Christian Academy of Louisville 42 Murray 7 (3A State Championship)

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

The Centurions are on a dominant roll, currently on a 21-game win streak, with 3-straight titles in Kentucky 3A football and a mere 9 losses in their last half decade of football. Quarterback Jackson Burke, a sophomore who already holds a D1 offer from UT-Martin, is white-hot at 182-222 passing (81.9%) for 2930 yards for 45 touchdowns and 1 interception this season heading into their semifinal game against Bell County, averaging 235 yards and 3.5 touchdowns per game through the air. Senior running backs Jeffrey Vazzana & Tyree Stoner each had over 600 yards rushing on the season, while junior running back JaHyde Brown, who holds offers from the likes of Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Wisconsin, has racked up accounted for nearly 45% of CAL's offensive yards with 1270 receiving yards. Brown's 21 touchdowns were also nearly a quarter of the team's 86 touchdowns leading into Friday night's 56-20 win over Bell County. CAL's defense has stifled their opponents this season, allowing only 17 touchdowns on the season thus far in 14 games played.

Murray, who also comes into the 3A state finals boasting a 14-0 record in 2025, is led by senior quarterback Wyatt Robbins, headed into the state semifinals with a 181-256 passing record this season (70.7%) good for 3130 yards and 35 touchdowns with 4 interceptions. Robbin's favorite receiver, senior Isaiah Martin, has been touted as "worth price of admission" in local newspapers with his 57 receptions for 1221 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. Bolstering their talented corps of receivers, senior Joshua Bridges has 50 catches for 849 yards and 9 touchdowns, senior Amarion Bomar has 27 catches for 482 yards and 3 touchdowns, and receivers Kenyon Cunningham (Fr), Owen Howell (Jr), and Braylon Patterson (Fr) all have tallied 100+ yards receiving this year as well. Not to be overshadowed, Murray's run-game boasts SIX players with 100+ yards rushing this season, led by Amarion Bomar with 866 yards and 13 touchdowns on 100 carries, and then quarterback Robbins with more than 500 yards rushing for 3 touchdowns on 69 carries. On defense the Tigers are led by senior LB Simon Rickman with 87 solo tackles, junior LB Gage Chapman with 57 solo tackles, senior safety Isaiah Martin with 54 solo tackles, junior DL Jesse Clark with 53 solo tackles, and sophomore DL Zaye Richardson with 52 solo tackles. 

Murray has found their way into some battles this season, including an overtime thriller against Lexington Catholic in the 3A quarterfinals, but the Tigers have found a way to stay undefeated going into Saturday's state finals. CAL's toughest challenges this season were a 34-27 win over 6A semifinalist Ryle back on Sep 12 and a 27-24 win over 5A quarterfinalst Bowling Green on Sep 26.

Who walks away from Kroger Field this Saturday with the hardware? Will Murray score their first state title since 1974, or will CAL cop a 4-peat as state champs?

[Tigerpride94]

 

[jeff jackson]

In most people's mind, CAL is going to win this one going away. I agree they should be the clear cut favorite, but, I could also see Murray making this game a lot more competitive than most think. They have the type of offense that can keep the chains moving and shorten the game. They'll need to do that and also catch a break or 2 with some CAL turnovers, penalties, etc. to give them a legit shot. 

[Unrivaled97]

I said in early September, I thought this would be the 3A state title game and here it is.  I thought Murray could avoid CAL due to RPI, which they did.  I also thought Murray had the athletes to somewhat matchup with CAL, which they do.  I think this game is closer than most think, but I do foresee CAL winning their 4th straight state title.  I'll take CAL 42-21.  If CAL wins it this year, it will probably be 5 in a row after next year.  They have a guy or two coming in next year that be a huge addition to an already stacked roster.

[Phoenix Kid]

CAL by a million! 

[Breds82]

Is CAL Trinity-junior? 

[greyhoundbus]

Murray is a good team but CAL wins this by as much as they choose. 

[Honey Badger]

If CAL is as good as advertised, this should be a running clock. Unless Murray can rush for 300 yards again this week. The Murray team I saw scrape by Lloyd was good but this CAL team is suppose to be in a class of it's own apparently.

[Bballjunkie]

When is the last time CAL had a competitive game in 3A? I don’t keep up with football much but seems like they have a running clock every game.

[JIM SEYMOUR # 85]

13 minutes ago, Bballjunkie said:

When is the last time CAL had a competitive game in 3A? I don’t keep up with football much but seems like they have a running clock every game.

I think they should move up to  - 6 A.

😎

[Maleman58]

25 minutes ago, JIM SEYMOUR # 85 said:

I think they should move up to  - 6 A.

😎

Take it up with the state. They make the rules. 

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

54 minutes ago, Bballjunkie said:

When is the last time CAL had a competitive game in 3A? I don’t keep up with football much but seems like they have a running clock every game.

CAL has definitely become the cream of the cream in 3A football. Their closest 3A game this season (Central) had a 42 point differential. Last year their closest 3A games had a 20 point differential (Central regular season) a 21 point differential (Union County state finals), and a 22 point differential (Central playoffs). In 2023 their regular season game against Central was 13-6 but then they took the Jackets out to the woodshed in the playoffs, beating them 52-13.

CAL's last loss in 3A football came back on November 19, 2021 when Paducah-Tilghman beat them 41-34 in the 3A quarterfinals and the Centurions are currently 31 games into a win-streak over their 3A opponents.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

17 hours ago, Breds82 said:

Is CAL Trinity-junior? 

Here's an apples-to-apples comparison of the two football programs. You be the judge of that.

Christian Academy of Louisville
First Freshman Class: 1978-79
First Senior Class: 1981-82
1st Varsity Football Season: 1998-99 (20th school yr)
1st Football State Finals Appearance: 2016-17 (38th school yr, 19th football season)
1st Football State Championship: 2016-17 (38th school yr, 19th football season)
First 27 Football Seasons: 5 state finals appearances, 5 state titles

Trinity
First Freshman Class: 1953-54
First Senior Class: 1956-57
1st Varsity Football Season: 1956-57 (4th school yr)
1st Football State Finals Appearance: 1968-69 (15th school yr, 12th football season)
1st Football State Championship: 1968-69 (15th school yr, 12th football season)
First 27 Football Seasons: 14 state finals appearances, 12 state titles

[Honey Badger]

19 hours ago, Breds82 said:

Is CAL Trinity-junior? 

 

1 hour ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Here's an apples-to-apples comparison of the two football programs. You be the judge of that.

Christian Academy of Louisville
First Freshman Class: 1978-79
First Senior Class: 1981-82
1st Varsity Football Season: 1998-99 (20th school yr)
1st Football State Finals Appearance: 2016-17 (38th school yr, 19th football season)
1st Football State Championship: 2016-17 (38th school yr, 19th football season)
First 27 Football Seasons: 5 state finals appearances, 5 state titles

Trinity
First Freshman Class: 1953-54
First Senior Class: 1956-57
1st Varsity Football Season: 1956-57 (4th school yr)
1st Football State Finals Appearance: 1968-69 (15th school yr, 12th football season)
1st Football State Championship: 1968-69 (15th school yr, 12th football season)
First 27 Football Seasons: 14 state finals appearances, 12 state titles

Not quite. But that's not a knock either. To the younger kids out there most probably don't know the difference.

[jeff jackson]

Has anyone heard if Robbins will or won't be available for the title game. I don't think Murray has any shot without him.