St. X (2-0) will host Male (2-0) at 7:00 pm.

St. X is coming off a 27-10 win over Bowling Green.

Male is coming off a 17-14 win over Ballard

Last year Male beat St. X 35-34 in overtime.

St. X returns most of the big play makers in last year's game with QB Mason Trimble who had 307 yards passing with 3 passing touchdowns and two rushing. WR Marlon Harbin and WR Lucas Shelton both had big games with Harbin having 82 receiving yards and 1 touchdown and Shelton who had 108 yards receiving. On the defensive side LB Karsten Busch and LB Luka Bentz return with Busch having 6 tackles and one for a loss. Bentz had 4 tackles and two for a loss.

Male returns QB Jordan Williams who had 167 yards and 3 touchdowns. Willams supporting cast of WR Antonio Harris and TE Andrew Vrbancic caught touchdowns but have graduated. Also, RB Chayce Burton who had 116 yards and a touchdown is out injured. On the defensive side DL Isaac Sowells had a monster game with 8 tackles with two for a loss and two sacks and has also graduated and doing well at N.C. St.  Steron Davidson who had 6 tackles returns along with Christian White who had 4 tackles. Male returned the most on the defensive side of the ball with 5 returning starters.

This year WR Colin Jefferson has filled the void of Antonio Harris and leads with 56 receiving yards and 1 touchdown against Butler. He also has some college offers from Akron and Eastern Kentucky.

St. X also scrimmaged Ballard and dominated them so they both have seen Ballard this year as a common opponent, but a scrimmage is also not a game so maybe discount that result.

St. X I'm sure remembers that OT loss and will be looking to avenge that loss. Male will want to keep their winning streak going. Do the Tigers get the win or does the Bulldogs?

When Sowells played DL last year the X OL could not do anything to slow him down. Glad he has moved on; with him not there it helps the Tigers to be able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Think the Tigers take care of business and move to 3-0. 

Another common opponent is Bowling Green because Male scrimmaged them with Bowling Green winning 21-14. Looking at all the available data to date. I think St. X wins by 14. I think the Male defense can keep them in it but I don't think the Male offense has the weapons like last year to score many points against a good St. X defense.

I’m not high on male to win this one. I don’t think the Ballard win is that impressive. That's a game male should win. Ballard beating Lex Cath looked like a nice win until Lex Cath couldn’t put Dunbar to bed and only won by two scores.

Male will give them some challenge but they aren’t winning this game

X 28

male 7

Bummed that UofL is playing Friday night, or this is where I would be. 

I think the X-men handle business and beat Male.

2 hours ago, TheDeuce said:

Bummed that UofL is playing Friday night, or this is where I would be. 

I think the X-men handle business and beat Male.

Yeah, makes me mad that college plays on Friday nights. Just hurts high schools and will probably hurt attendance of game. I selfishly would like to see this game moved to Thursday. 

Tigers win this game. Male offense will struggle against the X defense. 

X is the No. 2 team in the state IMO

Tigers 35, Male 14

 

Male’s loss of Burton for the year leaves them with minimal offensive weapons.  D going to be stressed to carry the Dogs.

 

 

I think St X’s “dudes” are better than Male’s dudes. I like X 35-14.

Poplar Level Rd. hasn’t been on my schedule yet this season, but the early word is clear: this might be their strongest team in four years. That’s no small praise considering the level of competition at the top of 6A.

Male, meanwhile, is sending mixed signals. Yes, they got past Ballard, but it was far from the dominant performance we’ve come to expect from a program that has set the standard in 6A for over a decade. Losing their top athlete certainly changes the equation, but at Male the expectation has always been “next man up.” Ballard’s own coaching transition to Eastern should have made a blowout even more likely. Instead, the Bulldogs left the door open.

That’s what makes Friday night so intriguing. If the feedback on Poplar Level Rd. is accurate, this could be the moment they prove they belong in the conversation with Male and Trinity as the true heavyweights of 6A. A running clock wouldn’t surprise me — but then again, that’s why they play the game.

 

Ballard stat report from Male game showing team yardage. Wild Ballard held Male to negative rush yards but they couldn't stop the pass.