Saint Xavier (4-2) will host Manual (5-1) after beating Ryle 31-24. Manual is coming off an open week. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Last year, Manual beat St. X 37-36.

Common opponent:

St. X beat Central 37-7

Manual beat Central 20-13

St. X against Ryle was led on offense by RB Marlon Harbin who ran for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns. QB Mason Trimble threw for 232 yards and 2 touchdowns. LB Karsten Busch led the defense with 6 tackles with 2 for a loss and 2 sacks.

Manual this season has been led by QB Kaden Mack who has thrown 571 yards and 10 touchdowns with 1 interception. RB Gerian Traynor has 336 yards and 5 touchdowns. WR Willis Nofsinger has 219 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns. The defense is led by DE Devin Allen who has 39 tackles with 4 for a loss and 2 sacks. LB Cameron Jessee has 22 tackles with 8 for a loss and 1.5 sacks.

This game is big because they are the top 2 teams in the district plus throw in the RPI, so big playoff impacts for these two teams. St. X hasn't forgotten about losing to Manual in the final seconds last year, so I expect them to be extra motivated. Manual has a great win over Frederick Douglass but was soundly beaten by Christian Academy of Louisville in their last game, so depends on which Manual team shows up as to how they play. They are always motivated to play St. X so more than likely get the Frederick Douglass level performance. Manual has only beaten St. X twice this century with both games at Manual stadium so fortunately for St. X the game is at St. X. Those two Manual wins were in 2019 and 2023. Can Manual make it two wins in a row or does St. X avenge last year's loss?

One of the top games in the state this week.

Manual is a good team, but they are also difficult to figure out.  

I understand losing to CAL, but if you want to be a real contender in 6A you can't get

blown out by a 3A school, I don't care how good CAL is.

Was at this game last year and if my memory is correct there was at least one really questionable call, 

but that's football.

I might have to run this game back this year.  I think X will be too much in the end and they are playing well and using Harbin the way he should be used.

X 24

Manual 14

Manual has some interesting scores, so I could see this one going a few different ways. Manual will be ready for the Tigers and St. X will be wanting to make sure the Crimsons don't celebrate on their home field. 

Manual 27-26.

Bump.

Just a hunch, but I’m just not convinced that there is much difference between Male, Manuel, St. X, or Trinity.  Who gets the bounce?  Maybe Manuel this week 28-24.  Might even see a D or special teams.

X needs Harbin to have a good evening to get this win and I expect for him to do so. Manual hasn’t given me reason to believe they can play well all four quarters. Then add the revenge spot here for the Tigers after the tough loss last season on the road to the Crimsons after rushing for 378 yards, give me X at home.

X - 31  Manual - 14 

Manual is hard to figure out. You see the games against Frederick Douglass and South Warren and think they are a great team. Then you look at Central Hardin and CAL games and think they aren't that very good. I expect the good Manual team to show up tonight. 

St. X has never lost to Manual at Brother Thomas More Page stadium which opened in 2007. Prior to that Manual last won in 1993 my senior year at Manual Stadium. I still remember them celebrating like they won the super bowl so not sure how long their last win was before that but I'm sure it had been awhile.

Can't imagine X doesn't win by more than a TD.

Manual is hard to figure out. They have talent but just haven't looked great when I have seen them.

 

Just now, EastSideJunkie said:

Can't imagine X doesn't win by more than a TD.

Manual is hard to figure out. They have talent but just haven't looked great when I have seen them.

Or more. 

The Tigers are a couple of plays from being 6-0. Very consistent from one week to the next.

Manual has the horses to beat them and they've had two weeks to stew on the CAL loss, which was a very poor showing by the Crimsons.

I look for Manual to come out inspired and give X a fight, but that week to week consistency by the Tigers is born from play to play and series to series consistency. I think that wins out in the end.

Give me X by 7-10.

Streaming link.

X kicking off.

X kickoff goes for touchback.