Be There or Be Square: "Must-See" Games of 2023

[DevilMayCare]

Everyone has their own criteria for a "must see" game, and the biggest rivalries - T vs. X and CovCath vs. Highlands, to name a couple - are woven into the fabric of football season around these parts. This will focus more on the matchups we either don't see often, have never seen before, or eagerly await the sequel to from last year.

Over the course of a season, most games only matter to the locals, but some of the picks here will transcend regional borders.

(Games listed in chronological order)

 

First Time Matchups

Cooper at Bardstown on 8/18 - Perhaps not as glamorous as some of the games below, but a closer look will reveal one of the best of the season's opening weekend. Both the Jags and Tigers should be comfortably ranked within their respective class top tens, with Cooper, in particular, looking like a potential riser if all the pieces come together just right. Throw in the subplot of top prospect Austin Alexander trying to corral the fleet feet of Mr. Football contender Tyleeq Williams, and this one will generate clicks here and beyond.

 

Owensboro at Christian Academy of Louisville on 8/18 - The Red Devils ventured into Louisville to challenge a top ranked team and defending state champion to kick off last season. They'll duplicate that scenario to begin 2023, but strive for a different outcome than the two touchdown loss to St. Xavier. Conquering the Centurions means slowing down Mr. Football candidate Cole Hodge and the rest of a passing attack that helped produce a state best 727 points last year. That's a daunting task for an Owensboro defense featuring several new starters getting their first look at Hodge and Co. in Week 1.

 

Bowling Green vs. Lexington Christian Academy on 8/19 (Rafferty's Bowl at WKU) - The Purples - very likely the preseason #1 in 5A - welcome an ultra talented 2A contender from Lexington in a matchup of premier teams that should also serve as a showcase of premier quarterbacks. Cutter Boley, as if he needs an introduction at this point, is the top prospect in the state and a UK commit. Deuce Bailey, a BG junior, is an electric playmaker at the quarterback position who should see numerous D1 offers come rolling in soon enough. Both have a plethora of skill people around them to aid in heating up the Feix Field turf before the Hilltoppers hit it a couple of weeks later.

 

Frederick Douglass at Trinity on 8/25 - Most anticipated regular season game of 2023? You'll be hard pressed to find another to top this clash of top contenders for the 'big school' crown. This is the first official meeting between the Rocks and Broncos. The game came about, in part, because Douglass is now free from the FCPS's self imposed scheduling shackles, allowing them to go "big game" hunting. As soon as this one was inked, memories from 2019 and the most over hyped scrimmage in history came flooding back. Douglass wasn't ready for the smoke that night, but they're fresh off of the program's first state title and still have more D1 talent than anyone. They themselves are now "big game" and better positioned to challenge the standard bearers of Kentucky high school football. Trinity's level has dropped off the last couple of years. They'll need to pick it back up to avoid another loss to a Lexington school, the notion of which would have previously inspired laughter and confusion.

 

Bowling Green vs. Bryan Station on 9/2 (LCA Bowl) - The first ever meeting between the Purples and Defenders couldn't come at a better time, as both return a strong core from a 5A runner-up and 6A semifinalist, respectively. The Defenders' moniker will be tested by a Bowling Green offense featuring the aforementioned Deuce Bailey with his entire supporting cast of backs and receivers from a year ago. Points should come easily for BG this year. The other side of the coin pits a seasoned Station offensive unit against a Purples defense with several new starters. Station, too, should find the endzone inviting in 2023. The scoreboard operator may need to be in midseason form as these two contenders convene in Lexington, a place both teams hope to ultimately conclude their seasons.

 

Boyle County vs. Scott County on 9/8 - 'Title Town' will be jumping when the Rebels and Cards get together for one of the biggest games in central Kentucky, if not the entire state, this season. Boyle County is loaded to the gills and favored for a fourth consecutive state title, while Scott County ranks among the favorites in 5A with their own lofty expectations. The new school vs. old school chess match between Haddix and McKee may be the most interesting facet to this game. If Scott County stays true to its modus operandi, they'll look to shrink the field and grind out enough hard yards to play keep-away from the explosive Rebels. Or we could see some new wrinkles involving the underrated arm of quarterback Andrew Hickey. If Boyle's dazzling array of talent is allowed to run free, the home side may prove beyond the Cardinals' reach. Montavin Quisenberry alone could swing any game in favor of the Rebels.

