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BluegrassPreps 2019 Western Kentucky Power Rankings Preseason Edition In 2019, we head into our Fifth Season of BluegrassPreps weekly high school football Power Rankings for each of the regions around the state. With each week's Power Rankings, we will be looking to rank (at least) the top ten teams in each region - regardless of class - against the other teams in their region. Throughout the season, we will be accounting for the results of all the games throughout the region, including the strength of each opponent played, points scored, points allowed, along with several other statistics on each side of the ball. Additionally, we will be highlighting a "Game(s) of the Week", and moving forward, will be re-capping the previous game(s) of the week, as well as highlighting regional "Teams Trending Up" and "Teams Trending Down" as various teams improve their performance and other teams fall back. Also look for a featured "Player(s) Of The Week". In the Preseason, I'm pretty amped up SO: Are you ready for some football? Put your cowboy hat on and head out WEST: Long-time Caldwell County Coach David Barnes Passes Away: It is with great sadness that I begin this 2019 Preseason Article with the news that stalwart Coach David Barnes from Caldwell County passed away on Saturday August 18th. The Sporting Times produced the following linked article and I could not do better than that with his many accolades and admirable deeds. Western Kentucky has lost a Great Coach, but an even better person and community advocate. Rest in Peace Coach Barnes. You will be missed! Caldwell County Football Coach David Barnes Dies | Your Sports Edge Western Kentucky 2018 Spotlight: Franklin Simpson - The 2018 Wildcats brought the Big Hardware back to Franklin again in back to back years with a low scoring 14-12 affair against three consecutive title game rival Johnson Central. This is Franklin's 4th State Championship and creates 2 perfect bookend championships (1979 and 1980 with 2017 and 2018). 8 of 55 sports writers picked Franklin to win this game. Just goes to show you that anyone can win especially when you have good coaching and good players that are instilled in a culture to believe they can win regardless of the noise outside the locker room! BIG Congratulations to Coach Preston, the Franklin Simpson Wildcats and their fans! South Warren - The 2018 Spartans didn't garner the top spot in 5A at the beginning of the season, but on the strength of an awesome Senior Class and calm, steady coaching found themselves on top for the second time in program history and the first time in 5A. This was a special class that willed themselves to go undefeated and beat some very good teams in the playoffs along the way, most notably a very talented Covington Catholic squad in the Championship Game. Years from now we will be comparing defensive linemen to Jacob Lacy and VERY few will measure up to that mountain. Congratulations to Coach Smith, the South Warren Spartans and their fans!!! 2019 Preseason Top 10: 10) Logan County (4A) - Snapshot: The Cougars are still in good hands with Coach Adler and staff. Last year was another tremendous run for a school that just got out of the shadows of a 42 game losing streak! 2018 Recap: (2018 Record 10-2) The Cougars continued their remarkable turnaround thanks to Coach Adler and a tremendous group of players and coaches. They are now 21 and 3 in the past 2 seasons on the heels of having the longest losing streak in the state. Wow! They came up second in their tough district after a tight battle with Madisonville ultimately losing 21-17. But the Cougars continued to battle into the second round of the playoffs where they met their fate in Franklin to the eventual 4A State Champions. No shame there! Still a very successful season! 2019 Outlook: The Cougars still have a lot to like on offense where star SR QB Tyler Ezell returns to improve on nearly 1,700 pass yards in 2018 and ultra-talented SR RB Gary Hardy (nearly 1,500 yards and 18TDs) will lead Logan County in 2019. On the defensive side of the ball, all 3 levels were effected by graduation, none-more-so than star DL Cade McKinnis who was the heart and soul of that fine defense. JR Zach Yates returns to make his mark for the Cougars and try to earn a District Championship in one of the most difficult Districts in 4A Top to Bottom. Schedule Highlight: Looking at the schedule; there's not a lot of meat on the bone when you look at the non-district group of 2A Butler County, 5A Muhlenberg County, 5A Breckinridge County, 2A McLean County, and 2A Todd County Central. But your district is so tough and having just come off a 42 game losing streak, I understand having some less challenging games. I would strive to add another challenging game or 2 in the future if you want to be a consistent 4A threat though. I didn't put the Backyard Brawl with Russellville in that group due to the fact Russellville is typically very good and always a tough game. I look for the Cougars to have the upper hand again this season vs Russellville. Week 1 vs 2A Butler County - August 23, 2018 at 7PM. Can you say 1 and 0 boys and girls! 9) McCracken County (6A) - Snapshot: Coach Marc Clark needs to let his best two Mustangs run - SR WR Franklin Hayes and SR QB Elijah Wheat! 2018 Recap: (2018 Record 8-4) The Mustangs came out of the gate last year like a 1974 Ford Pinto on 3 cylinders - going 2 and 3 in the first 5 games of the season (1 of those wins was a Forfeit win vs Northeast Clarksville, TN who used an ineligible player where the scoreboard said 40-10 Clarksville at the end of the game). But to the players and Coach Clark's credit, they didn't quit, circled the wagons and pulled off 6 straight wins and yet another District Championship, which has to be a good accomplishment after such a turbulent start to the year! They hosted a stout Ballard team in Week 2 of the playoffs and just didn't have enough in a 34-18 loss to end the season. But I saw that Ballard team play last year and they were pretty darn solid. Likely 3 tiers right now in 6A football. McCracken is at the top of the 3rd tier. Nothing wrong with that, but just shows there is still a long way to the top. 2019 Outlook: On offense, the heart and soul of the team is led by SRs QB Elijah Wheat (126 of 205 attempts for 1,822 yards with 18 TDs and 8 INTs), RB Hunter Bradley (143 carries for 744 yards and 10 TDs), and Stud WR Franklin Hayes (32 receptions for 623 yards and 6 TDs). On defense though, all 5 of the 2018 50+ tacklers graduated. So there will be some young guys on the field for the Mustang defense this fall. But can anybody in 6A District 1 beat McCracken? They are going to have to prove it, as the Mustangs have owned that district ever since they consolidated. Schedule Highlight: Right out of the gate is a great game against local rival Paducah Tilghman. Tilghman won comfortably last year 35-6 rushing for almost 350 yards. Can the Mustangs stop the run better this year with younger guys on defense? You tell me... Outside of district play, my Purples travel to Paducah Week 2 in what should be an interesting game considering some of BGs injuries. I'll be pulling for the Mustangs Week 8 when Dyer County, TN comes calling. Good luck Mustangs! Week 1 RIVALRY GAME vs 3A Paducah Tilghman - August 24, 2019 at 7PM. HUGE Local Bragging Rights Game Mustang Nation - Get out and support your team!!! 8) Owensboro (5A) - Snapshot: If Imonte Owsley doesn't tear his ACL, Owensboro is way up this list. Now star LB Austin Gough and a starting OLineman may be injured long term as well. Owensboro is blessed with many athletes, but the 3 above make a BIG difference! 2018 Recap: (2018 Record 10-3) Terrific bounce back year after a 4 and 7 2017 campaign was highlighted by ending a long losing streak and beating rival Bowling Green 28-21 in the playoffs along with earning a terrific win at Evansville Reitz as well. Several key losses to graduation include super-tough DT Diamond Glover, undervalued RB Trevon Green, spark plug Aireon Phillips and transfer QB Will Warren. 2019 Outlook: Had it not been for the injury report from our good friend @Irish Cat, I would have given Owensboro a chance to go to Lexington. But that isn't the case now when you lose a guy who can take it to the house every time he touches the ball and the guy that was the leader of the defense, less is expected now. Also whoever the QB will be (likely SO Gavin Wimsatt or Taquan Robinson) he will be talented, but very inexperienced at the varsity level. Good for him to have stud WR Tyren Hayden to throw to! Schedule Highlights: As long as I can ever recall, Owensboro played a stiff schedule; that cannot be said this season. A piece of that has to do to the reshuffling of District opponents where they lose Christian County and pick up Ohio County, Muhlenberg County and Grayson County - 3 very easy wins for the Red Devils. Throw in sacrificial lamb Breckinridge County in the opener and it's hard to see where anyone could characterize this schedule as challenging. So the toughest games are 2A Evansville Central (Indiana) and 5A Graves County. They should still walk to Week 3 of the playoffs and face a serious challenge from either Bowling Green or South Warren. Week 1 at Washington Generals - wanna be 5A Breckinridge County at 7PM. 7) Paducah Tilghman (3A) - Snapshot: It seems measured progress is being made in Paducah. Look for the Blue Tornados to continue that measured march upward in 2019! 2018 Recap: [2018 Record 9-3] The Blue Tornados made positive strides last year as Coach Johnathon Smith took the reins for Coach Stephen Duncan for health reasons and according to our good friend @TilghmanPride has continued to instill significant continuity to a program that before Coach Duncan arrived has basically been on a washing machine spin cycle for maybe a decade of coaching stints comprised of poor fits to poor leadership. Tilghman won 4 more games than they did in 2017, with their schedule that is significant! 2019 Outlook: Tilghman always has athletes! 6'2" JR Camden Marshall will get his shot at QB but also is a standout secondary player. Other skill players of note include speedster and track star Jayden Freemen, who also lines up on the outside at WR allowing both Damien Ford and Jarmorie Sabbs to provide more RB talent on the field. Both lines are solid with SR OL Tim Watkins being the anchor. For the defense, transfer Jonathan George leads the linebackers with Sabbs forming a formidable LB corps. Tilghman will have big play potential all over the field! If they can get timely QB play, the sky's the limit! Schedule Highlight: Tilghman always plays a solid schedule and 2019 is no different. With Caldwell County dropping down to 2A, Tilghman looks like the leader in their district, although Union County & Trigg County will be better than you think this year and could challenge. The game I love most on the Blue Tornados schedule, aside from their normal rivalry games over in the Purchase Area, is their tilt with new 3A Class Mate Desales! Outstanding work by both schools to make this happen. This October 4th game in Paducah should be one of the best games in the entire State that week! Week 1 RIVALRY GAME August 24 at 6A McCracken County at 7pm. This is typically a good game to open the season for both squads, although it puts a lot of pressure on both being the opening game, but that is great for the community IMO. Good luck Tilghman! 6) Hopkinsville (4A) - Snapshot: With QB Jay Bland back from injury and a plethora of talented skill guys around, look for Hoptown to light up the scoreboard this year! 2018 Recap: [2018 Record 5-7] The Tigers battled so much adversity in 2018 with another extremely difficult schedule, but more so with the loss of ultra-talented QB Jay Bland during the 5th game of the 2018 campaign. Stud Ellis Dunn stepped in admirably, but that clearly diminished the fire power of the Tigers offense. Still they battled on and picked up momentum in the back half of the 2018 schedule before bowing out at gritty Madisonville. But the Tigers were pretty young in 2018 and graduation losses appear minimal while Coach Clayton's system continues to take hold. 2019 Outlook: The Tigers looked super in finishing runner up in the Inaugural Best of The West 7v7 Tournament. (Great Summer tournament by the way!) QB Jay Bland returns for his SR season. WR Reece Jesse, who is a Missouri recruit was the leading receiver during the 2018 season and looks to improve. SO Jayden Dillard looks to take over for his graduated brother to lead the Tiger rushing game. The Tiger D will be anchored by a trio of really strong players including LB Eric Grubb, DL Denarius Barns and DB Jaxon Davis. Schedule Highlight: Hopkinsville has had a brutal schedule the past 2 seasons. They take a step back off that this season losing South Warren and adding Henderson County. That said, I look for Hoptown to be 6 and 1 before the difficult District Play begins with a home game vs resilient Logan County followed by a trip to rugged Madisonville. I look for these district bouts to be epic just like the 34 - 32 7v7 battle Hoptown and Logan County had in July! Week 1: at Kenwood (Clarksville) TN at 7:00PM. Kenwood in 2018 graded similar to where Madison Southern (KY) at 2-8 ranked last year. So I look for Hoptown to start strong this year! Get out and support your team Tiger Fans! 5) Madisonville-North Hopkins (4A) - Snapshot: The Maroons enter 2019 hungry to go a couple steps further than 2018. With some of the best offensive and defensive lines in the West, maybe they can! 2018 Recap: (2018 Record 10-3) Terrific season for the Maroons that brought home a district championship! They fought hard the whole way and lost a heart-breaking low-scoring game at the eventual State Champions (Franklin-Simpson). No shame there. They only lose 8 seniors off the 2018 team. 2019 Outlook: The Maroons SR QB Hayden Reynolds was one of the most impressive QBs at the Best of the West 7on7 Tournament I saw in July. Add ultra-talented SR RB Jeriah Hightower who rushed for almost 1,800 yards and 23 TDs his JR year and key offensive firepower returns. Add that to maybe the most complete offensive line in the West and they will be a formidable 4A team. The defense will be led by SR Blake Moody and SR LB Krey Cunningham. The Maroons are in a tough 4A District, one of the best top to bottom in the State. Could Madisonville get over the Franklin Simpson hump this year and represent the West in Lexington? You tell me... I think they are going to be hard to stop! Will make that District an all-out war! Schedule Highlight: I think the Maroons schedule is pretty solid to help them improve. They get both Logan County and Hopkinsville in Madisonville this year, which is a huge advantage. A big step up in the Maroons schedule is Week 10 when Mayfield comes to town! That will be a big game - write it down! One of the most intriguing games I'll be watching this season is Week 1 August 23 at Nearby Foe 3A Union County at 7pm. 3A Union County has beaten the Maroons 2 years in a row. This should be the year to turn that around - right Maroons? 4) Franklin Simpson (4A) - Snapshot: After earning back to back State Championships and 3 straight years in the Championship game, the Wildcats return for another run in 2019! 2018 Recap: (2018 Record 14-1) As mentioned above, Franklin Simpson climbed the 4A hill again in 2018 and stood alone at the top when it was all said and done! Outstanding and Congratulations! The Wildcat offense was hard to handle last year rushing again for more than 5,000 yards as a team with 2 special rushers gaining over 1,700 yards each! The defense was also very effective as is highlighted by containing a high octane Johnson Central offense to only 12 points in the championship game! Another one for the record books Wildcat fans! With all good things, there comes a time to pay the band and that takes place in the form of graduation. RB's Tre Bass, Carlos McKinney and star lineman Jack Randolf are the major losses on offense. The Wildcat D lose 3 stalwarts in DLineman Traevon Goodnight, Collin Preston and Michael Punzalan and WR Jevon Covington, who was a difference maker on the outside. They will be very hard to replace, but don't count Coach Preston out! 2019 Outlook: Again hard to improve on a Championship season, but why not go for a 3-Peat! Of the 17 players that played in the Championship Game, 8 return in 2019. It's always good when your QB comes back and the Wildcat Offense will be led by SO QB Luke Richardson (that's right - young man was a Freshman helping lead the Wildcat State Championship Campaign - Impressive!) who was 5 for 7 for 56 yards in the Championship Game. Those aren't Nintendo numbers, but were critical to keep the Eagle defense honest. Younger RBs will have to step up to fill the HUGE void left by standout backs Bass & McKinney. The Wildcat D will be led by SR DB Chase Gooch and SR LB Conner Rodgers and it may take a little time for the chemistry with the new younger Wildcats to synch with the overall defense. The O and D lines were hit hard by graduation, but SR AJ Burr and SO Logan Chandler are back to lead those areas. Schedule Highlight: The games that catch my eye for the Wildcats are at 3A Glasgow and at super-tough Battle Ground Academy (Franklin), TN. Franklin may split those games. That leaves another road game against super tough 5A defending Champion South Warren on September 6th as the clear gem to circle on the schedule this year. Don't forget about the Green Wave from 6A Meade County either. The games between these 2 have been feisty to say the least! Week 1 August 23 vs 5A Greenwood at 7PM. I look for Franklin to be way yonder too strong in this game even though it's very early in the season. 3) South Warren (5A) - Snapshot: On the heels of their second championship and likely best senior class in school history, young Spartans finally get their chance to play. With a medium, medium-rare schedule, look for the Spartans to come on after their opening game against capable and ranked 6A Butler. 