se7ens

28-3 Panthers rolling, 3:56 left until halftime.

About to post a score I don’t get to do often: Ryle 5-0 with 6:32 left til half. PRP called for intentional grounding in the end zone, safety.

Brossart 7-0 with 8:30 til half. Mustangs have the ball back and are driving.

Low scoring affair in Union, at least to start. 3-0 after one quarter of play, Ryle leading.

Tied at 7, end of first quarter.

14-0 with 2:40 left in the first, Ludlow up and with the ball at midfield.

All defense early. 3:34 left in the first, tied at zero.

This is a 1A first round game between two teams that used to square off regularly but haven't seen each other in a couple of years. Brossart was upset by Dayton in the first round last year and hopes to avoid a similar result against Bellevue this year. Brossart has scored 31 points or more in all but two games this year. Bellevue has won 5 games in a season for the first time since 2018, coincidentally a year in which they beat Brossart on the road 28-20 in the regular season. I don't expect Bellevue to threaten late in this game and there is a better chance we are looking at a Brossart running clock than a Bellevue win. But crazier things have happened.

This is a 1A first round contest that features a rematch of September 13th when Ludlow decimated Dayton by the tune of 61 - 8. This should be all Panthers from the onset but Dayton is coming off a win and Ludlow is coming off their second biggest loss of the year. I obviously still think it is a running clock but I really doubt the Panthers get up to the sixties again.

2011, 2012, 2013, & 2014. All four were running clock shutouts.

I do not believe the exact answer is known but I would tell you I have heard at least not expected in the first three rounds, and he may not return even beyond that. But I want to assure you that is pure rumor mill.

For all the injuries and struggles Scott County experienced throughout the year, they were able to end right where they were last season, at least when it comes to their opening round opponent. The Cardinals (5-5) host the Conner Cougars (7-3). Last year Scott County sent the Cougars packing by a tune of 63-13. However, this season finds that gap between the two, at least on paper, greatly diminished. Both teams are run dominant on the offensive side of the ball. Conner’s Wyatt Hatfield has 22 rushing touchdowns and averages over 130 rushing yards per game. Scott County has 4 credible rushing threats, led by Ali Hamdiyah. Both defensive squads have let the flood gates open at times to strong offenses. Scott County has let their opponent get over 30 four times and Conner has had that happen to them four times as well, including all three of their losses. Scott County comes in banged up but with their various weapons they probably have the edge. However, I think this will definitely be one to keep an eye on.

The undefeated Aces of Owensboro Catholic (10-0) and their dominant quarterback Brady Atwell start their postseason journey by hosting a familiar foe, the Crittenden County Rockets (4-6). Quinn Summers is the Crittenden counterpart to the Aces’ Atwell. He is averaging over 200 yards per game passing the ball. The Aces thumped the Rockets back on September 28th by a score of 51-0. There is no reason to believe the situation has changed at all. I would look for Owensboro Catholic to race out to 35-0 as quickly as possible to make their first round matchup fast and painless.

The Knights of Lexington Catholic (4-6) host West Carter (5-5) in the opening round of the postseason in 3A. All of Lexington Catholic’s wins have come in their last 4 games, including a heart racing overtime win over Scott County in the regular season finale. West Carter boasts two major offensive weapons in addition to quarterback Haydon Hall. Running back Dwaylon Dean has 1212 yards rushing and 17 rushing touchdowns while receiver Kadin Thompson has 1096 receiving yards and 17 receiving touchdowns. On defense Coy Maddix shines in the secondary (4 interceptions), Dean, Peyton Walker and Will Caudill anchor the linebacker group, and Ethan Bledsoe (6.5 sacks) is the primary threat to make plays on the defensive line. Lexington Catholic has used a softer second half of their schedule to find consistency and success on both sides of the ball. Aven Blair and Brady Wasik are the primary rushers, with quarterback Matthew Kern finding success on the ground as well at times. Kern’s primary target in the air has been Jackson Kreutzer. Defensively, two way threats Wasik and Kern lead the Knights in tackles. The Knights will look to limit the big plays of West Carter’s stars and rely on Kern, Wasik and the rest of the battle tested squad to advance to round 2.

The playoffs are finally here and what do the Cooper Jaguars get in return for their undefeated regular season? A date with the Dragons of South Oldham. South Oldham makes the trip up to suburban Boone County to face a Jaguar squad that features a dynamic offense piloted by quarterback Cam O’Hara who has 34 touchdowns to just two interceptions. South Oldham is 7-3 and was relegated to this spot after a narrow 42-41 loss to Collins. They are not to be overlooked and have stacked up well against basically every team they have faced with the exceptions of their out of state opener and a 28-7 district loss to Scott County. Cooper is without their two side phenom and UNC commit Alexander but look for Ryker Campbell to continue to rise up to the challenge and command the defense. South Oldham may keep it competitive for a bit but I think Cooper is too explosive to contain for a prolonged period of time.

This is currently all across the board basically with Holmes athletics. They have become noncompetitive against their “traditional” schedules.

6 against Lloyd and 6 against Scott.

Score still 38-12, 6:17 to go.

Final.

Final.

Final.

38 to 12 after Paris converts on 4th and goal but gets stopped on the two point conversion. About 4 minutes into the 2nd half.

14-0 Devils, 6:45 til halftime.

13-0, Southwestern up. Warriors pick it off and return it to the 4 yard line but fumble it on the subsequent offensive possession as we are now under a minute left in the half.