generaldowns

Diaz to Ashton Robinson for 30yard TD pass...KCD 28 to 0

Diaz pass to Mick Smith for a 40yd TD to end the first quarter...KCD 21-0

Blake Caldwell runs for a 60 yard touchdown for KCD..7:12 remaining 1st quarter.. KCD 15-0

First play from scimmage , 60 yard TD pass for KCD, Diaz to Minor...8-0

Impressive bit of research and analysis, VOR! Weighing in on Region II: at this snapshot in time Region II looks like maybe the toughest of the bunch(Four teams in the top 10 from this region and Ludlow on the cusp). But it's early, and the Frankfort/Williamsburg game this Friday plus the Holy Cross/Paris match up the following Friday figures to help sort out just how deep this region really is. KCD is essentially the same team that played pretty even with Beechwood last year for a half in the region finals. Can they close the gap enough with basically every Bearcat starter returning?....Staying injury free and continuing to show more balance offensively will help....but if KCD doesn't pass more with the weapons at its disposal against Beechwood, it'll be the same result as last year. It does seem early on,though,that the ball's been in the air a fair bit more this year. The key to making it a competitive regional final if KCD gets that far(remember how tough this region looks) is on defense. Look closely at the KCD/Lexington Christian game coming up at the end of the month. If LCA slaps KCD around and scores in bunches, it'll be a decent sign that Beechwood will score easily too. If KCD shows improvement defensively against a real juggernaut in LCA, then a Region II Final in Louisville might turn out to be a little suspenseful. Lots to look forward to in the next three weeks....wishing everyone in this region and all the regions safe and fruitful Fridays ahead. And thanks to VOR for setting up the discussion.

Thanks! I'll be checking in on my ipad from the KCD/Carroll County game. The Hazard/ Somerset game looks to be a hugely entertaining ball game.

Wonderful piece, VOR. You'd love to have a sports package app on your phone while at the game you're attending to watch a little of all these other cliff hangers coming up on Friday. I counted four or five match ups you list above that I'd love to watch....the Beechwood/Corbin game is this weekend's Alabama/Florida State.

The game that stands out for me with Carroll County is Ludlow. Ludlow is a program on the rise and it looks like Carroll County had some success against the Panthers. CCs win versus Henry County is solid but probably not as impressive as hanging with Justin Blackburn's crew in NKY. KCD exited its romp against Washington County injury free. The Bearcats returned to the balanced offense that was powerful in its opener against Atherton. On Thursday, KCD ran the ball for about 250yards and passed for just about the same. Plus the starters rested for most of the 4th quarter. So...a little added rest, a senior laden team that's finding its rhythm offensively and improving its defense...KCD should win comfortably back home on Springdale Rd this coming Friday.

I don't have the official stats, but it was a big night for several of the seniors. QB Jackson Diaz completed 14 passes( by my count looking at the tape) for 218 yards and 2TDs, rushed for another TD. TE Josh Lifson had 6 catches for right around 100 yards and 1 TD. Three senior RB/Receivers had a TD rushing, Gianni Minor, Mick Smith and Ashton Robinson. I give Washington County a lot of respect for playing hard throughout, mounting a nice drive late in the first half and playing a game that was full of good sportmanship. They are 2-1 now and I know will rebound strong against Thomas Nelson next week. KCD played like a team that wanted to take care of business....no hangover from the emotional win against Walton Verona. When you start 10 seniors on both offense and defense, many of whom are multi year starters, you hope for maturity from week to week. So far, that's been a foundation of the Bearcat season.

Running clock by late in 3rd quarter...KCD had good focus tonight....both teams pulled starters in 4th... Great sportsmanship from both coaches.

Big night for QB Jackson Diaz...three or four TD passes, TE Josh Lifson had about 100 yards receiving on 5 or 6 catches

Final from Springfield....KCD 52 Washington County 6

All healthy. Cramping for several of their top linemen and linebackers, but no issues coming out of the game.

KCD at Washington County. Moved to Thursday at 630pm

Calpreps has it a win for Frankfort by a touchdown. Sounds like a good matchup.

Went completely away from the passing game in the second half. And threw 10 fewer passes in general than the week before against Atherton. Some observers besides me wondered why. One theory is that several of KCD's best defenders were suffering major cramps on the sidelines during the second half, including leading tackler LB Chris Scott, DT OT Robert Thomas and even TE/DE Josh Lifson for a number of series. KCD's coaches may have felt that the running game and a clock that kept moving was the best friend to a talented but not terribly deep squad that was already depleted on both sides of the ball. Other than that theory, didn't make a lot a sense. Why wouldn't you be chucking it to one of the top TEs in the region? Lifson did draw a bunch of coverage, but that opened up the first half TD pass to Gianni Minor among other positives. Defense won the game against WV....and that's a really nice development from last year's KCD squad that gave up some big numbers to better competition.

On paper it looks like Holy Cross draws the toughest assignment this weekend. Although KCD had best remember two years ago when Washington Co won a close one down there in Springfield. Have been impressed by the numbers QB John Floyd put up against Campbellsville and Bethlehem. He looks to be a do it all kind of signal caller. And will KCD open things up again after playing pretty conservative second half versus Walton Verona. To be fair, a number of starters were cramping and had to come out--might have made some sense to run the ball and run the clock....but I think KCD is much more dangerous when they throw the ball at least 20 times a game.

My bad on this post....Commanders, not Generals for the Washington Co mascot.