2018 Recap: [2018 Record 15-0] The Spartans ran the table! It's as simple as that! With arguably their best team ever, led by their best Senior Class ever and ultimately the best player ever IMO to play for South Warren Jacob Lacy, who will line up this fall for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame (Oh and he is listed as backup nose tackle for the #9 ranked Fighting Irish and scheduled to play - as a FRESHMAN! Wow!). I truly think this young man, barring injuries, will play on Sundays. He's that good. But South also had tremendous other players like QB Gavin Spurrier, S/WR Clayton Bush and RB Cameron Harrison along with outstanding performers on the defensive side of the ball like LB Pete Cross, who will be sorely missed this season. A season for the records books South Warren fans. 2019 Outlook: All of the players mentioned above are gone and a very limited amount of returning starters will suit up for Coach Smith this season. That doesn't mean they won't be good. It just means they will be largely inexperienced. That starts with incumbent QB SO Caden Veltkamp, who was taken under Spurrier's wing last season. But he was 9 for 31 in mop-up duty last season and will be the man this year to lead the Spartans. Think of a 3 year starting QB for your high school team. That sounds great, but you have to gain the experience on Friday Nights to make it work. But I really think he will be a star in coming years. Schedule Highlight: Medium to Medium Rare is the steak of choice for the Spartans. South won't win many strong man competitions at the SOKY Fair when it comes to tough scheduling. Of the 10 games on their schedule, they are clearly favorites to strong favorites in at least 7. Only their first game at WKU vs 6A Butler, who lost a lot from last year and the annual (thank goodness) rivalry matchup with Bowling Green and vs 4A Champ Franklin Simpson are the Spartans likely close to even money. I'm not ripping that schedule like I used to. Coach Smith's scheduling philosophy just brought home the 5A Title. So my question to you is, Is it better to test yourself over the top or just have a medium schedule to prepare you for the playoffs? All that thrown into the mix with the new RPI System to better position yourself for a higher ranking to help you in the later rounds of playoff seeding. I guess we shall see. Week 1 vs 6A Butler - August 24, 2019 at 5PM. Butler, a 6A team out of Louisville, had a terrific season last year going 8-4 and losing at St X to end last season, is a terrific early opponent to test yourself. I hope to make this game and see more of what the 2019 Spartans have to offer early in the year. 2) Bowling Green (5A) - And here come the Purples! Snapshot: BG has many terrific players, but with the injuries already sustained and a killer schedule, how they fit those players together will make all the difference in their 2019 season! 2018 Recap: (2018 Record 9-3) 2018 was a good season for the Purples. The Purples changed head coaches for the first time in more than 20 years and it takes time to get new administrations ironed out and systems implemented. With that said, the 9 wins were largely predicted with the exception of their best win of the season, a 24-21 OT win at 6A St Xavier. A game with a ton of emotion and 2 teams who fought hard to the end on a wet night in Louisville. The three losses (at Top 5 Nationally ranked Warren Central IN, at eventual 5A Champion South Warren and at 5A old foe Owensboro) were each difficult in their own right, especially for BG fans accustomed to making deep playoff runs. But you can't win them all as the old saying goes. 2019 Outlook: BG will certainly miss the 23 seniors who graduated from last year's team, but most notable on that list will be 2 year starting QB Beau Buchanan. Beau was steady and resilient for BG and will be difficult to replace. The Purples were evaluating 3 players in the pre-season for the QB spot including SR Max Payne, whose brother Clark was a standout QB, Athletic JR Conner Cooper, and ultra-versatile JR Eli Burwash, who is the best punter BG has had in some time along with being a star baseball player. The outcome of this competition seems to have progressed somewhat as 2 of the 3 above are at least slightly injured and the third not called on in the scrimmage against Male but rather SO QB Spencer Newman, who did a terrific job in the scrimmage coming off the bench and leading BG to what I believe were all 4 of their varsity scores vs the 6A Titan. With all that said, who will be under center on August 24th vs Father Ryan? I simply don't know, but it will be imperative for BG to solidify the position and form some continuity going forward early in the season. Once BG gets to a home game with Louisville PRP on September the 13th, they begin a brutal stretch of games including St Xavier, at Corbin and at South Warren that necessitates that QB selection so that he has a chance to immerse himself fully into the system, not just a part-time version of it. Keep an eye on how that plays out. Coach Spader has had to roll with the punches that injuries will throw at you early in the year. I know he is up to the challenge and it will be fascinating to see the outcome. The rest of the Purples position groups have strong pieces to work with led by 4 Star SR S/LB/RB/Returner Vito Tisdale. Due to Vito's destiny to play defense at the next level, his primary Purples duties will be on the defensive side of the ball this year, but is that set in stone? You tell me... Also garnering serious recruiting accolades is 4 Star TE Jordan Dingle. The 6-4 230lbs JR already has offers from Ohio State, UofL, UK, and Georgia Tech among others. Both offensive and defensive lines will need some 2018 backups to step up in 2019, but both should be solid. Although JR OL Jackson Littlefield is expected to miss 6 weeks due to an injury sustained on the very first offensive play of the Male scrimmage. I hate injuries! Schedule Highlights: Bowling Green has the strongest schedule in the West, top to bottom and likely 5A as well. But is it too much? BG plays a killer 4 game stretch starting in mid-September vs 6A PRP, St X, at Corbin and at South Warren. They finish the year vs the #1 Ranked Team in the State - the Trinity Shamrocks!!! As my good friend Daffy Duck used to say "Thanks for the Sour Persimmons Cousin"! That's tough sleddin' right there. I'm hopeful for a QB to be named soon and hopefully he can remain injury free. Week 1 vs. Father Ryan TN - Saturday August 24, 2018 - Rafferty's Bowl 8PM at WKU. I don't know much about Father Ryan except they went 2 and 9 last season playing the Big Boys of Nashville. I did listen to a radio interview of the Father Ryan Coach, who commented on his team saying this will be his most experienced team coming back. So I expect this to be a difficult game for BG with the uncertainty at QB. 1) Mayfield (2A) - Snapshot: Simply the most complete team in the West coming back and that's why they are here! 2018 Recap: (2018 Record 14-1) Mayfield continues to be Team Consistency losing only 9 games from 2010 through the 2018 season (that's 9 full seasons!!!). The Cardinals got back to the State Championship game again after a 1 year hiatus back in 2017 after going a noteworthy 8 straight times prior to 2017! Add 5 State Championships collected during that timeframe, confirms your position as a fixture among all WKY football programs and state programs for that matter. I'm sure they were disappointed not bringing the big hardware back to the Purchase Area last season, but Christian Academy was simply stacked with veteran players, who last lost in Mayfield late in the 2017 Playoffs. So no shame there. Mayfield loses stud RB Kent Tray Matthews who gained over 1,800 yards and 29 TDs in 2018, both stout DEs and one solid LB. However, Mayfield expects to reload every year. But when only 10 players played at least 10 games for your 2018 squad, ALL are important! 2019 Outlook: Thanks to our good friend @Mayfieldsportsfan who was instrumental in helping forecast the 2019 Cardinals season! The Cardinals will be led by standout SR QB Jayden Stinson (145 for 222 with 2,931 yards and 35 TDs vs 4 INTs). All WRs return and most OL return. The RB position will be handled by SR Travon Halliburton, who played the position prior to Matthews, but was injured and now returns along with JR Kylan Galbreath. Mayfield's defensive secondary returns intact. One returning LB will move to the DL and former Warren Central Coach Mike Roger's son Jax Rogers will start at LB. It is reported this will be another terrific defense, but it may take a game or two to get acclimated. But make no mistake, Mayfield will compete for a 2A Championship this season. Schedule Highlight: While selfishly, I would like to see Mayfield come to Hopkinsville for the new 7on7 Tournament in July, I really like their Fall schedule this season. The Cardinals don't take a week off, as they always schedule tough competition! Games of note this season include an early gut check game against stout Lausanne Collegiate out of Memphis, TN, who lost in the semi-finals last season. Then turn around and travel to Hopkinsville in what should be my game of the week in Week 2, as Hoptown will be really good this year. The district now includes Caldwell County, who drops down with the reclassification alignment. Don't sleep on the Murray Tigers either, as they are pretty hungry to try to knock off the Cardinals! And Week 10 slates a tough, physical road trip to a gritty Madisonville team that has a very talented Oline and RB. Should be a great game! Week 1 August 23 at home vs. Lausanne Collegiate, TN at 7:00PM. I always pull for Kentucky schools vs non-Kentucky schools! Let's go Mayfield!!! Good Enough to Make the Top 10 This Season: 11) Graves County (5A) - The Eagles lose their 4-Year Starter at QB and top tackler from 2018. I haven't even mentioned the Eagles new head coach Nick Kemp, Sr. While I hope Coach Kemp has a good year and know Cody Goatley is a stud player, I don't look for them to compete with Owensboro for a shot to go past the second round of the playoffs and I could have them too high here with significant pieces to replace and a tough early schedule. I'm just not as high on the Eagles as others are. 12) Glasgow (2A) - With stars Nick Mitchell running the ball and Chase Jones anchoring the DLine, I like Glasgow to make it to the 3rd round of the playoffs at a minimum. From there, we'll see! I may have the Scotties too low. 13) Murray (2A) - Coach Keith Hodge has been building toward this season with 5 of their top 6 producers back. They have a manageable schedule, especially if they can take care of Graves County out of the gate. No one expects the Tigers to beat Mayfield this year, but we have seen stranger things in rivalry games, although I don't expect that to be the case here. The Tigers should see Mayfield twice this year. 14) Apollo (6A) - Coach Hawkins has things going in the right direction over off Tamarack Road in Owensboro. Thanks to our good friend @zoneblitz2, who reports the Junior Class at Apollo is set to break out this year with UK verbal commits Logan Weedman (TE/DE) and OL Parker Bates. Add John Lynn TE/OLB and OCath transfer RB Harold Hogg and the Eagles have a lot of potential in 2019. Mark the district game with McCracken County on September 27 in Owensboro as one where Apollo could make their mark this year. I could have the Eagles too low as well. 15) Owensboro Catholic (2A) - With star WR Nick Mills and star RB Vonn Williams graduated and star to-be RB Harold Hogg transferring to Apollo, Drew Harz will have to be very special this year to get past the 3rd round. The Aces will still own their district, but I fear that's it in 2019. 16) Caldwell County (2A) - The Tigers lose 20 seniors from 2018. But losing long-time Coach David Barnes will be very difficult for the Tigers to overcome. Stud JR QB/LB Russ Beshear is back to lead the team with star RB DeEric Hollowell. But the significant loss of most players with experience seems to suggest an already difficult year in Princeton to unfortunately stay that way for the Tigers. But I hope you prove me wrong. Other Western Kentucky Teams: 17) Christian County (5A) - The Colonels will be very young this year. They battled during the Best of the West 7v7 Tournament, but were more successful finding things to work on than advancing deep in the tournament. That's not meant to pile on, but meant to let you know that it's likely a ground and pound year for the Colonels, but to keep an eye on them for the future. 18) Daviess County (6A) - With the amount of offensive firepower the Panthers had last season, the resulting 6 and 5 record had to be a disappointment. With the lion share of that firepower graduated, the outlook for this Panther team isn't nearly as high with breaking in a new QB and receiving corps. 19. Trigg County (3A) - With SR QB Cameron Jordon, United States Navy commit and several other talented skill guys, the Wildcats should compete in 3A District 1. I was really impressed with these guys at the Best of the West 7v7 Tournament. 20) Western Kentucky 1A - Crittenden County & Russellville - The Rockets of Crittenden County rode a star senior class to an 11 and 2 record before falling in the 3rd round of the playoffs. With 53 kids on the roster, Coach Thompson has some options and likely a leg up in the district. The Panthers for the most part beat the teams they were supposed to and lost to the ones they were supposed to. This will be Coach Mikie Benson's second season and he will lean on stud SO Lennon Ries on both sides of the ball this year. It looks to be a tough year out of district for Russellville, but take care of your District and life is good! Western Kentucky Bullitt Round: - McLean County - 8 - 2018 Wins & Stud RB Peyton Conway back = Promising 2019! - Metcalfe County - JR Gabe Zurmehly does it all for the young Hornets & they should improve over 2018 and compete in their district! - Hancock County - JR Darian Clay = Player! - Ohio County - Transfer JR Q'Darius McHenry is one of the best players most have never heard of! - Todd County Central - The Rebels looked GREAT in the BOTW 7v7 Tournament & QB Bryce Nolan is a player! - Union County - Braves are lurking with SR QB Solomon Teehan back! - Henderson County - Colonels lose Skip Patterson & that's big and why they aren't higher in the ranks. Critical High School Football News: The realignment of 2019 to 2022 is upon us. Here is the layout of all the new classification and district alignments in case you would like to view it: Current Alignment of Team – Football – 219 through 222 Playing Seasons | Kentucky High School Athletic Association Also of significant importance to the new season is the new playoff format. The following link provides you a BGP thread on the subject: http://bluegrasspreps.com/ky-football-high/2019-playoff-alignment-379975.html Games of the Week - Week 1: #7 Paducah Tilghman at #9 McCracken County 8/24/18 @7PM - This game is probably more important to McCracken County from the standpoint of I don't think they need to win it, but they need to show up better than the 35-6 (loss) effort last season. For Tilghman, it's a chance to set the tone early. For the fans, it's a chance to see what both teams really have early in the year. Should be a great atmosphere! Get out and support your teams!!! #11 Graves County (5A) at #13 Murray (2A) 8/23/18 @7PM - This is another terrific game over in the Purchase! These 2 don't have very high profile games except one district game apiece, but this game will set the tone for both. Look for a great early hard hitting game! You could make these 2 games your opening weekend double header in the Purchase Area! Get out and support your teams!!! Pre-Season - Teams Trending Downward South Warren (5A) - Down - This is really a curtain call for the best Senior Class South Warren has ever had. Jacob Lacy, Clayton Bush and Gavin Spurrier led a tremendous Senior Class. It is hard to fathom South rising to the Championship level this season. But Coach Smith is known for bringing his teams along with medium competition and getting them ready mentally and physically as well as any coach for playoff football. We shall see... Caldwell County (3A) - Down - This too is a curtain call for Coach David Barnes, who tragically passed away. Additionally, the Tigers lose almost 2 dozen seniors who contributed to last season's 8-4 record. It is hard to see how this season sees an increase in wins in Princeton. BUT NO TEAM WILL PLAY HARDER THAN CALDWELL COUNTY THIS YEAR. Pre-Season - Teams Trending Upward Madisonville North-Hopkins (4A) - Up - Was really impressed with QB Hayden Reynolds at the Best of the West 7v7 Tournament and am willing to overlook the unflattering "pulling out" of that tournament on Day 2 as the heat getting to them. But they have men on their OLine who will make life difficult for Maroon opponents this season. Add stud RB Jeriah Hightower to the mix and the Maroons will be in the 4A hunt come playoff time. Hopkinsville (4A) - Up - I got to speak very briefly with Coach Clayton at the Best of the West 7v7 Tournament and came away with "he likes his team". I do too. And if stud QB Jay Bland can stay healthy, he has a wealth of options in the skill spots as Hoptown usually does. LB Grubbs will cause teams fits this season. Hopkinsville will be in the 4A Hunt too! Mark October 11th on your calendar when Hoptown travels to Madisonville for the best 4A game in the state that week! As I think they are in one of the best 4A District in the State top to bottom with Logan County also with a chance. Murray (2A) - Up - Tigers really improved last year after a long 5 and 7 season in 2017. While the Rock of Gibraltar (Mayfield) is still a road block to be dealt with, the win last year on the road against Owensboro Catholic in the playoffs was significant IMO. Of the top 6 producing guys from last season (both offense and defense), 5 return for the Tigers. They will be a dangerous 2A team in the West. ALL WEST - PRE-SEASON TEAM QB - Jayden Stinson, Mayfield QB - Javier Bland, Hopkinsville RB - Jeriah Hightower, Madisonville - North Hopkins RB - Q'Darius McHenry, Ohio County RB - Nick Mitchell, Glasgow RB - Gary Hardy, Logan County WR - Kade Neely, Mayfield WR - Franklin Hayes, McCracken County WR - Jordan Dingle, Bowling Green OL - Parker Bates, Apollo OL - Tim Watkins, Paducah Tilghman OL - Colt Jackson, South Warren DL - Chase Jones, Glasgow DL - Blake Moody, Madisonville - North Hopkins DL - Isaac Young, South Warren DL - Logan Weedman, Apollo LB - Cody Goatley, Graves County LB - Erick Gruggs, Hopkinsville LB - Austin Gough, Owensboro DB - Jaiden Jackson, Murray DB - Evan Spader, Bowling Green S - Vito Tisdale, Bowling Green S - Imonte Owsley, Owensboro K - Dalton Major, Bowling Green Coach - David Barnes, Caldwell County (I could put MANY coaches here and would not be wrong as we have MANY strong Coaches in our region. I had Coach Brandon Smith here originally as he & his staff earned a State Championship last season when he wasn't picked to do so. However, when a Western Kentucky Coaching Fixture like Coach David Barnes passes away tragically, I've decided it is more important to honor his lifetime achievements here, which include (too many to get them all): - 171-126 in 26 years as a Head Coach. He was the Daviess County Head Coach for 13 years and then came home to his alma mater for 13 years. - Third Most Wins in Caldwell County History 110-50. - As a Player, he starred for Caldwell County as a 4-Year Starter at RB and held the single game rushing record of 280 yard & 4 TDs vs Crittenden County back in 1976! That record stood for 34 Years and he coached the young man who broke the record! - Guided Caldwell County to the 2A Championship Game in 2012 losing a close game to Newport Central Catholic 30-26. - 2014 2A Coach of the Year (Courier Journal). - 2017 3A Coach of the Year (KY Football Coaches Association). Rest In Peace Coach Barnes - And Thank You for all your Lifetime Contributions both as a Coach and as an Inspiration to those young & old throughout Daviess & Caldwell Counties!) It's going to be a GREAT YEAR sports fans! What do you think/like/dislike? Pitch all together? What would you change & why?

