jimmyref

For the Xavierians, Our You Tube channel is available online for radio only or 1450 am or 96.1 fm and is available at www.saintx.com The Big X WXVW will be carrying Matthew Lynn and myself beginning at 6:40 pm. Here's a stat-First game St X 349 total yards vs Ryle 349 yards. Difference was 2 turnovers plus they get 6'4 leading basketball scorer and WR/DB Landon Lorms back Friday night. Winner of this game should host North Hardin if RPI holds up for 3rd round. 4th round could see Ryle hosting Trinity. St Xavier would probably have to travel again for the 4th round.

As to Friday nights matchup, the "Black Curtain" Trojans seem extremely talented on defense led by their MLB and Tulane commit Michael Lunz, and their safety and UK commit Jordan Lovett. Both seem to let the personnel around them blitz and cover while they read and react. Lovett led the state of Kentucky with 15 interceptions last year. On offense, question will be if UK commit RB Lavell Wright is able to go. If not the entire offense changes to more pass oriented. North Hardin ran the ball about 60% of the time with Wright but seems to have gone about 70% pass in the last 2 games w/out Wright. Trojans have big time talent at WR and Slot with #8 Marcus Harris and his 46 catches. I think Jalen Sharps makes their offense with a WR pass along with Camron Smith. Tigers defense has to figure out how to get past Sophomore RT Trevon Alexander and his 6'6 340 frame and put pressure on 6'3 Jr. Manie Wimberly, who doesn't seem like a threat to run.

There was a play in the Meade County game that I haven't seen in a game ever and the referee made I think the right call. At the end of the first half, Meade Cty was running a 2 minute drill and completed a pass and needed to run to the line and spike the ball. The lines got set, the ball got snapped quickly but loose and the quarterback took his right hand and slapped/threw the ball downward and the ball went to the ground. The North Harden defensive player jumped on the ball and the referee gave the ball to North Hardin. I don't think the QB had the ball at all so I think it was a good call.

Not by the visitors but certainly we welcome you to listen to hopefully WKRD 790 am beginning at 6:35 pm. pregame and kickoff at 7:00 pm. We haven't gotten confirmation yet on the station but you can go to saintx.com on your computer for sure.

I am really looking forward to this game. We got to see Male twice this season and had our chance being tied with them in the 4th quarter, like Trinity but Garrett Dennis and Izayah Cummings pulled the game out for the Bulldogs. I was really impressed certainly with Dennis, but both crucial catches by Cummins who was double covered on both the 3rd and 22 and the TD catch. Does Scott County have DBs that are tall? Cummins is 6'3, maybe 6'4. We had success against them in the regular season game by having or QB scramble against Man coverage. Against Scott county, you have to cover Covington, the WR who has 28 of the total 41 catches on the year. Austin Barnett scored I believe 3 or 4 TDs last year in the semi-final match up and has another running threat in Bronson Brown. The earlier losses to FD and Henry Clay can be attributed to the injured QB, Cade McKee. Male's speed on defense and MVP Garrett Dennis running the RPO wins it in the 4th qtr. I have a prediction that Male will blitz from the weak side corner non-stop opposite Covington just to cause havoc in the SC backfield. In order to win, I believe SC has to put Covington into the weak side formations and throw bubble screens and quick sweeps outside to that side and have the lead going into the 4th qtr.

Another explanation is the defensive sideline seems to be crowded and the team/coaches could be stepping on the chains. But the front stick seems to move from the :08 to the :10 in the video. If the kink was detected, it should of been corrected before the snap. The referee could of motioned for the first down and the line judge ( opposite chains) would of had the best look whether the line to gain was achieved. A good mechanic is to measure on all close 4th down plays, not to rush forward and give the first down or call it short.

Anthony Moretti struggled but St Xavier ran the ball real well by deploying the QB Doug Bodaine as a running threat with 4 and 5 wide formations against Man coverage. Since both Male and Trinity both like to send the LBs on a blitz, and are predictable as to which one is coming, the lanes were available with a lead blocker in front of him. Overall, the grass field with rain at Male hurt the amazing team speed of Male. I expect Male to play like the #1 ranked team left in the playoffs.

Winner gets 4 home games for playoffs including Trinity. Loser travels to North Hardin in round 2 and gets rematch at winner in round 3.

