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The season is underway and right off the bat there is some moving and shaking in this week's Central Kentucky Power Rankings. There were strong performances by multiple teams and players. Some familiar names had their usual performances and some new names emerged onto the scene. With no further ado, here are the Week 1 Power Rankings for Central Kentucky. Top Ten: 1. Scott County-(6A)- Scott County began the season in dominating fashion with a 56-13 win over North Bullitt. They ascend to the top of the rankings as a result of that performance. Next game: home vs. Lafayette 8/24 2. Frederick Douglass-(6A)- Much like Scott County, Frederick Douglass also began the season in dominating fashion as they manhandled #6 4A Wayne County by the score of 48-10. Next game: at Tates Creek 8/24 3. Boyle County-(3A)- Boyle County defeated #10 6A Ballard 35-21 in a game that was closer than I expected it to be. They drop two spots in the rankings following their win. Next game: home vs. Franklin County 8/25 4. Lexington Catholic-(3A)- Lexington Catholic moves up to #4 this week as they emerged from Week 1 with little trouble in their 51-12 victory over Madison Southern. Next game: home vs. Ryle 8/24 5. Madison Central-(6A)- Madison Central jumps up a spot to #5 in this week's rankings as they defeated Collins 23-7. Next game: home vs. Woodford County 8/24 6. Henry Clay-(6A)- Henry Clay is the biggest mover of the week as they rise three spots to #6 after their impressive 50-22 victory over Tates Creek. Next game: vs. Covington Catholic (at Lexington Catholic) 8/24 7. Anderson County-(5A)- Anderson County absolutely plastered George Rogers Clark in a 41-0 victory to get their season underway. Next game: home vs. Meade County 8/24 8. Franklin County-(4A)- Franklin County kicked off their season against rival Western Hills and staved off a late game rally to secure the 27-20 victory. Next game: at Boyle County 8/25 9. Danville-(2A)- Danville got off to a slow start but kicked it into high gear in the second half as they shut out Woodford County 40-0. Next game: at Corbin 8/25 10. Lexington Christian-(2A)- Lexington Christian is the other biggest riser this week as they defeated Waggener 34-20. Next game: at Pikeville 8/25 Player of the Week: Langston Jackson-Henry Clay- Langston scored 3 total touchdowns against Tates Creek. Two receiving touchdowns and an interception return for a touchdown. Langston had two receptions that totaled 151 yards and his interception return touchdown went for 23 yards. He also had 44 yards rushing. Top Performers: Cameron Jones-Frederick Douglass- 14-18 passing, 286 yards, 5 touchdowns Reese Smith-Boyle County- 7 receptions, 143 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 4 tackles Landen Bartleson-Boyle County- 108 yards rushing, 3 rushing touchdowns Ramond Jackson-Henry Clay- 87 yards receiving, 2 receiving touchdowns, 1 punt return touchdown, 7 tackles Wandale Robinson-Western Hills-3 total touchdowns Game of the Week: Lexington Christian(2A,1-0) at Pikeville(1A,1-0)- Lexington Christian travels to Pikeville to face one of the best teams in 1A. Lexington Christian has had to replace a lot of their offense and leadership from last year's team but they are off to a promising start so far this season. We will learn quite a bit about Lexington Christian in Week 2. Games of Interest: Danville at Corbin 8/25 Covington Catholic vs. Henry Clay at Lexington Catholic 8/24 Meade County at Anderson County 8/24 Ryle at Lexington Catholic 8/24

Bluegrasspreps.com is excited to provide Regional Power Rankings for the entire state by breaking the state into five regions: Eastern Kentucky, Central Kentucky, Northern Kentucky, Western Kentucky and the Louisville Area. The Power Rankings will overview which teams are at the top in their region, regardless of class. The weight of wins and loses are subjective to the quality of the opponents and the team's performance. This means all wins or losses will not be seen as equal. In addition to the Top 10 in each region, the Power Rankings will include: two Big Risers of the week that are moving up but have not yet made it into the Top 10, two Big Droppers of the week that have dropped further away from the Top 10, the Game of the Week that you won't want to miss reading about, and the Player of the Week for each region. 1. 3A Boyle County (3A State Champions, 14-1) Boyle County looks to repeat as 3A State Champions as they return a ton of experience from last season's team. Led by QB Reed Lanter, who threw for almost 2600 yards, 28 touchdowns and 4 interceptions while completing 69% of his passes the Rebels will also return their top two rushers in Tanner Crawford (1928 yards, 25 TDs) and Landen Bartleson (1137 yards, 24 total TDs) along with sensational WR/DB Reese Smith (1037 yards, 15 TDs, 9 INTs). Linemen Aaron Hatter and Wilson Kelly will anchor the defensive line and LB Ezarious Roller aka EZ Roller will be behind them patrolling the field. Long story short, this Boyle County team is absolutely loaded and will a problem for every team on their schedule. They are not only the top team in 3A leading into this season but they are arguably one of the top 5 teams overall in the state. 2. 6A Scott County (6A Semifinals, 11-3) Scott County looks to finish their last year in 6A with a bang as they try to topple those green mountains in Louisville and win the 6A state title. Austin Barnett and his 1310 yards and 22 touchdowns returns to lead a rushing attack that has proven to be an efficient offense under the watchful eye of head coach, Jim McKee. Leading WR Glenn Covington also returns as he had 852 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. It looks like Cade McKee will take over the signal calling for Scott County and if he and Covington can establish some chemistry early that should put Scott County in a great position to succeed. While Scott County will need to find ways to replace some key players from last year’s team one thing we all know is that Scott County doesn’t rebuild, they reload. 3. 6A Frederick Douglass (6A Third Round, 10-3) Frederick Douglass looks to build from their inaugural season and take over as the top program in the CKY area. QB Cameron Jones takes over under center for Frederick Douglass and the Cincinnati commit looks to lead Frederick Douglass to new heights. Cameron Jones transferred to Frederick Douglass from Knott County Central where he threw for 2646 yards, 28 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He will inherit the skills of versatile athlete Montaveon Bean who mostly played QB last season and will likely be seen all over the field in various spots. The hype train is leaving the tracks at Frederick Douglass this season. If they can live up to the hype they very well may become the best team in the CKY area. 4. 2A Danville (2A State Champions, 15-0) The other half of TitleTown checks in at #4 in the Preseason Power Rankings as the Danville Admirals must find a way to not only replace 2017 Mr. Football, D'Mauriae VanCleave but the other 10 seniors who played a large part in bringing home the title to the Admirals last season. A good place to start is QB Zach Thornton who will bring back his combined 3000+ yards to the Admiral offense. Joining Thornton will be Darrian Bell who shined as a LB last year but will likely have an expanded role on offense this season. Expectations are that Brennen McGuire could have a strong season as well. If the Admirals can find someone to replace Don Harris at RB then they will once again be a favorite to win the 2A state title. 