A guide to Kentucky high school football’s best first-round playoff games
The first round of the 2021 UK Orthopaedics State Football Playoffs begins Thursday.
And yes, there will be a number of blowouts as top teams in each of the KHSAA’s six classes go up against the fourth seeds in their respective districts.
Ah, but there will also be a number of closely fought games among teams who have big plans beyond this opening weekend.
Because of how the playoffs are structured these first two weeks, every team has already played this week’s foe in the regular season. That means more game film, more familiarity and perhaps a chance to avenge a regular-season loss when it matters most.
Here’s a look at what we think will be some of the best games this week by class, plus a look at other games involving Lexington teams. All rankings are from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s RPI ratings, which will be used to seed the regionals and semifinals in each class beginning in Playoff Week 3, Nov. 19.
Class A
No. 6 Sayre at No. 9 Hazard.
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Last meeting: The Bulldogs (7-4) won 14-0 at Sayre (8-2) on Oct. 15, which is why the higher-rated Spartans must make the trek to Hazard. Sayre’s high-powered offense struggled in that game, generating just 151 total yards, 107 of that passing from Cole Pennington with an interception. Hazard got 142 yards rushing and both touchdowns from Max Johnson.
Standing out: Cole Pennington, who has committed to play at his father’s alma mater, Marshall, has thrown for 1,754 yards and 18 TDs, most of those to Jackson Marshall (677 yards, 13 TDs receiving; 278 yards, five TDs rushing). Max Johnson, the pick-six hero of last year’s upset of then-No. 2 Pikeville, leads the Bulldogs in scoring (14 TDs, four on special teams) and is tied for the team lead in interceptions with six.
No. 10 Eminence at No. 15 Frankfort.
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Last meeting: The Panthers (6-4) trucked Eminence at their place 53-14 on Oct. 8. Eminence (7-3) has a quality win over Class 2A’s Metcalfe County who stunned Kentucky Country Day, the top team in this district, last week.
Standing out: Eminence features Devontaye Saunders (1,671 yards, 24 TDs rushing; 701 yards, 14 TDs receiving) one of the most dynamic playmakers in the state, He averages 167 yards on the ground per game. Blaze Berry not only has a fantastic name, he’s also Class A’s No. 2 passer with 244 yards per game and 30 TDs. Frankfort has a backfield tandem of Azeno Williams (849 yards, nine TDs rushing) and Jaden Morgan (687 yards, nine TDs rushing) balanced against quarterback Sam Davis (1,362 yards, 16 TDs passing) and his top target Larry Carter (466 yards, eight TDs receiving).
Class 2A
No. 9 Caldwell County at No. 8 Murray.
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Last meeting: Caldwell County (7-3) scored the first 20 points of the game and held off a fourth quarter rally to defeat Murray, 20-14. Murray (7-2) committed four turnovers, all by fumble.
Standing out: Logan Smiley leads Caldwell in rushing with 905 yards and six TDs, while Layton Drew Davis and Elijah Shaheen have combined for 146 tackles and 10 sacks. Murray’s run offense has generated 3,106 yards and 47 TDs, led by QB Rowdy Sokolowski (1,012 yards, 14 TDs) and Gage Sokolowski (681 yards, six TDs).
Class 3A
No. 10 Ashland Blazer at No. 9 Russell.
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Last meeting: After a stumbling start, the defending 3A champs Ashland Blazer (6-4) were in the midst of a four-game win streak when they suffered their fourth loss by a score of 17-14 at Russell (6-4) on a last-second field goal by Nathan Totten.
Standing out: The Tomcats have a balanced attack led by QB Bailey Thacker (1,304 yards, 15 TDs passing) and Vinnie Palladino (827 yards, 11 TDs rushing) and top receiving target Ricky Padron (452 yards, nine TDs.) Russell compares well with Ashland’s production with QB Bradley Rose (1,457 yards, 17 TDs), lead rusher Andre Richardson-Crews (726 yards, nine TDs) and receiver Carson Patrick (641 yards, eight TDs).
No. 19 Garrard County at No. 17 Rockcastle County.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Last meeting: The Golden Lions (5-6) and Rockets (5-5) each scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter of their meeting on Oct. 22. But while Rockcastle failed to convert a two-point try, Garrard succeeded and held on for the 14-13 win as the Rockets’ last drive stalled out with a turnover on downs.
Standing out: Garrard QB Mantavin Quisenberry is the primary running threat with 1,250 yards and 16 TDs, but he can toss it some, too, with 954 yards and 10 TDs passing. Matthew Chasteen leads the Rockets in rushing with 994 yards and 10 TDs.
Class 4A
No. 12 Bourbon County at No. 2 Lexington Catholic.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Last meeting: The Knights (8-2) built a 35-14 lead by the end of the first half, but the Colonels (5-5) did not go quietly, outscoring LexCath the rest of the way, though still falling 48-35.
Standing out: Bourbon’s Josh Moody (726 yards, eight TDs rushing; 161 yards, two TDs receiving) leads the team in scoring, while quarterback Clay Estes (1,321 yards, 11 TDs passing) also proves a threat. LexCath QB Jack Gohmann needs just 78 yards to hit 2,000 yards passing this season with 20 TDs and he has a 1,000-yard rusher in Walker Hall (12 TDs).