For reference, Luke Fickell, 2nd year coach at University of Cincinnati, wouldn't allow anyone to wear University of Cincinnati gear until they earned it. Let's not forget Trinity will be the #1 seed from their district in the playoffs so to roughly quote Mark Twain, reports of their demise are greatly exaggerated and will be judged by November record, not a non-district game in September.

Don't be surprised by a closer score than you think. PRP had 5 Turnovers in the first half against St Xavier. PRP graduated 9 players that are playing college football now so PRP is down but wouldn't be surprised with a 24-7 game score.

While I love that St Xavier frosh are being successful, it sounds like Trinity is making alot of un-Trinity mistakes, i.e dropping punt snaps, pass interference, personal fouls, inelgible downfield, etc.

That is great news. I'll be in the parking lot doing interviews before the game.

Just a few names to watch on Butler's team-Tae Tae Crumes-WR, Chaz Burks- QB, Frank Caldwell-WR-P, and Eric Jackson-RB. Male was beat up in the playoff game last year- sorry to hear that they are missing 2 defensive starters.

Wow, what a game! Warren Central looked like a mid major college team. Their linebackers were beasts in going to the ball. Trinity did what they had to do-worked it outside, made WC miss tackles and took it in. A lot of big plays on both sides. I thought Trinity had it wrapped up after stopping them on 4th down. I thought QB moved well in the pocket. I only heard T LBs mentioned once. Moeller won 27-14 over a team from Ontario tonight. Referees trying out the 7 man mechanic again in this game. 2 missed calls but with all of the big plays,overall they did well. Yes they stepped oob and yes, there should of been a defensive holding on Lawrence but that was a big game with a bunch of big time fast athletes.

To the Rocks followers on here- we will be running 98% of the time! Remember what Woody said- only 3 things happen when you pass and 2 of them are bad....

Can somebody familiar with Highlands tell me why Dreves vs Cramer? I don't know the pitchers but it seems by the stat page that bringing Cramer back would be better. I see a lot of K's under Dreves but was he hurt so only the 3 wins going into the tournament?

Will Cramer pitch tomorrow night in the final? St Xavier got a complete game so they have the entire staff minus one. Should be a good one.

Mccracken County batter Dismore 0 for 3, reached on error, 1 K Pops out Highlands Advances!!!

Mccracken County batter Dismore 0 for 3, reached on error, 1 K

Pop out makes the 2nd out.....

Cramer issues walk to Sykes, PR Spillane and tying run moves to 2nd. I feel tension through the computer screen!

Cramer 6-2 coming into the state tournament. 2.33 ERA 58 K in 51 innings

Cramer in to pitch for Rom for Highlands. Strong Outing for Rom.

As a game, this game reminds me a lot of the 2016 game against Greenup County, coming in at 39-1, or 2014 against a really good Logan County team out of Region 4, which went 8 innings, with St X pulling out the win late. In 2012, we ran into Bishop Brossart with the undefeated senior pitcher, son of the coach to fall short. From what I have seen, Hazard is for real, especially after beating Greenup in the previous round. Hazard made it through the grind and lost the ALL A classic championship at Whitaker Bank park against Beechwood this year 3-1. What is different about this St X team is there is no overpowering great pitchers like Ian Tompkins, Matt Spalding, Adam Elliott or Daniel Fischer ready to go pitch for Uof L or WKU or the Boston Red Sox. There are good pitchers and plenty of them with Burnett (7-2), Littlefield( 7-0), Nicholson(6-0) , Harkins ( 6-0 ), Sweeney, etc. totaling probably 6-7 deep. What is different is the defense is not quite at the level of the 2011-2017 teams but does not get rattled even if they are down. They can hit with any team going back to the Lexington Catholic teams with Ben Revere and PRP with Zack Cox and Adam Osborne. More unique things about the Tigers this year- only 14 players on their roster this year and 3 have won state before in 2016. 9 have pitched. No worries about drama or roles- with 4 on the bench, they know their roles. Expect that St Xavier could use 3-4 pitchers in the semi final game so if the starter or 1st reliever gets in trouble, here comes another pitcher of comparable skills. If Hazard starter can have some short quick innings early and not run up the pitch count, I can see Hazard advancing in a 5-3 like score. Earlier in the tourney, St X put 6 up on PRP's 3rd pitcher in the 7th and advanced 13-7, and if Hazard tires, I see St Xavier putting up at least 6 runs.

Well the leaders in the 16th, Greenup, Prp 6th, St Xavier 7th and McCracken Cty made it so 4 out of the 16 leaders. Baseball is a funny game.