5. 3A Lexington Catholic (3A Third Round, 7-6) The tables turned quickly on Lexington Catholic as their recent dominance of CKY came to an abrupt end with the quick rise of Boyle County. Led by QB Beau Allen the Knights look to return to form as Allen threw for 2873 yards, 33 touchdowns and 9 interceptions last season. While the Knights will need to find a replacement for Dameon Jones, some of Allen's favorite targets in Nathan Schnurr, Trenton Neuer and Luke Powell all return this season as Lexington Catholic looks to have a strong passing attack under the leadership of new head coach, Nigel Smith. 6. 6A Madison Central (6A First Round, 6-5) Big things are expected in Richmond this season as Madison Central returns a lot of experience from their 6-5 team of last season. Health is one of their most important concerns as they will have multiple kids who will be playing both ways this season. Madison Central returns two of their top three RBs in Freddy Chenault and Ethan Hahn. QB Derrick Miller also returns and will have RB/DB Antwaun Warford and TE Blake Muntz back as well as Madison Central looks to keep improving and make a deep run into the postseason. The defense will be led by high energy MLB, Jackson Juett. 7. 5A Anderson County (5A Second Round, 8-4) Anderson County had a strong season last year despite the early exit from the playoffs at the hands of 5A State Finals Runner Up, Madison Southern, in the second round of the playoffs. Zach Labhart returns at RB and Jagger Gillis returns at QB to lead an Anderson County offense that will need to find a way to replace the production that Blake Franklin provided the team last season. Conventional wisdom says that head coach Mark Peach will make sure that this Anderson County team reaches its full potential. 8. 4A Franklin County (4A First Round, 5-6) Franklin County is yet another team that returns a ton of experience and production from last season's team. Led by versatile athlete, Tre Simmons, Franklin County looks to cash in on all of the youth that they had to use last season. Do not be surprised to see Franklin County rise in the rankings throughout the season. The potential is there. 9. 6A Henry Clay (6A Second Round, 6-6) Henry Clay had an up and down year last season but they return a nice amount of talent that looks to improve on last year's finish. Darrin Van Horn, Ramond Jackson and Langston Jackson all return to lead Henry Clay into the season with plans to emerge as one of the better teams in the Lexington area. 10. 3A Western Hills (3A Second Round, 8-4) Wandale Robinson. When you think Western Hills you can't help but think of Wandale Robinson. The Mr. Football front runner looks to finish his senior year strong and have Western Hills make a deep postseason run. Western Hills returns plenty of talent to do just that. While they will need to figure out who will take over at QB the opportunity is there for Western Hills to have a strong season. Best of the Rest: Mercer County Tates Creek George Rogers Clark Lexington Christian Preseason Player of the Year: Wandale Robinson - Western Hills Players to watch: Wandale Robinson - Western Hills Reese Smith - Boyle County Landen Bartleson - Boyle County Reed Lanter - Boyle County Beau Allen - Lexington Catholic Cameron Jones - Frederick Douglass Montaveon Bean - Frederick Douglass Austin Barnett - Scott County Zach Thornton - Danville Darrian Bell - Danville Tre Simmons - Franklin County Kaelin Drakeford - Mercer County Nitavius Thomas - George Rogers Clark Games of the Week (Week 1): George Rogers Clark at Anderson County Tates Creek at Henry Clay Ballard vs Boyle County (at Mercer County) John Hardin at Mercer County Collins at Madison Central

Another week is in the books and there really wasn’t much movement at all in this week’s rankings. For the most part the top 10 teams took care of business this week. Let’s jump in to this week’s rankings. Top Ten: 1. Scott County(6A, 4-0) Scott County faced Ohio power Archbishop Moeller last Friday night and escaped with a 10-7 victory. This victory has solidified Scott County not only as the #1 team in Central Kentucky but also as one of the top 3 teams overall in the state of Kentucky. Running back Austin Barnett carried the ball for 193 yards and 1 touchdown as Scott County now sets their sights on another strong Ohio team, LaSalle out of Cincinnati. They will face them at home on Friday night. 2. Frederick Douglass(6A, 4-0) Frederick Douglass defeated Lafayette 43-0 last weekend and Demarco Fishback put on a show once again. With 222 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns, Fishback is showing that he and Cameron Jones are a deadly duo. Wide receiver Haiden Hunt had a big game also as he had 129 yards receiving and a touchdown. Cameron Jones threw his first three interceptions of the season but he still had 214 yards passing with 2 touchdowns. No longer the new kids on the block, the entire state is now taking notice of the Frederick Douglass Stallions. Next up for Frederick Douglass is their best challenge to date, Madison Central. 3. Boyle County(3A, 4-0) Boyle County destroyed 4A top ten mainstay, Wayne County, 48-7 last Friday night. This was a running clock game and a likely theme for Boyle County as this season continues. Reed Lanter passed for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns. Reese Smith had 83 yards receiving and a touchdown. Landen Bartleson has 56 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns on 7 carries but the big story was Tanner Crawford returning to the field and rushing for 45 yards and a touchdown on 9 carries. With Crawford back I expect this Boyle County offense to go to another level. Next up for Boyle County will be Collins at home. 4. Lexington Catholic(3A, 4-0) Another Friday, another Lexington Catholic beatdown through the air. Beau Allen and his arm went for 362 yards, 5 touchdowns and an interception as Lexington Catholic made short work of Lexington Christian by the score of 54-13. Wide receiver Tommy Knopp had an eye popping 206 yards and 2 touchdowns on 9 receptions. Nathan Schnurr added 96 yards and 2 touchdowns on 3 receptions. The next challenge for Lexington Catholic, the Central Kentucky Game of the Week this week....Highlands Bluebirds at Lexington Catholic. 5. Anderson County(5A, 4-0) Anderson County remains at #5 this week as they defeated Valley 45-7 last week. Charles Collins appears to be the next man up in place of the injured Zach Labhart as Collins ran for 132 yards and 3 touchdowns and also had 2 receptions for 65 yards. On the season Collins has rushed for 389 yards and 7 touchdowns and also has 205 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns. Anderson County looks to remain undefeated this week as they will take on their rival, Franklin County, at home this week. 6. Madison Central(6A, 3-1) Madison Central has their way with crosstown rival, Madison Southern, last week as they won by the score of 47-15. Freddy Chenault ran for 163 yards and 4 touchdowns as Madison Central cruised to victory. A much tougher challenge lies ahead this week as Madison Central will host newly minted 6A power, Frederick Douglass, in a district game that will determine playoff seedings in November. 