BluegrassPreps 2017 Western Kentucky Power Rankings – Week 5 Edition Concerning the top story line for this week, District Football is here! And that means, believe it or not we are already halfway through the regular season! Wow, time flies while you’re having fun! Whether you already have a district game under your belt or not, THE most important part of the regular season has arrived! These are teams you know well and they know you well. You have a history that goes back many years (by most accounts). Some battles have gone your way and some have not, but the freshness and soon to be (Maybe by Friday night anyway) cool crispness in the air signals a new season is upon us. Whether you have had a good season to this point or not really, doesn’t matter as long as you play well now! Popcorn N Coke Top 10 Version – Week 5: 1. Bowling Green 5A (4-2): Win 49-19 at 5A Greenwood 2. Mayfield 2A (5-1): Loss 20-17 vs 3A Corbin at Austin Peay State University 3. South Warren 4A (6-0): Win 50-6 vs 5A Barren County 4. Christian County 5A (5-0): Win 37-6 vs 5A Marshall County 5. Caldwell County 3A (5-1): Win 24-21 vs 3A Paducah Tilghman 6. Franklin Simpson 4A (3-3): Win 35-19 at 2A Glasgow 7. Owensboro 5A (2-3): BYE Week 8. Allen County-Scottsville 4A (5-1): Win 46-7 vs 5A Grayson County 9. Glasgow 2A (4-2): Loss 35-19 vs 4A Franklin Simpson 10. Logan County (5-0): Win 38-8 at 4A Hopkins County Central Week 5 Western Kentucky Game of the Week Recap: 2A Glasgow (4-2) 19 hosting 4A Franklin Simpson (3-3) 35. Really good game here in the first half with the Wildcats leading 21-19. Then the Franklin Simpson Defense really ratcheted it up and pitched a shutout in the entire second half. Franklin Simpson RB Tre Bass – remember that name as you’ll see him later!!! For the Scotties, you knew this one would be tough and your stars played well with QB Dalvin Smith gaining about 100 yards on the ground with a TD. Kinda think Franklin wore the 2A Scotties down on the very warm September evening. But still say Glasgow will be better for playing this type schedule! Week 6 Western Kentucky Game of the Week: Many good games this week, but I have to hold true to a game I’ve been looking forward to all season and will be very significant for the 5A playoffs: 5A Christian County (5-0) at 5A Owensboro (2-3). Rash Stadium will be rockin on Friday night! There are other district teams that can make it interesting, but this game has historically determined 5A District 1. Owensboro’s loss to Daviess County can be looked at as a bad sign, but I believe the Red Devils will be ready to play; kinda like they are backed into a corner (and really they are). Christian County played much better vs a lower tier Marshall County squad last week and knows what this game means. Honorable Mention: Franklin Simpson at Allen County Scottsville, Caldwell County at Union County, Greenwood at South Warren, Madisonville-North Hopkins at Hopkinsville, and Murray at Mayfield. Meat & Potato’s Version Week 5 Top 10: 10) Logan County 4A (6-0) – Last Week (LW): 10 – District Record: 1-0 - Week 5 Results: Win 32-6 at (1-5) 4A Hopkins County Central. I honestly don’t think I am pushing the scales for Logan County now. Sure Hopkins County Central isn’t scaring many teams, but this score on the road shows me the Cougars are focused and taking care of business! No better story in the West or the State this season IMO! Week 6: BYE Week. EXCELLENT Time for a bye Cougars! Right on the brink of hosting the best team in your District – the Hopkinsville Tigers on October 5. But that game is in Russellville, so you can just lay it on the line at home Cougars! Should be a very interesting game! 9) Glasgow (2A) – LW: 8 - Preseason Rank: Top 20; 2017 Record 4-2; Week 5 Western Kentucky Game of the Week Results: Loss 35-19 vs 4A Franklin Simpson (3-3). Hard fought game here! To go toe to toe (for at least a half) with a very good 4A team is something you can take positively from this game. On the negative, your rushing defense needs to get in the film room to develop some adjustment strategies as I’m told 2 of the FS long TD runs were the same play! But when you play the tough schedule Glasgow has, you have to expect some bumps in the road. But I am with our good friend @macdon in that Glasgow has no business playing hurry up on offense against a team with superior depth as most of the Scotties were gassed in the 4th Quarter. No wonder they only gained 2 yards that whole quarter! Week 6: District Game at 2A Green County (4-2). It is always important to set the tone come District time Scotties! Lose this game and all the work you did in the pre-District season is for naught! But I think Glasgow will be ready to take the 45 minute trip up US Highway 68 to Greensburg and take care of some Dragon business! Due to the cross-bracketing this year, the Scotties have a real shot to go a long way in the playoffs! 8) Allen County Scottsville (4A) LW: 9 - Preseason Rank: Top 20 - 2017 Record 5-1; District Record 0-0] Week 5 Results – Win: 46-7 at 5A Grayson County (1-5). The Patriot used a balanced attack to gain roughly 300 yards to Grayson’s miniscule 84 on the game!!! WOW! The ACS Defense is playing well. It will need to continue to do so, as a Very Tough opening District Matchup is now here! District Buster - Week 6: vs 4A Franklin Simpson (3-3). The Wildcats pass defense was surely tested against a very good Glasgow passing attack last week and seemed to clearly improve as the game went on. But I think the ACS passing attack is a bit better than Glasgow IMO, as QB Chase Wilson has passed for roughly 1,600 yards through 5 games (recent game stats not included) vs Dalvin Smith’s (Glasgow QB) 700 yards over the same # of games. Plus, I don’t look for the Patriots to wear down like the Scotties did and for this one to be a Barn-Burner! Get out and support your team Patriot Fans! 7) Owensboro (5A) – LW: 6 - Preseason Rank: 6 - 2017 Record 2-3; [District Record 0-0] Week 5 Results: BYE Week. I’m sure Coach Fallin didn’t have any trouble getting the Red Devils attention this week in practice. With a disappointing loss 33-27 at 6A Daviess County (2-4) Owensboro feels pretty vulnerable at this stage of the season. But the BIG problem has been the turnovers. They had 6 against BG alone. And about half that against Daviess County. That has to be Job 1 for Owensboro. As if they lose the turnover battle vs Christian County this week, I do not like their chances. Week 6: Western Kentucky Game of the Week – District Buster vs 5A Christian County (5-0)! I’m sure the Red Devils will be ready to hit somebody else after the BYE week! I do, however, like Owensboro’s chances in the game if they can win the turnover battle. But not sure they’ve done that all season. The Christian County defense is one of the better squads in 5A, but I also think the Red Devil rushing attack is one of the better ones in 5A. So strength against strength. I was really impressed with QB Zeke Brown vs BG. The Red Devils need a great game by Brown in this one! I do feel Owensboro has clearly played the tougher schedule in this matchup. If the Red Devils get it done this Friday, is that the difference??? You tell me… 6) Franklin Simpson (4A) – LW: 7 - Preseason Rank: 4 - 2017 Record 3-3; District Record 0-0] Week 5 Results: Win: 35-19 at 2A Glasgow (4-2). According to our good friend @macdon, the Wildcats rolled up 452 yards rushing! Yowzaaa!!! RB Tre Bass was runnin wild (you’ll see him later!) and he had friends! The Franklin defense turned in an inspiring performance only allowing 2 yards in the 4th Quarter! If you read this thread often, you likely know I love Muhamad Ali fights. I think the Wildcats season has been like Ali’s fight with George Foreman in Zaire in 1974. Ali took some HEAVY blows and punishment early and let Foreman wear himself out before putting on a show in the 8th round and put the huge Heavyweight on the canvas where he was counted out! I think the Wildcats are coming on and even though they are Team Chevron (chevron is a geology term for a fold that resembles a zig-zag line as they have alternated wins and losses all season and certainly taken some punches) right now, I think they are now poised to make a run. But this first District game is HUGE and against a team that typically plays their best against you! Week 6: District Buster at 4A Allen County-Scottsville (5-1). For me, ACS kinda arrived on the scene in 2015 when they pulled a shocker and knocked off a good Franklin team 21-20. Guess who the QB was for ACS in that game? The same one you’ll see on Friday Night! Gonna be a Great One Wildcat Fans!!! 5) Caldwell County (3A) – LW: 5 - Preseason Rank: Top 15 - 2017 Record 5-1; [District Record 1-0] Week 5 Results: Win: 24-21 vs 3A Paducah Tilghman (1-5). What a game! Thanks to our good friend @Razor Ramon who brought us the action! It seemed like Tilghman played their hearts out, but give Caldwell credit as they never quit and used the ole’ hook and ladder to get in field goal range with less than a minute to go. The Tigers kicker put it through and that was all she wrote! VERY Exciting game! Know the Tigers were missing a couple guys due to injury and hope they get back soon, but LOT of momentum building right now in Princeton! Week 6: At GRITTY 3A Union County (5-0). Morganfield will be fired up on Friday night! The Braves may be the best team in the State that no one knows about. Can they beat Caldwell? Sure, but I do not expect it. However, I do expect a close, hard fought game! So make an evening of it Tiger fans! It’s about an hour due north up to Morganfield! Stop by the Feed Mill to get a great pre-game meal! 4) Christian County (5A) – LW: 4 - Preseason Rank: 2 - 2017 Record 5-0; [District Record 1-0] Week 5 Results: Win 37-6 vs 5A Marshall County (3-3). Well that’s more like it Colonels! For Colonels fans, you couldn’t ask for more coming off a BYE Week really! As County was very balanced on offense with roughly 200 yards on the ground and 200 in the air. The defense was really tough again and did not allow any points. The Marshall County points came off a pick 6 from the Frosh backup QB in mop-up time. Week 5: Western Kentucky Game of the Week - District Buster – at 5A Owensboro (2-3). Big Game Colonel Fans!!! You lost this one last year in a fantastic matchup on a rainy night in Hopkinsville that went to double overtime. This year’s game will be at Rash Stadium, where my departed good friend PurpleHaze always said “you are already down 7-0 when you enter Rash Stadium”. County has to be in a very good mental place right now as they have not lost and are coming into this one on the uptick. Owensboro is not, but will try to use their time off to refocus on this game. Both sides understand what’s at stake. As the loser will likely be on the fast track to Week 2 of the Playoffs at BG! Not the best draw by far considering District 1 will Host the Regional Championship game in Week 3 of the Playoffs! Big Game!!! 3) South Warren (5A) – LW: 3 - Preseason Rank: 10 - 2017 Record 6-0; District Record 2-0] Week 5 Results: Win: District Game – 50-6 vs 5A Barren County (0-6). Replay this line: “Just a really good team crushing a really bad team”. “Barren” certainly is the correct term here for the poor ole’ Trojans as they have NO home games this year as they are constructing a new field. But give them some credit for trying as according to our good friend @jcarter, the Trojans successfully recovered the opening onside kick of the game! But it was all South from there. For the Spartans, it was business as usual, as they rolled up 239 yards offense vs -4 for Barren in the first half and a 43-0 score. That’s about it really. But that is also the last of the gimme District Games, so back to more challenging games for South. It should also be pointed out that out of South’s first 7 regular season games, 6 have been at home (includes Warren Central at WKU). So the schedule has been kind in that regard. Week 6: District Game vs. 5A Greenwood (2-4). I look for South to watch a lot of Greenwood film and be very prepared to shadow ultra-talented Gator QB Jackson Adams wherever he goes on Friday night. Adams will break a few runs, but I think very few as the Spartan defense has always been built on stopping the run and since that’s basically all Greenwood does, you have to like South Warren in this matchup. But I do think the Gators will come in and play hard for 4 quarter and make South earn it. 2) Mayfield (2A) – LW: 1 - Preseason Rank: 3 - 2017 Record 5-1; District Record 0-0] Week 5 Results: Loss: 20-17 vs 3A Corbin (4-1). Thanks to our good friend @Mayfieldsportsfan who reported Mayfield gained 315 yards on offense and Corbin gained 310, so pretty darn even. As our good friend @Snakesnot 2000 said, Mayfield was in the red zone 3 times in the first half and came away with 3 points! WOW, that’s the game right there offensively; put it in the end zone and Mayfield very likely wins this game. That and the cheap Corbin deception TD. But it is what it is; I won’t pity party on it but it was cheap. Make no mistake Cardinal fans, this is a tough loss, but I honestly think you will learn from it and be a MUCH tougher out come November/December now. An old coach told me once, that “you don’t know where your holes are until you lose”. I think there’s a lot of truth in that. Chin up Cardinal fans as I don’t expect you to be tested again until the last game of the regular season when you travel to Princeton to face a fine Caldwell County squad. This will give you an opportunity to rest/heal up until then!!! Week 6: vs Old Rival 2A Murray (2-4) Our good friend @Paradise City reported that the last time Murray defeated Mayfield was back in 1997 on a classic game where the only points scored in the game, Murray scored on the opening kickoff. Not this year Tiger fans, as I look for this one to be done quickly. But should be an excellent opportunity to get some young Cardinals on the big field. I’ve always thought that the better teams do this and that’s why their younger players integrate into their respective systems some much better and quicker. I think it is part of the overall Mayfield equation that has worked so well for so many years. 1) Bowling Green (5A) – LW: 2 - Preseason Rank: 1 - 2017 Record 4-2; District Record 1-0] Week 5 Results: Win: 49-19 at 5A Greenwood (2-4). In the 26th meeting between Bowling Green and Greenwood, the game was tight throughout a physical 7-7 first quarter, BG then scored twice. Greenwood then marched down the field and faced a 4th and inches on the goal line. BG held. On BGs first play from scrimmage on the ensuing drive, Beau Buchanan found TE Tre Jones open and the SR took it 99 yards to the House and the game was basically over at that point. BG had over 400 yards offense compared to about 350 for the Gators. The BG DLine did not play great in this game, but couple things at play: - Greenwood has a good rushing offense; - injuries; and – inconsistencies. BG must continue to get healthy and continue to improve on the DLine to get to where they want to be. The BG offense made big strides this game. Beau Buchanan in games past seemed to focus on Ziyon Kenner (rightfully so, as the young man is a Big Time Player IMO), but this game 3 WRs had at least 3 catches and SR Austin Brown makes his first catch count with an impressive 40 yard TD reception! That progression for the first year varsity QB is Vital for BG long term! Week 6: District Game THURSDAY NIGHT at 5A Grayson County (1-5). This one should be over quick and let the Purples begin Fall Break early! Would think the plan is to get a running clock as soon as possible and then get the starter out of there. I don’t look for the injured Purples to return until the next home game vs Barren County, so they can get their feet wet prior to the Big District Battle with the South Warren Spartans! That might be a big game…. Next Tier 11 Thru 15 – 11. Tier: Madisonville-North Hopkins 4A – LW: 13; Preseason: Top 15 – 2017 Record: (4-2) [District Record – 1-0] - Week 5 Results: Win 63-0 at 4A Calloway County (0-4). Whoa Nellie #2!!! The Maroons might consider sending Union County some funnel cake for re-focusing them! The Maroons have won the last 2 games by a combined score of 125 to 0. I’d say that is grabbing everyone’s attention in 4A District 1! For the Lakers, Never Fear, as a much more winnable game comes to Murray on Friday night via the Hopkins County Central Storm (1-5 and hope you break your maiden here!). Madisonville gained over 300 yards on the ground and never looked back in this game. But the Big One is here Maroon Fans! Week 6: District Buster at 4A Hopkinsville (1-4). This is a better game than the records might indicate, as both teams want a leg up in the District battle. I’d say both these teams don’t believe in the Logan County story and feel this game is for the District Title. We shall see, as a lot of football still to be played. Will Hoptown’s very tough schedule be the difference in getting them over the hump vs a very talented Maroon rushing attack? You tell me… Owensboro Catholic (2A) – LW: 9 - Preseason Rank: 5 - 2017 Record 2-3; District Record 1-0] Week 5 Results – Win: 59-6 vs 2A Butler County (0-6). Could have been 100 to 6, as our good friend @rosco couldn’t even make it to halftime – the Bears were just that Bad! I have no stats for this one, but don’t really think you need them as OCATH took care of business and hopefully rested/healed some of their injured players from their brutal pre-District slate. We all know their District isn’t good and that’s why they schedule so heavy outside of it and I applaud them for that as that’s what they have to do IMO to compete deep into the playoffs. Week 6: District Game at 2A McLean County (1-4). Aces make the 30 minute drive down Route 81 to Calhoun for a tussle with the Cougars, who haven’t beaten the Aces since at least 1998 (didn’t play between 1999 and 2008). Don’t look for that pattern to change this season… 12. Tier: Hopkinsville 4A (1-4) LW: 13 – District Record 0-0 - Week 5 Results: BYE Week!!! I’d say the Tiger surely earned a week off with the tough pre-District Schedule! But it is now District Time and you face your toughest District Rival right out of the gate! Week 6: vs 4A Madisonville NH (4-2). Is Madisonville the best rushing team Hopkinsville has faced? I’m not sure, but think the Maroons will certainly test the Tiger defensive front 7. Is Hopkinsville the best team Madisonville has faced this year? I wouldn’t go that far, as I think Owensboro is likely better and exactly how good is this Hopkinsville team? Not sure we know, but another chapter of that question will be in the books come Friday night and it should be a very entertaining one. Get out to the Stadium of Champions Tiger Fans and support your team!!! Apollo 5A (5-1) – LW: 15 – Preseason: Not Ranked (NR) – District Record – (1-0) - Week 5 Results: Win: 38-35 vs 5A Graves County (3-3). Well, Well, Well – Logan County had nowhere to go but up (and they are a Great Story), but Apollo is a different kind of story in that they have just been hangin around the 4 Seed Doormat in 5A District 1 for Many years and here they come STORMIMG on the scene!!! Very impressive win against a team I still think has a chance to upset some folks in this fascinating district! I do not have any stats for this game and am sad for it. But through 5 games, WR/RB Peyton Peters has been Outstanding with 28 catches for 453 yards and 3 TDs and 8 carries for 90 yards and 4 TDs on the ground! Keep an eye on Mr. Peters as I think he’s a special player!!! Week 6: BYE Week!!! Good time to rest and heal up and go over to Rash Stadium with me this Friday night to watch the Red Devils and Christian County (who are both still on your district schedule Eagle Fans!). I’m guessing I will see several Eagles letter jackets in the stands at Rash on Friday night!!! 13. Tier: Graves County 5A (3-3) – Last Week (LW): 11 – District Record 0-1 - Week 5 Results: Loss 38-35 at (5-1) 5A Apollo. That’s the way these District Buster games go! One teams gets shot out of a cannon upwards and the loser takes the “kickback”. Hey it was a close game Eagle Fans! Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Again, I have no stats, but expect those stats to be very close. Where now Eagles? Week 6: District Game at 5A Marshall County (3-3). Expect the Eagles will UNLOAD on poor ole’ Marshall County. But it’s a District game and am sure Marshall will be as ready as they can be. Just don’t think it will be enough for them to stay in the ballgame. This one may be ugly… Union County 3A (5-0) – LW: 15 – Preseason - NR - Week 5 Results: Win 33-6 vs 1A Crittenden County (2-3). The Braves racked up over 500 yards of total offense with almost 400 yards in the air! WOW! But tea and crumpets time are over Braves Fans! It’s time to play your District games and you’ve drawn the toughest team right out of the gate! Week 6: District Buster vs. 3A Caldwell County (5-1) Fascinating game really, as Union passed for almost 400 yards last week and they looked really good this summer in the 7on7 completion I saw. But Caldwell County has one of the best secondary’s in the State IMO, so it will be steel on steel come Friday night up in Morganfield! Should be a Great Atmosphere! Get out and support your team Braves Fans as you have a Puncher’s Chance in this game!!! 14. Tier: Warren East (4A) – LW: 12 - Preseason Rank: Outside Top 20 - 2017 Record 3-3; District Record 0-0] Week 5 Results: Loss: 15-14 vs 2A Monroe County (5-1). Two TOUGH weeks back to back for the Raiders (lost last 2 games by 3 points)! With starting SR QB Dewayne Cook out with a broken jaw, Frosh QB Nolan Ford stepped up in a tough spot playing a tough competitor on the road. And although he did make some Freshman mistakes, he played very well for East and had them in position late with a 14-9 lead. But the Raiders couldn’t hold it. As gritty Monroe County drove the field and completed a 16 yard TD pass very late in the game for the win. Now comes District play Raiders Fans! Week 6: District Game: at 4A Warren Central (0-6) The Dragons RB/DB DJ Tyner is an outstanding football player and is the primary option for Central. I’m sure the Raider will want to focus their efforts on stopping Tyner to put themselves in a position to take this first District matchup! Greenwood (5A) – LW: 14 - Preseason Rank: 7 - 2017 Record 2-4; District Record 1-1] Week 5 Results: Loss: 49-19 vs. 5A Bowling Green (4-2). Just a bad spot Gator Fans. You played really well in the first quarter! And were at the goal line threatening to score again to return it to a 1 score game. Just couldn’t get the yard when you needed it. It happens. Didn’t see the need to drop you this week as I thought you played BG well enough to stay here (only do that outside the top 10 on occasion). Week 6 at 5A South Warren (6-0). The Spartans come in sky high in this one and the Gator do not. Unfortunately for Greenwood, I think the Spartan run defense is likely better than the BG run defense. Not good! Plus, I know the Spartans want to get back at Greenwood for their big OT win last season! Chin up Gators!!! 