 

First Time In A Long Time

Johnson Central at Pikeville on 8/25 (Pike County Bowl) - Unequivocally the biggest matchup the mountains have to offer. The relentless forward march of JC versus the fluid efficiency of Pikeville. They haven't met since the 70s. JC was not yet JC and Pikeville was still a decade away from redefining dominance in the Bluegrass. The Panthers are now seven time state champions and the two time defending kings of 1A. The Golden Eagles have participated in six of the last eight 4A championship games, with multiple rings of their own. Both programs live on the "reload, not rebuild" side of town and that should ring true again this year. Anything short of Kroger Field would be a disappointment for both, as would anything short of a mountain classic at this year's Pike County Bowl.

 

Paducah Tilghman at Warren East on 10/13 - Realignment puts Tilghman's rubber to the road for a 5+ hour round trip to Bowling Green in district play. When the Tornado touch down, they'll be greeted by one of the state's most dynamic quarterbacks, Dane Parsley. After accounting for a staggering 57 touchdowns and leading Warren East to twelve wins as a sophomore, Parsley and the Warriors will take on the role of storm chasers. Or is it Tilghman that will be doing the chasing? If they're not pursuing Parsley, PT will be pursuing a state championship in a loaded 4A class. They may only be a consistent running game away from being a serious contender. The two schools haven't met since 2005.

 

Woodford County vs. Scott County on 10/13 - The Jackets and Cards battled every year from 1973-2006 before the series went on a seventeen year hiatus. At the time, Scott County had assumed total control, winning the last ten meetings, mostly in blowout fashion. What better time than now to resurrect this CKY rivalry? As the series comes back into focus, Wofo has morphed into a formidable program on the rise. Scott County looks like a lock for a top five pre-season ranking in 5A and the Jackets are a good candidate to join them there. The arms of quarterbacks Hickey (SC) and Nason (WC) lend the potential for both teams to air it out more, but the DNA of each program remains the same: win the line of scrimmage and run the football. Both sides should be spent after this one's over.

 

Lexington Christian Academy at Raceland on 10/27 - The Eagles and Rams are not exactly strangers, though they haven't met in thirteen years after sharing a district from 2001-2010. They're more like cousins that stopped going to the family reunion when they were teenagers, but decided to meet up years later because one was in town for the weekend. Joking aside, they're all grown up now. Arguably no team in the state has done more over the last few years besides win a championship than LCA. Raceland's name will pop up in that conversation too. At worst, the Eagles are co-favorites in 2A, and this season may be the Rams' best chance to get the monkey off its back. Cutter Boley will be one of the biggest recruits to ever visit NEKY.

 

Play It Back

Bryan Station at Trinity on 8/18 - The Shamrocks have had almost nine months to stew on last season's 10-7 war of attrition defeat to the Defenders, which concluded another substandard season in St. Matthews. Prior to that night, Trinity had won fifteen in a row against the Fayette County Public School system by a cumulative score of 698-175. Station was also the last FCPS team to beat the Rocks, all the way back in 1999. Can the Defenders make it three straight? They've got the experience to do it again, with seventeen starters back from last year. This not only kicks off the season for Trinity, it sets in motion the most demanding schedule in the state: Station, Douglass, back to back weeks against Indiana powerhouses Center Grove and Carmel, Male, our St. X, and Ohio's St. X. Per usual, there's nowhere for T to hide, and it starts in Week 1.

 

Ballard at Male on 8/25 - If you followed the two meetings they had last year, you know why this game is circled on calendars around Louisville and beyond. Male had won ten straight in the series before Ballard used two defensive scores and a field goal to grind out a regular season win and strike the first of what would be a few blows to the 'Big 3'. If you witnessed the state semifinal rematch, the climax is forever burned into your brain. Ballard was on the verge of taking another step toward a dream season when they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Leading 20-17 in the waning moments of the game, a botched center/quarterback exchange by the Bruins miraculously found a home in the eager hands of a Male defender who scooped and scored, sending the Dawgs into a state of euphoria, and subsequently, their fifth straight 6A championship game. Male will be favored in this Week 2 matchup, but no one should overlook Ballard after last year.

