Jim Schue

I'm planning on getting to Marion early enough to have supper before the game. Anybody got any good suggestions? No chains, please. I've been all over the state, but for some reason Crittenden Co. is a place I've never been.

I would have thought North Oldham would have been the first, given that's the most affluent part of the county. But the Crestwood/PWV area ain't hurting too bad.

Did not realize the Dragons had a turf field.

BC plays in the same district as NC, so many of their players have played on turf before, just not this season.

Bethlehem has beaten Crittenden in the playoffs three times since 2010 — I don't think they've ever played before that. The Eagles came from behind in last year's 2nd round to win 43-36. I'm guessing the Rockets remember that game and will be talking about it a lot this week.

Eagles got the running clock early in the 2ndQ and rolled to their fifth straight first-round playoff win. Coach Jesse Cantrall got his first playoff win as a head coach. Bethlehem will take on the Crittenden-Caverna winner in the 2nd round.

Was told BC also had a band competition the next day, which surely compounded matters.

Dang. Not sure.

Just in case you're interested: FOOTBALL: TNHS draws top-ranked Belfry in 1st round | KYStandard.com

Could be a wishful thinking upset.

Just received a notification that this game will now be played on Nelson County's turf field on Friday at 7:30. Apparently BC's field got destroyed last week.

Once I started watching it I was hooked and upset that I would have to wait for the next round. I started watching House of Cards.

The Generals beat the Eagles and claim the school's first-ever playoff berth. Thomas Nelson will be headed to Belfry next week.

The Knights scored on their opening possession, and the Cards shut them down after that, controlling the time of possession behind a big rushing game by senior Nick Boone, who scored 3 TDs and had what felt like about 175 yards on the ground. Nelson County stops its losing streak at 20 games, and coach Kenneth Thornsberry, now in his second season, gets his first-ever head-coaching win. Marion Co's losing streak extends to 10 games.

Henry Co. is locked into the No. 3 seed in Region 3 District 3. TNHS and Bardstown are fighting for the right to go to Belfry.

True, but that's a pretty tall order.

Now I'm seeing the KHSAA Twitter feed say it was 48-8.

With TNHS falling to Central and Waggener beating Henry tonight, it forces the 3-way tie scenario. TNHS can get in with a win over Bethlehem next week. If TNHS loses to Bethlehem, Bardstown could claim the No. 4 spot if Marion Co. beats Nelson Co. If NC wins, then I'm not sure what decides it. Head-to-head?

Final per Twitter

Final. Central started slow but got it rolling in the 2ndQ.

Last week's shutout win by Central over Bardstown was the first time the Tigers had been shut out since a 34-0 loss to Glasgow in 2010, a game in which I believe B'town had several key starters out with injuries (much like the past two weeks). The last one before that was in 2004 to Breathitt Co. It was 2002 the last time Bardstown has ever been shut out in back-to-back games, in what would appear to have been a serious hangover from the prior year's state title run. (Boyle Co. and Allen Co.-Scottsville shut out B'town to open 2002)

E'town opened the game with a KO return TD, then got a pick-6, then returned a punt for a TD to be up 21-0 before they ever had to run a play on offense. Tough run the past two games for these young Tigers.

28-3 at halftime was the last I heard.

That's the final score.

For the first time in … ever, the soccer region championship involving schools from the Hardin/Nelson areas will not feature a team from the E'town district. More often than not, it's been E'town HS dominating this region, with Central Hardin sneaking in a few times until the past three seasons. Never have two teams from the Bardstown area faced off in the finals. Bardstown and two-time defending champ Bethlehem meet up for the 4th time this year. The Banshees needed a shootout last week to win the district title, and they're on a 30-match streak over 5th Region rivals the past three seasons. The Bardstown area has really upped its game in girls' soccer in recent years. Two recent players from the 19th District are currently on OVC rosters, and three others who will be playing in tonight's game will be going to OVC schools. Several others have a good shot to go D-II or NAIA D-I. It's been interesting and fun to watch this current talent boom for the area.