St. X (2-4) will host Manual (5-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm. St. X is coming off a 42-13 loss to Boyle County. Manual is coming off an open week with their last game being a 49-14 win over Bullitt East.

Last year St. X beat Manual 28-17.

Manual hasn't found much success against St. X with only 3 wins since 1998, but two of those three wins have come recently in 2023 and 2024. Manual has a dynamic trio on offense that starts with QB Kaden Mack who is also a speedster being AAA State Champion in the 100 meters. RB Jeremy Presley is a dynamic RB with size at 195 lbs. and has speed. WR Noah Price is the top receiver who was first team All-District last season and has played well so far this season. The Manual defense in the last game against Bullitt East was led by LB Donvalette Richardson, Safety Antwan Boller, and Safety Jamieon Williams.

St. X the last 3 games have played the powers Elder (OH), Trinity, and Boyle County and has only one offensive TD against those 3 teams. Unfortunately for St. X, Manual's defense is very good and will make it tough to score. The St. X QB carousel continues to turn with QB Will Burmester starting the Boyle County game but was finished by QB William Shoptaw who through a TD pass for the only score, so maybe he's now back to being the guy. The St. X defense has scored more than the offense in the losses and had a pick 6 against Boyle County. When the defense faces D1 talent like the last three games those guys have made them pay with TE Seneca Driver of Boyle County the latest D1 guy to give them nightmares scoring 4 TDS.

It's going to be tough for St. X to beat Manual who is one of the top teams in 6A. St. X will have to generate some offense to have a chance. This is a key district game with the loser most likely playing Trinity in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Manual has had two weeks to prepare so will be fresh coming into this game which poses another problem for St. X. Does St. X get back on the winning track or does Manual get into the driver's seat for the district championship?

Things won't improve for the Tigers this week.

Manual- 31

St. X- 10

Might just be families of players and me in the stands this Friday. I'm a fox hole fan. I was one of the few fans that went to UofL games when Kenny Payne was coach. I can endure rough times.

Manuals D is pretty good. Just don't see X scoring enough to get a win here.

St. X 14-13.

Massey Ratings have it St. X 21-20.

HSratings.com projects Manual winning 26-14.

The pressure St. X faces to win this game cannot be overstated.

A loss would be 2 in a row at home and 4 in a row in total. A loss takes the season record to 2-5 with in state losses (so far) to Owensboro, Boyle County, Trinity and Manual. A loss means they get to return to Marshall Stadium in Round 2 of the post season for what would likely be a 4th consecutive, humiliating, blow out loss to the Shamrocks.

Other than those few things, not much pressure on the Tigers this week.

Manual in a rather close one.

I'm going with X to rise up in this one. 21-7

I generally don't care who wins this game, but since RPI matters for home games in the playoffs, I'll have to root for X. RPI is a bad system.

Heart says Tigers, but the performance by the X Men the last three games leave a lot to be desired.

But I will say the Tigers rally themselves and find a way to knock of the Crimsons in a close, but probably ugly game.

Newly released TP94 Power Ratings: https://bluegrasspreps.com/forums/topic/260135-tp94-power-ratings-10726/

Manual 88.83
St. Xavier 76.66

I'll go off the wall score

St X 15, Manual 14

Defensive TD, a couple of field goals, and a safety.