 

Mayfield at Paducah Tilghman on 9/1 - Last season, War Memorial witnessed what was hopefully a rekindling of the fire in this 112 year old rivalry. Both sides played inspired football for four quarters before the home team escaped with a 16-14 win. Flags flew liberally, there was sketchy ball spotting, and a fatal unsportsmanlike penalty on Tilghman that allowed Mayfield to kneel it out and extend their ownership of PT to seventeen games. It was the first of several bitter pills the Tornado would be forced to swallow in a roller coaster season. The Cards would swallow hard in the season's eleventh hour, falling by a point in the 2A finals. If the teams bring last year's intensity back again, expect another four quarter war, this time in Paducah, where the Cards are sure to get a fair shake, right?

 

Lexington Christian Academy at Christian Academy of Louisville on 9/8 - The Mr. Football Watchlist will keep one eye fixed on this battle of the top two contenders for the award. Hopefully Boley and Hodge fare better than last year. CAL's win in Lexington was not a high water mark for either, with Hodge being picked off twice - it only happened four times all season - and Boley getting dinged up in the third quarter and being reduced to helpless spectator as CAL ran away with it, 49-14. These might be the two most talent rich squads in the bottom three classes, but the marquee will read Boley vs. Hodge. This is the Mahomes vs. Burrow or Brady vs. Rodgers of Kentucky high school football.

 

Raceland at Pikeville on 9/8 - Last year's 1A finalists will size each other up for a possible preview of this year's championship game. Pikeville rode Blake Birchfield to a 41-9 win over the Rams at Kroger Field, keeping Raceland in the conversation for 'best program without a title'. This may be their best opportunity yet, as the Panthers have a lot to replace while the Rams return a more experienced cast of seniors. Pikeville is the king of 1A until further notice, but this September matchup at Hambley should give us some insight into whether or not Raceland is any closer to usurping the throne.

 

Highlands at Cooper on 9/22 - With Covington Catholic dropping to 4A, the Jags assume the role of chief district nemesis for Highlands. This now becomes the 5A district tilt to watch in NKY. It has little to do with what's transpired between the two previously, as all but two games in the series have been decided by three scores or more. It has everything to do with the growth and development of Cooper's young talent and the roster additions made over the off-season, positioning the Jaguars as a threat to the status quo of 5A. Though they've underwhelmed for the better part of the last decade, Highlands is very much a part of that hierarchy Cooper hopes to tear down. It's year three for Sphire in Fort Thomas, and with that, comes the expectation of great strides toward restoring Highlands' to its former glory. A high preseason ranking could be in store for the Birds, and Cooper may be right behind them, nipping at their feathers. Or will it be Highlands chasing the Jags' tail?

 

Those are several of my picks, but I know I'm not the only one with an opinion around here. Let's hear what games the rest of BGP is looking forward to this season. 

[Tigerpride94]

In the play it back category:

St. X vs. Male on 9/1. Last year they split games but Male got the one that counted the most in the 6A playoffs. Male won in double OT by going for two and converting. I'm sure both teams have this one circled but St. X will have a memory of last years loss to motivate them. Should be a good one.

[DevilMayCare]

2 hours ago, Tigerpride94 said:

In the play it back category:

St. X vs. Male on 9/1. Last year they split games but Male got the one that counted the most in the 6A playoffs. Male won in double OT by going for two and converting. I'm sure both teams have this one circled but St. X will have a memory of last years loss to motivate them. Should be a good one.

That's a good one.

Any of the games involving T, X, and H could go any which way this year. That whole round robin will be "must see".

[WOFOJP61]

Woodford County vs Warren (Downey) High from California September 8th. Is a must see for me, not everyday a California team come to Kentucky to play. 

[Purple88]

7 minutes ago, WOFOJP61 said:

Woodford County vs Warren (Downey) High from California September 8th. Is a must see for me, not everyday a California team come to Kentucky to play. 

Go Woodford County!

[Statsdontlie]

Boyle County vs Lexington Christian Academy. Danville vs Somerset. Boyle County vs Frederick Douglass. Casey County vs Lincoln County. Mercer County vs Garrard County. 