15. Tier: McCracken County (6A) – LW: NR - Preseason Rank: 9 - 2017 Record 2-4; [District Record 1-0] Week 5 Results: Win: 56-40 vs 6A Daviess County (2-4). Welcome Back Mustangs! Big Win as any District win is, but the First one sets the stage! This must have been a heck of a game! The total offensive production for both offenses totaled just over 1,000 yard! Wow! Defense anyone!!! But the big key to the game was Daviess County had -26 yards rushing on the game! That really hurt the Panthers! TaeShawn Allen had a huge game for McCracken (you’ll see him later)! Week 6: District Game vs 6A Ohio County (5-1). For Ohio County, I’m not looking for a silk purse out of this sow’s ear anytime soon. McCracken by as many as they want in this one… Henderson County (6A) – LW: NR - Preseason Rank: NR - 2017 Record 2-4; [District Record 1-0] Week 5 Results: Win: 48-7 vs 6A Ohio County (5-1). 35-0 Henderson with 8:00 to go in the 2nd Quarter is about all you need to know in this one as it was a complete mis-match! I know several Colonel Fans told me about Team Big Hat No Cattle for some time and you were right! Although I did come to the light in the prediction thread for this one, as you’ll see by my vote! Now the sky is really the limit in District play. I feel momentum building in Henderson!!! Week 6: District Game at 6A Muhlenberg County (2-3). Muhlenberg has lost to 5A Apollo, 4A Logan County and 2A McLean County, so stepping up to an ascending Henderson County team seems a tall task for the Mustangs. But seems like a Great time for a 1 hour Road Trip down the Ole’ Pennyrile Parkway Colonel Fans! And plan to take in a great pre-game meal at the Catfish Dock! Don’t forget the hush puppies!!! Others Receiving Votes: Monroe County, Russellville, Daviess County, Paducah Tilghman, Metcalfe County, Ohio County, Edmonson County Week 5 Players of the Week: (I am trying to pick different guys for this list to try and provide more hardworking young men a chance to get highlighted than to keep going to the same ones over and over. Also, I do not get all the stats by the time this edition goes out, so please add to the list and thank you for it!) 1) Tre Bass – RB – Franklin Simpson – 7 carries for 240 yards and 3 TDs (Career High in Yards!) vs Glasgow! 2) Beau Buchanan – QB – Bowling Green – 12-14 for 320 yards – 4 TDs – Career High in yards vs Greenwood! 3) Diion Leavell – RB – Christian County – 3 TDs vs Marshall County! 4) TaeShawn Allen – RB – McCracken County – 28 carries for 226 yards and 3 TDs vs Daviess County! Week 5 Teams Moving Down Ohio County (6A) – Down – You can’t play 2A teams forever!!! A shot of District reality was received last Friday night in Henderson! Graves County (5A) – Down – I didn’t see this loss coming, even though I knew the bus ride over would be a factor. I guess that’s why the Eagles are here. Can still have a very good season, but now the margin for error is razor thin in an ever-increasingly competitive District! Week 5 Teams Moving Up Apollo (5A) – Up – I don’t remember hearing any “you better watch out for Apollo” references this season – Do you? I mean the phrase “coming out of nowhere” seems appropriate to me! So I am just going to praise Coach Dan Crume, staff, players and fans for the amazing run you are on! You know I added a “why can’t this team compete in the district” moniker to Graves County recently. I need to copy and paste it and bold it for Apollo too! Way to go Eagles!!! Madisonville-North Hopkins (4A) – Up – The Maroons have been like General William Tecumseh Sherman marching to the Sea these last 2 weeks leaving scorched earth behind them! Now they march to Hopkinsville looking to take the lead in the District! Will be a great game!!! “Broke Their Maiden” – In horse racing, when you break your maiden, you win your first race. Well this category is for teams that don’t get as much love, but did get their first victory of the season here and I think that’s significant: NO team did this week! Maybe next week! THE FINAL 4! Inspiring Group right here! Good luck to them as they move forward, as an undefeated season is special – no matter how you spin it!!! Team (% likely to remain undefeated all season) (biggest challenger(s) remaining) (In alphabetical order): Christian County (40%) (At Owensboro and At Graves County - might need to add Apollo now?) Logan County (35%) (Hopkinsville and At Madisonville-North Hopkins) South Warren (40%) (Bowling Green) Union County (30%) (Caldwell County and At Paducah Tilghman) Eight Is Still Enough: These 8 teams remain winless on the season! Team (% likely to get a win this season) (best chance at a win remaining) (In alphabetical order): Ballard Memorial (60%) (Webster County & At Fulton County) Barren County (25%) (At Grayson County, Edmonson County) Breckinridge County (5%) (? Maybe at Hancock County) Butler County (10%) (Hancock County, At McLean County) Calloway County (35%) (Pikeville) Caverna (15%) (Fort Knox) Fulton City (5%) (? Fulton County) Warren Central (15%) (Warren East)

BluegrassPreps 2015 Western Kentucky Power Rankings – Week 8 Edition Concerning the top story line for this week: Say goodbye to the Elizabethtown Panthers. Bert (provides the Louisville Area Power Rankings) and I noticed that we both had Etown on our power rankings. Since North Hardin, Central Hardin and John Hardin are all in the Louisville Area power rankings, we agreed that it made most sense to move Etown to the Louisville power rankings with their nearby Hardin County neighbors even though they would probably rather stay west to avoid the beasts of Jefferson County. But before we send them off, I wanted to keep them around this week to salute them. Etown is the team I likely overlooked the most from the pre-season to now. Coach Brown is an excellent coach – No Doubt - and he is bringing the Panther Program along at a pace as he sees fit. I’ve got no problem with that. Good luck in the playoffs Panthers! Popcorn N Coke Top 10 Version – Week 8*: All teams 1 through 15 (except #12 Adair County who suffered their first lost 43-15 to Elizabethtown and #15 Daviess County who lost at home to district foe Henderson County 28-14) won or were OPEN last week and the rankings have not changed considerably with the exception of those two teams and Elizabethtown. 1. Bowling Green 5A (7-1): Win 48-7 vs 5A Barren County 2. South Warren 4A (8-0): Win 40-7 vs 4A Allen County-Scottsville 3. McCracken County 6A (7-1): OPEN 4. Owensboro 5A (7-1): Win 41-7 vs 5A Owensboro Apollo 5. Mayfield 2A (7-1): Win 49-12 vs 2A Ballard Memorial 6. Caldwell County 3A (8-1): Win 50-6 vs 3A Fort Campbell 7. Hopkinsville 4A (7-1): Win 37-0 vs 4A Calloway County 8. Owensboro Catholic 2A (7-2): Win 57-0 at 2A Todd County Central 9. Christian County 5A (7-2): Win 41-34 at 5A Graves County 10. Russellville 1A (7-1): Win 70-24 at 1A Fulton City *Elizabethtown has moved to the Louisville Area Power Rankings as of the Week 8 Edition! PurpleHaze Game of the Week (Week 7): DISTRICT BUSTER: Elizabethtown 3A (8-0) 43 at Adair County 3A (7-1). It seemed Etown jumped on the Indians and just never let up. That’s what good teams do. But even after this game, it would seem to spotlight Adair County’s less than stout schedule more than “How good Etown” is. That is not to say Adair should have scheduled T, X and H. I’m just saying that at some point in a team’s season you’ll be tested to see if you can hang and maybe take a step or two deeper into the playoffs. This season is historic for Adair County and I’m a fan, but it would seem challenging a tough Union County team in Columbia in Week 1 of the playoffs would be the Indians ceiling this year. Etown, the ceiling is higher, but how much higher? Best of luck moving on! PurpleHaze Game of the Week (Week 8): DISTRICT BUSTER: Russellville 1A (7-1) at Crittenden County 1A (6-2). Well this is the game everyone from Crittenden County has had circled on their calendar since they got the nod to move to 1A. Russellville appears to be the superior team on paper. But this will be Senior Night in Marion. I have seen many upsets by emotion alone. Will this be one? Honorable Mention: Warren Central at South Warren; Bowling Green at Greenwood; and Owensboro at Graves County. Meat N Potatoes Top 10 Version – Week 8: 10) Russellville (1A) – Preseason Rank (PR): Next 10 – Last Week (LW): 11 - 2015 Record 7-1; District Record 2-0] Week 8 Results: Win: 70-24 vs Fulton City 1A (1-8). Welcome Back Panthers! You have a weak district, but that is what it is. You now travel to the best team in your district that isn’t getting much respect. Crittenden has what I’m told is a “good” senior class. It’s “Senior” Night in Marion. Can emotion rule the day or will the Russellville Train roll on? We shall see! PurpleHaze Western Kentucky Game of the Week – DISTRICT BUSTER - Week 9: at 1A Crittenden County (6-2)! 9) Christian County (5A) – PR: 6 – Last Week LW: 10 - 2015 Record 7-2; District Record 3-1] Week 8 Results: Win: 43-22 vs Graves County 5A (4-4). Best game in the Top 10 last week. A back and forth affair for sure, but with Christian dictating the whole way. Admirable for Graves to be competing this well after a historic year last year, but Christian did what they had to do to take command of the #2 district spot. Week 9: OPEN. Colonels get the OPEN week to prepare for their trip up the Old Western Kentucky Parkway to visit the John Hardin Bulldogs to close out the season in a very good matchup for both teams! 8) Owensboro Catholic (2A) – PR: 10 – LW: 8 - 2015 Record 7-2; District Record 4-0] Week 8 Results: Win: 57-0 at 2A Todd County Central (2-6) Can you say Mis-match boys and girls! The Aces certainly took care of business in their final District game. Team Nintendo keeps on keeping on beating the entire Class 2 District 2 opponents 199-21! Week 9: OPEN. Maybe OCATH could trade Christian County some Old Hickory Barbeque for a bus ride to Hardin County on the 30th for their interesting meeting with the 6A North Hardin Trojans! 7) Hopkinsville (4A) – PR: 8 – LW: 7 - 2015 Record 7-1; District Record 3-0] Week 8 Results: Win 37-0 vs 4A Calloway County (4-4). Welcome back to reality Lakers! Hopkinsville simply keeps getting it done. Whether you think they aren’t that good due to a less than stout schedule or admire them for all the adversity they have been through this year, you will find they will be a very tough out in the playoffs. Week 9: at (4A) Hopkins County Central (4-3). Hopkins County Central is a district opponent, understand that, but the Tigers follow that up with their final regular season game vs a struggling Marshall County 5A squad. Other teams are testing themselves here. Will a weaker pre-playoff game backfire on Hopkinsville when tough playoff games arise? 6) Caldwell County (3A) – PR: 9: LW: 6 - 2015 Record 8-1; District Record 4-0] Week 8 Results: Win: 50-6 vs 3A Ft Campbell (2-6). The Tiger offense was very efficient. Dee Cain only had 4 carries, but he picked up 3 TDs in those limited carries. QB Shane Burns was 8 for 9 for 150 yards and 1 TD. The Tiger D was equally efficient giving up 6 measly points. Caldwell defeated the Class 3 District 1 teams by a combined 179 to 54! Week 9: OPEN. Tigers get to let Dee Cain and other injured players have a well-deserved rest. Then comes a Fantastic game to close out the regular season as the always tough Mayfield Cardinals come to Princeton! Go ahead and get all your honey-dos out of the way this week guys because you don’t want to miss this one! 5) Mayfield (2A) – PR: 2 – LW - 5 - 2015 Record 7-1; District Record 2-0] Week 8 Results: Win: 49-12 vs Ballard Memorial 2A (4-3). I’m thinking after this one that the Cardinal Fans will insist seeing JCarter in a Bomber Halloween suit based on this outcome! Thanks to Cardinal89 for letting me know Star Trajon Bright did not play last week. What do you think Cardinal Fans; does Mr. Bright play this week or just wait until the Caldwell game? I know Coach Morris knows what he’s doing; I’m just curious as to your thoughts here! Week 9: at 2A District Foe Webster County (1-7). I would think the playbook would be pretty bland this week with several Caldwell County reps in the stands. No need to open it up. Just run your main stuff and then get some youngsters in would seem to be in order for this mismatch! There is a little game on October 30 at Caldwell County that I’ve had circled from the start of the year. I’d bet Mr. Bright and former injured mates start in this game to get them set for the playoffs! 4) Owensboro (5A) – PR: 4 – LW: 4 - 2015 Record 7-1; District Record 3-0] Week 8 Results: Win: 41-7 vs Owensboro Apollo 5A (2-6). Red Devils just continue to play their game. RBs James and Boards total 221 yards and 4 TDs; QB Gross is efficient when team sell out to stop the run with 2 TD passes. O D comes up with 3 INTs on the night against an overmatched Eagle team. Week 9: at 5A Graves County (2-5). The Red Devils go from driving 10 minutes across town to their Week 8 game to driving about 3 hours on a bus to Mayfield. The Graves County game should be slightly closer on the scoreboard but that’s about it. The Red Devils close out the year with a visit from the Henderson County Colonels in an Audubon Parkway grudge match! 3) McCracken County (6A) – PR: 5 - LW – 3; 2015 Record 7-1; District Record 3-0] Week 8 Results: OPEN. The Mustangs can use this week to heal some wounds for sure! Cash Jones and Zaire Hughes have both been banged up some on the year. The Mustangs fine QB and D1 star won’t likely be needed for the battle next week, but the regular season close-out game with the Bowling Green Purples will require Mr. Jones and Mr. Hughes being at their best! Going to be a good one! But first things first: Battle of the Mustangs: Week 9: at Muhlenberg County 6A (4-4). 2) South Warren (4A) – PR: 3 – LW: 2 - 2015 Record 8-0; District Record 3-0] Week 8 Results: Win: 40-7 at 4A District Foe Allen County-Scottsville. I’m impressed with AC-Scottsville this season, but the score was 27-0 at the half with South having about 300 total yards to ACS’s 26. That’s about all you need to know. The South Warren defense had a pick 6 and did everything but park cars and sell popcorn. If you can’t score you can’t win and to beat South Warren this year that will be tough! I am curious of Andrew Houchens, who JCarter mentioned on the Update Thread this week. Just haven’t heard his name much, but saw he played a pretty solid game. Week 9: vs 4A District Foe Warren Central (4-4). The Dragons would love to pull the upset here and for a half anything can happen, but the Spartans are just too tough and at home in this one. This game will set the stage for the most unknown game of the season for South Warren as they will close out the regular season with a visit from the Pontiffs of Pope John Paul II of Hendersonville, TN! 1) Bowling Green (5A) – PR: 1 – LW: 1 - 2015 Record 7-1; District Record 2-0] Week 8 Results: Win: 48-7 vs 5A District Foe Barren County (2-6). Couple things: 1. Coach Wallace and Coach Griffith are friends and felt the play calling was pretty run heavy (24 rush attempts) compared to other recent games against similar type opponent (for example Grayson County – 11 rush attempts). 2. First game without SR OLine leader Jordan Meredith, which will take some time getting used to until he can return hopefully in 2 weeks. 3. First game in 15 days; takes a series or 2 to get the rust off. All that being said; you’re playing a team that hasn’t beaten you since the Reagan Administration and you put 48 points on the board vs only 7 for the hapless Trojans. Seems ok to me! Week 9: at 5A Greenwood (7-1). The Gators would cut off their right arm to beat the Purples. Don’t look for the guillotine to come out anytime soon, but I do look for a competitive game early, but just feel the BG D will be ready for this one. But let’s not short the Greenwood Gators. This is a team whose only loss on the season was at South Warren over a month ago. They are 2 and 0 in the district and have arguably their best team since the 2009 6A squad that lost a closer than the score indicated game to St. Xavier in the 4th round of the playoffs. Coach Seabolt is an excellent coach and know they will be ready. Bring It! Jayvon Quarles Week 8 Players of the Week: MANY did not post stats prior to post this week, but what I have is as follows: 1) Greenwood Defense – 3 Tacklers with 10 or more tackles on the night – Malcolm Johnson – 14; Stone Bettersworth (Name of the Week!) 12; and Preston Fletcher 10 vs Grayson County! 2) Owensboro RBs – Anthony James and Landon Boards – 221 yards and 4 TDs vs Owensboro Apollo! 3) Joshua Bigbee – Russellville RB – 8 carries for 215 yards and 2 TDs vs Fulton City! 4) Jamale Carothers – Bowling Green RB – 13 carries for 105 yards and 4 TDs! 5) Dakota Dixon – Multiple positions Graves County – 19 carries for 119 yards and 3 TDs; 3 catches for 54 yards and 1 INT vs Christian County! Week 8 “Trending Down” Daviess County (6A) – Down – Lost 28-14 at home to district rival Henderson County. More disappointed than down really because, as Cols51 and ApolloFan98 mentioned on the game thread, this was Daviess County’s year to make some noise with the personnel they have, especially on offense. Not really sure I expected them to win this game, but it was tied at 14 with 10:55 to go in the 3rd Quarter. Looks like Henderson was more prepared late and secured the #2 District seed and a playoff home game. Good for them! But where does this leave Daviess? You tell me! Adair County (3A) – Down – Am I being too harsh here Indian fans? I wanted you to pull it out, but it just wasn’t meant to be. A lot of the momentum in the Adair County balloon has now burst, but never fear Indians fans as few if any Adair County teams have ever been this good this late in the season with so much left to play for. Yes, I put your ceiling at the first round playoff game against a gritty Union County team. But so what, you will be playing at home and your fans will be there in spades. Pick yourself up and dust yourself off – plenty to play for! Week 8 “Trending Up” Christian County (5A) – Up – Earlier in the year, I think the Colonels might have lost a tough one like they won last Friday night after a long bus ride facing a formidable Graves County squad. Some of the best skill guys in the west play here! Just feels like they are continuing to gain confidence and inch forward. Think they are a solid #3 in West 5A! Paducah Tilghman (3A) – Up – With losses to 6A Central Hardin, 2A Power Mayfield and 3A Stout District Rival Caldwell County coupled with wins against 6A McCracken County, Gritty 5A Graves County and upset minded Union County, the Blue Tornados are trending up. A lock for the #2 District seed and a home playoff game. Probably the best skill guys you have never heard of. And they’ve been winning of late without their best player QB Jesse Dunigan, who I “think” is due back off the injured list soon. Never count out Paducah Tilghman! “Broke Their Maiden” – In horse racing, when you break your maiden, you win your first race. Well this category is for teams that don’t get as much love, but did get their first victory of the season here and I think that’s significant: (After this week, only 3 more teams in the West are winless! Let’s root for them to get a win! Well boys, I went to Woolworth and bought 3 cases of smelling salts to try and get these fighters up off the mat here late in the 8th Round! It’s getting do or die! Here’s the situation this week: 1. Logan County vs Calloway County – Chance to break maiden – 5% 2. Hancock County vs McLean Co (3-4) – This is IT! It’s Doable! Chance to break maiden – 45% 3. Fulton County vs Halls, TN – Mercy sakes it’s Senior Night! Let’s Go Pilots! Halls is 0 and 3 on the Road! Chance to break maiden – 25%. 11 Through 15 – Tougher call down here, but probably more fun to argue about as well: 11) Paducah Tilghman 3A (5-3) – At district foe Ft Campbell – No problem for the Blue Tornados! 12) Murray 2A (5-3) – At Ballard Memorial – No problem here! Ranked too low? Maybe…. 13) Greenwood 5A (7-1) – Next: vs Bowling Green. Gators look to take down BG for the first time ever. Is this the year they’ll remember in Gatorland for a LONG time? Or just another year? 14) Monroe County 2A (5-3) – Beat a pesky Glasgow squad in a slugfest! Next: vs struggling Green County. 15) Tie: Butler County 2A (6-2) – Left for dead after the loss to OCath! QB Rex Henderson is a hidden gem! Solid #2 behind OCath and could win a playoff game. Henderson County 6A (4-5) – No, the record isn’t pretty, but you’ve got to give it to the Colonels who play top competition North of the Ohio River and then go down the Audubon Parkway and get it done when they needed it last week! Damion Carter is a Player!

