article 1A Notebook 10/10 - District Crunch Time

This week is a big week in the district football races. This week’s games are going to go a long way toward deciding district titles and in setting home field advantage in the playoffs. More than likely about half the district winners will be known this week but there are some districts that are going to go down to the last week of district play to decide the winner. Let’s take a look at each district and where things stand.

 

Class 1A, District 1 ..... Overall .....District

Crittenden County ........ 6-1 ....... 1-0

Russellville .................. 3–4 ....... 1-0

Fulton County .............. 4-3 ....... 0-1

Fulton City .................. 0-8 ....... 0–1

 

This district will almost surely come down to next week’s game when Crittenden County travels to Russellville. One of the good stories this season is Fulton County. The Pilots came into the season with very few wins in the past few years. They charged out of the gate winning their first four games of the year. Two weeks ago they came within one point of beating Russellville, a result that would have been unthinkable even at the start of this season. The Pilots are at Crittenden County this week in a must win game if they are to have a chance at the district title. It would be a massive upset if they beat Crittenden County. The Rockets have been very strong all year and have an experienced roster. A Crittenden County win sets up a district title game next week at Russellville. The Rockets will be a heavy favorite in that one also.

 

Class 1A, District 2 ..... Overall ..... District

Campbellsville ............. 6-1 .......... 1-0

Bethlehem .................. 2-5 .......... 1-0

Fort Knox ................... 2-5 ........... 0-1

Caverna ..................... 1-6 ........... 0–1

 

District 2 is all but done. Campbellsville has been locked in as the #6 ranked team in 1A all season. Their only loss was by ten points to 3A top ten ranked Casey County. This week the Eagles travel to take on another team of Eagles, the Bethlehem Eagles. Bethlehem is a huge underdog but they are the only team with a chance at keeping Campbellsville from taking the district title. Look for Campbellsville to coast to the title with a win this week.

 

Class 1A, District 3 ..... Overall ..... District

Kentucky Country Day ... 4-3 ......... 1-0

Frankfort ..................... 4-3 ......... 0-0

Louisville Holy Cross ..... 3-4 ......... 0–1

 

This is arguably the most interesting and competitive district in 1A this year. Pre-season, Frankfort was the favorite. Two weeks ago, it looked like Holy Cross was the team to beat. Then last week Kentucky Country Day sprung an upset with a 21-18 win over Holy Cross. That threw this district into the hopper and who knows what is going to come out. Round two happens Friday night with Frankfort traveling to Louisville Holy Cross. It is Frankfort’s first district game and a must win for Holy Cross. If Frankfort wins, then next week they host Kentucky Country Day with the district crown at stake. If Holy Cross wins, then next week is a must win for Frankfort. And if Frankfort wins that one, we are all digging deep into the KHSAA tiebreaker system.

 

Class 1A, District 4 ..... Overall ..... District

Beechwood .................. 5-2 .......... 1-0

Ludlow ........................ 5-2 .......... 1-0

Bellevue ...................... 4-3 .......... 0-1

Dayton ........................ 0-6 .......... 0–1

 

The last of the east side of the playoff bracket districts is District 4. District 4 has been owned by Beechwood in the 6 class era, and it doesn’t look like that will be any different this year. Ludlow has been building momentum in their program under second year coach Greg Taphouse. The Panthers are the top district challenger to Beechwood again this year and those two square off this coming Friday at Ludlow. Beechwood is a heavy favorite in that game and to win the district.