7. Franklin County(4A, 3-0) Franklin County had their BYE week last week as they prepare to take on Anderson County this week. Anderson County won this game 46-13 last season so we will find out soon enough if Franklin County is able to exact revenge on Anderson County for last year’s loss. 8. Montgomery County(5A, 3-1) Montgomery County escaped George Rogers Clark last week with a 31-28 victory over their heated rival. This game was last week’s Game of the Week and by all accounts it lived up to expectations. No stats are available for Montgomery County so it is hard to see how they won but they did get the job done and that is all that matters. Montgomery County moves up a spot despite that blemish on their record. Montgomery County travels to Fleming County this Friday. 9. Danville(2A, 1-3) I mentioned last week that #7 was probably the lowest we would see Danville ranked the rest of the season in the Central Kentucky Power Rankings. Well, I was wrong. Danville laid an egg against a winnable Pulaski County team and conventional wisdom points to a Corbin/Boyle County hangover. I’ll buy that theory but I can’t hold Danville at #7 because of that theory. Danville will face Waggener this week in what could be another shootout like last year’s 49-46 Danville Admiral victory. It should be a fun one. 10. George Rogers Clark(6A, 2-2) George Rogers Clark dropped a heartbreaker to Montgomery County last week, 31-28. On the heels of Nitavius Thomas and his 213 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns the Cardinals did everything they could to win this game but fell a little short. George Rogers Clark will face Grant County next as they prepare themselves for what is going to be a tough road to travel in 6A District 8. Teams on the Rise: Lincoln County(5A, 3-1) Lincoln County won once again to move to 3-1 on the season. Lincoln County defeated East Jessamine 38-28 last week. They will face Mercer County this week at Mercer County. Last Week’s Game of the Week results: Montgomery County 31 George Rogers Clark 28 In what was a thrilling rivalry game between these two heated rivals, Montgomery County comes away with the victory. By all accounts both teams played pretty good but in the end Montgomery County did what they needed to do to seal the victory. Nitavius Thomas of George Rogers Clark ran wild on Montgomery County for 213 yards and 4 touchdowns but it wasn’t enough to pull out the victory. Game of the Week: Highlands at Lexington Catholic. Highlands has once again made the Game of the Week in Central Kentucky as they travel to Lexington to take on the Knights of Lexington Catholic. This is a huge game for both teams as Highlands is trying to prove their worth and quite frankly, Lexington Catholic is too. A friendly schedule has allowed Lexington Catholic to rack up an insane amount of points and Beau Allen is putting up insane stats as the QB1 for Lexington Catholic. With 1426 yards passing and 19 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, Beau has not only established himself as one of the best QBs in the Central Kentucky area but he is one of the best in the entire state. All eyes in Fort Thomas will be watching this game and all eyes in Central Kentucky should be on this game as well. Learning about both of these teams will take place Friday evening. Wandale Robinson Watch: Last week vs. Bath County 248 yards rushing 2 touchdowns 12 total tackles Yearly stats to date: 571 yards rushing 6 touchdowns 196 yards receiving 3 touchdowns 28 total tackles 1 interception 1 punt return touchdown 10 total touchdowns Player of the Week: Tommy Knopp-Lexington Catholic-Wide Receiver 9 receptions, 206 yards, 2 touchdowns Top Performers: Beau Allen-Lexington Catholic-362 yards passing, 5 touchdowns, 1 interception Demarco Fishback-Frederick Douglass-222 yards rushing, 3 touchdowns Nitavius Thomas-George Rogers Clark-213 yards rushing, 4 touchdowns Austin Barnett-Scott County-193 yards rushing, 1 touchdown Charles Collins-Anderson County-132 yards rushing, 65 yards receiving, 3 touchdowns

For the first time this year I am at an impasse when it comes to the Central Kentucky/Lexington Area Power Rankings. After seeing last week’s results I can’t find a good reason to make a change in the rankings. And believe me, I’ve been looking for a reason to make some kind of change. I just can’t do it. I don’t see any reason to change anything. Because of that I am going to change things up a bit this week. I think there are many different things that can be touched on regarding the Central Kentucky/Lexington Area so after I post the Top Ten, Be On The Lookout For, Game of the Week, Last Week’s Game of the Week Results, Player of the Week and Top Performers I am going to jump into random questions I have had about the Lexington/Central Kentucky Area and I may even answer some of them myself. What else can you do when everyone did as expected? So on that note......... Top Ten: 1. Frederick Douglass 2. Boyle County 3. Henry Clay 4. Scott County 5. Anderson County 6. Lexington Catholic 7. Taylor County 8. Montgomery County 9. Madison Central 10. George Rogers Clark As I mentioned, nothing changes for me this week. Frederick Douglass was on a BYE. Boyle County defeated Lexington Catholic exactly like I expected them to. Henry Clay defeated Bryan Station as expected. Scott County defeated Dunbar as expected. Anderson County defeated Montgomery County like I expected them to do. Lexingon Catholic lost to Boyle County like I expected but they stay put because I believe they defeat everyone below them and truthfully, they’d probably defeat Anderson County as well. Taylor County came from behind to defeat Mercer County which surprised me a little. I expected Taylor County to be more in control of this game but it wasn’t until the second half when they took control. Montgomery County lost to Anderson County by 8 points so they can stay put since this was a winnable game for them. They lost to a higher ranked opponent. No punishment from me. Madison Central withstood the challenge from Lafayette and pulled out the victory. George Rogers Clark defeated an injured Tates Creek team so they can stay in the top ten. All in all it was a good week for the Top Ten. All good wins and no bad or unexpected losses for anyone so they all stay put for this week. There are some good games this weekend but truth be told if things turn out the way I expect then next week could look a lot like this week. Be On The Lookout For: Franklin County is coming!!!! Don’t look now but Franklin County has won four games in a row as they put the smack down on Knox Central last weekend. Barring a big upset this weekend they should finish undefeated in their district and head into the playoffs with a little momentum and a 1 seed. Keep an eye on Franklin County. They. Are. Coming. Mercer County took one on the chin last Friday night against Taylor County but make no mistake about it, the Titans are playing much better football right now. They get a week off before they take on Boyle County but they will host a playoff game and the experience gained for these young Titans will pave the road to success in the future. Be on the lookout for the Titans this season and definitely next season. Danville got back into the winning column this last weekend and this weekend they will renew their district rivalry with Lexington Christian which is another school to be on the lookout for. Both teams couldn’t get past Somerset but I anticipate that one of these teams will get a second chance to upend Somerset in the playoffs. Winner of this game gets to host a playoff game so be on the lookout for whoever wins this game this weekend. Paris gets love from me again this week. They won their district this season and will have a chance to make some noise in the