6A #1 Male (8-1) will travel to 6A #4 Manual (8-1) after beating Bullitt East 42-6. Manual is coming off a 48-21 win over Meade County.

Last year, Male won 14-3

The first game in this rivalry was in 1893 with Manual getting their first win in the series in 1899. Manual 's last win in the series was 2013.

Calpreps Ratings:

Male 49.7

Manual 36.5

Can Manual get the upset or does Male continue their streak of wins in the series?

I always pull for Manual in this one, as the underdog - especially since their magnet program tends to make it their student body demographic lean a little less towards having many athletically-minded kids in their halls.

Male currently leads the series 89-45-6, and the game this week gives them the chance to double up Manual in the W's column.

I think Male ends up winning pretty “easily”. I’ll go with Male winning 28-10. 

I think this one comes down to coaching. Manual has plenty of athletes but not sure if they have what it takes to pull this one out. I am taking Male by 3 TD's.

Male-42

Manual-21

Male is the best team in 6A!

Bulldogs 35

Crimsons 21

 

Pulling for Manual because I like seeing parity in 6A, but Male is firing on all cylinders.

The offense is the best I've seen in 6A this year. 

Kolter Smith has really come into his own, completing 72% of his throws with 17 touchdowns and 1 interception since the loss to X. Gainey and Harris at receiver with Gates and Burton splitting carries behind one of the state's best offensive lines... too much there to deal with.

And then there's the defense, allowing about 7 points per game. Maybe the best defensive unit in the state, period.

All of the pieces are there.

And yet, I think this will be a battle that Male sweat out for a while. Creech is having a great year for Manual and Washburn is back in the fold. The Crimsons have the offensive personnel to score some points, but the defense has been lacking in the big games. They gave up 35 to South Warren, 54 to CAL, and 36 to St. X.

I'll say 42-24, Bulldogs. Gainey or Harris will get behind the secondary in the fourth quarter to put it away.

It feels strange to say that about Manual. Their defense is typically what makes them formidable and the offense is three yards and a cloud of dust, but that hasn't been the case this year.

 

A little taste of the peripheral festivities of 'Old Rivalry' week:

Manual claims victories over Male in JV and froshmore games.

The ladies of Male - confusing with no context - keeping alive the tradition of powderpuff football. 

 

Male counting the chickens before they're hatched? These girls are confident the Dawgs will double up the series record on Manual (Lanual?). 

 

No rivalry week in the fall is complete without a bonfire. This one was lit by Male. Manual hopes to light their's tomorrow night around 7. You can't see it here, but I'm standing just out of frame preparing to roast a marshmallow for my third s'more.

I think the difference in this game is Manual's defense won't be able to stop Male and Male will get some stops more than Manual. I'll go with Male by 14.

Streaming?

Frakes in the house covering this one.

 

Male leads 21-7 following a Smith to Gainey connection. 

8:48 2Q 

Male 27-7 at halftime.