A big cat district tilt leaves the jungle for Hardin County

Records: Bardstown (2-0), Elizabethtown (1-2)

BGP Ranking: Bardstown (#2 in 3A), Elizabethtown (#7 in 3A)

Series History: Elizabethtown leads 11-6 dating back to 1998

Table Setter: Bardstown vs. E'town has been one of 3A's best, most subversive district battles since the current alignment brought them together two years ago. Regardless of the regular season outcome, the playoff rematches have not followed the script we thought we knew. It's way too early to tell if there will be a part two this season, but if part one continues the twists and turns of the past two years, one encounter may be all we need.

Unlike last year, this will not be a battle of unbeatens. While the Tigers have won both of their games thus far, Elizabethtown has dropped its last two. There is already one common opponent to draw comparisons from. E'town was on the verge of getting its doors blown off by John Hardin before a second half rally made the final score (39-27) more palatable. Bardstown topped the Bulldogs, 33-26, in a back and forth affair a week earlier. 

One element leaning heavily in Bardstown's favor: the Tigers return fifth year senior and five year starter Brady Clark, one of the best quarterbacks in the class over the past three years. E'town on the other hand, had to replace nearly its entire offense. 

With class 3A being wide open this year, Bardstown has a chance here to help clear the waters with a win… or Elizabethtown muddies it even more.

 

Bardstown big in this one. The Panthers are trying to recover from a huge graduating class last season.

My Prediction.

Bardstown 42

Elizabethtown 14 

Elizabethtown is a solid program with a history of not showing their cards prior to district play. They get this game at home, and Bardstown had a “lag” week with no game. The Panthers will be well-prepared to attack the soft outer edges of that Tiger D, and keep Clark & Co. off the field.