tool name

Thursday, Nov. 06, 2008

Hike! Your weekly guide to high school football (Nov. 7, 2008)

City games (all game times 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted):

Bryan Station at Fleming County

Records: Bryan Station 5-4 (beat Tates Creek 38-6 last week); Fleming County 1-8 (lost to Mason County 38-14)

Ratings: Bryan Station is No. 8 in Class 5A; Fleming County is No. 30 in Class 3A.

Mismatch? Fleming County, which lost to Bryan Station 56-16 last year, has one victory this season, and it came against winless Lewis County.

'Mo' for Defenders: Bryan Station hopes it gathered momentum with its impressive win last week. Everything — offense, defense and special teams — clicked. Muhammad Saifullah and Chaz Mitchell flashed fast feet as big gainers; Kris Bolton anchored the 'D.'

Key to victory: Bryan Station figures to have a big edge in size, strength and speed, plus the motivation of securing its first winning season in eight years.

Post-season peek: In the first round of the playoffs, Bryan Station will visit Highlands. Fleming County didn't qualify for the post-season.

Hazard at Lexington Christian

Radio: WJMM-FM 99.5; WVLK-FM 101.5

Records: Hazard 7-2 (beat Lynn Camp 27-7); LCA 6-3 (did not play last week)

Ratings: Hazard is No. 6, and LCA is No. 2 in Class A

Remember '07: These teams met twice last year. Hazard won the regular-season meeting 41-21, but LCA won the biggie, beating the undefeated Bulldogs 45-21 in the state semifinals.

Double threats: Hazard QB Tyler Olinger has thrown for 1,148 yards and 12 TDs and run for 549 yards and nine TDs. RB Greg Adams, who's rushed for 1,218 yards and 13 TDs and has 533 receiving yards and 14 TDs. LCA QB Lucas Witt has passed for 1,811 yards and 21 TDs, RB Domonique Hayden, who's run for 1,461 yards and 22 TDs, and WR Brandon Burdette, who has 32 catches for 497 yards and seven TDs.

Uniform change: Eagles junior tight end/linebacker Joey Meehan played for Hazard last season before transferring to LCA this year.

Key to victory: This should be a high-scoring affair, just like both games last season. Whoever has the ball last wins?

Post-season peek: In the first round of the playoffs, Hazard will host Betsy Layne, and LCA will host Lynn Camp.

Lafayette at Trinity

Records: Lafayette 7-2 (beat Western Hills 21-0); Trinity 8-1 (beat Paul Dunbar 56-0)

Ratings: Lafayette is No. 16, and Trinity is No. 2 in Class 6A.

History lesson: When Trinity hosted Lafayette in October 1978, the Shamrocks were undefeated and two-time defending state champs. But the Generals beat Trinity 24-21 on Danny Bishop's 41-yard field goal with two seconds left.

Acid test: Lafayette's defense faces its biggest challenge of the season as it tries to slow a Trinity offense that is averaging 41 points and is considered the most sophisticated in the state, featuring QB Cameron Smyth, RB Tim Phillips and WR Scott Radcliff.

Key to victory: Lafayette's offense must control the ball to some extent if the Generals hope to make it a game. Lafayette also needs to keep its key people healthy for the playoffs.

Post-season peek: In the first round of the playoffs, Lafayette will host Simon Kenton, and Trinity will host Graves County.

Paul Dunbar at Boyle County

Records: Dunbar 1-8 (lost to Trinity 56-0); Boyle County 9-0 (beat Southwestern 56-9)

Ratings: Dunbar is No. 35 in Class 6A; Boyle County is No. 1 in Class 4A.

Rebels' cause: Boyle County's offense, led by Rees MacShara, gets a lot of attention. But the Rebels' defense has been terrific, too. It has allowed only nine TDs in nine games. In last week's win over Southwestern, Jeremy Bardin returned an interception for a TD, and Ron Crutchfield returned a blocked punt for a score.

Looking for 'O': Dunbar's offense can't find any traction. In back-to-back shutout losses to Lafayette and Trinity, the Bulldogs have rushed for a total of 61 yards and passed for 146. Martaveous Mays leads Dunbar on offense (848 all-purpose yards) and on defense with 42 tackles.