playoffs. While winning 1A is a little unrealistic for Paris their success this season and the opportunity for a deep run in the playoffs is definitely something that should be recognized. Besides, we all know that once you get into the playoffs....anything can happen. Good luck to Paris! We see y’all!!!!! Game of the Week: George Rogers Clark at Madison Central This game was chosen as Game of the Week because of the importance of this game. The winner of this game will be the 6A District 8 #1 seed AND the winner will have a chance to host a late round playoff game if they are lucky enough to advance deep into the playoffs. I wouldn’t expect to see a whole lot of passing in this game as these teams have combined for about 1600 yards passing while both teams have ran for over 1600 yards apiece. George Rogers Clark is led by running back Nitavius Thomas who has been amongst the Top Performers a couple of times this season. Thomas has ran for over 1100 yards and 16 touchdowns as the focal point of the George Rogers Clark offense. Madison Central is led by running back Freddy Chenault who is sitting at 757 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. It is easy to see that the success of either team this weekend will come down to which dynamic running back has the better game. Both of these teams are allowing around 17 points a game on defense and they are both 6-2 overall with 2-0 district records. While I won’t go so far as to say they are mirror images of one another I will say that the similarities are striking. Biggest game of the season for both teams. We’ll see who emerges once the smoke clears. Last Week’s Game of the Week: Boyle County 40 Lexington Catholic 14 This score is what I expected of this game and anyone who read my column last week knows that I spoke on Lexington Catholic’s inability to stop the run. I knew that if I saw that then the Boyle County coaching staff absolutely saw that and Boyle County ran all over Lexington Catholic for 323 yards. Landen Bartleson ran for 149 yards and a touchdown. Tanner Crawford ran for 92 yards and a touchdown and Reese Smith ran for 49 yards. Reese Smith also caught a 66 yard touchdown pass in which he was wide open by a good ten yards. I will say this though......this game could have turned out a lot closer than expected if not for an opportunistic and ball hawking Boyle County defense. Lexington Catholic had at least two turnovers inside the red zone and a total of 4 fumbles lost. The vaunted passing offense of Lexington Catholic had difficulty moving the ball through the air and it seemed like Beau Allen’s legs did more damage than his arm. The Boyle County defense is already a touch cookie to crack and if you turn the ball over in the red zone against the Rebels then you will lose. Whether or not these two teams meet again remains to be seen but as of now Boyle County has now won three in a row against Lexington Catholic and have regained full control of this heated district rivalry. Player of the Week: Nick Broyles-Franklin County Nick Broyles has himself a game last week in Franklin County’s 42-20 victory over Knox Central. Nick was 19-24 for 282 yards and 4 touchdowns and he also ran for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns. Top Performers: Zach Thornton-Danville- 8-8-242 yards-4 touchdowns Brennan McGuire-Danville-152 yards receiving, 2 touchdowns Zion Morgan-East Jessamine-198 yards rushing, 1 TD Langston Jackson-Henry Clay- 189 yards rushing, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception Alex Knuckles-Madison Southern-175 yards rushing, 5 touchdowns, 17 tackles(1 TFL) Wandale Robinson Watch: Garrard County: 1-1, 35 yards passing, 1 TD 181 yards rushing, 4 TDs 2-2 point conversions 16 tackles(5 TFL) 1 sack 2 forced fumbles Year to date stats: 8-10, 173 yards passing, 2 TDs, 1 INT 1560 yards rushing, 25 TDs 367 yards receiving, 7 TDs 35 total touchdowns 3-2 points conversions 85 tackles(10 TFL) 1 sack 5 forced fumbles 3 interceptions, 134 interception return yards, 1 interception return TD Random Questions, Answers, Predictions and Thoughts: There is no doubt in my mind that Frederick Douglass is good enough to win the 6A state title. They have the horses and the coaches to get it done. Their defense continues to be a well kept secret and with their versatile offense they can score in a variety of ways. I’m all in on Freddy D winning the 6A title. Write it in pen. Demarco Fishback should be a Mr. Football finalist. I can’t stress that enough. Speaking of Mr. Football, if Boyle County shuts down Wandale Robinson this week does it ruin his Mr. Football chances? It shouldn’t but who knows what the voters are thinking and looking for? I will say this, if he doesn’t win there should be an investigation as to why he didn’t win. In my opinion there isn’t another choice at all for this season’s award. Boyle County has an insane road to the state title this season. If they manage to win it all I think it will be one of the biggest accomplishments ever in the history of the program. Boyle County will be even better next year. Henry Clay’s win over Scott County is the biggest upset of the season and I am happy to see their program trending up. I feel awful for Henry Clay losing their talented QB, DJ Van Horn. If Van Horn was healthy the Freddy D/Henry Clay game would have been the game of the week. Frederick Douglass will likely face Scott County in the second round of the playoffs this year. Anderson County has impressed me as much as any team this season. Charles Collins is a kid I hadn’t heard of before this year but we should all know who he is now. He has carried that team and I can’t wait to see how far they go in the playoffs if they get a decent draw. Wait, they play in the same draw as Covington Catholic and Highlands....... Beau Allen is an outstanding quarterback for Lexington Catholic. He is fun to watch and easily worthy of being a member of the exclusive Lexington Catholic Killer QB Club. I can’t wait to see how Taylor County and Mercer County do in the playoffs. 4A is wide open and while I can see Mercer County sinning a game of two in the playoffs I am really intrigued to see how far Taylor County can go. They appear to have a path to the state semis. And while we are talking 4A, again, be on the lookout for Franklin County. They are doing all of the right things at the right time. I see a path to the state semifinals for them. Madison Central and George Rogers Clark have a better path to the state semifinals than Frederick Douglass and Scott County if Frederick Douglass does as expected and defeats Henry Clay this weekend. Lexington Christian and Danville both seemed to have rebuilding years this year. Another potential game of the week this weekend as they battle for second place. Both teams do have strong futures. It’s good to see Lincoln County football having a good season. They are going in the right direction. Was Montgomery County losing to East Jessamine a fluke? Will Lexington football be dominated by Frederick Douglass going forward or will Lafayette, Dunbar, Bryan Station and Tates Creek be able to compete? Will Lexington Catholic and Lexington Christian be affected in the future because of Frederick Douglass? If Boyle County and Frederick Douglass played a game this year who would win? How much Division 1 talent is in this area right now? Are there any more questions or random thoughts about the Lexington/Central Kentucky Area that anyone can add? By all means do so. Good luck to your teams this week! It’s almost playoff time!!!!!!

