South Oldham vs. Jeffersontown Predictions/Updates

[ColonelMike]

Who:   South Oldham (7-3) vs. Jeffersontown (1-9)

What:  Class 5A Playoffs Round 1

Where:  Mitchell Irvin Stadium at South Oldham HS, Crestwood, KY

Broadcast:   Pegasus Sports Network   www.pegasussportsky.com   Pregame show starts at 7 pm

Jamie Reed did it again in Crestwood; the South Oldham Dragons registered their 12th consecutive winning season under Reed, and won another district title, finishing undefeated in district play this year.

South has allowed just 56 points in the last 7 games, including two shutouts.    Only two teams scored in double figures against the Dragons during that stretch; Atherton (who South beat, 48-14), and 6A Oldham County (which beat the Dragons, 28-20).     Other than the loss to cross-county rival Oldham County, the Dragons' only other two losses have been against two top 10 programs, Christian Academy of Louisville and Ballard.   (Oldham was ranked much of the season, as well, in 6A).

One of the Dragons' shutouts was registered against Jeffersontown, 63-0, on 9/24/21.   That game also had significance for Reed; it was his 100th victory at the Crestwood school

South comes in averaging 223 yards a game on the ground, and look for the Dragons to try to have their way on the ground.   Kyle Smythe has been the Dragons' most consistent and explosive runner this year, averaging just a hair under 100 yards per game.   Smythe has rushed for 774 yards in just 8 games, with 12 touchdowns.    He's well supported by versatile back Jack McCubbin (485 yards rushing / 7 TDs).   The Dragons have a host of other runners who can tote the football; Jeffrey Burton (318 yards / 3 TDs), Luke Oliveros (217 yards / 3 TDs) and QB Devlin McGee (227 yards / 3 TDs) all are threats.

McGee really improved over his first season as the starting QB, and finished with over 1,000 yards passing and an impressive 12 TDs vs. only 3 INT.

Connor Hayden and Christian Danielson have been the primary receivers on the outside, providing South with more speed than the Dragons have had at that position in a while.   Both have over 400 yards receiving and the two have combined for 11 TDs.

Defensively, Elijah Lalli has been an absolute BEAST this year for South, with 91 total tackles, including 27 TFL and 7 sacks, all team highs.    The South defense has been very disruptive in the backfield, registering 81 tackles for a loss this year....besides Lalli, wach for Malachi Kleber (11.5 TFL / 6.5 sacks), DB Wyatt Fowler (67 tackles, third best on the team, with 7 TFL), and LB Maddax Flener (74 tackles, 2nd most on team, and 8.5 TFL).  Jacob Johnston has 9 TFL.

Jeffersontown has struggled with numbers this year, with barely 30 players on the roster, and usually there wasn't that many available for any one game.    The Chargers got their lone victory in game 9 when they hammered Seneca, 33-19, but they came back down to earth in their final game, losing 45-14 to Bullitt Central.

Head Coach Mike Shatzer is very familiar with Reed and the Dragons, having spent time as the head coach in Buckner at Oldham County.    He'll try to pull of a huge upset behind the arm of senior QB Kerontae Britt, who threw for over 1,900 yards this season and 13 TDs while completing about half his passes.

The Charger running game hasn't really gotten going yet; Jtown has rushed for barely 500 yards on the season as a team.   

Through the air, the Chargers have three solid targets, all of whom have over 500 yards receiving this year:   Malik Hardin (557 yards / 7 TDs), B. J. Spurling (517 yards), and Travis Offutt (515 yards).

The Chargers may have to make this one a shootout if they have any hope of winning; the Jtown defense has given up 31 points or more to 9 of 10 opponents; six teams have scored over 50 points against Jeffersontown.    

On paper, this one looks like an easy South win.   But it's the playoffs, the players are teen-agers, and funny things have happened.  It's why we play the game.

Still, the Dragons figure to be multi-TD favorites in this one.

Pegasus coverage begins 30 minutes prior to kick at 7 pm on www.pegasussportsky.com   Free live high definition video.   Roger Frantz and Tom Hawkins with the call.

[Tigerpride94]

South Oldham via running clock!