DevilMayCare

Same. I think all the schools with purple and gold - BG, Male, Somerset, Campbellsville - look better with a 50/50 split or more purple than gold..

I voted for Raceland, but my confidence in that pick is low. This is one of the more difficult games to call this week. Both are very good and margins for error are small.

Kade Goodin has an early season endorsement.

All gold for the Purples this week. 🥇

To my surprise, Dixie actually leads the all-time series with Beechwood, 13-12. I can't be the only one who assumed the Tigers got the better of the Red Colonels more often than not. Dixie won the first seven games between the two, leaving Beechwood to play catch-up all these years, which they'll finally accomplish if they win this week.

Last week's win by Apollo really upped my belief in them. Heritage Hills has been really good in recent years. That win was a bigger deal than most realize. I think that momentum carries over this week as the Eagles pull the upset. This was a close game last year and it appears Apollo has made great strides since last season.

This ancient rivalry produced one of my "Games of the Century". It's always been a consequential game out west, but Tilghman's reemergence as a state power has restored some statewide luster to it.

Paducah Tilghman Manual Belfry Raceland Ludlow Tiebreaker: 66

The two previous meetings were decided by a touchdown. I expect nothing less than another close contest again this week. I liked what I saw from Manual on the road last week at South Warren. Great defense, loads of experience at quarterback, one of the state's great uknown running backs, and an all-senior offensive line. I think that's a recipe for a Manual win by a touchdown or less.

Whelan needs to bounce back in a big way if LCA hopes to even keep it competitive with Burke, Brown, Hobbs, and however many other FBS bodies CAL is going to roll out. He can't just be good, he needs to be great.

If my math is right, Mayfield is 126-6 on home soil since 2009. Though it must be noted that the last two losses the Cards suffered at home were blowouts at the hands of LCA and Tilghman. PT's kids remember that night two years ago. If you've got the horses, you can outrun the mystique of War Memorial. I think the Tornado have just enough horsepower to get it done again this year. But I also think this will be a battle to the end. Or at least I hope it is.

After getting torched by Emongo last year, I couldn't blame BG if they over commit to stopping him this week. This Cardinal offense can stretch a defense about as thin as the wing-t is capable. I can see opportunities open up for Way, Wells, and Owens. I don't think the Purples can keep pace with the Cards at this juncture.

The guys that made an impact against SW last year for Greenwood are gone - mainly Chaney, Hines, Coleman, and Scott. Even if the Spartans aren't at last year's level, they should still be able to handle the Gators.

We had seven new additions to the class rankings this week. Among those seven, who has the greatest potential to not just hang around, but move up? Cov. Holy Cross' schedule sets up nicely for the Indians to rack up the wins necessary to maintain a spot in the top ten. I do question if there are any quality wins available to inch them toward the Top 5. It doesn't look like it. I've been fooled before, but I'm still intrigued by Madisonville. They just beat Henderson County worse than Pulaski did the week before. But we've seen this from the Maroons. They've teased us two of the last three years before being unmasked as a paper tiger. Anyone buying the staying power of either of those two or Paintsville, W.E.B., Bardstown, Spencer County, or GRC? Class 1A 9. Paintsville 10. Covington Holy Cross Class 2A 10. W.E.B DuBois Class 3A 8. Bardstown Class 4A 10. Spencer County Class 5A 8. Madisonville-North Hopkins Class 6A 9. George Rogers Clark

I didn't realize this series was so one sided. Ashland leads 20-4, all-time. Lawrence County has only won at Putnam Stadium once, back in 1996. The late Chuke Williams was just starting to get things rolling in Louisa.

Lawrence County's quarterback may or may not be out, which makes this an easier game to pick. They have plenty of speed, but so does Ashland. If the Tomcats don't turn the ball over five times like they did last year, I think they win by a couple of scores.