BluegrassPreps 2015 Western Kentucky Power Rankings – Week 6 Edition Concerning the top story line for this week: What is the meaning of District? D – District games matter most! I – Is October the Month that means the most in preparing for the playoffs? S – Schedules – does a tough early schedule prepare teams best for the playoffs or just yield a boat load of injuries that are a liability in District play and beyond? T – Try to gain better team chemistry and home field advantage for the playoffs! R – Refocus, as it’s a new season; the most important season so far! I – Ill Will! – District foe/rival games have bragging rights and major playoff implications on the line! C – Consistency – what all teams are striving for this time of year. T – Too Many Blowouts! How can teams so close in proximity be so far apart on the grid iron? Popcorn N Coke Top 10 Version – Week 6: 1. Bowling Green 5A (6-1): Win 56-13 vs 5A Grayson County 2. South Warren 4A (6-0): OPEN 3. McCracken County 6A (6-1): Win 63-14 vs 6A Ohio County 4. Owensboro 5A (5-1): Win 49-24 vs 5A Christian County 5. Mayfield 2A (6-1): Win 17-7 vs 2A Murray 6. Caldwell County 3A (6-1): Win 40-14 at 3A Union County 7. Hopkinsville 4A (5-1): Win 45-14 vs 4A Madisonville NH 8. Owensboro Catholic 2A (5-2): Win 41-0 at 2A McLean County 9. Elizabethtown (3A) (7-0): Win 49-7 vs 3A Hart County 10. Christian County 5A (5-2): Loss 49-24 at 5A Owensboro PurpleHaze Games of the Week (Week 5): Mayfield (2A) 17 vs Murray (2A) 7: On the stat sheet Murray beat Mayfield. Too bad the stat sheet includes fumbles and interceptions. Murray had 5 of them. Murray dominated the stat sheet on Mayfield in the first half, but a mistake leads to a short field very late in the 2nd Quarter, which Mayfield capitalized on and it was tied at 7 at half. That was HUGE for Mayfield. The Cardinals then changed RBs to Kevin Caldwell and the young man had a great half to help Mayfield get the critical district win! Christian County (5A) 24 at Owensboro (5A) 49: As TackleTrap said, the Colonels had opportunities to gain momentum in this one, but just couldn’t get it done. Owensboro has many weapons who can capitalize in a flash. Give the Colonels credit as they never gave up. But when you give up 363 yards on the ground, it is going to be hard to beat Owensboro, especially at home. If Owensboro can clean up a few penalties and concentration turnovers their ceiling is really high! PurpleHaze Game of the Week (Week 6): Well gentlemen after a banner crop of Games of the Week in 2015 including 2 last week, our well has run dry. Due to MANY OPEN weeks this week, watered down district blood-baths, and just overly inconsequential games, I have decided to focus on making lemonade out of Week 6 lemons. My focus turned to what should be the closest matchup I could find in terms of producing a good game. Plus this is a great opportunity to highlight a couple teams that most don’t know anything about. Therefore Hart County 3A (5-2) vs Edmonson County 3A (4-3) it is. District foes in the hart of the I-65 Corridor (see what I did there :clap:). Both coming off tough district losses to teams they really aren’t supposed to beat. But against each other it appears to be a pretty even contest with the winner likely getting the #3 spot in the district. They are both in the Etown & Adair County District. Meat N Potatoes Top 10 Version – Week 6: 10) Christian County (5A) – PR: 6 – LW: 6 - 2015 Record 5-2; District Record 1-1] Purplehaze Western Kentucky Co-Game of the Week 6 Results: Loss: 49-24 at Owensboro 5A (5-1). See above. When you visit Rash Stadium in October on a cold rainy Friday and you rush for 52 yards for the game, it’s going to be tough to win. But your remaining district games are very winnable and I expect Christian to win both of them. So the #2 spot in the District is looking good for the Colonels. Week 7: vs Owensboro Apollo 5A (2-4). 9) Elizabethtown (3A) – Preseason Rank (PR): Not Ranked – Last Week (LW): 10 - 2015 Record 7-0; District Record 2-0] Week 6 Results: Win: 49-7 vs 3A District Foe Hart County (5-2). Unfortunately for Hart County one of their key senior leaders went down with a season ending injury last week. I’m not saying he allows Hart to win this game, but it didn’t help. 4 turnovers didn’t help Hart either. For Etown, they rushed for almost 400 yards on the night and look to be in Great shape going into their OPEN week. Week 7: OPEN. But the most anticipated game of the regular season is on deck as the Panthers gear up to go to Columbia lookin to scalp the Indians of Adair County. Big District Matchup in 2 weeks! 8) Owensboro Catholic (2A) – PR: 10 – LW: 9 - 2015 Record 5-2; District Record 2-0] Week 6 Results: Win: 41-0 at 2A McLean County (4-2) Ray Zuberer has a pedestrian 19 for 29 for 335 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT. Biggest problem for OCath going forward will be playing lackluster teams knowing the Murray’s and Mayfields are lurking out there in the playoffs. Can OCath stay mentally tough and disciplined on the practice field to prepare them for November? This will test the coaching staff for sure. Week 7: vs (2A) Hancock County (0-7). Take it easy on ‘em Aces! 7) Hopkinsville (4A) – PR: 8 – LW: 8 - 2015 Record 5-1; District Record 1-0] Week 6 Results: Win 45-14 vs 4A Madisonville NH (1-6). Some Tiger fans reported that Madisonville Coach Burgett stated some less flattering things about Hopkinsville QB Jalen Johnson on his recent radio show. I can’t say if he did or didn’t, but I’m hoping this sparks the fire for a new rivalry for Class 4 District 1, as it needs it badly. Stats for this one were not available at the time of this posting. But Jalen Johnson had a great game and pretty much took over late to shut the door on the Maroons. No other district hurdles for the Tigers. Same dilemma as OCath above going forward. Week 7: At (4A) Logan County (0-6). How many point you want Tigers? Doesn’t make me happy to say that as I’d like the Cougars to pick up a win before the end of the season, but not this week! 6) Caldwell County (3A) – PR: 9: LW: 7 - 2015 Record 6-1; District Record 2-0] Week 6 Results: Win: 40-14 at 3A Union County (4-2) No Dee Cain; No problem for the Tigers! QB Shane Burns and RB Javonte Riley both had big games with the Tigers D showing up big in this one. This score is a little deceiving as it wasn’t a blowout the whole game, but really wasn’t in question either. Union County is a good team; not great team. One to keep your eye on next year for sure. As Emmett said, the team that draws Union County in the first round better be ready to play. Week 7: At reeling 3A District foe Trigg County (2-5). I like Caldwell big in this one! 5) Mayfield (2A) – PR: 2 – LW -4 - 2015 Record 6-1; District Record 1-0] Purplehaze Western Kentucky Co-Game of the Week: Week 6 Results: Win 17-7 vs 2A Murray (4-3). See Above. Look, Murray is a good team. They’d cut off their right arm to beat Mayfield. They played arguably their best half of football of the season and still can’t beat Mayfield. Focused Cardinal fans may bristle at this, but all this happened, you didn’t have your best player and maybe a couple others; you made great second half adjustments and got the job done. You can’t play your A game every week. Murray will beat A LOT of 2A teams; maybe all but 2. Week 7: OPEN. Much welcomed open week to get the wounded healed up! Then 2 cupcakes before a WHOA NELLY (as Keith Jackson would say) DANDY with Caldwell County! 4) Owensboro (5A) – PR: 4 – LW: 5 - 2015 Record 5-1; District Record 1-0] Purplehaze Western Kentucky Co-Game of the Week: Week 6 Results: Win: 49-24 vs Christian County 5A (5-2). See above. The biggest outcome of this one for Owensboro going forward is the terrible news that potential All-State LB Gekove Gardner sustained a significant knee injury; maybe season ending. This young man has been outstanding this season, and had 8 tackles before he was injured this Friday. I hate this for Red Devil fans as this is the worst part of High School sports. The season is not lost obviously as very talented players remain. And with Owensboro’s upcoming schedule, I don’t see them missing Mr. Gardner until late into the playoffs. Best of luck Mr. Gardner on a speedy recovery. Week 7: vs. 5A Marshall County (1-5). How many points you want Red Devils? No problem in this one! 3) McCracken County (6A) – PR: 5 - LW – 3; 2015 Record 6-1; District Record 2-0] Week 6 Results: Win: 63-14 vs District Foe 6A Ohio County (4-3). McCracken is playing well, as I don’t even think QB Cash Jones played in this game. Zyaire Hughes was very good; as was the Mustangs D. But calling a spade a spade; District competition is unchallenging. And I was pretty close to this score saying “Look for scores in the 65 to 14 range”. Can Henderson County spoil this score prediction this week? We shall see! Week 7: vs. District foe 6A Henderson County (3-4). 2) South Warren (4A) – PR: 3 – LW: 2 - 2015 Record 6-0; District Record 1-0] Week 6 Results: OPEN. If I’m playing armchair Spartan Football, my primary goal is to work QB Ryder Litten back into the offense slowly, as no remaining district opponent (save Warren Central for a half) will put up much of a challenge. Then wildcard Pope John Paul II, TN comes to Warren County. The Pontiff is 2-5 on the season, but plays a murder’s row schedule, so it’s hard to get a read on His Holiness. Regardless, things look bright for an undefeated regular season in Spartan-land. Week 7: at 4A District Foe Warren East (1-6). 1) Bowling Green (5A) – PR: 1 – LW: 1 - 2015 Record 6-1; District Record 1-0] Week 6 Results: Win: 56-13 vs 5A District Foe Grayson County (2-5). I think BG had Fall Break on their mind in the 1st Quarter as stupid penalties were common and BG only scored 14 points. Tre Fant and Deangelo Wilson changed that in a big way; each contributing 3 TDs. Both BG QBs had success throwing the ball. Only the JV and Freshman team D got scored on. So it looks like BG goes to Fall Break pretty happy. Week 7: OPEN Jayvon Quarles Week 6 Players of the Week: 1) Elizabethtown – Dual backs – Dalonza Cates 147 yards and 2 TDs and Bernil Cecil 119 yards and 1 TD vs Hart County! 2) Tre Fant – Bowling Green – in the second quarter alone ran a punt back for a TD (35 yards); Pick 6 for about 40 yards; and caught a 24 yard TD pass – Nice Quarter! 3) Owensboro – Dual backs – Landon Boards 150 yards and 3TDs and TJ James with 206 yards and 1 TD vs Christian County! 4) John Mark Boarman – Owensboro Catholic – MLB – with 23 tackles vs McLean County! Get that man a scholarship! Week 6 “Trending Down” Marshall County (5A) – Down – In one of the more football fertile belts in the entire State of Kentucky, poor Marshall County is on a downward trend. 1 and 5 on the year. I looked back at their past records and teams and they seem to have had decent teams in 2010 to 2012, but not recently. How come? Lot of kids (5A). Not as many coming out or what? Shouldn’t be THIS bad. Barren County (5A) – Down – Coach Griffith’s Trojans won their first 2 games of the season. Bad thing is that’s the only wins they have. They are on a 5 game losing streak heading to 6 after their next game at BG. I would call the Grayson County game a toss-up and they should be able to squeak past Edmonson County to finish it out, but that would be a record of 3 and 6 (not including the Grayson Co game). Tough times on the Cumberland Parkway! Week 6 “Trending Up” Adair County (3A) – Up – Since at least 1998, if ever, the Indians have never been 7-0. They have a HUGE district game coming up in 2 weeks. But win or lose against Etown, the whole Adair County community has to be excited for and proud of this Indians team! Greenwood (5A) – Up – It’s been since 2012 since the Gators have been 6 and 1. They will be 7 and 1 when they host Bowling Green on October 23rd. They haven’t beaten the Purples, so I’d assume second in the district for them. But that’s a fine accomplishment! And don’t count them out in the first round of the playoffs either! “Broke Their Maiden” – In horse racing, when you break your maiden, you win your first race. Well this category is for teams that don’t get as much love, but did get their first victory of the season here and I think that’s significant: (After this week, only 3 more teams in the West are winless! Let’s root for them to get a win! Well, we’ve killed the motor! After 3 strong weeks of at least 3 teams a week getting their first win, we’re finding it most difficult for our last 3 contestants to find that elusive win and it doesn’t look good this week either: 1. Logan County vs Hopkinsville – Chance to break maiden – 1% 2. Hancock County at OCath – Chance to break maiden – 1% 3. Fulton County vs OPEN – Chance Not to Lose – 50%. Joking 11 Through 15 – Thought we dabble a little down here this week: 11) Russellville 1A (6-1) – Simply the best 1A squad in the West – by a lot! 12) Adair County 3A (7-0) – Best Indians team ever? Why not! 13) Paducah Tilghman 3A (4-3) – Played a killer schedule; Always got a punchers chance! 14) Murray 2A (4-3) – Had it! Couldn’t close the deal! Maybe if you suck on some lemons like Stonewall Jackson did going into battle it’ll help in the playoffs. 15) Tie – Daviess County 6A (4-2) – Sure would have been nice to have beaten McCracken going into your bye week. Oh well, 2nd in district appears to be your ceiling. Franklin Simpson 4A (4-3) – HUGE comeback win in one of the best games this week against OLD district foe Warren Central. Means they don’t face South Warren until later in playoffs, so good for them.

BluegrassPreps 2015 Western Kentucky Power Rankings – Week 4 Edition Concerning the top story line for this week, we are at the point of the season where the grind of the season has set in on most teams (especially teams that have played a decent schedule). Injuries are a part of the game. The teams that deal with them or minimize them the best are clearly ahead of the competition. And we are either at District games or 1 Week from District games. So let’s get on it! Popcorn N Coke Top 10 Version – Week 4: 1. South Warren 4A (5-0): Win 21-0 vs 6A North Hardin 2. Bowling Green 5A (4-1): Win 32-7 vs 4A Warren Central 3. McCracken County 6A (4-1): Win 55-20 vs Lift For Life Academy, MO 4. Mayfield 2A (4-1): Win 46-14 vs 5A Graves County 5. Owensboro 5A (4-1): Win 49-21 vs 6A Daviess County 6. Christian County 5A (4-1): Win 42-28 vs 4A Hopkinsville 7. Caldwell County 3A (4-1): Win 51-21 vs 6A Henderson County 8. Russellville 1A (5-0): Win 64-28 vs 2A Todd County Central 9. Hopkinsville 4A (4-1): Loss 42-28 vs 5A Christian County 10. Paducah Tilghman 3A (3-2): Win 49-7 at 4A Madisonville North-Hopkins PurpleHaze Game of the Week (Week 3): Christian County 5A (4-1) 42 vs Hopkinsville 4A (4-1) 28. By all accounts, this game was pretty close until the second half. According to Silo11, Christian County made their long passing plays and Hopkinsville didn’t and that was the difference in the game. Both teams stopped the run game effectively. The Colonels gain the Christian County bragging rights this year! Honorable Mention: Franklin-Simpson (4A) 21 at Monroe County (2A) 14. Two good teams. FS rushed the ball effectively while Monroe turned it over 5 times. PurpleHaze Game of the Week (Week 4): DISTRICT BUSTER: Paducah Tilghman (3A) (3-2) travels to Princeton to take on District Rival Caldwell County (3A) (4-1). This will be a very HARD fought game with the likely District Crown on the line. Two of the best unheralded QBs in the west on display with Tilghman speedster Jesse Dunigan and Caldwell County’s Shane Burns lighting up the scoreboard! Honorable Mention: Murray (2A) at Russellville (1A) and Butler County (2A) at Owensboro Catholic (2A) – Rex Henderson vs Ray Zuberer III – A matchup made for a video game – Worth the price of admission! Meat N Potatoes Top 10 Version – Week 4: 10) Paducah Tilghman (3A) – Preseason Rank (PR): Next 10 – Last Week (LW): 10 - 2015 Record 3-2; District Record 0-0] Week 4 Results: Win: 49-7 at 4A Madisonville NH (1-4). SR Sayveon McEwen rushed for 138 yards and 3 TDs. QB Jesse Dunigan passed for 100 yards and 1 TD. Week 5: PurpleHaze Western Kentucky Game of the Week DISTRICT BUSTER At 3A District Rival Caldwell County (4-1). 9) Hopkinsville (4A) – PR: 8 – LW: 5 - 2015 Record 4-1; District Record 0-0] Week 4 Results: Loss: 42-28 vs 5A Christian County (4-1). See above. Hopkinsville just couldn’t capitalize on the big passing plays late in the game to hang with Christian County. This hurts most in the local super market as bragging rights were lost, but you honestly don’t lose a lot on the football field and if you can re-focus on your district games you will still be a tough out in the playoffs. Week 5: DISTRICT BUSTER vs (4A) Madisonville NH (1-4). These are the best 2 teams in this district, so you need to refocus fast Tigers! 8) Russellville (1A) – PR: Next 10 – LW: 7 - 2015 Record 5-0; District Record 0-0] Week 4 Results: Win: 64-28 over 2A Todd County Central (1-4). The Panthers pulled out a “Can of Techmo Bowl” on the Rebels with 560 yards rushing and 3 guys going over 100 yards. QB Jaylyn McMurray was 4 for 4 with 3 TDs. Now we begin to find out more about Russellville: Week 5: vs. 2A Murray (3-2). If you want to hang with Beechwood later in the year, you need to hang with Murray this week. 7) Caldwell County (3A) – PR: 9: LW: 9 - 2015 Record 4-1; District Record 0-0] Week 4 Results: Win: 51-20 vs 6A Henderson County (1-4) As Tiger fans said, it is significant for a 3A team to beat a 6A team, even if the 6A team is down. I dare say this is the team playing the BEST ball in WKY right NOW! QB Shane Burns has come on to be a star to those paying attention in Princeton. According to Dreamkiller, he was 33-41 with 397 yards. Not a bad day’s work. PurpleHaze Western Kentucky Game of the Week: DISTRICT BUSTER Week 5: vs 3A Paducah Tilghman (3-2). This one will be worth the price of admission, but you better get there early because I feel the Tiger faithful will be out in force for this one, as the game is in Princeton! 6) Christian County (5A) – PR: 6 – LW: 8 - 2015 Record 4-1; District Record 0-0] Week 4 Results: Win: 42-28 vs Hopkinsville 4A (4-1). See above. I have to admit, I have been underwhelmed by the Colonels this year. BUT for me, this is a turning point. The Colonels stayed tough and made the plays in the second half when they needed to. I think the early “uninspiring” play is likely directly due to their youth. There is no doubt they have talent. Now they get a quick district tune up before traveling up the Pennyrile and Audubon Parkways for some Old Hickory Barbeque and a District Buster meeting with the Red Devils! Week 5: vs. Marshall County 5A (1-3). 5) Owensboro (5A) – PR: 4 – LW: 5 - 2015 Record 4-1; District Record 0-0] Week 4 Results: Win: 49-21 at 6A Daviess County (4-1). The Red Devils probably would have been behind on the scoreboard if emotions were tallied at the beginning of the game as Daviess County and their fans always have this game circled. And they played very well. DC tied it up in the 3rd Quarter at 21; then the Red Devils just hit another gear for 4 TDs. But give DC credit for playing tough. Owensboro just too many weapons. Week 5: OPEN Most likely Coach Fallin and staff will be travelling to Christian County for some Woodshed Barbeque and to watch the Christian County Colonels, their district rival and next opponent. 4) Mayfield (2A) – PR: 2 – LW -4 - 2015 Record 4-1; District Record 0-0] Week 4 Results: Win 46-14 vs 5A Graves County 6A (2-3). Graves County got a glimpse of Angry Mayfield. Mayfield gains 164 on the ground and 315 in the air. Defense only gives up 100 on ground and 100 in the air and picks off 3 passes. With their star RB injured SO Shauntrez Tyler got the call and performed well with over 100 yards and a TD. This is big Mayfield fans because injuries are part of the game. Mr. Tyler looks ready to play! Week 5: vs 3A Corbin (3-2) at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Adair County, Kentucky. Get your car filled up with gas Cardinal fans and follow your team! Should be a good one! 3) McCracken County (6A) – PR: 5 - LW – 3; 2015 Record 4-1; District Record 0-0] Week 4 Results: Win: 55-20 vs Lift For Life Academy Charter, St Louis, MO (1-3). Hard to know what to make of this one! Lift dresses 21 kids and drives to McCracken for this game; is it me or does it just not seem to add up for a 1 and 3 team? Zyaire Hughes was seen on the sidelines in this game with arm in a sling. Hopefully he will be back soon. Corey Fike had a good game with more than 100 yards rushing and a couple TDs. Cash Jones was very good also. DISTRICT BUSTER: Week 5: vs. 6A Daviess County (4-1). This game will likely determine the district champion. Will DC stud receiver John Stratton be back (injured in last week’s Owensboro game)? Will MC stud Zyaire Hughes be back from injury? Tune in and find out sports fans As The Season Turns! 2) Bowling Green (5A) – PR: 1 – LW: 2 - 2015 Record 4-1; District Record 0-0] Week 4 Results: Win: 32-7 vs 4A Warren Central (1-4). The old cross-town rivalry game goes to the Purples. Jamale Carothers was terrific as usual for BG most notably with no turnovers. The defense was also very solid limiting the Dragons to 1 score. Some are concerned or rejuvenated, depending on your druthers, about the Purples second half scoring. The fact is they scored when they needed to and that’s all you need. I was told the total # of players on the Dragon sideline was way down from days gone by. I like to beat Warren Central every time, but to me BG is better when WC is better and for Dragonfire’s and Big Black Jack’s sake I hope WC continues to battle on and improve and admire them for not dodging the Purples. Makes the angst flow! Week 5: at 6A Central Hardin (3-2). 1) South Warren (4A) – PR: 3 – LW: 1 - 2015 Record 5-0; District Record 0-0] Week 4 Results: Win: 21-0 vs 6A North Hardin (1-4). South Warren buses will need to up the police escort anytime they travel through Hardin County these days as the Spartans completed the Hardin County Triple Crown by a score of 88 to 15. This is a better win than it looks on paper due to the injuries South is currently dealing with, most notably is QB Ryder Litton being out. The offense obviously wasn’t clicking well, but the defense surely was. It is a sign of a great team when you can still win when you don’t have your best stuff. Now is the time to prepare for when things like injuries don’t go your way for the playoffs. DISTRICT BUSTER Week 5: vs 4A Franklin-Simpson (3-2). Jayvon Quarles Week 4 Players of the Week: 1) Johnny Drumgole – RB and S – Russellville – 214 yards on 8 carries and 3 TDs! 2) Rex Henderson – QB – Butler County – 13 for 17 with 249 passing yards and 3 TDs! 3) Sayveon McEwen – Wingback – Paducah Tilghman – 138 yards and 3 TDs! 4) Tre Fant – DB/S – Bowling Green – 1 INT vs Warren Central but it’s his 6th on the season and continues his streak of at least 1 in 4 straight games! School Records: 1) Maddie Alexander – K – Franklin Simpson – After the first string kicker went down with injury; Maddie Alexander, a 5-sport athlete and academic scholar at FS, came on and calmly drilled 3 XPs in FS victory over Monroe County on Friday marking the first points by a female for FS varsity football ever! Congratulations Maddie! 2) Jacob Rickard – DE – McLean County – Recorded 5 sacks for a school record in McLean’s win vs Hopkins County Central! Week 4 “Trending Down” Hart County (3A) – Down – Tough game vs Union County last week. Missed opportunity to continue your upswing. District play starts in 2 weeks. Time to regain momentum this week vs Larue County. Madisonville NH (4A) – Down – Seems like a long way from last year, but a 1-4 start to this year is a tough way to start the rebuilding cycle. But there is still time Maroon fans. As I still see you getting second in your district. Time to start trending up! Week 4 “Trending Up” Owensboro Catholic (2A) – Up – After a disappointing showing vs Daviess County (who is a better team than most give credit to), then a nice bounce back showing vs the Red Devils (a moral victory if there is such a thing), two powerful victories lead us to a district buster showdown with primary district rival Butler County! Allen County Scottsville (4A) – Up – The Patriots couldn’t buy a break in the early season against 3 solid teams going 0 and 3. Since then, they have taken Barren County by storm beating both Glasgow and Barren County by a combined 7 points. District play starts this weeks as the Warren Central Dragons travel to Scottsville. Can the Patriots keep it going? Union County (3A) – Up – After getting your doors blown off at Madisonville 1 week ago, the Braves traveled to Hart County and came away with a hard fought win. Keep building momentum Braves as you have a tough district that begins in 2 weeks. “Broke Their Maiden” – In horse racing, when you break your maiden, you win your first race. Well this category is for teams that don’t get as much love, but did get their first victory of the season here and I think that’s significant: (After this week, only 6 more teams in the West are winless! Let’s root for them to get a win! MOST Critical this week is Logan County who visits Hopkins County Central. Go Cougars!) Calloway County 4A (1-3) – Won 33-27 in OT vs 3A Trigg County (3-2) – Don’t tell me these kids don’t want to win. The Lakers were paced by QB Cole Stenson with almost 200 yards passing and 3 TDs. Caverna 1A (1-4) – Won 40-26 vs 2A Clinton County (3-2) – You can’t stop them; you can only hope to contain them was what the Clinton County Bulldogs were saying after this one. Way to go Caverna! Fort Campbell 3A (1-4) – Won 43-8 vs 1A Fort Knox (1-3) – After playing 4 very good teams, the Falcons saw the light at the end of the tunnel and blasted through it. Congratulations!