We have reached the point of the season we were all waiting for. First Henry Clay gets us there early by defeating Scott County. Then we get the long awaited matchup between Frederick Douglass and Scott County and Frederick Douglass showed that they are worthy of being called the best team in the Lexington/Central Kentucky Area. Now this week we have the ultra heated district rivalry matchup between Boyle County and Lexington Catholic. And then next week we get Frederick Douglass against Henry Clay. This is football overload right now because these are the best teams in the area but once you dig in you’ll see that there is plenty of action not only from the traditional powers but from many teams throughout the area. Check it out......... Top Ten: 1. Frederick Douglass(6A, 8-0) Frederick Douglass has shown this season that they are one of the best teams in the state overall. They have studs all over the field on both sides of the ball and we have reached the point of needing to begin acknowledging how strong their defense has proven to be. Teams are averaging just under 8 points a game against them and anyone who watched them hold Scott County to 10 points last week can attest to just how good that defense is. Seven different players had at least one tackle for a loss last weekend and two players finished with double digit total tackles. Devin Neal led the way with 17 total tackles(2 TFL) and Ramarcus Thompson finished with 13 total tackles(1 TFL). With this team having the offensive weapons that they have it is easy to see why they are one of the best teams in the state. Frederick Douglass has a BYE this week as they prepare for their October 19th showdown at Henry Clay. 2. Boyle County(3A, 7-0) Boyle County is still rolling along and getting some much needed healing time for some injured players. Some depth was added to the repertoire last weekend as there were several injured players who didn’t play in last week’s 49-6 victory over Garrard County and that didn’t stop the Rebels from taking care of business. Reed Lanter dominated this matchup as he finished 11-16 for 243 yards and 5 touchdowns. Reiley Colwick had 113 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns. Boyle County expects to get back a lot of their injured players this week as they will face Lexington Catholic in what is easily the Game of the Week this week. 3. Henry Clay(6A, 4-3) Henry Clay is playing their best football of the season right now as they rolled Dunbar 41-9 last week. This time it was Langston Jackson showing out as he had a kickoff return touchdown, an interception return touchdown and 88 yards rushing. Henry Clay has definitely shown us that they are capable of being a problem in 6A. They will face Bryan Station this Friday in a game that they should win with ease and then the showdown against Frederick Douglass will take place on October 19th. Yes, I am looking ahead to that game and I am not ashamed. 4. Scott County(6A, 5-3) Scott County has struggled recently but they do still have time to right the ship. Since they will be in the playoffs they have time to figure out where they went wrong against Henry Clay and Frederick Douglass and work on ways to improve themselves as a team. They have cleared the toughest part of their schedule and have two remaining games that they should win. Then it will be on to the playoffs where they will likely be on the road. Scott County is a well coached team with an offense that isn’t easily stopped so while they may be down right now, I am certain this isn’t the last we have heard of them. 5. Anderson County(5A, 7-0) Anderson County remains undefeated and if we are being honest they haven’t had a tough schedule but in their defense they have performed as they should against those teams. When you add in the fact that Charles Collins took on a role we aren’t sure he was expected to take it makes their season very impressive. They face what I feel is their toughest test to date this Friday against Montgomery County but all signs say that if they play the way they have been they shouldn’t have too much trouble this Friday night. We’ll find out soon enough. 6. Lexington Catholic(3A, 5-2) Lexington Catholic got back to winning ways in a thrilling 49-42 victory over Western Hills. Now comes their biggest test of the season as they face district rival, Boyle County at home on Friday night. Boyle County has won the last two meetings in convincing fashion but this year’s version of Lexington Catholic is proving to be better than last year’s version. Beau Allen is arguably the best QB in the state but as mentioned, his toughest test will come this Friday in this week’s Game of the Week. 7. Taylor County(4A, 6-1) Another week, another strong district win for Taylor County as they shut out East Jessamine 34-0. They are now 2-0 in their district and will lock up the #1 seed if they can emerge victorious over Mercer County on Friday. They have outscored their district opponents 80-0 so far and they look to continue that domination going forward. Mercer County is playing their best football of the season so this game shouldn’t be as easy as their other district games have been. With what is on the line this game has Game of the Week potential. It will interesting to see how it turns out. 8. Montgomery County(5A, 6-1) Montgomery County is still having a great season as they secured a 56-34 district win over Madison Southern. Next up will be their toughest test this season as they will face district foe, Anderson County in what is likely the game that will determine the top seed in the district. This game also has Game of the Week potential as these two teams have a combined 13-1 record. Montgomery County’s loss to East Jessamine is still puzzling to me but they can erase those doubts about them that I have with a victory over Anderson County this Friday night. 9. Madison Central(6A, 5-2) Madison Central defeated Tates Creek 33-18 as they continue to focus on improvement weekly. They will face a Lafayette team that isn’t the same team that they were when Walker Wood was the QB but they still have enough talent to cause problems if you overlook them. Madison Central should win this district game and then face a test on October 19th against George Rogers Clark but again, they should not be overlooking Lafayette. 