Week 2 preview: Clark County looking to build momentum off win in season opener
Here’s a look at some of the best high school football games of Week 2. All games are on Friday unless noted and all times are local to the home team.
Games of the Week
▪ Madison Southern (0-1) at Clark County (1-0), 7:30 p.m. Coach Joe Chirico’s second season with Clark County began with a 28-0 road win over Cooper last week, a result the Cardinals flipped from the 30-3 loss at home to those same Jaguars a year ago.
The Cardinals look to flip the script on last season as well after going 3-9 in 2021.
Chirico, who led Paintsville to a Class A state championship in 2020 before taking on the Class 6A job at George Rogers Clark, likes how the team has responded this season as it prepares to compete in a tough district that includes Herald-Leader preseason No. 4 Madison Central and No. 6 Bryan Station.
“I like the way they go about practice,” Chirico said. “The challenge is getting them to understand how I think and then me getting to understand how they think … We’re working toward that.”
Clark County got 95 yards rushing and a touchdown from running back Kalen Washington and a 35-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Kareem Grant in the win over Cooper.
The Cardinals take on a Madison Southern team under first-year head coach Mark Payne that is coming off a 2-9 season, but played a very tough Class 5A No. 9 Southwestern team to within one possession last week and got 137 yards and a touchdown receiving from Jayshaun Ethridge.
“They’re very talented,” Chirico said. “We just need to block and tackle. It’s simple stuff: block and tackle.”
▪Paul Laurence Dunbar (1-0) at Madison Central (1-0), 7:30 p.m.: The No. 4 Indians looked good in a last-second win over Lexington Christian last week as did the No. 10 Bulldogs in their victory over East Jessamine.
These teams seem pointed at another region championship game like the one Madison Central won over Dunbar 43-7 last year on its way to the Class 6A state semis. Dunbar looks more dangerous offensively, but the Indians can score with just about anyone these days.
▪Rebel Bowl: Bryan Station (0-1) at Boyle County (1-0), 8 p.m. Saturday. Bryan Station Coach Phillip Hawkins is trying to take the season-opening 52-7 loss to Frederick Douglass in stride.
“I told the kids I take ownership for that head-busting,” Hawkins said of the Douglass game. “The kids went right back to working hard … I think you’ll see some improvement this weekend.”
But it won’t be easy taking on two-time defending Class 4A champ Boyle County in Title Town. The Rebels rolled to a 50-2 win over Madison, Ind., in their season opener, getting touchdowns from six different players and 226 yards and five TDs passing by junior QB Sage Dawson.
“It’s going to be a tough game. I’m OK with it being a tough game,” Hawkins said. “Because in the end, we’re only worried about how prepared we are in November.”
▪Rebel Bowl: Mercer County (0-1) vs. Lexington Christian (0-1) (at Boyle County), 6 p.m. Saturday. The Eagles look to rebound after losing a heartbreaker to Madison Central in the closing seconds. Sophomore QB Cutter Boley threw for 367 yards and two TDs against the Indians. So, yeah, he’s good.
▪More top-10 showdowns: Covington Catholic at Pikeville, 6 p.m. Paintsville at Beechwood, 7:30 p.m. Hopkinsville at Mayfield, 7 p.m.; Middlesboro at Williamsburg, 7:30 p.m.; Central at St. Xavier, 7:30 p.m.
Rivalries of the week
▪Rail Cities Bowl: Russell at Raceland, 8 p.m. Saturday. The Class 3A Red Devils have won three in a row in this matchup of schools located just 3.3 miles apart in Greenup County. Class A No. 2 Raceland looks to have its best team in a while, tough.
▪Cross-Town Classic: Murray at Calloway County, 7 p.m. Murry has dominated this Western Kentucky city-county clash, winning 12 of the last 13 meetings.
▪More long-running feuds: Ashland Blazer at Boyd County, 7:30 p.m.; Whitley County at Corbin, 7:30 p.m.; Male at Ballard, 7 p.m.; Ryle at Conner, 7 p.m.; Southern at Moore, 7 p.m.; Apollo at Owensboro, 7 p.m.; Daviess County at Owensboro Catholic, 7 p.m.
Other Lexington games
▪Henry Clay at Lexington Catholic, 8:45 p.m. Late-night test for the Blue Devils coming off first season-opening win since 2018.
▪Frederick Douglass at Tates Creek, 6:30 p.m. Broncos look to stretch streak against city rivals to 26-0.
▪Sayre at Fort Knox, 7:30 p.m. Former Herald-Leader sports writer Josh Moore joins Angelo Carriero on the radio call at (WZNN-FM 96.1)
▪Lafayette at Scott County, 7:30 p.m. Cardinals’ win over Franklin County signals return to form after 6-6 2021 season.
Should be a good one
▪ Russellville at Glasgow, 7 p.m.
▪West Jessamine at Southwestern, 7:30 p.m.
▪Bourbon County at Belfry, 7:30 p.m.
▪Great Crossing at North Oldham, 7:30 p.m.
▪Wayne County at Pulaski County, 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 August 25, 2022 at 1:11 PM.