BluegrassPreps 2015 Western Kentucky Power Rankings – Week 10 Playoff Prep Edition Concerning the top story line for this week: The third season has arrived: Playoff Time! The time most of us cherish most, as teams prepare for the win or go home drama ahead! Looking back, we have had some terrific football this season! These playoffs seem pretty open with many teams in the West capable of making deep playoff runs! Popcorn N Coke Top 10 Version – Week 10: Pretty big shake up this final week, as 3 big games within the top 12 meant we had to have 3 teams lose this week! That being said, McCracken County, Caldwell County, Christian County, Russellville, Murray, Henderson County and Monroe County all fall in the final rankings (Top 15) of the year. But this doesn’t mean they have failed, as I applaud their scheduling to get them prepared for the tough playoff road ahead! 1. Bowling Green 5A (9-1): Win 38-14 vs 6A McCracken County 2. South Warren 4A (10-0): Win 36-14 vs Pope John Paul II, Hendersonville, TN 3. Owensboro 5A (9-1): Win 37-7 vs 6A Henderson County 4. Mayfield 2A (9-1): Win 25-24 at 3A Caldwell County 5. McCracken County 6A (8-2): Loss 38-14 at 5A Bowling Green 6. Hopkinsville 4A (9-1): Win 62-17 vs 5A Marshall County 7. Caldwell County 3A (8-2): Loss 25-24 vs 2A Mayfield 8. Owensboro Catholic 2A (8-2): Win 47-27 vs 6A North Hardin 9. Paducah Tilghman 3A (7-3): Win 35-21 vs 2A Murray 10. Christian County 5A (7-3): Loss 38-26 at 4A John Hardin PurpleHaze Western Kentucky Co-Games of the Week (Week 10): What a way to end the regular season with one true classic and another game that told us quite a bit! Mayfield 2A (9-1) 25 at Caldwell County 3A (8-2) 24. This was the classic and a Great Game as most predicted it would be! Both teams complained about the officiating, but both teams have to live with it just like we all do. Great players making great plays all over the field. This one should give both a boost going into the playoffs. Mayfield played with a champions heart and just refused to lose even when down late twice! Very impressive! To lead Mayfield the way Caldwell did; you have to give the Tigers credit as well. And I don’t think they are done. It was such a good game; I’m kind of mad at myself for not driving down to it. McCracken County 6A (8-2) 14 at Bowling Green 5A (9-1) 38. This is the one we learned quite a bit about both (Well, at least 1) teams. First, McCracken is a good team, but their defense has to improve in order to rise to the level I think they want to get to. Based on what I saw Friday night, the Mustangs wouldn’t matchup favorably with most of the better 6A teams from Jefferson County. Never fear Mustang fans, no one else does either. For BG, this team has an underlying confidence about it IMO that reassures you they are in control. Only bad thing in this game was 1 injury a piece. Hope both aren’t serious, as its Playoff Time! Meat N Potatoes Top 10 Version – Week 10: 10) Christian County (5A) – Preseason Rank (PR): 6 – Last Week (LW): 9 - 2015 Record 7-3; District Record 3-1] Week 10 Results: Loss 38-26 at 4A John Hardin (7-3). Christian County didn’t have a great performance in this game, but they learned what a quality playoff-type opponent looks like. They will regroup and win next week at home vs Barren County fairly easily I say. Playoff Snapshot: This team has matured and even though they fell in Week 10, I believe this will help them for Week 2 at BG. Yes, the Colonels fell to BG early in the year by a running clock, but it’s hard to beat a team twice in 1 year. Ceiling: Shock the World and show up in Owensboro Week 3. Floor: Barren County kidnaps Langhi, Catlett, and Kenner and they fall to the Trojans! Purple88 Pick: Christian shows up ready to play at BG and hangs with the Purples until the second half – 28-14 BG. No shame there! 9) Paducah Tilghman (3A) – PR: Next 10 – LW: 11 - 2015 Record 7-3; District Record 3-1] Week 10 Results: Win 35-21 vs 2A Murray (6-4). Welcome back Blue Tornado’s! You just want to write these guys off several time throughout the year and they just keep coming back! Playoff Snapshot: Played a killer schedule and have athletes all over the field except the trenches. Could beat 3A powers on their off night and could lose to Edmonson County on PT’s off night. Ceiling: Host Region 2 3A Power Week 4! Floor: Not show up and Edmonson County has their best game of the year! Purple88 Pick: You can make a run, but I expect you to be stopped a second time by the Caldwell County Tigers in Week 3! 8) Owensboro Catholic (2A) – PR: 10 – LW: 8 - 2015 Record 8-2; District Record 4-0] Week 10 Results: Win 47-27 vs 6A North Hardin (3-7). I think OCath got their money’s worth! 3 score win against a 6A school even if they are over-rated. Aces are ready to GO! Playoff Snapshot: Team Nintendo has really been fun to keep up with all year! They will be a tough out for sure! Hate to see a special QB like Zuberer move on, but such is life and he still has work to do! Ceiling: Playing for the 2A Championship in BG! You are not the favorite, but you are capable! Floor: An Old Nemesis, the Murray Tigers are good enough to beat you in the 2nd Round. Purple88 Pick: I think you beat the Murray Tigers and travel to Mayfield in the 3rd round and give it all you got, but come up just short: 42-35 Mayfield. 7) Caldwell County (3A) – PR: 9: LW: 6 - 2015 Record 8-2; District Record 4-0] Week 9 Results: Loss 25-24 vs 2A Mayfield (9-1). It seems tough that someone had to lose in Princeton on Friday night, but that’s the game we love. Even with the loss, I expect Caldwell to use this one as motivation going forward. Playoff Snapshot: The Tigers have slipped up on many this year who thought without Purdue signee QB Sindelar they would take a big step back. Was not to be, with the emergence of QB Burns, the steadiness of Cain, and the real X factor being the Tiger D really improving throughout the season! Ceiling: This Team can go to Bowling Green. I have no reservations in saying that! Floor: Paducah Tilghman hasn’t forgotten the earlier loss and could take revenge in Week 3! Purple88 Pick: The Road to Bowling Green goes through Region 1 and Princeton, as long as they keep winning. I say that is a big factor and Caldwell Goes to BG! You heard it here first! 6) Hopkinsville (4A) – PR: 8 – LW: 7 - 2015 Record 9-1; District Record 4-0] Week 10 Results: Win 62-17 vs 5A Marshall County (2-8). Good team with too much beats not good team with too little. Not much gained here. But was much lost? Playoff Snapshot: This team has endured more than any in the West (maybe the State) with the tragic loss of a teammate among other things. But they have pulled together and I’m sure will rely on that bond even more during the playoffs. Ceiling: Shock the World and beat South Warren and host John Hardin in Week 4! Floor: Not show up when they get hit in the mouth for the first time since Christian County and lose to the Warren Central Dragons in Week 1! Purple88 Pick: Beat a game Warren Central squad and play valiantly against the Spartans, but come up short: 34-21 South Warren. 5) McCracken County (6A) – PR: 5 - LW – 3; 2015 Record 8-2; District Record 4-0] Week 10 Results: Loss: 38-14 at 5A Bowling Green (9-1). Most impressed with the MANY Mustang fans that traveled to support their team! Well done! Zyaire Hughes is a terrific player and was worth the price of admission along with #8 WR. Was a little un-impressed with QB Jones, but I think the BG D had a lot to do with that. Playoff Snapshot: This team has many very good pieces and I think can beat any 6A squad in the West. Playing Jefferson County beasts…..…that’s a problem! Ceiling: Beat a very good Central Hardin squad and host the Beasts in Week 4. Give it your best shot Mustangs – You have NOTHING to lose! Floor: Central Hardin is good enough to beat you in Week 3 if you overlook them! Purple 88 Pick: Mustangs host the Male Bulldogs the day after Thanksgiving and play their best game of the year, but it is Male’s year 35-24 Bulldogs! 4) Mayfield (2A) – PR: 2 – LW - 5 - 2015 Record 9-1; District Record 3-0] Week 10 Results: Win: 25-24 at Caldwell County 2A (8-2). Teams that win EXPECT to win. Some don’t like that. Tough. Mayfield is as tough a team to knock off as there is because the team they beat on Friday night is really good! Playoff Snapshot: BUYER BEWARE! If you draw the Cardinals this playoff season, you better bring everything you got and prepare to play to the final horn! Oh, and I think their lines have really come together now and that’s more bad news! Ceiling: They have been to the Championship Game every year since 2009, I see nothing that says that has to stop this year! Floor: The Murray Tigers played better than Mayfield for a half in Mayfield this season. They could exact revenge of the Cardinals in Week 3 if they can get there! Purple88 Pick: Mayfield edges a game Desales Colts team 28-17 and goes to BG again! 3) Owensboro (5A) – PR: 4 – LW: 4 - 2015 Record 9-1; District Record 4-0] Week 10 Results: Win: 37-7 vs Henderson County 6A (4-6). Red Devils got their middle LB back and really had no problem in their game against nearby foe Henderson Co. Playoff Snapshot: Owensboro is the real deal. They went to the 4A Championship Game last year and they could make it to the 5A Championship game this year. Ceiling: The Red Devils could exorcise some Purple Demons and make it to BG! Floor: The team they may not want to play again, Graves County, could make another shot count in Round #2! Purple88 Pick: Owensboro will host the Purples in a Classic Rematch Week 3 and the loss of SR LB Gekove Gardner is only truly felt in this game as the Purples have just enough to overcome Rash Stadium 28-27 BG! 2) South Warren (4A) – PR: 3 – LW: 2 - 2015 Record 10-0; District Record 4-0] Week 10 Results: Win: 36-14 vs Pope John Paul II from Hendersonville, TN (3-7). Well the only thing the Pope had left for South was some spare holy water as they were handled pretty easily. With Johnson Central getting their doors blown off against Belfry, no one can say South isn’t #1 in 4A now! Playoff Snapshot: South Warren has been the prohibitive favorite to make it back to WKU where they began the year! Tough in all phases – this team is ready for a deep run! Ceiling – Anything less than the Championship Game will be a disappointment for this undefeated team! Floor – IMO, Hopkinsville (because of their ability to pass) and John Hardin (because they have already played you once before and are playing with more confidence now) have a chance to stay in the game with you and anything can happen. Purple88 Pick: This is South’s year! I just think South has the advantage, especially if QB Ryder Litten is healthy! South finishes the year where they began it - at WKU! 1) Bowling Green (5A) – PR: 1 – LW: 1 - 2015 Record 9-1; District Record 3-0] Week 10 Results: Win: 38-14 vs 6A McCracken County (8-2). BG used several McCracken turnovers, a well-balanced offense and solid defense to never really be threatened on Senior Night. Potential injury to OL Chaz Toohey is troublesome. Playoff Snapshot: Other than a terrible 1st half against St X, this Purple squad has taken on all challenges in spades and comes into this Playoff season hitting on all cylinders! Beware 5A! Ceiling: BG is clearly capable to getting back to the Championship Game at WKU! Floor: I think Graves County was rated below #5 in 5A last year when they came to BG and beat BG 7-0. BG’s path to the Championship is more difficult than any other (must beat the #5, #4, #3, and #2 rated BGP teams in order to win the championship). BG “could” lose to Christian County in Week #2 is their floor. Purple88 Pick: Thankfully, the BG coaching staff will be too good to let this team overlook anyone and although Christian, Owensboro and Fern Creek are all deserving Top 5 5A teams; they aren’t the best team and BG marches to WKU to end the season where they began it on the carpet at WKU! Jayvon Quarles Week 10 Players of the Week: MANY did not post stats prior to post this week and know I’ve left some off, but I have the following: 1) Ray Zuberer III – QB OCath – 20 for 29 yielding 361 yards and 3 TDs in their outstanding win over North Hardin! 2) Rex Henderson – QB Butler Co – 18 for 34 yielding 252 yards and 3 TDs in their impressive win over 6A Ohio County! 3) Tre Fant – Bowling Green – SR CB tied school record with his 9th INT (was a Pick 6) this year in win over McCracken County. Week 10 “Momentum Trending Down” McCracken County (6A) – Down – It’s really mostly disappointed than down. You had your crowd behind you and you were driving in the first series at BG, but a snap error caused a fumble; BG takes it in and you can never really recover. Missed opportunity. But MUCH still to play for! This is Coach Jackson’s first season and I think he’s done a great job! No shame losing at BG! Russellville (1A) – Down – I know you were playing a school 3 Classes above you and it’s ok not to win, but to be handled pretty easily is not what I was looking for. Expected much more. That said, you now drop back down to 1A teams and think you have a great chance to make a deep run! Pick yourself up Panthers! Week 10 “Momentum Trending Up” Butler County (2A) – Up – Many wrote this team off after getting blasted by OCath earlier in the year, but they put together 4 straight wins with their last their most impressive against a decent Ohio County squad. Guaranteeing a Week 1 win against the JCarter Ballard Memorial Bombers! Mayfield (2A) – Up – You go on the road and play against a team 1 Class over you and take many shots in the game and still find a way to win. MOST teams can’t do this in ANY Class. Sets you apart! Really rolling right now! Confidence is never really an issue for Mayfield, but it certainly isn’t now! “Broke Their Maiden” – In horse racing, when you break your maiden, you win your first race. Well this category is for teams that don’t get as much love, but did get their first victory of the season here and I think that’s significant! Well who was pushed off the end of the Pirate’s Plank and who saved the ship! Here’s The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly after this FINAL week: The Good: Hancock County (1-9) 34 Breckinridge County 24! The clouds lifted and the sun shone as bright as any Easter Morning ever has in Lewisport! Congratulations to the Hornets and their whole community for the Big Win! :dancingpa The Bad: I wish I could tell you all 3 teams won, but that’s not the real world. :depressed: Fulton City 22 Fulton County 20 – The Fulton County team really tried in this one, but in the end; just wasn’t meant to be. We’ll be pulling for you next year Pilots! The Ugly: I think the Cougars gave a good effort here in a game I really feel they could have won. Todd County Central 35 – Logan County 18. The real Ugly is that Logan County hasn’t won one game since October 12, 2012 when they beat the Barren County Trojans on the road 21-20. Better Luck next year Cougars! :bag: Thanks for rooting for these guys! My heart truly goes out to these teams. 11 Through 15 – Tougher call down here, but probably more fun to argue about as well: 11) Butler County 2A (8-2) – Week 10: vs 6A Ohio County – Won 31-27 – Rex Henderson still getting it done! Playoff Snapshot: Good team here with one really good player! Purple88 Pick: Joe Namath and I guarantee a Week 1 win over the Ballard Memorial Bombers! After that, Rex Henderson would need to part the Red Sea (Mayfield Cardinal Red Sea – that is!) to get a second win. Maybe Charlton Heston could suit up for the Bears and bring his Mighty Staff with him! 12) Greenwood 5A (8-2) – Week 10: vs 4A Warren Central – Won 14-6 – Good win against a better than their record suggests Warren Central squad. Playoff Snapshot: Likely the best Week 1 matchup in the West and one of the better ones in the state when the Graves County Eagles come to BG. Should be a really good one! 13) Tie: Murray 2A (6-4) – Week 10: Lost 35-21 at Paducah Tilghman – can take this one of 2 ways – a. Tilghman is peaking at the right time or b. Murray is trending down on their own – What say you? Playoff Snapshot: Hard-nosed team that won’t quit and will pound you if you let them. Purple88 Pick: Just think your luck runs out Week 2 against Team Nintendo and the Owensboro Catholic Aces! Graves County 5A (5-5) – Week 10: Ambushed poor ole’ Calloway County 51-12. This team is peaking at the right time; just like last year. Playoff Snapshot: They head to BG again, but this time face a solid Greenwood squad with both teams looking to make a statement! The winner will have to earn this one! 14) Russellville (1A) (8-2) – Week 10: Outplayed by 4A Franklin Simpson 34-12. Applaud playing old rivals like this one, which goes way back. But you have to question what Russellville really has when they are faced with an opponent that is supposed to be better than them! Playoff Snapshot: The Panthers are the best 1A team in the West by a lot! Honestly, I don’t look for them to get challenged until they are likely “over-challenged” by the Beechwood Tigers in the 4th Round. Could Russellville win that game? Yes. Is it likely? No. Purple88 Pick: Russellville hosts Beechwood and gives them everything they want……..for a while. It’s Beechwood’s year: 42-28 Beechwood. 15) Tie Monroe County 2A (6-4) – The Falcons are like the guy in the school playground that picks a fight with ever guy he sees no matter how big or bad he is! Playoff Spotlight: The 2A Falcons dodge nobody (6A, 5A, 4A – you name it!)! However, they are still not running at optimum capacity. Purple88 Pick: Will win a game in the playoffs and will be pulling for you in Week #2, but Desales is the better team I fear! Allen County-Scottsville (4A) (5-5) - Really impressed with Coach Brad Hood (Cough-cough…should have been Warren Central Coach) and the Patriots! They go to Bardstown and get the win they needed to secure the #2 district seed; secure a home playoff game, and secure you are away from South Warren as long as you could be! Farewell: End of the Road! It’s been a Long Road, but I hope you have found it as fun as I have! Even if you don’t agree with my rankings, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about some of our other teams out West! You realize in our Top 15 that teams in the West don’t have more than 1 loss until the #7 team; more than 2 losses until the #9 team; and more than 3 losses until the #13 teams. Lot to love about football teams in the West! Good Luck to All Your Teams in the Playoffs and see ya next year I hope!