No. 21 Knox Central at No. 19 Lincoln County.
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Last meeting: The visiting Patriots (5-6) got a game-sealing touchdown in the final minute in their come-from-behind 36-26 victory at Knox Central. The Panthers (5-5) led 19-16 at halftime.
Standing out: Clayton Davis (1,071 yards and 11 TDs receiving; 585 yards, seven TDs rushing) and Lee Amon (877 yards, nine TDs rushing) are the Pats’ big-play threats. Knox Central’s Steve Partin (490 yards, seven TDs passing; 436 yards, seven TDs rushing) stepped in at QB at midseason. Top targets are Abram Brock (620 yards, five TDs) and Kentucky tight end recruit Gavin Chadwell (295 yards, eight TDs).
Class 5A
No. 9 Great Crossing at No. 15 Scott County.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Last meeting: Red-zone turnovers doomed Great Crossing’s Warhawks in the regular season Battle of the Birds as the Cardinals (5-5) got TDs from Jeremy Hamilton and Taylor Luttrell in the 14-6 win.
Standing out: Great Crossing (8-2) features Tennessee commit Kalib Perry who menaces as a linebacker and provides an offensive threat. UK recruiting target Oryend Fisher, an edge rusher, leads the team with 11.5 sacks. Scott County has rushed for 2,063 yards and 25 TDs featuring nine different rushing scorers led by Montago Jones’ 486 yards and six TDs. But last week, Luke Colvin (177 yards, one TD) and Jeremy Hamilton (144 yards, three TDs) carried the load.
No. 20 West Jessamine at No. 14 Collins.
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Last meeting: West Jessamine’s (4-5) rally from 14 points down in the fourth quarter fell short on a missed extra point with 3:19 to go in a 35-34 loss. Kenyon Goodin factored in all five TDs for Collins (7-3).
Standing out: Both teams feature dual-threat QBs who could be solid Mr. Football candidates in 2022. The Colts’ Jacob Jones (1,545 yards, 15 TDs passing; 486 yards, 13 TDs rushing) runs a fun-and-gun style attack with Dalton Carter (710 yards, eight TDs) as his top target. Collins’ Goodin (2,272 yards, 27 TDs passing; 808 yards, 20 TDs rushing) has been a revelation switching to QB this year after a standout sophomore year at wide receiver. His top target is Mark Hutzel (838 yards, 11 TDs).
Class 6A
No. 5 Oldham County at No. 7 Madison Central.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Last meeting: An interception and two Brad Hensley touchdowns, including a 52-yard burst — all in the fourth quarter — helped Madison Central (7-3) pull away to a 31-15 win over the Colonels (8-2).
Standing out: Oldham’s Sam Young (1,361 yards, 15 TDs passing; 732 yards, 16 TDs rushing) spearheads the offense. Six different receivers have caught scores. Madison Central’s Brady Hensley, just a sophomore, has 1,027 yards and 18 TDs rushing with Jayden West serving as the primary receiving threat (472 yards, two TDs receiving).
Other Lexington playoff games
▪ No. 22 Washington County (3-8) at No. 1 Lexington Christian (10-0), 7 p.m. Thursday: The Eagles won this Class 2A game 55-0 on Oct. 8. That’s it. That’s the note.
▪ No. 22 Montgomery County (4-6) at No. 2 Frederick Douglass (9-1), 7 p.m. Thursday: Expect the Class 5A Broncos to bounce back from a season-ending loss to Boyle County with a thrashing here. Douglass won 54-7 at Montgomery County on Oct. 22.
▪ No. 28 Clark County (3-8) at No. 3 Bryan Station (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday: The Defenders needed a last-minute field goal to beat the Cardinals 9-7 on Oct. 8. Clark County blocked a punt for a touchdown late and nearly pulled the upset. Bryan Station must clean up mistakes to avoid a shocker in 6A.
No. 29 Lafayette (2-8) at No. 15 Paul Laurence Dunbar (5-5), 7 p.m. Friday: Yes, the Generals are capable of knocking off the top-seeded Bulldogs in this Class 6A district. Any result is possible in this district, which also includes Henry Clay and Tates Creek.
No. 27 Henry Clay (1-9) at No. 23 Tates Creek (2-8), 7 p.m. Friday: The Blue Devils’ win this season came against the Commodores, 34-33 in overtime. Tates Creek comes off back-to-back losses and will be looking for redemption.
Station’s NFL alumni honored
At halftime of its game against Clark County, Bryan Station will recognize 12 former players whose careers took them to the NFL.
The program recently established a “Wall of Fame” in their honor. And this week Coach Phillip Hawkins posted a video tribute to the players on his Facebook page.
They are Brian Foster, (class of 1967), Junior Hardin (1971), Quintin Borders (2007), Darrian Miller (2011), Cornell Burbage (1983), Roy Philon (2009), Kio Sanford (1993), Eric Shelton (2001), Devon Key (2016), Marc Logan (1983), Frank LeMaster (1970) and NFL Hall of Famer Dermontti Dawson (1983).
Streaming information
Check Kentucky.com on Thursday for “Thursday Night Lights” our live stream guide to this week’s playoffs.
