South Oldham vs. Ballard Predictions/Updates

[ColonelMike]

5A South Oldham (1-1) travels 30 minutes down highway 22 to play the 6A Top 10 Ballard Bruins (1-1).

South bounced back last week from their opening week loss to CAL with a last-second 24-21 win over Silver Creek (IN).    A 19 yard FG by junior kicker Sam Reagan provided the winning points after South rallied from a late 21-14 deficit.

Reagan - the backup kicker who was elevated to the starter's role after an ACL injury to starter Greyson Klehr just a week before the season started - was the star of the night after the two teams - both named the "Dragons" - had slugged their way to a 21-all standoff through nearly 32 minutes of action.   

South's senior QB Devlin McGee took a nice step up after a rough outing against CAL in the season opener - his first varsity start - by going 12 of 21 with 153 yards and a score with no INT.    Junior RB Jack McCubbin (15 carries, 75 yards, 2 TDs) and wideout Christian Danielson (8 catches, 108 yards) both had standout games.   McCubbin also scored on a two point conversion.

Defensively, Elijah Lalli had yet another standout game for South, with 12 total tackles, including 3 TFL.    DJ Jacobs (10 tackles) and Wyatt Fowler (9, with 3 TFL) also had superb days on defense.

Ballard had a rough week last week, but then again, most teams will likely have rough weeks against Louisville Male this year.   The Bulldogs pounded the Bruins, 51-14, last week.    Ballard hasn't posted stats yet this week, but their defense stood out in a week 1 victory over Hopkinsville, holding the Tigers to just 61 yards of total offense (-24 on the ground, 85 through the air).  The Bruin defense registered 11 sacks and 15 1/2 TFL, led by Gavin Willis, who had 11 total tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 1/2 TFL.   Jadarion Smith had 3 1/2 sacks and Cameron Norfleet had 2.   

Both teams are looking to steady the ship against some top tier competition.    Who wins this week?   Thoughts?

Free, live High definition video coverage starts at 7 pm on www.pegasussportsky.com

[Fighting Colonels]

Haven’t had a chance to see South yet, but I did see Ballard in there scrimmage vs OC. There very athletic and an overall sound team. South I would have to expect looks like they always do, just a hard nose football team. South is definitely not Male and doesn't have the athletes to go head to head with Ballard. I have to give Ballard the edge just because of all there athletes they have. Bruins in a close one

Ballard 28

South 24

[Tigerpride94]

I say Ballard wins. If they can score 14 on Male then will score more than that on South. 

[WKY_Football]

Ballard 28

SO-7.

[ColonelMike]

Great opportunity for the Dragons to show what they've learned over the past two weeks.   Always good to have a chance to showcase your skills against an elite opponent.

South is very good up front on offense; they took a step up last week, with Jack McCubbin running the ball really well, and senior QB Devlin McGee recovering nicely from the tough night against CAL in week one.   Really impressed with the play of Christian Danielson on the outside; SO coaches are very high on this young man, who gives the Dragons some more speed than they have had at wideout recently.   

The Dragons welcome a few key players back this week that could be difference-makers.

Ballard's speed will be a serious test for South Oldham, and there's nothing more dangerous than a "wounded bear" - and that's exactly what Ballard is after last week's mauling at the hands of Male.   

Still - the question that remains in Bruin-land is how good this offense is.    The Bruins only managed 190 yards of offense against Hopkinsville in week 1, including just 49 yards rushing (less than 3 yards per carry against Hoptown).    

Defensively, though, Ballard may be the best team on South's schedule this year.    Throw out the 51 points scored by Male - the Bulldogs may well be the best team in the state, and Mike Jackson's prowess as an offensive coordinator is well-known.   But what Ballard did to Hopkinsville was statistically (at least) impressive.   (see original post, above)

Pegasus will be at Ballard to broadcast the game in high definition video.   The broadcast is FREE.   Tune in at 7 pm this Friday at www.pegasussportsky.com

I'll try to post updates as I can.

CM

[Hungover_in_Andover]

I'll take Ballard to bounce back. 21-7.

[ColonelMike]

Broadcast time:  7 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com

Free live high definition video

Game will be archived on the site for a year after.

CM

[ColonelMike]

These two teams have played brutal opening schedules....

South Oldham opened on the road against Class 4A #1-ranked CAL....

South's second game was against Silver Creek of Indiana, a generally highly-regarded program....

Ballard opened the season with a game against Class 4A #9 Hopkinsville, and then followed that up with a game against Class 6A #1-ranked Male.

[ColonelMike]

sorry - I've been sleeping on the job.... LOL...

end of one quarter

Ballard 7

South Oldham 0

Both teams with a turnover....neither offense looks smooth yet.

South DL and Ballard LBs the story so far.

 

[ColonelMike]

Kyle Smythe 57 yard TD run for South

Tied at 7 with 8:14 to play in the first half

[ColonelMike]

Chaunte Marrero with a 48 yard TD dash after a short pass on a crossing route for Ballard.

PAT is blocked by South

6:33 to play in the half, Ballard 13-7

[ColonelMike]

After a 32 yard punt return by Marrero gives Ballard the ball on the South 18, the Bruins drive for a TD, with QB Ethan Barnett taking it in from 1.

3:33 to go in the half

Ballard 20 South 7

[ColonelMike]

QB Tristen Hawkins 1 yard run

Ballard 27, South 6 (They ruled the South PAT earlier was NO GOOD)

:27 left in the half

[ColonelMike]

7:57 to go in the third

39 yard pass from Tristen Hawkins to Kam Horton 

Ballard leads 34-6

[ColonelMike]

end of three

Ballard 41-6

Bruins driving inside the South 30 when we return