Bardstown Hosts Braves In Battle Of Unbeatens

Records: Bardstown (12-0) | Union County (12-0)

BGP Ranking: Bardstown (#2 in 3A) | Union County (#3 in 3A)

Series History: First ever meeting?

Table Setter: Someone's "0" has to go, as the Braves make the two and a half hour migration to Bardstown for a quarterfinal matchup that feels like it's coming a round or two early. Both are undefeated, both are ranked in the class 3A top five, and both have designs on playing a couple more weeks beyond this one.

Significant injuries have assured that the Tigers will never be whole again this season, but their quarterback returned last week from a collarbone injury suffered several weeks ago. Brady Clark reemerged in round two to help guide Bardstown past a game opponent. Dormancy may have also aided in the underwhelming showing against Nelson County. For their sake, the rust was hopefully shook loose, because Union County likely won't be as cooperative if the Tigers are off their game again.

The Braves appear healthy and ready for the road trip. Kristopher Hughes and Kanye Pollard provide a fearsome twosome in the backfield and both are as dangerous in the passing game as they are running the ball. The two each average around 14 yards per touch between rushes and receptions, with Hughes eyeing a thousand yards rushing and a thousand receiving this season. Tyleeq Williams is the one to watch for the Tigers, serving as their leading rusher (1,000+ yards) and second leading receiver (400+ yards). Big play potential is but a snap away for either side.

Bardstown and Union County have been outstanding defensively, ranking #2 and #4 in 3A for points allowed, respectively. And generally speaking, both have been among 3A's best programs of the last two years, going a combined 46-3 since the beginning of last season. The Tigers have proven difficult to overcome on their home turf, suffering one loss in Bardstown over the last four years. That's the challenge that awaits visiting Union County in this quarterfinal matchup.

It is, indeed, the first-ever meeting between these two programs. Glad to welcome Braves fans to the Bourbon City.

The Tiger QB is Brayden Clark, no relation to Brady, who graduated last year.

With our injuries, and the youth of the team, this is all cream at this point.

Union Co is to good for a battered and bruised Bardstown team and sends them home again this year in the regional final.

Watching the film of the Hart County/Union County game was interesting.  Hart actually moved the ball pretty well, though I will say that the penalties and play-calling on 3rd down was interesting.  I think Union figured out by the 3rd quarter that Hart really could not pass, put 8 in the box, and let it rip.  They won't be able to do that against the Tigers.  I will say that Pollard is a highlight reel of jump cuts, spins, and feignts.  Bardstown's defenders will have to be sound tackling to keep him in check.

On 11/12/2022 at 6:27 PM, Hearsay said:

The Tiger QB is Brayden Clark, no relation to Brady, who graduated last year.

With our injuries, and the youth of the team, this is all cream at this point.

Between the similarity in name and the number of times I wrote about Brady last year, that mistake doesn't surprise me. Thanks for the correction.

Union County is legit. They will win and I think it will be decisive. 
 

Union County-35

Bardstown-13.

35 minutes ago, WKY_Football said:

Union County is legit. They will win and I think it will be decisive. 
 

Union County-35

Bardstown-13.

I definitely see a hint of western Kentucky bias in your picks. ?

2 minutes ago, Paul Dean said:

I definitely see a hint of western Kentucky bias in your picks. ?

Rooting for the West-Side. 

The only thing I can say about this game for certain is that one of these teams will be 12-1 after Friday night ?.  This game definitely has the potential to be a great game, and maybe one of the best games in the state Friday.

10 hours ago, WKY_Football said:

Union County is legit. They will win and I think it will be decisive. 
 

Union County-35

Bardstown-13.

Curious what you see in the Tiger defense that would cause you to believe Union will drop 35 on them?

8 hours ago, Nuke LaLoosh said:

The only thing I can say about this game for certain is that one of these teams will be 12-1 after Friday night ?.  This game definitely has the potential to be a great game, and maybe one of the best games in the state Friday.

I’m predicting two teams from class 3A will be 12-1 after Friday night!

2 hours ago, BigBlue92 said:

I’m predicting two teams from class 3A will be 12-1 after Friday night!

CAL or Mason?

6 minutes ago, Hearsay said:

CAL or Mason?

Cal!

3 hours ago, Hearsay said:

Curious what you see in the Tiger defense that would cause you to believe Union will drop 35 on them?

Just a hunch. I really like Union. I think they are a lot better than Bardstown as currently constructed. Fully healthy Bardstown maybe different. 

4 hours ago, BigBlue92 said:

I’m predicting two teams from class 3A will be 12-1 after Friday night!

I predict there will be two undefeated teams remaining in 3A after this weekend and those two teams will play December 3 for a state championship.