Holy Cross's offensive explosion against Valley came after a week where they were shut out by Bullitt Central. Mario Convenuto ran for some 200 yards on Friday and QB Jaren McDonald passed for nearly 200 as well. Those are some serious numbers and have to give the Cougar fans some hope and confidence heading to DeSales this weekend.

This smells like a little bit of a trap game for KCD. Fresh off an emotional, hard fought and exhausting 15 rounder with Walton Verona, the Bearcats travel to Springfield, where they lost a close game two years ago. The Generals are led by QB John Floyd who showed good running and passing ability against Bethlehem last Friday. Junior Jbias Dawson looks like a big, rugged force on offense as well. He chugged for a 60-70 yard TD against Bethlehem and looked like Earl Campbell. Washington Co is 2-0 for the first time in a few years and I'm sure will be sky high back home Friday. KCD takes its longest bus trip of the regular season after two games in Jefferson Co, basically two home games. So, as I said, KCD on paper wins this game. And they'd best take care of business if they want this to be a special year. But it is a trap door special if the Bearcats don't show up and play hard.

WV will bounce back quickly....very impressed with the coaching staff, with the mental toughness of this team.

When teams look back on one of those "memorable seasons," they usually a game or two like this one in their favor. A very solid, "character statement" game by the kids on Springdale Road. I am pretty well convinced that WV would have won in overtime, but KCD stepped up huge on the final play. Kudos to the NKY Bearcats for going for the win, as they did seem to have momentum and fate on their side with no time remaining. This was a dense plot line type of game, with a lot going on behind the final score....really a game of two halves. The first half was really all KCD, who controlled both offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage, moved the ball well, and prevented the home run pass with a number of strong plays at corner and linebacker. In fact, KCD might have been up 21-0 had it not been for an extremely questionable callback penalty on a touchdown run from KCD's Ashton Robinson. (Have watched the play in real time, slow motion back and forth..."Mr Referee, I appreciate that your job is a thankless one and that you do it for love of the game and the kids. I respect you and honor the job you do, but you blew the call that was right in front of you") Anyway, Walton Verona took a number of body blows in the first half, but came out second half ready to go! They are a team with absolutely no quit and you have to admire how they fought back. The counter game with Mason Smith worked very well in the second half...aided by the fact that three KCD defensive starters, DE Josh Lifson, LB Chris Scott and DT Robert Thomas were out for long stretches due to cramps. So valiantly, WV fought back into this game. KCD looked knocked down and out for the count, when a couple of the kids who were cramping a bunch of the second half were able to return. And the final play might not have materialized had KCD been able to get a punt off with abour 1:40 to go, leading 21-14. Mysteriously, the healthy regular long snapper was replaced by a kid who'd done it maybe one or two times before. You can guess the result....over the punter's head and downed on the 13 yard line with 130 and change to go. That's what led to the 2 point goal line stand. This was an agonizing game to watch, but one that brings plenty of admiration for both squads. Walton Verona never stopped playing hard and adjusted nicely in the second half getting Smith plenty more carries. They stiffened up on defense as well. I would not be surprised if they run the rest of their table besides the extremely formidable Lexington Christian. Just a really solid, full of talent and courage kind of team. And KCD? They survived "one of those character building games" against a tough foe. It was surprising that they went away from the passing game almost completely in the second half. Odd really, but a learning experience nonetheless. As I said, this was a dense, agonizing, exhausting game. It's one for both squads to build on.

Wonderful smorgasbord of games this coming weekend. Thanks VOR for breaking each one down. Weighing in on the KCD/Walton Verona tussle in Louisville Friday--the tape on Walton Verona is impressive. I love how they spread the love around on offense, loads of jet sweeps and counters, good power dive game as well, Alford, Smith and Talbott all run hard....that's complimented by "home run" style passing game with 6'6" monster target Zach Klinkenbeard. A lot to like. And plenty balanced. The fun part Friday is KCD's passing game, which put up some nice numbers and equaled the rushing totals against Atherton. Looking at tape from the scrimmage vs Lloyd Memorial and then the game at East Jessamine, I'm not sure WV has seen as strong an air game yet. Doesn't mean WV isn't up to the challenge--lots of defensive acumen there...physical team with good athletes in the secondary.

KCD returns two starters to the lineup on Friday versus Walton Verona. Senior offensive lineman Zach Ellis returns, a three year starter. And Junior David Satterly will be back in the rotation at Fullback and Linebacker. He is a North Oldham transfer who had to sit out all last year. I know KCD would love a few more transfers and a few more bodies in general for Friday's huge test versus Walton Verona. The home team will have to have a spectacular game to pull this one out.

I watched some tape on Walton Verona and gulped....some great physicality from a number of players, Mason Smith especially. That young man is all muscle and desire--what a tough, tough player. And this team is just plain fundamentally sound. The passing game with Garrett Jones makes this WV extremely tough to game plan against....Jones is mobile and has sharp downfield vision when rolling out. His receivers showed really great instincts improvising and getting open. That is going to give KCD fits if the pass rush doesn't materialize. I think it's the difference maker in this game, as KCD seems to have a decent run defense through one game. KCD gave up just 61 yards on the ground to Atherton, although you have to assume that WV will be much much tougher to stop up the middle. They have some good size in the front 5 from the tape I watched. Offensively, I think that Country Day will put up some points....the balance of its attack last Friday helped a number of playmakers get some yardage, on the ground and with the passing game. It was pretty much even--steven, about 225 yards rushing and passing. I hope that both teams bring their A games and this turns out to be classic. I see WV winning by a TD or two if both teams show up.