The Seneca Redhawks host one of the two matchups across the state on Thursday this week. Both of these games are taking place in Louisville. They host the Southern Trojans. Both these squads had losing seasons last year and spent most of the season towards the bottom of their respective classes when it came to RPI (Seneca playing in 5A, Southern in 6A).

Last year, this matchup produced an 18-7 gritty Seneca win. The Redhawks came into that game last year winless after losing to Fern Creek, John Hardin, and Bethlehem (this one was an overtime 1 point loss). This year, however, Seneca comes in 1-2 as they were able to get the opening season win over Fern Creek. That being said, they haven't been competitive at the end in their last two outings, losing by 20 to John Hardin and 15 to Bethlehem.

The Trojans were 1-2 last year at this time and they are again this year. They feature the talented Elijah Simpson, a back who led them in both passing and running last year and also contributed defensively. Simpson is a senior and you can expect him to touch the ball early and often.

Seneca has junior QB Christopher Curry, who averaged 119 passing yards per game last year and found the endzone through the air 13 times. However, 7 of those times he found AJ Joway who has since graduated.

This was a low-scoring, tight affair last year. Even though Southern lost, it was the second-lowest total of points allowed they had all year at 18 (they blew out Doss and held them to 6 - interesting note, this year Doss put up 32, though the Trojans were able to score 53). It was also the lowest total of points Seneca had in a win out of their four on the year.

I think this game is certainly essential to Seneca building momentum as they are a month out from district play. There are certainly some losses from last year they can flip to wins this year and they have already done it once with Fern Creek. A loss to Southern would be a big backslide.

On the other hand, a road win like this for Southern would be a huge morale booster for a program that struggles to compete amongst the giants of the state. Keeping it a slow-paced slugfest is probably their best chance. If Curry can find receivers in space and this becomes a more up-tempo affair, I am afraid the Trojans will be left in the dust.

Seneca takes this one.

20-6 Redhawks at the half. A ton of fumbles and assorted miscues throughout.

This ended with Seneca on top 34 to 12.