10. George Rogers Clark(6A, 5-2) George Rogers Clark makes a return to the Top Ten after a 26-7 victory over Lafayette. Nitavius Thomas continues to carry the load for George Rogers Clark as they have now won three in a row since losing to Montgomery County. They will face Tates Creek this week in a district game and as was just mentioned on October 19th they will face Madison Central in what should be a district game that will determine the top seed in their district. Be On The Lookout For: Mercer County(4A, 4-4) If Mercer County defeats Taylor County they will definitely get some consideration for making the Top Ten. Lincoln County(5A, 5-2) Lincoln County’s rally to come from behind and beat Pulaski County fell short and things won’t get easier as Southwestern is up next for them. Lexington Christian(2A, 5-2) Lexington Christian takes on a very good Somerset team. If they pull off this victory then they will have a strong argument for the Top Ten. Franklin County(4A, 5-2) Franklin County has won their last three games and next up is a strong Knox Central team. They can put 4A on notice with a win on Friday. Paris(1A, 4-3) Paris will never crack the Top Ten but I wanted to give them some love after their victory over Nicholas County. If they defeat Bishop Brossart on Friday they will win their district so I wanted to make sure they received some CKY love for their success. Player of the Week: Demarco Fishback-Frederick Douglass- 167 yards rushing, 1 TD, 30 yards receiving. Top Performers: Reiley Colwick-Boyle County-113 yards receiving, 2 touchdowns Reed Lanter-Boyle County-11-16 passing, 243 yards, 5 touchdowns Wes Oliver-Taylor County-143 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns Lavonte Sanford-Paris-96 yards rushing, 3 touchdowns, 3 tackles, 1 sack Bryson Yeast-Mercer County-185 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns Last Week’s Game of the Week: Frederick Douglass 28 Scott County 10 Frederick Douglass used a stout defense and a diverse offense to defeat Scott County 28-10. In a game that kind of felt closer than the final score indicates, Frederick Douglass showed the kind of poise and resiliency that is needed for postseason success. Demarco Fishback was a difference maker in this game as Scott County could not stop him when he had the ball in his hands. An electrifying run that involved Fishback hurdling a defender like Edwin Moses was called back due to offsetting penalties but that dynamic run is etched in my memory for a lifetime. Frederick Douglass leaned on Fishback when they needed yardage and utilized their many weapons at wide receiver to keep the Scott County defense off balance. Speaking of defense, the Broncos defense did an outstanding job of not allowing Scott County into the end zone more than once. Scott County’s offense makes it tricky to figure out who the ball carrier is but Frederick Douglass was ready every time as the potent Scott County offense had trouble scoring. This game was everything I hoped for and I am grateful that PrepSpin allowed me to see this matchup in the comfort of my living room. Game of the Week: Boyle County at Lexington Catholic This game will determine the district winner this year as it usually does. Yes, I know Boyle County still will have to play Western Hills but if the Rebels win against Lexington Catholic then I will feel pretty confident that they will defeat Western Hills. If Lexington Catholic wins then I am certain they will defeat Garrard County. But on to this game. Reed Lanter vs the Lexington Catholic defense. Lanter had his way with this defense last year and Lanter is better this year than he was last year. Beau Allen vs Boyle County defense. Allen is also better than he was last year and I feel like the Boyle County defense was a little better last year. Definitely something to keep an eye on in this year’s matchup. Lexington Catholic’s running game vs Boyle County defense. I could be mistaken but I believe Beau Allen is Lexington Catholic’s leading rusher. I don’t feel like that is a recipe for success against a Boyle County defense that is annually very strong against the run. Boyle County running game vs Lexington Catholic defense. Lexington Catholic has given up over 1200 yards rushing on the year through 7 games. I repeat, Lexington Catholic has given up over 1200 yards rushing through 7 games. One more time for clarity. Lexington Catholic’s defense has given up over 1200 yards rushing through 1200 yards. Looking at all of these factors....I can’t lie.....I’ll be shocked if Boyle County loses. I expect Tanner Crawford and Landen Bartleson to run wild on Friday night. Stranger things have happened though. I’ll definitely be watching this game in my living room once again thanks to PrepSpin!!!!! Those guys are awesome and they put together a beautiful picture with a great broadcast. If you aren’t at the game be sure to tune in Friday night!!! Wandale Robinson Watch: Last week vs Lexington Catholic 4-5 passing, 64 yards, 1 INT 202 yards rushing, 4 TDs 37 yards receiving 14 total tackles(2 TFL) 3 Forced Fumbles 1 Interception, 98 yard interception return TD Yearly stats: 7-9 passing, 138 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int. 1379 yards rushing, 21 TDs 367 yards receiving, 7 TDs 69 Total tackles(5 TFL) 3 Forced Fumbles 3 Interceptions, 134 INT return yards, 1 INT return TD

Well, well, well. It finally happened. And it happened right here in the Central Kentucky Area. Henry Clay defeated Scott County. No, Henry Clay smacked Scott County 51-27 last weekend and sent Kentucky High School football fans in a state of shock as a result. That is The Story of the season so far as Scott County was considered to be at least a top 3-5 team overall in the state and Henry Clay hasn’t even been considered one of the top 5 teams in the Central Kentucky Area. That changes now. It’s clear Scott County isn’t who we thought they were and it is also clear that Henry Clay’s tough schedule likely prepared them for what lies ahead in their matchup against Scott County. Make no bones about it, this win is HUGE for Henry Clay not only for their confidence but this was a district win and this win for Henry Clay could be the reason that Scott County could be traveling in the first round of the playoffs. Henry Clay was ranked 7th last week in our abbreviated Central Kentucky Power Rankings. Where will the Blue Devils land this week after their phenomenal win over Scott County? Let’s take a look and see........ Top Ten: 1. Frederick Douglass(6A, 7-0) We have a new number one team in the building and they are the Frederick Douglass Broncos. Frederick Douglass has been cruising along this season and critics will say it is because of their easy schedule. While I do think that Henry Clay has played a tougher schedule it should be noted that Frederick Douglass has played multiple teams considered to be in the top ten in their respective classifications and they have defeated teams in the 6A classification in similar fashion as the other teams they have faced. They have a dynamic offense that has proven that they can score in many ways as Demarco Fishback can run the rock or catch the rock and Demarco Fishback will score the rock. In my opinion, Demarco is one of the best players in the state that no one talks about. His quarterback, Cameron Jones, is also having an outstanding season and having the stable of wide receivers at his ready has proven to be a key to the team’s success. Also of note is that their defense has been strong all season long as they have given up a total of 58 points through 7 games. Frederick Douglass sits at 7-0 right now and as mentioned their schedule hasn’t been the toughest so it has been hard to gauge just how good they are. They are considered one of the top teams not only in 6A but in the entire state. Their biggest test of the season will come this Friday evening as they will face a Scott County team that is looking to restore their reputation. This game is easily the choice for Game of the Week in the Central Kentucky Area this week. 2. Boyle County(3A, 6-0) Boyle County had a BYE this past week and with Scott County losing the Rebels are now the #2 team in the Power Rankings. I know this irks some Rebel fans but at the end of the day the team’s focus is on finishing #1 in 3A in December and not in my Power Rankings in early October. There is still a chance that the Rebels could be #1 next week if Scott County can return to glory and defeat Frederick Douglass. For now the Rebels will be #2 as they look to get some of their injured bodies back on the field in the next week or two. The one thing the injuries have allowed to happen is for depth to be developed. Led by quarterback, Reed Lanter and his stable of running backs, Landen Bartleson, Tanner Crawford and Andrew Sacco the Rebels have been strong, versatile and diverse in the ways they can run the rock. Add in wide receiver, Reese Smith along with Reiley Colwick, Drew Baker and the emergence of Luke Sheperson the Rebels put forth a balanced offense capable of scoring on pretty much any defense thrown at them. This team is loaded with talent, extremely well coached and has the experience to successfully defend their state championship this year. Stay tuned. They aren’t close to being as good as they can and will be. Boyle County will face Garrard County this week. 3. Henry Clay(6A, 3-3) New to the top 5 this week is the Henry Clay Blue Devils. As we all know Henry Clay put a whipping on Scott County last week and as a result they are now the #3 ranked team in the Power Rankings. There were people early in the season who felt Henry Clay should be ranked in the Power Rankings and I didn’t disagree I just needed a reason to validate a ranking. Last Friday they gave me that validation as they jumped from #7 to #3 in the rankings. You want to see teams getting better at this point in the year and that is exactly what Henry Clay is doing right now. Led by quarterback DJ VanHorn and do-it-all superstar Ramond Jackson, Henry Clay is showing the moxie to be able to do the unthinkable and win their district. No one thought they would beat Scott County so it is possible that they can defeat Frederick Douglass and win their district. Especially if they keep improving weekly. They definitely have the confidence to win and now it is up to them to put together some more wins and finish strong. I can’t wait to see what they do next. The ball is in their court. Their next game is Thursday against Dunbar. 4. Scott County(6A, 5-2) Scott County is having a good season. That must be made clear right now. They are sitting at 5-2 and have a strong win over GCL traditional power Moeller out of Ohio and they manhandled a much improved Highlands team as well. No one expected them to lose to Henry Clay but the season is far from over as there is plenty of time for them to regroup and right the ship. They have displayed an otherworldly running game with a stable of strong running backs led by leading rusher, Austin Barnett. Bronson Brown and Payton Brown have both proven to be capable running backs for Scott County and before last Friday night their defense was considered at the very least an above average defense so Scott County has the tools to overcome this current spell they are under. They will get a chance immediately to prove just how good they really are as they will face Frederick Douglass this Friday night. Two weeks ago fans expected this to be a decisive win for Scott County. Now, no one really knows but I have a strong feeling that this game will be a great game as both teams have something to prove as well as a lot at stake. 5. Anderson County(5A, 6-0) Anderson County has proven to be a resilient team as well as a strong team. After losing arguably their best player, Zach Labhart, early in the season the next man up, Charles Collins, has stepped into that role and flourished. Collins is the team’s leading rusher AND the team’s leading receiver and he has shouldered the load for Anderson County as they have passed every test they have taken so far. Now, things may get a little tougher going forward as they begin their district play but looking at their schedule they are good enough to be undefeated heading into the playoffs. You don’t hear many people across the state talking about Anderson County but with the right draw and weekly improvement they will have a chance to play deep into November. Next up for Anderson County will be Woodford County on Friday evening 6. Lexington Catholic(3A, 4-2) The Knights of Lexington Catholic are currently on a two game losing streak but they lost to two formidable opponents in Highlands and DeSales so it is nothing to be ashamed of. Led by quarterback Beau Allen(who recently picked up an offer from Washington State) who is currently the statewide passing leader, Lexington Catholic has been slinging the ball all over the place in a high powered offense catered to Allen’s talents. With wide receivers like Nathan Schnurr, Tommy Knopp, Jackson Corbett and Luke Powell it is easy to see how dominant Lexington Catholic has been in the air. As district play begins the big questions will be, can they stop Wandale Robinson and can they defeat Boyle County? Those questions will have to be answered and we will find out those answers soon as they face Western Hills this Friday night. 7. Taylor County(4A, 5-1) Taylor County is the team that I am unsure of where they stand geographically in the state of Kentucky concerning our Power Rankings but their district has East and West Jessamine, Mercer County and Marion County and those are all Central Kentucky teams so Taylor County is a Central Kentucky Team as well. They are having a strong season and make their debut in the Power Rankings this week as they continue to run roughshod over their opponents every week despite their one loss of the season to rival, Campbellsville. They are in the driver’s seat to finish first in their district as they bring a somewhat balanced offense to the table led by quarterback, Grant McQueary and running back, Wes Oliver. Keep an eye on Taylor County as they prepare themselves to make a deep run in the 4A playoffs this season. Next up for Taylor County is East Jessamine on Friday evening. 