This one has me torn. These two mirror each other in a lot of ways: experience at quarterback, stable of receivers, Stiltner and Justice are possibly the two best backs in 1A, the offensive lines are a work in progress, and both are tough in the defensive front. This has four quarter war written all over it. I'll take Raceland at home. Then again, Pikeville plays well there. I look for more offense than last year's playoff game, but not quite as much as the regular season encounter. Look for special teams to play a huge role as both teams are strong in the kicking game.

📰 Headlines 🗞️ • The scope of his impact appears limitless. He holds the game in the palm of his hand, almost amused at how easily it comes to him. Seneca Driver is at least 6'6" and will play tight end at the next level, but averages 47.0 yards per carry running the ball. Seven times his number was called against Bryan Station. Four reached the end zone. He dabbled in a little defense, too, picking off his first pass of the season. • The arm, limber. His eyes, like a hawk, scanning every fine detail of acreage in front of him. These attributes earned him the watchlist's 'William Tell Marksmanship Award' 🎯 after completing 24 of 25 passes against Daviess County. Carothers lit the Panthers up for 371 passing yards and seven combined touchdowns. • Poetry in motion 👇. Brown ran like the devil was chasing him. Actually, there were eleven. Still not enough. He caught two more touchdown passes as CAL obliterated Owensboro. • Patience is a virtue. Fryman was a spectator last week as Beechwood endured a bye. With ground to make up, the track star broke from the starting block with a purpose, sprinting for a 47 yard touchdown on his only carry and hauling in 111 yards and another touchdown through the air against Indian Hill (OH). • Like rainbows in the dark, Kade Goodin launched one missile after another at Spencer County. It was a career night and one that will earn him a spot in the KHSAA record books when - if? - they're ever updated. It was a top ten night, all-time, for single game passing yardage. Honorable Mentions Zane Johnson's first interception of the season couldn't slow Trinity as they smoked Christian Brothers Academy behind Johnson's three touchdown passes. One of them was literally thrown over the moon. Trust me, I never embellish or overdramatize. • Kasen Brock was the lone offensive bright spot in a low scoring contest with LCA, accounting for 217 yards from scrimmage and a long receiving touchdown in Pulaski's win. • Max Johnson led Apollo to an overtime win over Southern Illinois power Heritage Hills with four touchdown passes. • Timmy Emongo made the most of another short night, running for a couple of touchdowns on just five carries in the 'Battle of the Birds'. • Manual running back Jeremy Presley is gaining steam after following up 200 yards against Central with 150 and four touchdowns last week against South Warren. • Tayden Lorenzen's hand/eye coordination was next level on a one man tip drill resulting in a pick-six against Cooper.

Over a century's worth of history and they're separated by 0.1 points per game.

These are the programs against which all others in 1A are judged. It's been two years since Pikeville won state and Raceland is still searching, but this is the most important game in the class. #1 vs. #2 Seats will be hard to come by at Ram Stadium this Friday. Expect a sold out crowd and thousands watching on Raceland's streaming service. 🔗: Raceland News Network

BEast has won its last ten games in a row in the Bullitt Cup by an average score of 51-9. North and Central are not on the Chargers' level right now and haven't been for several years.

LexCath's defense could make this interesting. Picking Boyle with zero hesitation, but an upset by the Knights wouldn't surprise me at all. It's happened twice in the last four years.

I get up for this game every year. These two are the last of a dying breed. The one thing you can be certain of is that Belfry and Johnson Central will knock the snot out of each other. Their epic 2016 encounter is forever etched in EKY lore and cracked my "Game of the Century" list. 🔗: "Game of the Century" thread (shameless self promotion)

I think Belfry has the upper hand this year with what appears to be a decided edge in team speed, especially on defense. Plus, JC seems vulnerable. They didn't look good for a half against Letcher Central and got their clock cleaned by Madison Central. This year's line is definitely not last year's line, they were uncharacteristically soft in the middle of the defense last week, and Perry may still be sidelined. Now's the time to pounce. The Pirates can hurt you with several guys. I think they're a little too much for JC this time.