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Oldham County vs. Madison Central Predictions/Updates

ColonelMike

By ColonelMike
in KY Football (High School)

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ColonelMike

ColonelMike

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Who:   Oldham County (8-2) vs. #9 Madison Central (7-3)

Where:  Madison Central HS, Richmond, KY

When:   Friday, 11/5/21  Kickoff 7:30 pm ET

Broadcast:  Free live high definition video coverage begins at 7 pm on www.pegasussportsky.com

Last Meeting:   10/8/21 at Oldham County.    Madison Central 31, Oldham County 15

Oldham County comes into the playoffs after winning its last two games over George Rogers Clark (45-22) and highly-regarded Bullitt East (26-20).     The Colonels showed a much-improved defensive effort in those two games, despite giving up three TDs in each.    The Colonels, dealing with injuries to key offensive cogs RB Grant Gilchrist and WR Justin Ruffin, still managed to have enough offense to continue performing as one of the more high-scoring teams in the state at 30.8 ppg.

Offensively, OC quarterback Sam Young hasn't quite as prolific through the air as he has been over the past 2 1/2 years, but the three-year starter at quarterback for the Colonels has found other ways to hurt opponents, averaging nearly 100 yards rushing over the last two games and scoring 6 TDs during that span with his feet.   For the season, Young has rushed for a team-leading 732 yards and 16 scores.    He's still managed to throw for over 1,300 yards this year, with 15 TDs and only 5 picks.

Oldham's receivers' stats won't jump off the page at you, but the Colonels have spread the ball around, and all have produced.   Justin Ruffin, hampered by injuries, has only played in 7 games, but leads the team in catches with 25.    Jax Elkins (team-highs of 397 yards receiving and 4 TDs) and Jacob Davis (23.5 yards per catch) have been the team's most explosive receivers.   And Wesley Alexander has only 7 catches - but 5 have gone for TDs.    The Colonels won't hesitate to throw to the TE position, either; both Brian Monteleone and Zach Hohman have made big grabs this year.

On defense, LB Brian Monteleone is all over the place on defense and also has three interceptions on the year.   The senior leads the team in tackles.     The Colonels are really sporting a youth movement on the defensive side of the ball; two youngsters now starting at safety have wowed with their talents, athleticism, and smarts, including freshman Miller Brown, who had an interception in his first varsity game against GRC, and speedy Trey Cotton, who has gone from being a return specialist to a starter at safety, where he has rapidly become one of the most impressive defenders on the field.    One of the best run-support safeties I've seen this year.

Madison Central has really rebounded in 2021.   Like Oldham, the Indians are coached by a first-year head coach, Mike Holcomb, and the Indians have rebounded from a 1-8 campaign in 2020 - when they lost their last 8 games, including a 23-10 decision to Oldham County - to break into the BGP Top 10 this season with a 7-3 effort.

There's no secret as to what MC wants to do - they are going to try to run the ball.   Averaging 216 yards per game on the ground, the Indians barely waste time trying to throw, averaging barely 60 yards a game through the air, and averaging barely 9 pass attempts per game.     Falling behind the Indians is often bad news; MC will make the game short with their running attack.

Brady Hensley is the stud in the backfield, with 1,027 yards rushing and 18 TDs.    But QB Hagan Harrison is also dangerous with the ball, averaging nearly 6 yards per carry and tallying 303 rushing yards on the year.    He was particularly effective on 10/8/21 against Oldham County, as he rushed for 113 yards against the Colonels on just 13 carries, with a TD.

In fact, he was one of three Indians to reach the century mark rushing on that day, a day in which Harrison was 0 for 7 passing.    Hensley had 170 yards and 2 scores, and Adrien Parks 117 yards (on 10 carries) and 1 TD.    The Indians broke open a close game at the half, and "ran" away with a 31-15 victory in Buckner.

On defense, Madison Central is one of the stingiest teams around, giving up just 13.9 ppg.     Highly regarding Pikeville only scored 19 against the Indians, Oldham County managed just 15 points, and Lexington Christian scored their lowest point total of the year against Madison Central, managing just 21 points (their second-lowest point total was 35 points).   

Since 1998, Madison Central has won 5 of 7 against Oldham County, but the Colonels have won 2 of the last 3.

This one should be a fun one to watch; Oldham did a great job of getting defenders to the point of attack in October, but the Colonels didn't do a good job of tackling in the second half, and Madison Central really took advantage, stepping out of tackles, running through tackles, and winning the game by doing what they do best.

Free live video coverage begins at 7 pm on www.pegasussportsky.com   Mike Montgomery and Joe Gamsky have the call.

I'll try to post updates as I can!

CM

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