Corbin and Franklin County deliver ‘late November’ atmosphere in September
Here’s a look at some of the best high school football games of Week 3 beginning Sept. 3, according to high school sports writer Jared Peck.
Games of the week
▪ Franklin County (2-0) at Corbin (2-0), 8 p.m.: Of all Kentucky’s high school football divisions, Class 4A seems to be the one with the least consensus about who’s No. 1 as five different teams got top nods in this week’s Associated Press poll.
The Flyers got three of the 11 No. 1 votes and came out on top on the fractious list and look to prove themselves on the road as they take on No. 4 Corbin.
“If you’re going to win, you have to have a tough schedule,” Franklin County Coach Eddie James said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for our program to go against a perennial powerhouse. When we put it on the schedule — to me, it’s a great simulation of a late November game. And we want to play in those games.”
Franklin County’s 43-14 demolition of Class 5A power Scott County in Week 1 showed how dangerous the Flyers could be with Kentucky recruit Kaden Moorman at running back, an offense that seems just as potent as last year’s state finalists and a defense that allowed neighbor Western Hills only 26 total yards last week.
Corbin has routed each of its first two opponents and features Kentucky commit Treyveon Longmire and UK target Dakota Patterson both making their marks as receivers in an offense that has generated 40 points and nearly 450 total yards per game.
▪ Pulaski County (1-1) at Boyle County (1-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday: In the early 2000s, the Maroons and Rebels occupied the same district in the same class and played each other every year. This week’s matchup comes as a late reschedule after both teams’ original opponents were forced to forfeit due to COVID-19 protocols.
Pulaski Coach John Hines doesn’t recall ever beating Boyle County during that time. “But not many people did in those days,” Hines said, laughing.
Class 4A No. 3 Boyle County was scheduled to play its Title Town rivalry with Danville this week, but instead will take on a Class 5A No. 8 Pulaski team which just lost a heartbreaker to the Rebels’ district rival Lexington Catholic. Boyle got stunned at home Saturday by Lexington Christian, so it’s a bounce-back game for both schools.
Hines hopes his team can learn from the mistakes it made against LexCath last week and pick up a few tips from Boyle’s loss to LCA on film.
“We’ve been taking that film apart, and it was very impressive,” Hines said of the Eagles. “When you can line up and run the ball the way they did against the Boyle County defense — not many can do that.”
▪ Lexington Catholic (2-0) at Covington Catholic (1-1), 7 p.m. Friday: Lexington’s Cardiac Knights, winners at the gun last week on a 47-yard Max DeGraff field goal, make a habit of keeping games interesting.
Things don’t figure to get much less dramatic this week. The last two games against Covington Catholic have been thrillers.
The last time the game was in Covington, the Colonels, featuring now Notre Dame standout Michael Mayer, scored 15 points in the final six minutes to get a 39-38 victory on their way to an undefeated season and Class 5A state title. Last year, LexCath, a Class 4A team, returned the favor with a Jack Gohmann-led TD drive and two-point conversion in the final minute for a 29-28 win after blowing a 14-point fourth quarter lead.
The first Associated Press media poll of the season ranks LexCath and CovCath at No. 5 in their respective classes.
Rivalry of the week
▪ Mayfield (2-0) at Paducah Tilghman (1-1), 7 p.m.: This year will mark the 109th meeting between these two western Kentucky rivals. Class 2A’s No. 3 Cardinals hold a 51-46-10 edge over the Class 3A No. 10 Blue Tornado in the series. Mayfield has won the last 15 straight.
▪ Others of note: Male (2-0) at St. Xavier (2-0); Elizabethtown (1-1) at John Hardin (1-1); Owensboro (1-1) at Daviess County (2-0); the Madison Southern-Madison Central game scheduled for this week is among those postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.
Other Lexington matchups
▪ Frankfort (2-0) vs. Sayre (2-0) (at Bourbon County), 6 p.m. The Spartans got a No. 9 ranking in this week’s AP poll.
▪ Paul Laurence Dunbar (1-1) at Woodford County (2-0), 7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs look to rebound from their loss to Madison Central against what could be Coach Dennis Johnson’s best Woodford squad, yet. The Yellow Jackets are ranked No. 10 in Class 5A.
▪ Great Crossing (2-0) at Henry Clay (0-2), 7:30 p.m. The Blue Devils played well until some costly errors in the second half against Fern Creek last week.
▪ Frederick Douglass (2-0) at Lafayette (0-2), 6:30 p.m.: The No. 1 Broncos figure to keep rolling.
▪ Tates Creek (0-2) at Mason County (1-1), 7:30 p.m.: The Commodores look to break their nine-game losing streak.
▪ Bye week: Bryan Station (1-1).
▪COVID-19 cancellation: Lexington Christian (2-0) at Belfry (0-2).
Should be a good one
North Hardin (1-1) at Manual (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
Christian Academy-Louisville (2-0) at Bullitt Central (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Oldham County (2-0) at Fern Creek (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
Harrison County (1-1) at Bourbon County (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Clark County (1-1) at West Jessamine (0-1), 7:30 p.m.
Check Kentucky.com on Friday for the latest audio and video streaming information for your favorite team.
This story was originally published September 2, 2021 at 6:45 AM.
