Carl Spackler

Kickoff for this one has been pushed back to 800pm, or possibly later pending the temperature.

Paducah Tilghman Frederick Douglass Belfry Raceland Ludlow Tiebreaker 73

The North Hardin Trojans make the trip to Somerset to take on Pulaski County. These two teams met last season with the Maroons picking up a 28-14 victory on the road. Pulaski County is 2-0 on the season with a 41-16 win over Henderson County and a 7-0 shutout of 2A number one, Lexington Christian Academy. In fact, LCA is already a common opponent for both teams this young season. While Pulaski was able to beat the Eagles 7-0, LCA downed North Hardin 28-7. The Maroons will be playing their 3rd straight home game to open up the season. Will North Hardin be able to make a game of it, or will Pulaski County start out the season 3-0?

CAL is the 3A #1, not 2A #1.

Somerset travels across town to take on Southwestern is a crosstown rivalry game. The 2 programs come into the game going in vastly different directions. The Briar Jumpers are 2-0 on the season with 2 running clock wins over Wayne County and South Laurel. They are 13-2 since the beginning of last season. The Warriors meanwhile come in 0-2 after dropping a competitive game to Glasgow, before getting pounded by Campbell County. Southwestern is now 1-12 since the beginning of 2025. Coach Mark Payne came in to right the ship at Southwestern, but he has found it to be tough sledding. Somerset meanwhile, has put up 42 points in each of their first 2 games. Six different players have already scored touchdowns for the Briar Jumpers. Meanwhile, their starting defense has only surrendered a single touchdown, with that coming in the first half of the game with South Laurel. This matchup seems to have all the makings of another running clock in Somerset's favor. But, this is a rivalry game, and weird things tend to happen in those. Who takes this one and why?

Pretty dominant performance by Somerset. It was 42-7 with 8 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter before South Laurel tacked on a couple of late scores. The Jumpers looked really good up front on both lines of scrimmage. Turner threw and ran the ball well. Cimala and Ridner looked really good running the ball. And Wooldridge was just electric with the ball in his hands.

Long touchdown pass from Turner to Wooldridge. 42-7 Somerset, running clock in the 3rd quarter.

Another 3 and out for South Laurel. The Jumpers have driven it down to the Cardinals 1. 2nd and goal.

Another personal foul on the Cardinals. That's 2 personal fouls and an unsportsmanlike conduct on South Laurel already.

Somerset picks up a first down after a hold out them at first and 18. Corban Cimala runs it in from the 3. 14-0 Jumpers with 1:33 to go in the first quarter.

Another 3 and out for South Laurel. They are overmatched up front.

That first play to Wooldridge was one of those touch passes I think.

Somerset that's it down the field and caps it off with a Darius Ridner touchdown run. 7-0 Somerset with about 5 minutes to go in the 1st Quarter.

The South Laurel PA announcer sounds like the ones from the news reels in World War II.

South Laurel goes 3 and out of their first possession. Somerset starts on their own 24.

DuPont Manual Christian Academy of Louisville St. Xavier Madison Central Beechwood Tiebreaker-55

Somerset makes the short trip across the Hal Rogers Parkway to take on South Laurel in the 2026 Kinetic Cardinal Bowl. Both teams are breaking in new quarterbacks, and both teams are off to 1-0 starts. Both teams played in Somerset in week one in the Alton Blakely Bowl. The Cardinals cruised past Paul Laurence Dunbar 31-7, while the Briar Jumpers ran the clock on Wayne County 42-7. These teams met last season in the Alton Blakely Bowl. South Laurel surprised the Jumpers in that one and pulled off 33-22 victory. The game went back and forth but Somerset lost their starting quarterback in the second half and had to install starting running back Kris Hughes at quarterback. Hughes went on to have a great year as he played quarterback the rest of the season. But, with the team not prepared to make the switch midgame, the Briar Jumpers could not keep pace with a potent Cardinal offense. That was last season. Gone from those teams are South Laurel quarterback Mason Griffin, who threw for 2850 yards and 24 touchdowns against only 5 interceptions. Leading rusher Wes Dowell and his 1112 yards and 23 touchdowns rushing as well as 695 yards receiving and 6 more touchdowns also graduated. In fact, the 5 leading receivers for the Cardinals last season were seniors. Sophomore Maddox Warren will step in at quarterback to lead a young Cardinal squad. Noah Is on led the way for South on the ground as he finished with 133 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Regardless of their youth, Coach Johnny Hines is sure to feature a high-powered offense that will put pressure on a defense, as well as a few wrinkles that you won't see coming. Somerset, as mentioned earlier, graduated the 2A player of the year in Kris Hughes. Hughes set several Somerset season, as well as career rushing records in his 4 years in Purple and Gold. If Saturday's victory over Wayne County is any indication, his production will be spread out between several Briar Jumpers. New quarterback Guy Turner had a nice game in the opener against Wayne County. Turner was 7-9 passing for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns in what amounted to one half of play. Turner's touchdowns went to sophomores Alex Decker and Xavier Wooldridge. Senior Corban CImala rushed for 26 yards on 5 carries and a touchdown, as well as hauling in a 40 yard reception. Sophomore Darius Ridner added 31 yards rushing on 6 carries. The Somerset defense was stellar as they intercepted 2 passes and held Wayne County quarterback Korbyn Edwards to 8-20 passing for 98 yards and the Cardinals as a team to only 42 yards rushing on 20 attempts. One of these teams will start out 2-0. Who will it be and why?

I think it is safe to say that the Aces caught the Rebels flat-footed.

Trevonte Taylor had a great game. He had the 81 yard touchdown run to put Ashland up 21-14, then the interception in the end zone in overtime to win it.

Trevonte Taylor picks off the pass on 4th down. Ashland wins 28-21.

False start. 4th and goal from the 5.

4th and goal for Raceland from about 1 foot out.

Ashland hits a 10 yard pass on first down, extra-point is good. Tomcats lead 28-21. Puzzling defense on that one. Raceland left their corner on an island on the left side with no safety help. Ashland just ran a slant and there was no one there.

Headed to overtime, tied at 21.

Waller with the touchdown run on a scramble. Game is tied at 21 with 53 seconds remaining in regulation.