[Tkinslow]

Barren Co at Glasgow is a must see for me this is a crosstown rival game that BC pulled out of a few years ago because Glasgow had owned the series. BC has showed improvement the last couple years and I think they think that they can win now. But we will have to see I think the Scotties still get the win by two scores or more.

[16thBBall Fan]

Boyle Co. vs. LCA; Boyle vs. Frederick Douglass; Frederick Douglass vs. Archbishop Hoban (Akron); Frederick Douglass vs. Cathedral (Indianaoplis) 

I also think on Oct. 14 the game at Bryan Station vs. Frederick Douglass. The Broncos should go into that game with a 30-0 record all-time vs all public and private high schools in Lexington since their inception in 2017. This should be the best chance for a team in Lexington to stop that streak plus it will have a lot to do with each school's RPI's heading to the 6A playoffs.

[DevilMayCare]

Here are five marquee 'out-of-state' games to highlight the schedule:

 

First Timers

Frederick Douglass vs. Archbishop Hoban (OH) on 8/19 - The Knights of Akron are one of the most successful programs in Ohio over the last decade, having won five state titles in the last eight years. They return a strong nucleus from last year's Division II runner-up, including:. 

• Offensive lineman William Satterwhite is top ten nationally at his position and committed to Tennessee.

• Linebacker Rickey Williams is top 50 at his position and committed to West Virginia.

• Quarterback Jacqai Long is headed to Marshall next year.

Douglass' roster features several blue chippers, but they may meet their match as they seek challengers from beyond Kentucky borders.

Frederick Douglass vs. Cathedral (IN) on 9/22 - No school in Indiana has won more games all-time than Indianapolis-based Cathedral. The Fighting Irish are 14 time state champions and rated as the pre-season #2 team in the Hoosier state by Calpreps. Another gifted Broncos secondary will be tested by quarterback Danny O'Neil - slated to join Deion Sanders at Colorado next year - and tight end Zach Meeks, a 6'7" Miami (OH) commit and walking matchup nightmare.

Woodford County vs. Warren (CA) on 9/8 - A fringe top 20 team in California this year and last, Warren High School produced five star quarterback and current Tennessee Volunteer Nico Iamaleava. Younger brother Madden Iamaleava assumes control of the Bears offense and already holds offers from the likes of Washington, Auburn, Tennessee, and Ole Miss. He'll have two FBS targets in receivers Jordan Ross (Colorado State commit) and Jace Brown (Nevada). Edge rusher JT Houston could join Ross at Colorado State. Wofo's biting off a lot here, but respect to them for taking on the challenge. 
 

Play It Back

Trinity at Center Grove (IN) on 9/1 - The Rocks edged the Trojans last year, 29-28, on the strength and accuracy of Kellan McLaughlin's right leg. Center Grove went on to win their third consecutive 6A championship. Calpreps' pre-season rankings have them #1 in Indiana and favored for a four-peat. QB Tyler Cherry is committed to Duke. Additionally, they return the bulk of their defense from last year. The Trojans are a strong candidate to be the best team on Trinity's schedule. 

Male vs. Roncalli (IN) on 9/29 - The Royals bowed out in the semifinals of their class last year and are expected to be in the 'big school' hunt once again. They poured on the ground game to handle Male by three scores for one of their twelve wins in 2022. The Dawgs were down a couple of superstars that night and shuffling quarterbacks. Kolter Smith is the man for Male this year, with two of the state's brightest talents to distribute the ball to in Max Gainey and Antonio Harris, who roasted Roncalli for a long touchdown last season. 

[theguru]

Now that we have had a little scrimmage action are any other games must see?

[theguru]

On 8/2/2023 at 4:45 PM, Purple88 said:

Go Woodford County!

Right, we are all Woodford County fans on the 8th. 

[MaddenCurse44]

Dixie/Simon Kenton should be a great one.

[Wildcat1993]

Bowling Green vs Bryan Stayion will be a must see for a reason a lot don’t know about. The talented JR class at Bowling Green lost their 8th Grade Championship against Elkhorn Middle School in Frankfort thanks to a dominating game and game winning TD run by Kalen “Jaws” Washington. Know both will look to get a big win with this rematch. 

[Squirrel]

Not as marquee as most of these games but I am looking forward to seeing Mayfield travel to Henderson County who had a pretty solid season in 6A last year.