8. Montgomery County(5A, 5-1) Montgomery County dropped two spots through no fault of their own. They won last week but so did Henry Clay and Taylor County has proven to be better than them so far this season. Montgomery County’s loss to East Jessamine is still puzzling to me but that could be an aberration. While Montgomery County is more apt to run than throw the ball they do have talent at the quarterback position in Trey Ishmael, at the running back position with Justin Korossy and at wide receiver in Pharoah Davis. They will face Madison Southern this Friday night in a game they should win so I am personally looking ahead to their matchup against Anderson County in October 12. We should see the true Montgomery County team on that date. 9. Lincoln County(5A, 5-1) Lincoln County has been a pleasant surprise this season. They are sitting at 5-1 and have won 5 games in a row after losing 41-0 to Somerset in the first game of the season. The worry that Lincoln County fans had after the first game of the season has turned to elation and confidence that things are different this season in Stanford. Darius Napier has been a strong part of Lincoln County’s success at running back as well as on defense as the second leading tackler on the team. Having a healthy Bryson Yaden at quarterback has also been a huge plus for Lincoln County as they strive to restore the pride in their football program. Up next for Lincoln County is show-and-prove matchup against Pulaski County this Friday night. 10. Madison Central(6A, 4-2) Madison Central is lower where I expected them to be at this point but that has more to do with the teams ahead of them than Madison Central. They have won the games they should win and they have lost the games I have expected them to lose. Running back Freddy Chenault has been the spark plug on offense for Madison Central this season as he leads the team in rushing. Madison Central is in a precarious situation as they are in a very winnable district and should emerge as the #1 team in that district. The precarious part comes in that they are likely not better than the top three teams from District 7(they have a 43-0 loss to Frederick Douglass) so they will need to keep improving every week if they have hopes of advancing deep in the playoffs. Next up for Madison Central will be Tates Creek on Thursday night. Be On The Lookout For: Mercer County(4A, 3-4) Mercer County has won 3 of their last 4 games and that loss was a close game against #9 Lincoln County. With a win this Friday against East Jessamine, Mercer County will set themselves up to finish no worse than second place in their district. George Rogers Clark(6A, 4-2) Due to the success of other teams, George Rogers Clark has dropped out of the top ten. They are now in the meaty part of their schedule and while they should defeat Lafayette and Tates Creek they likely won’t be easy wins and Madison Central is waiting in the wings behind these two games. Lexington Christian(2A, 5-2) Lexington Christian started slowly but they have won 5 of their last 6 games. They will face a strong Somerset team this Friday and if they can pull off that victory they should finish in first place in their district. Player(s) of the Week: Without question the Players of the Week are the two catalysts of the Henry Clay victory over Scott County: DJ VanHorn and Ramond Jackson. DJ Van Horn three for 225 yards and 2 TDs and he also ran for 160 yards and 2 TDs. Ramond Jackson has 159 yards receiving and a touchdown, a kickoff return touchdown, 2 interceptions and 14 total tackles. Game of the Week: Scott County at Frederick Douglass This Friday night. Be there or be square. This game has all of the makings for an outstanding game. This is probably the biggest game of in the short history of the Frederick Douglass football program and this game is the moment for Frederick Douglass to announce to the rest of the state that they have arrived. If Frederick Douglass wins this game then they are easily one of the top 5 teams in the state. Scott County is looking to regain their swagger back after last week’s loss to Henry Clay and will gain it back quickly if they can pull off the victory on the road. Can Scott County contain Cameron Jones and Demarco Fishback? Can the underrated Frederick Douglass defense stop the vaunted Scott County rushing offense? We shall find out soon enough!!!! Last Week’s Game of the Week: Mercer County 29 East Jessamine 22 Mercer County secured another victory last week in their 29-22 victory over East Jessamine. The rushing of Malachi Yulee(102 yards, 2 TDs), Bryson Yeast(54 yards 1 TD) and Brayden Dunn(45 yards, 1 TD) brought the game home for the Titans. Wandale Robinson Watch Last week vs Washington County: 1-1, 15 yards passing 181 yards rushing, 4 TDs 13 yards receiving, 1 TD 12 total tackles Yearly stats: 3-4, 74 yards passing, 1 TD 1117 yards rushing, 17 TDs 330 yards receiving, 7 TDs 2 punt return TDs 1-2 point conversion 55 total tackles( 3 tackles for loss) 2 interceptions Top Performers: Nitavius Thomas-George Rogers Clark-160 yards rushing, 2 TDs Jamaun Clark-Paris-170 yards rushing, 1 TD Luke Duby-Tates Creek-82 yards rushing, 3 TDs Tre Goodin-Taylor County-108 yards rushing 1 TD, 48 yards receiving 1 TD Demarco Fishback-Frederick Douglass-161 yards rushing, 1 TD, 48 yards receiving

*****Disclaimer***** I am headed out on a 7 day cruise shortly so this week’s Power Rankings will be quick and straight to the point. When I return next week I will be back to giving you all comprehensive reports of the Power Rankings for Central Kentucky. Top Ten: 1. Scott County-defeated Bryan Station 57-18 2. Frederick Douglass-defeated Dunbar 49-15 3. Boyle County-defeated North Hardin 21-14 4. Anderson County-BYE 5. Lexington Catholic-lost to DeSales 38-24 6. Montgomery County-BYE 7. Henry Clay-defeated Lafayette 30-7 8. George Rogers Clark-BYE 9. Lincoln County-BYE 10. Madison Central-defeated Bourbon County 43-0 Teams on the Rise: Taylor County-defeated West Jessamine 46-0 Lexington Christian-defeated Kentucky Country Day 35-7 Player of the Week: Wandale Robinson Last week’s Game of the Week: Desales 38 Lexington Catholic 24 Game of the Week: Mercer County at East Jessamine Again, I apologize for the extremely short version of the Power Rankings this week but I am boarding the boat soon and I simply won’t have the time or the internet access to properly research for a full article but I did want to at least put out the base of what my article would have been this week. I will return next week with a full article as normal. I hope you guys understand. See you in a week. Peace.