 

Class 1A, District 5 ..... Overall ..... District

Paris ........................... 4-3 .......... 3-0

Nicholas County ........... 6-2 ........... 2-1

Bishop Brossart ............ 4-3 ...........1-1

Bracken County ............ 4-3 ...........0-2

Berea .......................... 0-7 ...........0–2

 

This is another very interesting district. Over the past few years, this district has experienced more twists and turns than any other 1A district, and that has happened again this year. Paris lost their outstanding speedster RB Matthew Barber to season ending injury in week two and had to reshape their offense. They now have moved Jr. Jamaun Clark from WR to RB and Clark is lighting up the scoreboard. Clark has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last three games, all district wins for Paris. Last week Paris got an upset district win over Nicholas County that puts the Greyhounds in the driver’s seat for the district title. That Paris win breathed new life into Bishop Brossart’s district title hopes. After losing to Nicholas County, the Mustangs were in trouble in the district standings. Now they again have some control over their own destiny with Paris coming to Alexandria this Friday. Paris clinches the district title with a win. A Bishop Brossart win sets up another one of those KHSAA tiebreaker situations. With all the recent close district races in District 5, followers of teams in this district may be more familiar with those tiebreaker rules than anyone else around the state.

 

Class 1A, District 6 ..... Overall .....District

Paintsville ................... 6-2 ..........1-0

Raceland .................... 6-1 .......... 0-0

Fairview ..................... 0-6 .......... 0–1

 

Unlike district 5, this district is very simple. October 19 Paintsville heads to Raceland and there is where the district champion is crowned. No disrespect meant to Fairview, but this district is between 1A #2 Raceland and 1A #5 Paintsville. Despite being state runner-up last year, Raceland lost the district title to Paintsville and surely the Rams have that game circled on their calendar.

 

Class 1A, District 7 ..... Overall ..... District

Lynn Camp .................. 7-0 ......... 1-0

Williamsburg ............... 5-2 .......... 1-0

Pineville ...................... 4-4 .......... 0-1

Harlan ........................ 3-4 .......... 0–1

 

District 7 looks to be headed to a showdown next week between Williamsburg and Lynn Camp. Each of those two are favorites to win this week in their district games and set up the big game next Friday. Lynn Camp is the only undefeated team left in 1A. They are led by the top rusher in 1A, Sr. RB Dalton Cook, who is closing in on a 2,000 yard rushing season. Over the past ten years, Williamsburg has won every district title except in 2015 when they shared the title but lost the district crown because of a head to head loss to Harlan. Lynn Camp came very close to winning the title last year, losing by 8 points to Williamsburg. The Wildcats have that district title firmly in their sights and will have home field advantage to get the win versus Williamsburg in two weeks.

 

Class 1A, District 8 ..... Overall ..... District

Pikeville ..................... 4-2 .......... 1-0

Hazard ...................... 4-2 ........... 1-1

Phelps ....................... 4-2 ........... 0-1

 

Our final district has most likely already been decided. Two weeks ago Pikeville got a hard fought win over Hazard, 33-27. If Pikeville defeats Phelps this Friday, the Panthers will be the district winner. Phelps followers have to be proud to see that 4-2 record even with their district rivals and that is a great accomplishment for everyone involved in turning the Phelps program around. However, as good a story as Phelps has been with the rejuvenation of that program, last week’s 35-6 loss to Hazard tells us that Pikeville is a huge favorite to get the win this week and take the district title.

 

For anyone interested in the district standings in 1A and all the other classes in Kentucky, here is a link to the KHSAA.org website that tracks these standings:

 

218 Football District Standings | Kentucky High School Athletic Association

 

Friday’s Schedule

 

The big game in the top ten is #4 Hazard vs. #5 Paintsville. However, there are two big district games outside the top ten mentioned above that deserve attention:

 

Frankfort at Lousiville Holy Cross

Paris at Bishop Brossart

 

Here is the schedule for the 1A top ten this Friday:

 

1. Beechwood at Ludlow

2. Raceland at Fairview

3. Pikeville at Phelps

4. Hazard vs. #5 Paintsville

5. Paintsville at #4 Hazard

6. Campbellsville at Bethlehem

7. Crittenden County vs. Fulton County

8. Williamsburg at Pineville

9. Lynn Camp at Harlan

10. Kentucky Country Day vs. Rock Creek Academy (IN)

Edited October 10, 2018 by Voice of Reason

I think District 1 is all but done. The Rockets only loss was by 12 points to 3A #6 ranked Caldwell County.