BluegrassPreps 2015 Western Kentucky Power Rankings – Week 5 Edition Concerning the top story line for this week: Rain, Rain go away! After a beautiful fall week last week, mother-nature decided to dump buckets of rain on most Kentucky football fields this past Friday night. Some teams turned the ball over significantly more than usual, but some teams handled the rain like ducks. Also, District play started for some with Huge games already complete. Everyone will be in District play by this week’s games! Popcorn N Coke Top 10 Version – Week 5: 1. Bowling Green 5A (5-1): Win 42-6 at 6A Central Hardin 2. South Warren 4A (6-0): Win 27-0 vs 4A Franklin Simpson 3. McCracken County 6A (5-1): Win 50-22 vs 6A Daviess County 4. Mayfield 2A (5-1): Win 28-14 vs 3A Corbin 5. Owensboro 5A (4-1): OPEN 6. Christian County 5A (5-1): Win 46-7 vs 5A Marshall County 7. Caldwell County 3A (5-1): Win 48-27 vs 3A Paducah Tilghman 8. Hopkinsville 4A (4-1): OPEN 9. Owensboro Catholic 2A (4-2): Win 53-14 vs 2A Butler County 10. Elizabethtown (3A): Win 33-8 vs 3A Edmonson County PurpleHaze Game of the Week (Week 4): DISTRICT BUSTER: Caldwell County 3A (5-1) 48 vs Paducah Tilghman (3A) (3-3) 27. Great game early with both teams making big plays. Paducah QB Dunigan goes out with an injury in the second quarter and the Blue Tornados aren’t the same after. Caldwell County pulls away in the second half, but gets the biggest scare of the season when star Dee Cain goes down and has to be taken off the field in an ambulance. Recent reports say this was a precautionary measure and Cain suffered from a concussion. But a HUGE district win was earned! PurpleHaze Games of the Week (Week 5): I couldn’t pick one so I have 2 games this week! Murray (2A) at Mayfield (2A): This is a big one in the Purchase Area! If Murray couldn’t have beaten Russellville on the road last week, I would not have elevated this game here this week or this year. But I think Murray might be healthy again and able to give Mayfield a game. We’ll see! Christian County (5A) at Owensboro (5A): Some Colonels fans are feeling Froggy about this matchup. Playing in Rash Stadium is a tough task for any team. I believe the district title will be on the line this Friday, which is HUGE because the winner likely hosts BG Week 3 of the playoffs and the loser likely visits BG Week 2 of the playoffs! Honorable Mention: Hart County (3A) at Elizabethtown (3A) and Madisonville NH (4A) vs Hopkinsville (4A) Meat N Potatoes Top 10 Version – Week 5: 10) Elizabethtown (3A) – Preseason Rank (PR): Not Ranked – Last Week (LW): Next 10 - 2015 Record 6-0; District Record 1-0] Week 5 Results: Win: 33-8 at 3A Edmonson County (4-2). Welcome to the Top 10 Panthers! I think you’re a good squad! But how good? With your schedule, I simply can’t tell. Not a knock, just a fact. Although the best 2 teams in your district are coming up, so let’s see what you got! DISTRICT BUSTER: Week 6: vs 3A Hart County (5-1). 9) Owensboro Catholic (2A) – PR: 10 – LW: Next 10 - 2015 Record 4-2; District Record 1-0] Week 5 Results: Win: 53-14 vs 2A Butler County (4-2) You can only hold Ray Zuberer back for so long. With a stat line of 19 for 25 with 337 yards and 6 TDs, I believe the West has their Mr. Football candidate right here. The thing about OCath this year though is the improved defense. In years gone by, this would have likely been a 53-48 kind of game. Not this year. The playoffs look bright for the Aces! Week 6: at (2A) McLean County (2-3). 8) Hopkinsville (4A) – PR: 8 – LW: 9 - 2015 Record 4-1; District Record 0-0] Week 5 Results: OPEN With a week off to mend some wounds (both mentally and physically), the Tigers should be ready to get back on the field in this very important district matchup with the rebuilding Maroons. Even though the Maroons record isn’t great, District play is a new season. Week 6: DISTRICT BUSTER vs (4A) Madisonville NH (1-4). These are the best 2 teams in this district, so emotions should be high! 7) Caldwell County (3A) – PR: 9: LW: 7 - 2015 Record 5-1; District Record 1-0] Week 5 Results: Win: 48-27 vs 3A Paducah Tilghman (1-4) See above. Will Dee Cain be back this week or not? This week’s game is at Union County, likely the most underrated team in the district. Union has a great young coach, but doesn’t have the horse to run with Caldwell, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a little closer than most think especially if Cain sits out this week coming off an emotional game last week. Week 6: vs 3A District foe Union County (4-1). 6) Christian County (5A) – PR: 6 – LW: 6 - 2015 Record 4-1; District Record 1-0] Week 5 Results: Win: 46-7 vs Marshall County 5A (1-4). Solid win, but 3 special teams TDs, 197 rushing and passing yards vs 147 for Marshall County makes me concerned for the Colonels going to Rash Stadium. BUT the thing I love about High School athletics is that teams can fire up quickly. I think the Colonels need to do that when they travel to Rash Stadium this week. Purplehaze Western Kentucky Co-Game of the Week – DISTRICT BUSTER: Week 6: at Owensboro 5A (4-1). BIG District and playoff implications on the line this Friday! 5) Owensboro (5A) – PR: 4 – LW: 5 - 2015 Record 4-1; District Record 0-0] Week 5 Results: OPEN. I’m sure the off week provided a good time to rest those players that are banged up a bit. They will be needed because the biggest District test comes this Friday night when the Christian County Colonels come calling. Christian County is young, but they have a QB and skill players capable of giving the Red Devils problems. But ultimately can Kolbi Langhi make enough plays to keep Christian County in the game? Can the Colonels DLine hold up for 4 quarters against a very good Red Devil OLine that will likely try to ground and pound them. We shall see. PurpleHaze Western Kentucky Co-Game of the Week: DISTRICT BUSTER - Week 6: vs. 5A Christian County (5-1). 4) Mayfield (2A) – PR: 2 – LW -4 - 2015 Record 5-1; District Record 0-0] Week 5 Results: Win 28-14 vs 3A Corbin (3-3). Anytime you travel 4 hours on a bus, get out in the rain, deal with the loss of injured players and still find a way to win; it is a good win. Yes, focused Cardinal fans will say too many penalties and missed opportunities were common this game. But your offensive line continues to improve maybe significantly. To me, this is the biggest thing because your coaching staff is one of the best in the state and you can clean up penalties and missed opportunities more easily than a porous OLine. Bragging rights are on the line and there is no one Murray wants to beat more than Mayfield. PurpleHaze Western Kentucky Co-Game of the Week: DISTRICT BUSTER & Local Rival: Week 6: vs 2A Murray (3-2)! 3) McCracken County (6A) – PR: 5 - LW – 3; 2015 Record 5-1; District Record 1-0] Week 5 Results: Win: 50-22 vs District Rival 6A Daviess County (4-2). 282 yards rushing; 248 yards passing – Well balanced offense. Only gave up 48 yards on the ground to a good Daviess County team. Other than the disappointing loss to Tilghman and the tight OT game against Mayfield, the Mustangs have been putting up 50 points a game and giving up 20 per game. This was their toughest district game by far. Look for scores in the 65 to 14 range until the Mustangs travel to BG for a Halloween treat! Week 6: vs. District foe 6A Ohio County (4-2). 2) South Warren (4A) – PR: 3 – LW: 1 - 2015 Record 6-0; District Record 1-0] Week 5 Results: Win: 27-0 vs District Foe 4A Franklin-Simpson (3-3). South’s defense has improved since their opening game against John Hardin and has pitched 2 shutouts in a row and besides the John Hardin game (12 points) has only given up 1 score per game this season. South’s offense was clicking the opening game through the Greenwood game (3rd game of season) with an average of 40 points per game. The Central Hardin game resulted in injuries to several South players, but most notably QB Ryder Litton, who went down with a banged up ankle. Frankly he isn’t back yet. He isn’t running the ball unless it’s a broken play and that has caused clear and marked lower production from this offensive unit. I bring this info to the South fans as the reason South is not on the 1 line. They are simply not playing as well offensively at the moment. Still should go undefeated and hopefully bring a 4A title home. But the trainer is your best friend right now until Mr. Litton’s ankle is back to normal. Week 6: OPEN On que, as this should be a welcomed open date for the Spartans to try and get fully healthy. 1) Bowling Green (5A) – PR: 1 – LW: 2 - 2015 Record 5-1; District Record 0-0] Week 5 Results: Win: 42-6 at 6A Central Hardin (3-3). The Central Hardin game was simply the best the Purples have played this year. They came out of the locker room fired up and put a running clock on Central Hardin with about 2 minutes to go in the FIRST HALF! Jacob Yates (RB/Wingback) played great with 8 carries 119 yards and 2 TDs. QB Clark Payne was workman like going 12 for 18 for 147 yards and TDs and 1 hail-mary first half heave INT. The defense gives up 52 yards on the ground and approximately 1/3 of that was when the JV team got in in the 4th. Week 6: vs. District Foe 5A Grayson County (3-2). This game will be played on Thursday October 1 due to Fall Break. Jayvon Quarles Week 4 Players of the Week: 1) Cash Jones – QB McCracken County – 9-14 185 yards and 2 TDs and 1 rushing TD in 1 HALF vs Daviess County! 2) Caldwell County – dual backs – Dee Cain 10 rushes for 112 yards, 2 TDs, and Javonte Riley 20 carries 154 yards, 2 TDs! 3) Greenwood – dual backs – Noah Pillow 120 yards and 1 TD and Jackson Adams 147 yards and 2 TDs! 4) Keyron Namvong – RB South Warren – 20 carries for 197 yards and 3 TDs vs Franklin Simpson! School Records: 1) Shane Burns – QB – Caldwell County – Last week vs Henderson County completed 14 straight passes for a Tiger record and had 34 total completions on that night for another record. Two weeks ago vs Crittenden County had the longest pass completion in Caldwell Co history a 90 yard TD completion to Josh Young! 2) Keyron Catlett – WR – Christian County – achieved the Christian Co record for receiving yards with 2,281. He is very close to the reception record as well. This Friday vs Marshall County he “hits for the cycle” 1. 10 yard TD run. 2. 50 yard TD reception. 3. 75 yard punt return. 4. 97 yard kickoff return. Congratulations! Week 4 “Trending Down” Russellville (1A) – Down – Tough game vs Murray last week. Missed opportunity to continue your upswing. But 5 fumbles and an intersection in not the way to play against a solid 2A club. Time to go back to work on the fundamentals! Paducah Tilghman (3A) – Down – Tough when your leader gets hurt on the road in your first district match and most important district match. Would appear to be playing for 2nd in the district now and a road game in Week 2 of the playoffs. Week 4 “Trending Up” Fort Campbell (3A) – Up – After winning your first game of the year last week vs Fort Knox, the Falcons back it up with a DISTRIC win at Trigg County. Murray (2A) – Up – After 2 disheartening losses in the middle of their season, the Tigers have put back to back wins together and appear to be fairly healthy for the first time since Week 2. Complete focus will be required to have a chance vs the Cardinals this week? “Broke Their Maiden” – In horse racing, when you break your maiden, you win your first race. Well this category is for teams that don’t get as much love, but did get their first victory of the season here and I think that’s significant: (After this week, only 3 more teams in the West are winless! Let’s root for them to get a win! Well, we took a big hit here this week in trying to get every Western Kentucky team with at least 1 win, as the Hopkins County Storm had one more pillow than Logan County and beat the Cougars 13-12. Only remaining winnable game on Logan Co schedule is Oct 30 vs Todd Co Central. Hancock County (0-6) only winnable games are last 2 games of the year vs McLean County and Breckinridge Co. Finally, Fulton County (0-6) would appear only to have the rematch – cage-match with Fulton City left who beat them 38-28 earlier this year. Warren East – 4A – (1-6) – Congratulations to Coach Chaffin and staff and Raiders on your first win of the season over Barren County 31-21! Webster County – 2A – (1-5) – The Trojans marched to Fulton County and picked up their first win against still winless Fulton County! A win is a win! Metcalfe County – 2A – (1-5) – The Hornets finally found their stinger and gave Clinton County a spanking 48-0. Way to go!

BluegrassPreps 2015 Western Kentucky Power Rankings – Week 9 Edition Concerning the top story line for this week: Can you feel it? It’s the calm before the storm! This is the last week before we all go into Full Throttle Playoff Mode! Is it best to schedule a cupcake now after your district matchups? Or like Trinity a couple years ago in scheduling Archbishop Moeller the last game of the season? Most aren’t like T and I think a good blend in between is the ticket depending on where you are on the 1A to 6A grading scale. For example, I love the Paducah Tilghman vs Murray matchup as it should prepare both very well for the playoffs with a relatively easy opening round game the following week even if you have some minor injuries to heal! Conversely, I would think the Hopkinsville Tigers will be playing some JV guys late in their game against Marshall County. It’s a tough call not only from a competition standpoint, but also from a raw scheduling standpoint. And as we’ve spoken about earlier this season, the Season is certainly a grind! This is why Good Coaching is paramount in coaching not only the team, but the Program and it’s a year round thing not just August to the first week of November! Championship caliber programs get this; that’s why they win championships! And the rest wait for next year! TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Mayfield Cardinals: Thanks to Toothpick for keeping watch on and informing us on a truly significant achievement. By their easy win this week coupled with a Washington Massillon, Ohio loss, Mayfield pulls into a tie with the Tigers after a historic “7 year run with only 7 losses and advancing to every state championship game since 2009”. “Mayfield’s last losing season was 1963.” I would be blind if I were not to highlight this historic achievement for one of Kentucky’s Best Programs. It should also be noted that the Highland’s Bluebirds sit at #2 on the all-time list and the Male Bulldogs sit at the #3 spot on the all-time list meaning Kentucky has 3 of the top 4 Programs in the NATION All-Time. For as much angst as Kentucky is given towards football and football recruits in general, this is a statistic that should be celebrated across the Commonwealth! :dancingpa This makes me proud to live in Kentucky! Way to Go Mayfield! Popcorn N Coke Top 10 Version – Week 9: All teams 1 through 15 (except #13 Greenwood who fell 49-14 to BG) won or were OPEN last week and the rankings have not changed considerably with the exception of the Gators. 1. Bowling Green 5A (8-1): Win 49-14 at 5A Greenwood 2. South Warren 4A (9-0): Win 38-6 vs 4A Warren Central 3. McCracken County 6A (8-1): Win 57-26 at 6A Muhlenberg County 4. Owensboro 5A (8-1): Win 20-19 at 5A Graves County 5. Mayfield 2A (8-1): Win 64-0 at 2A Webster County 6. Caldwell County 3A (8-1): OPEN 7. Hopkinsville 4A (8-1): Win 64-0 at 4A Hopkins County Central 8. Owensboro Catholic 2A (7-2): OPEN 9. Christian County 5A (7-2): OPEN 10. Russellville 1A (8-1): Win 46-21 at 1A Crittenden County PurpleHaze Western Kentucky Game of the Week (Week 9): DISTRICT BUSTER: Russellville 1A (8-1) 46 at Crittenden County 1A (6-3) 21. Well Crittenden County may have had this one circled on their calendars, but Russellville’s train wasn’t about to stop in Marion on Friday night Senior Night or not! The Panthers rolled up over 400 yards rushing and secured the #1 District spot. Crittenden will still host a home playoff game and could earn a rematch, but that would be in Russellville, and I just can’t see the outcome being considerably different. PurpleHaze Western Kentucky Co-Games of the Week (Week 10): The regular season is ending with some fireworks! These 2 games I’m really excited about: McCracken County 6A (8-1) at Bowling Green 5A (8-1). I think Redleg said this (if not him I apologize to the author), but I think this would be a great matchup for both teams as Week 10 Opponents to develop a good rivalry going forward. For BG, it will give them some excellent competition coming off of a less than stout district slate with their last easy game on its heels. For McCracken, you can test yourself for the playoffs and really for the first time since a trip to Mayfield on September 11. Plus this is a high profile game; if you aspire to rise to those levels this is a good platform to show us what ya got! Mayfield 2A (8-1) at Caldwell County 3A (8-1). Great Game here! Love both programs and will pull for both going forward! I’m calling this game even with maybe the slightest of edges to Caldwell simply for playing in Princeton! Oh and this is THE event in Princeton this coming Friday night so I suggest getting your ticket early and don’t think you can show up 30 minutes before kickoff (Most Women think this way – not meant to harm our lovely significant others - just callin it like I see it and hear it!) and get any seat you want because you can’t. Cardinal Nation will also travel VERY well for this one! Meat N Potatoes Top 10 Version – Week 9: 10) Russellville (1A) – Preseason Rank (PR): Next 10 – Last Week (LW): 10 - 2015 Record 8-1; District Record 3-0] Week 9 Results: Win: 46-21 at Crittenden County 1A (6-3). See above! Joshua Bigbee and Bryson Thomas both carry for over 100 yards. Russellville only attempted 1 pass in the game. Week 10: at 4A Franklin Simpson (5-4) Franklin-Simpson has had a disappointing year by many Wildcat fans standards, but this will be Senior Night and emotions will be high to try and level the Wildcats record and possibly earn the #2 District seed. That said, Russellville has played better ball to this point IMO and should be the slight favorite in this one! 9) Christian County (5A) – PR: 6 – Last Week LW: 9 - 2015 Record 7-2; District Record 3-1] Week 9 Results: OPEN. Christian County has the #2 spot in the District and a home playoff game secured. After the Owensboro v Graves County scores came across the wire, your win at Graves in Week 8 looks better all the time! Week 10: at 4A John Hardin (6-3). Terrific matchup of playoff veteran clubs! Most John Hardin fans feel very good about their chances in this game and I would bet most Christian County fans feel very good about this game as well. Regardless, I look for a tight hard fought game that will ultimately help both squads in a couple more weeks! 8) Owensboro Catholic (2A) – PR: 10 – LW: 8 - 2015 Record 7-2; District Record 4-0] Week 9 Results: OPEN. Hopefully, OCath is fully healed after the OPEN week! Week 10: vs North Hardin 6A (3-6). IMO OCath is the clear favorite in this game. Plain and simple; I think they are just better. With the Trojans stipend money, hopefully they’ll be able to pick up some barbeque take out on their bus ride home; likely the only consolation prize they will get in this one! Looking forward to Team Nintendo to light up the scoreboard on the Trojans! 7) Hopkinsville (4A) – PR: 8 – LW: 7 - 2015 Record 8-1; District Record 4-0] Week 9 Results: Win 64-0 vs 4A Hopkins County Central (2-7). District game and we’ve talked about that is what it is. Thing is, less than stout competition has been the norm for Hoptown since their only LOSS to Christian County over a month ago. Week 10: vs (5A) Marshall County (2-7). On the one hand, I have voiced my disdain for the Tigers playing Marshall County as a Week 10 opponent as I don’t feel it will prepare them enough for the playoff wars ahead, as several think they won’t beat the best 3 and 6 team in the State (Warren Central) in the first round of the playoffs. BUT, on the other hand, for what Coach Clark and the entire Hopkinsville team/community have been through this year, maybe a little breather is their preferred track. I have believed in this team all year and see no reason to change now. They have a terrific QB leader and talented skill players, tough defense and are well coached. I think it’s going to take South Warren to knock them out. Just my opinion. 6) Caldwell County (3A) – PR: 9: LW: 6 - 2015 Record 8-1; District Record 4-0] Week 9 Results: OPEN. I’m not sure how far it is to Webster County from Princeton, but I’ll bet a dozen Whistle Stop Donuts that it would have been more worthwhile to have stayed in Princeton and watch McCracken County and Murray vs Mayfield tapes until you’re blue in the face than it would have been to drive up to Webster County to pick up anything from that game. Think the Tigers should be pretty healthy for this one. Would seem to be as much a perception game as anything for Caldwell in this one, but I’m really looking forward to it! Who is the most important player on the field – Cain, Burns, Bright, Arnette, others? You tell me! PurpleHaze Western Kentucky Co-Game of the Week - Week 10: vs Mayfield 2A (8-1). 