. Tighlman for the battle of Paducah.

Can ya tell my man @Brownis pumped up for the season and this HUGE opening game vs. St. X!!!!

🤣

I won't go all in here, but X is a top 2-5 team IMO.  And this is the Game Owensboro needed.  If you want to win in December, you need this game.  Others disagree and that's fine.  But look at the teams that win State Championships and look at their schedule and see if there is a correlation of playing tough teams.  This is great for Owensboro and St X really too, as they are having tough times filling out their schedule as well.

I'm hoping to make the Opening Weekend Double!  St X at O on Friday night and BG vs Highlands on Saturday night.  May even catch some of the South vs North Hardin game!  Going to be really fun!!!

[LongTimeReader]

The St. X and Owensboro game will be a big one for both teams. Owensboro is adding a bit for substance to their schedule, and offers a nice idea of where they are as a team. For St. X this is an important game as well. This senior class were freshman in Coach Wallace's first year at St. X, and is the group many pointed to as the group that will start to make St. X more competitive with Trinity and Male. I think the players know that and coaches are aware the seniors as well as the junior class have been highly touted. 

But for Coach Wallace, it's Owensboro at Rash and there is no love loss between between Coach Wallace and Owensboro regardless of the school Coach Wallace is coaching for. I'm excited to see this group in action and to see their defense against the best QB in the state. Should be a fun game in a couple of weeks!

[Tkinslow]

I think the Glasgow versus Woodford Co in the Scottie Bowl should be a really good game. Glasgow should a top 5 team in AA and my understanding is Woodford is expected to be pretty good this year so I’m really looking forward to this one.

[gchs_uk9]

I’m going to Trinity/Carmel. Never been to a game at Trinity. Anxious to see how the Rocks look in the new era. 

[Tkinslow]

AAA not AA for Glasgow old habits die hard.

[DevilMayCare]

3 hours ago, Tkinslow said:

I think the Glasgow versus Woodford Co in the Scottie Bowl should be a really good game. Glasgow should a top 5 team in AA and my understanding is Woodford is expected to be pretty good this year so I’m really looking forward to this one.

That's a really good pick. It might be the most 'under the radar'  game of Week 1. Glasgow should be a legit contender in 3A and Woodford might have its best team in a long time. Definitely a game to keep an eye on.

[WKY_Football]

In Western Kentucky week 1 I think the two best games will be 

McCracken Co @ Paducah

Louisville Ballard @ Hopkinsville

 

I don’t consider Owensboro Western KY but that game vs St X will be a good one. 

 

 

[FB Head]

10 minutes ago, WKY_Football said:

In Western Kentucky week 1 I think the two best games will be 

McCracken Co @ Paducah

Louisville Ballard @ Hopkinsville

 

I don’t consider Owensboro Western KY but that game vs St X will be a good one. 

 

 

I agree WKY, I don't consider Owensboro part of Western KY 😁

Top 3 games in our area:

McCracken Co. vs Paducah- This rivalry has never been bigger.  The young Tornadoes' are out to prove they are all grown up and ready to turn heads.  The Mustangs will have one of the best backs in the state with Brady back as a 5th year senior.  Adding a bit of salt on the wound, Coach Smith switched hats from the blue/white to the black/crimson.

Louisville Ballard vs Hopkinsville-  Hopkinsville is loaded with athleticism on both sides of the ball.  They are one of the favorites for the regional crown in 4A region 1.  The Bruins make the trip down I-69 and bring big boy ball to Hopkinsville.  After a covid-cancelling season in 2020 (4 total games played), Ballard is ready to show that Louisville football reigns supreme.

Graves Co vs Mayfield- Clint McKee will again be the work horse for the Eagles.  They have several seniors coming back to see if they can un-seed Owensboro for the district crown.  Mayfield will be back to prove last year was a fluke. Loosing in a home playoff game for the first time since 2008 must have the Cardinals eager to get back on the field.  They will be anchored by Kylan Galbreath (RB) and Jax Rogers (LB). There is no love lost in this city/county rivalry.

Honorable mention: Murray vs Crittenden Co

 

 

[Joe Tracy]

If I am not mistaken Paducah Tilghman will be making the short drive West to McCracken County High School to play Saturday night August 21st, 2021. I've got my Season Pass and will be there early to beat the parking situation.