The Trinity Shamrocks (9-2) will welcome the Fern Creek Tigers (6-5) to Marshall Stadium on Friday night for the second round of the 6A playoffs.

Trinity is coming off a 63-0 win over Southern while Fern Creek beat Oldham County 16-7 last week.

The Shamrocks have not faced much tough competition in many weeks and has now extended their streak of allowing zero touchdowns to five games. I like Trinity in this matchup and think they can win easier but I expect Fern Creek to give them some fits that the Rocks haven't seen in weeks. Defensive end Travis Moten could especially be a challenge for a Trinity O line that has struggled at times. Fern Creek QB Kaleb Passmore (great Qb name) has also been solid with two good weapons in Patrick Carr and TJ Cothron.

Friday will be the first meeting between the Shamrocks and Tigers since 2006.

Common opponents: Oldham County, Eastern, Male, and Southern.

Vs Oldham County: Trinity 42-0 W, Fern Creek 7-6 L and 16-7 W

Vs Male: Trinity 24-21 W, Fern Creek 17-0 L

Vs Eastern: Trinity 49-0 W, Fern Creek 39-0 W

Vs Southern: Trinity 63-0 W, Fern Creek 48-0 W

 

Bump.

I think Trinity rolls with this one.  After this week, things will get very interesting.  I still don't believe Trinity's offense is at a level that it could run the table again, but given any one game scenario, it's a possibility...

Trinity's offensive line is healthy and this makes a world of difference in the consistency of their ability to score points and control the line of scrimmage. The defense is performing at a high level and I believe another shutout may be forthcoming versus the Fern Creek Tigers.  The recent article in the Courier-Journal touting the Fern Creek defense may add a little more intensity to Trinity's offensive play. I see a 28-0 win for the Shamrocks in this one.  

Trinity goes as the O-Line goes, in my opinion. LT Nate Shields is playing at an all-state level and it is absolutely masterclass by Cobb et al to move Boyd Knoerr out to RT. Elijah Hernandez is fighting hard through some pains but looks like he is ready for the deep run and Josh Bratcher and Dakari Beckham seem to get better every week. They will have their hands full with Moten, but I thought they handled the 4* from Douglass well even without Shields. QB Zane Johnson has also gotten through the tough part of the schedule and looks like his old self (albeit with some competition behind him from Shoemaker!) and RB Chris Wilson has been massive filling in for JB Berry who was battling a lower body injury.

Defensively, the Rocks have really stepped it up in the front 7. LB Nick Lococco has solidified the group and has seemingly been in the opponents' backfield the entire second half of the year. He and Jack DeBellis have teamed for 17 tackles for loss in limited time with the blowouts recently. DL Bailey Vance is one of the best defensive linemen to come through Trinity and has been a major cog in the d-line's productivity for almost 3 years now. DL KeAndre Thompson has emerged as a junior and is at the top of the team lead in tackles for loss with 11.5. DB Elijah Burns-Crump has stepped in at safety and gives Trinity needed speed and an ability to shut down a play quickly. CB's LA Evans and Sonny Bratcher-Gray have shut down almost all passing the last three weeks and DB Caleb Ricks has been solid in both pass and run defense.

For Fern Creek, Coach Josh Abell and his teams have gotten better each year. They will have at least two straight seasons at .500 or better for the first time in a while and he is not afraid to test you deep. QB Passmore is averaging almost 14 yards per completion and they have a capable running game with 981 yards rushing this year on 233 attempts. DE Travis Moten is a terrific player who projects as a gamer at the next level. His 29 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks are eye popping and his measureables are something that have to be accounted for on every snap. Darius Woodford has gone under the radar but is also a solid defender and TJ Cothron is a dude at both receiver and DB. 

I agree that this could be more of a test than most people think, especially early going. Fern Creek will be fired up to play Trinity for the first time since 2006 and Coach Abell is know for his preparation and leadership. But I also do think the Rocks' scheme of zone and gap rushing I think will make life hard for Moten to get the stats he's been used to, and having monster TE's Holden Shoen and AJ Green adding to the front line attack will ensure that Trinity is able to run the ball. The Shamrocks have also cut down on the turnovers and have been feisty getting 17 takeaways this year themselves. I like Trinity to pull away in this one and having the "Iron Leg" of Carson Hilbert will keep the orange and black Tigers deep in their own territory for much of the game and make life difficult for most of the night. ☘️

Will this game be on the WDRB+ app?

23 minutes ago, theguru said:

Will this game be on the WDRB+ app?

It's at Trinity, can't imagine why it wouldn't be.

6 minutes ago, NLTanker1 said:

It's at Trinity, can't imagine why it wouldn't be.

Extra fees to the KHSAA to broadcast playoff games. 

2 hours ago, theguru said:

Will this game be on the WDRB+ app?

 

Thanks @Tigerpride94!

Free and very high quality.

Download WDRB+ here:

For Apple - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wdrb/id1329031432

For Google - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wdrb.ott

13 hours ago, theguru said:

Thanks @Tigerpride94!

Free and very high quality.

 

Radio is free too!!! ??

Rocks by as many as they please. 

2 hours ago, #RockNation said:

Radio is free too!!! ??

    ?   ?

Do we expect JB Berry back soon?

1 hour ago, fatsnbul said:

Do we expect JB Berry back soon?

I believe he has been available for recent games,  per staff, the Rocks did not need him. Wilson, Floyd, and Rice are more than ample for now.