5) Mayfield (2A) – PR: 2 – LW - 5 - 2015 Record 8-1; District Record 3-0] Week 9 Results: Win: 64-0 vs Webster County 2A (1-8). Thought about switching you to #4, but Webster was and is so bad I couldn’t. District game! Let’s you know why Mayfield doesn’t schedule any other 2A squads other than the have to District games. Mayfield Frosh likely would have come out with an easy win here! PurpleHaze Western Kentucky Co-Game of the Week - Week 10: at 3A Western Kentucky Parkway Rival Caldwell County (8-1). What a game! Really looking forward to seeing how Trajon Bright, the Mayfield superstar, plays in this one. I assumed he would be a little rusty at first, but Webster had absolutely no answer for one of the best players in the West & State! How do you think this one plays out Mayfield fans? 4) Owensboro (5A) – PR: 4 – LW: 4 - 2015 Record 8-1; District Record 4-0] Week 9 Results: Win: 20-19 at Graves County 5A (4-5). Red Devils nearly spit the bit on this one as the Best 4 and 5 team in the West won the first half and had a chance in the 2nd. But good teams win even when they don’t play their best and that’s what Owensboro did. Landon Boards was fantastic and the Red Devil D proved they were ready when it mattered most during late 4th Quarter Graves drives. Could very well set up for a rematch at Rash Stadium, but Graves would have to win one of the best first round games in the State when Graves travels to Greenwood for the likely right to visit Owensboro in the 2nd round. Week 10: vs 6A Henderson County (4-5). Don’t let the record fool you Red Devil fans! This Colonel team is starting to play really good ball. Damion Carter will be one of the best backs you will play against this year! 3) McCracken County (6A) – PR: 5 - LW – 3; 2015 Record 8-1; District Record 4-0] Week 9 Results: Win: 57-26 at 6A District Foe Muhlenberg County (4-5). About 200 yards on the ground and 300 in the air. Most everything clicking for the Mustangs. Why not Cash Jones being considered for Mr. Football? He has 44 rushing attempts for 163 yards and 8TD; 101 completions on 159 attempts for 1,718 yards with 22 TDs vs 6 INTs on limited playing time is pretty darn good in my book! RB/WR Corey Fike also had a good game for McCracken. After the Manual collapse last playoff; being out-played by Tilghman in the opener; changing coaches to one that had little experience; call me suspect, BUT this Mustang team has really come together and reeled off 8 straight wins and really rolling. PurpleHaze Western Kentucky Co-Game of the Week - Week 10: at Bowling Green 5A (8-1). This game is one where McCracken would like to make a statement so other 6A squads know they mean business. Coach Jackson deserves a lot of credit for keeping his guys together early and now looks to take another step forward at BG. What do you think Mustang fans – do you like your chances and what do the Mustangs need to do to come out with win #9? 2) South Warren (4A) – PR: 3 – LW: 2 - 2015 Record 9-0; District Record 4-0] Week 9 Results: Win: 38-6 vs 4A District Foe Warren Central (3-6). South Warren completed a District sweep by defeating the best 3 and 6 team in the State - Warren Central. Looking at the outcome of the game, I’m not sure what negatives there are. But reading the game threads, Spartan Nation is upset about not seeing the “full arsenal” of the offense and “limiting” player opportunities to get college scholarships. I find this completely lacking confidence in your Head Coach. Has Coach Smith not earned the right to dictate when to throttle up and when to throttle down? The man is 33 and 3 since becoming head coach at South (3 seasons). JCarter mentioned the game still had a gameness feel even at 38-0. I think this is true and all the better for future varsity Spartans that got in this game. But was the game ever in question? I think not! The only place it hurts is at the water cooler! I for one think Coach Smith is one of the best young coaches in the state. And also think he is purposefully holding back until the playoffs so other squads don’t see other sets that they plan to use later when games may be tougher. Concerning “limiting” player’s opportunities to gain college scholarships, please trust your Coach! Besides their parents, who does a player have in their corner, if not their coach! Moving ON and UP! Week 10: vs Pope John Paul II of Hendersonville, TN (2-8). It’s finally time for the Pope-mobile to drive north for their meeting with the Spartans. Spartan fans beware of the 2 and 8 record! Some of those losses are to the likes of Brentwood Academy, Montgomery Bell Academy, Ensworth, McCallie, and Baylor. So if they have any players left uninjured it could be a game for a while. But I honestly think South’s defense will be too much for His Holiness to handle! 1) Bowling Green (5A) – PR: 1 – LW: 1 - 2015 Record 8-1; District Record 3-0] Week 9 Results: Win: 49-14 vs 5A District Foe Greenwood (7-2). It was Senior Night in “The Swamp” and the Gators rode that emotion to dictating the majority of the first half prior to the Purples evening the score in the 2nd Quarter. Several Purple fans and I agree that Coach Spader is one of the best halftime adjustment coaches around. BG shut down and wore down the Gators in the second half, but this is a good Gator squad and sets up the best 1st round playoff game in the state maybe with Graves County at Greenwood in a couple weeks! For the Purples, RB Jamale Carothers played well with about 100 yards rushing and 3 TDs and QB Clark Payne with about 200 yards passing and 3 TDs. For the defense, Griffin Cline with 11 tackles and Tyler Stahl with an INT. Tyler will lead the Purple secondary next year! PurpleHaze Western Kentucky Co-Game of the Week - Week 10: vs 6A McCracken County (8-1). The Mustangs are a very good team with very talented athletes all over the field. I think it is fair to say that they have played both up and down to their opponents in several games this season. With that said, I look for them to be sky high coming into El Donaldson Stadium looking for respect not really from the Purples, but more from the football community at large. For BG, the Purples don’t really need that. They just need to focus on playing a good, athletic team and executing well to try to get the win and move on WITH MOMENTUM into the playoffs lookin to make another deep run! I have been asked, do the Purples keep their best players on the field for the whole game for this one. I say yes, what say you? Jayvon Quarles Week 9 Players of the Week: MANY did not post stats prior to post this week and know I’ve left some off, but I have the following: 1) Zach Sneed – Barren County – 9 rushes for 203 yards and 2 TDs vs Grayson County! 2) Murray Tigers – QB Miles DesJahvonni 177 yards rushing; 1 TD; Andrew Pajor – 120 yards rushing 1 TD; and Isiah Tucker 95 yards rushing and 3 TDs vs Ballard Memorial! 3) Graves County – Dakota Dixon 32 carries for 151 yards; QB Ryan Mathis 12 for 27 with 165 yards and 2 TDs; WR Trevor Grant – 4 catches 85 yards and 2 TDs vs a Stout Owensboro Defense! Week 9 “Trending Down” Crittenden County (1A) – Down – I know Russellville was supposed to win, but this was an opportunity for Crittenden to get a signature win with a good Senior Class! Didn’t happen, but I could see them getting a second chance back in Russellville in a couple weeks. Don’t like that one for the Rockets either, but anything can happen in the playoffs! Graves County (5A) – Down – Not down as you’re going into the dumps, but down as in missed opportunity. Maybe a couple key Red Devils were out for this game and Graves won the first half, but a missed opportunity for sure. Not many games left for SR Dakota Dixon. BUT no shame in losing to the Red Devils; just would have really set the tone for next year in the district and this year in the playoffs! Week 9 “Trending Up” McCracken County (6A) – Up – Earlier in the year, I think many including myself were scratching our heads about the Mustangs as they are soundly defeated by Paducah Tilghman. Since then, they have won 8 straight games and have a TON of momentum going into a game they don’t have to win, but really want to in order to make others in the state, especially 6A foes, take notice. Can they do it? South Warren (4A) – Up – Only team in the West with 9 wins! Their closest games are to 6A schools (Central Hardin 24-3 and North Hardin 21-0). This team has one of the best, if not the best, defense in the state. I think their special teams units doesn’t get the praise they deserve as a punt block scoop 6 helped turn the tide last week vs Warren Central! Some don’t like that they aren’t winning by more; such is the life with teams that win (ask Ohio State)! I say win and advance and that’s exactly what Coach Smith and the Spartans are doing! “Broke Their Maiden” – In horse racing, when you break your maiden, you win your first race. Well this category is for teams that don’t get as much love, but did get their first victory of the season here and I think that’s significant: (After this week, only 3 more teams in the West are winless! Let’s root for them to get a win! After burning through the smelling salts, I sat down to really think about these teams. Consider this: these boys (and parents and coaches too for that matter) have been attending, sweating, lifting and ect through practice and games since July or at least early August. They have put in, at least, the lion’s share of effort everyone else has and doesn’t have ONE win to rejoice over. That, my friends, is tough at 14 to 18 years old in our world of instant gratification. We are at do or die; we are at the end of the Pirate’s Plank! Here’s the situation in this FINAL week: 1. Logan County at Home vs 2A Todd County Central – Logan’s best chance was back on Sept 25 vs Hopkins Co Cen (Lost 13 to 12). This is their second best chance! Chance to break maiden – 45% 2. Hancock County at Home vs 4A Breckinridge Co (2-7) – Well I said it was doable last week, but it really wasn’t - losing 26 to 3 at home vs McLean Co! This week the Fighting Tigers of Breckinridge Co come calling. Hancock can win this game, but they could also easily lose unfortunately! Chance to break maiden – 45% 3. Fulton County at Fulton City – Part Deux! Yes, these 2 faced off Sept 4 with City winning 38 to 28; easily one of County’s best games. Even if some have given up by this point, I would think this is the one opponent they could buy back in for. We shall see! Go Pilots Go! Chance to break maiden – 50%. 11 Through 15 – Tougher call down here, but probably more fun to argue about as well: 11) Paducah Tilghman 3A (6-3) – Week 10: vs Murray – If I had a #3 game this week it would be this one! It’ll be a very good one with 2 Star QB Leaders! 12) Murray 2A (6-3) – Week 10: at Paducah Tilghman – who takes momentum with them going into the playoffs? 13) Tie: Butler County 2A (7-2) – Drubbed poor ole’ Todd County Central. Week 10 the Bears close out the regular season with a good test from 6A Ohio Co! Henderson County 6A (4-5) – Record still isn’t pretty, but one thing I know for sure is they’ll give Owensboro everything they have. They did the same last year and beat the Red Devils. Can they do it again – this time at Rash Stadium? 14) Monroe County 2A (6-3) – The Falcons are good yes, but I get the feel that you still don’t know quite what you’re going to get and that’s troublesome this late in the season. Still look for them to put up a fight in the 2A playoffs! 15) Greenwood 5A (7-2) – Next: vs Warren Central. Gators played BG tough on Senior Night. Now they look to regroup looking for momentum prior to their first round HOME game vs Graves! Warren Central will play you very tough!

BluegrassPreps 2015 Western Kentucky Power Rankings – Week 1 Edition - 8-30-15 The top story line this week is the emergence of the BIG 4. Bowling Green, South Warren, Mayfield and Owensboro are clearly the top 4 teams in the West this year. Does this mean any one of them can’t lose? Of course not; it means 2 weeks into the season I see all 4 as rock solid playoff contenders in their respective classes. Do I see others breaking into the Top 4? Only if one of these teams loses. Never fear other contenders, BG vs Owensboro is only 2 weeks away. Inaugural Jayvon Quarles - Week 1 Western Kentucky Game of the Week: Bowling Green (5A) (2-0) 55 - at Christian County (5A) (1-1) 14 (at the Stadium of Champions) - The Purples were just too much for the young Colonels. Clark Payne (Jr QB) with 3 passing TDs and 1 rushing TD. RB duo of Carruthers and Yates – 3 TDs. The Purple D was solid led by safety Tre Fant with 2 INTs (1 a pick 6). Kolbe Langhi SO QB for Christian County threw for 1 TD and ran for 1 TD, but the Purples D harassed him all night. The Colonels are young and should improve as the season goes along. Honorable Mention: Caldwell County (3A) (1-1) 48 at Franklin Simpson (4A) (1-1) 19 – WOW – this one caught me by surprise. Not so much that Caldwell won but the score. Last week turnovers cost Caldwell County, but this week they were aided by several key Wildcat turnovers. Jayvon Quarles – Week 2 Western Kentucky Game of the Week: (Disclaimer: I am not picking the BG vs St X game because St X is not a WKY team and the fact that this game needs no hype help.) Mayfield 2A (2-0) at Paducah Tilghman 3A (1-1): Mayfield’s first big game. Can Tilghman bounce back from a very physical game against Central Hardin? Honorable Mention: Owensboro Catholic at Owensboro and Glasgow at Barren County – Both big rivalry games! Week 1 Top 10: 10) McCracken County (6A) – Preseason Rank (PR): 5 - Last Week (LW) – Next 10; 2015 Record 1-1; District Record 0-0] Week 1 Results: Win: 56-35 over 4A Warren Central (0-2). Welcome back Mustangs! You are still the biggest Jekyll and Hyde team in this ranking. But Zyaire Hughes played like the star he is with 204 yards rushing on 8 carries and 1 TD. Cash Jones played well at QB and Tryce Daniel caught 2 big TDs for McCracken. Which team shows up next week (the Paducah Tilghman team or the Warren Central team)? We will see. Week 2: At 4A Madisonville NH (0-2). 9) Christian County (5A) – PR: 6 – LW: 6 - 2015 Record 1-1; District Record 0-0] Week 1 Results: Loss: 55-14 vs Bowling Green (2-0). Hot afternoon playing a hot opponent didn’t bode well for the young Colonels on the scoreboard. But this game will help the Colonels as they move forward to work on suspect areas. Like shoring up their defense – an issue from the 2014 season that still seems to be a work in progress. Week 2: At Henderson County 6A (1-1). 8) Russellville (1A) – PR: Next 10 – LW: Next 10 - 2015 Record 2-0; District Record 0-0] Week 1 Results: Win: 42-21 over 3A Fort Campbell (0-2). Welcome to the Top 10 Panthers! MJ Jones carried 11 times for 172 yards and 4 TDs and Russellville enjoyed a roughly 400 to 100 yard rushing advantage in this game. But Russellville only played 19 players in this game. 15 of those made at least 1 tackle. Will this be their demise later in the season? Probably not next week: Week 2: At Butler County (2A) (2-0). 7) Paducah Tilghman (3A) – PR: Next 10 – LW: 5 - 2015 Record 1-1; District Record 0-0] Week 1 Results: Loss: 48-25 to 6A Central Hardin (1-1). Tough matchup for the Blue Tornados with Central Hardin playing ground and pound against the physically smaller and with less depth than their 6A counterpart. Still Tilghman played with a punchers mentality and threw some haymakers of their own; just not enough. This week the Jayvon Quarles Western Kentucky Game of the Week is Paducah Tilghman at home vs Mayfield. If you live in the western part of the state (and I mean West); this is a big game every year! 6) Hopkinsville (4A) – PR: 8 – LW: 8 - 2015 Record 2-0; District Record 0-0] Week 1 Results: Win: 21-0 over West Creek, TN (0-2). The late game of the Jerry Claiborne Toyota Bowl saw the hometown Hopkinsville Tigers defensively dominate their opponents from West Creek, TN. According to Silo11, West Creek attempted 30 rushes for negative 14 yards. The biggest stat for Hopkinsville was 15 penalties for 115 yards. If the Tigers can clean up the penalties (and that’s a big IF) they will be Very tough moving forward. Week 2: Vs Fort Campbell (0-2) At Trigg County in the David Sadler Bowl. 5) Murray (2A) – PR: 7 – LW: 7 - 2015 Record 2-0; District Record 0-0] Week 1 Results: Win: 48-21 over 4A Calloway County (0-1). Solid win for the Tigers although they do give up 2 100+ yard receivers on the night, but Calloway County pretty much threw the ball exclusively. Attrition is good to the Tigers this week! Week 2: Home against 5A Graves County (1-1) 4) Owensboro (5A) – PR: 4 – LW: 4 - 2015 Record 2-0; District Record 0-0] Week 1 Results: Win: 36-0 over 4A Madisonville NH (0-2). Madisonville was no match for the Red Devils vaunted defense (likely one of the best in the State). Owensboro’s offense has been effective in moving the ball when they have needed to. I know Red Devil fans want to move up this list, but for me Warren Central and Madisonville’s teams (this year) won’t do it yet. But there’s a little game in 2 weeks that will. Week 2: Home against cross-town rival 2A Owensboro Catholic (1-1). 3) Mayfield (2A) – PR: 2 – LW -3 - 2015 Record 2-0; District Record 0-0] Week 1 Results: Win: 37-0 over 5A Marshall County (0-1). You know you’re good when you go 79-0 in 2 games and get comments like “We didn’t play that well”, etc. This is the life of a Mayfield Cardinal fan. Always sharpening the saw! The Big 3 of Bright, Arnett and Kennemore keep getting it done! The schedule ramps up this week as a true challenger arises in the Jayvon Quarles Western Kentucky Game of the Week! Week 2: At 3A Paducah Tilghman (1-1). 2) South Warren (4A) – PR: 3 – LW: 1 - 2015 Record 2-0; District Record 0-0] Week 1 Results: Win: 42-6 at 5A Owensboro Apollo (1-1). How many points do you need? That’s probably how many the Spartan offense could have gotten for you on Friday night. Another outstanding effort by this team as they look to steamroll all their opponents. The Spartan defense is also one of the best units in the State. Week 2: Home vs. 5A Greenwood (2-0). 1) Bowling Green (5A) – PR: 1 – LW: 2 - 2015 Record 2-0; District Record 0-0] For Week 1 Results, see above in the Jayvon Quarles WKY Game of the Week Recap. This week BG has the best win of any of the Big 4 and move back into the #1 spot. Additionally, BGs opponents (Monroe Co – 2A and Christian Co – 5A) are almost definitely both playoff teams in their respective classes. Fear not non-Purple fans, as you can pull for (1-0) St Xavier this week. Week 2: At 6A Louisville St Xavier (1-0). This will be the fifth straight year these two have met. Last year, my opinion was St X was the better team, but BG won in an old-school classic 6-0 in OT (when is the last time that has happened?). Can the Purples get a second road win? Week 1 Players of the Week: 1) Damion Carter – RB – Henderson County – 247 yards and 6 TDs sets a new Henderson County record and gets the first win of the year for the Colonels! 2) Jackson Adams – RB – Greenwood – scored 5 TDs on 19 carries and 271 yards vs. Allen County Scottsville! 3) Shane Burns – QB – Caldwell County – 18 for 21 on the night at Franklin Simpson for 233 yards and 3 TDs. 4) Zyaire Hughes – WR/RB/QB – McCracken County – 204 yards on 8 carries and 1 TD and 3 catches for 48 yards and a TD vs Warren Central. Week 1 “Big Droppers” Owensboro Catholic (2A) – Down – One OC poster said there wasn’t 1 thing he could think of that Catholic did well in this game. Coming off a shellacking of 1A Louisville Holy Cross, the Aces were set to roll into 2015. But Daviess County likely circled this game on their schedules while Owensboro Catholic likely circled this week’s game with Owensboro on theirs. It showed. Franklin Simpson (4A) – Down – After handling Portland, TN in the opener, seeing Caldwell County lose at home in their opener and playing your first home game, prognostication was sky high in Wildcat Country. But penalties and turnovers are the enemy of all teams; not to mention Caldwell County is maybe the most undervalued team in the West. Week 1 “Big Risers” Caldwell County (3A) – Up – After a disappointing opening loss at home to Christian County; the Tigers came to play down in Franklin with an eye-opening 48-19 win. You are back on the cusp of the Top 10! Hart County (3A) – Up – After a 21-0 win over Metcalfe County on Friday night the Raiders are a collective 39-0 with 2 wins to start the season! Considering Hart only won 2 games all of last year and hasn’t been 2-0 since 2011, the 2015 campaign has big promise! Elizabethtown (3A) – Up – Coach Mark Brown’s Panthers are a collective 99 and 12 this year and 2-0 after beating 4A Marion County 53-6 this Friday night! The 3A west side of the bracket has quality teams up and down the ledger in 2015!