Week 4 preview: Footballs will fly in CAL-LCA showdown; Scott County hosts Bryan Station
Here’s a look at some of the best high school football games of Week 4. All games are on Friday unless noted and all times are local to the home team. Rankings are by Dave Cantrall.
Games of the Week
▪ No. 8 Christian Academy-Louisville (3-0) at No. 10 Lexington Christian (2-1), 7:30 p.m. Centurions Coach Hunter Cantwell knows his team won’t face the same kind of LCA attack that handed them a 37-14 loss at home last season, but it might be just the kind of offense to get them ready for the playoffs.
“They are putting up ungodly numbers in the air,” Cantwell said. “Anytime a team is that efficient in the passing game that changes your approach because a lot of teams don’t have that capability.”
LCA sophomore QB Cutter Boley is averaging a state-best 340 yards per game passing to go with nine TDs tosses and two rushing scores over the first three games for last year’s Class 2A state finalists.
That goes up against a CAL team that has shut out its first three opponents in blowouts and knows it will need to defend the pass well in the playoffs after getting upset by a pass-happy and red-hot Paducah Tilghman team in last year’s Class 3A region finals.
“We’re doing a lot more one-on-ones this week, a lot more seven-on-sevens and trying to find different ways to get into the coverages we like to run,” Cantwell said.
Cantwell’s QB is no slouch either. Cole Hodge has thrown for 204 yards per game and nine TDs and rushed for another.
“He’s phenomenal,” Cantwell said. “He’s completing over 80 percent of his passes, and a lot of those throws are with guys in his face or he’s getting hit as he’s releasing. He’s fitting those in tight windows. … I couldn’t be more pleased with the strides he’s made from his sophomore year to his junior year. He’s getting a lot of Division I interest and I think he’s very worthy of it.”
Justin Ruffin has become Hodge’s primary target with 228 yards and five TDs receiving, and brother Connor Hodge has also topped 100 yards with a TD catch so far. Despite Ruffin’s offensive prowess, Cantwell says Ruffin prefers the defensive side of the ball, making this week’s matchup one he can’t wait for.
“We just haven’t had any competition that’s really tested him at defensive back,” Cantwell said. “I know he’s really excited to get to go play LCA’s passing attack.”
Lexington Christian will continue to be without fifth-year senior Drew Nieves, who switched from QB to wideout/safety this season. Nieves suffered an MCL strain against Mercer County two weeks ago, but his prognosis for a return later this season is good, LCA Coach Doug Charles said.
The Eagles will be breaking in their new artificial turf for this Asbury Bowl matchup. LCA also garnered White, Greer & Maggard Orthodontists as a name sponsor for its football stadium this season.
▪ Bryan Station (0-2) at No. 16 Scott County (2-0), 7:30 p.m. The Cardinals finished an un-Scott County like 6-6 a season ago and will take on a Defenders team whose 0-2 record speaks more to the quality of the competition they’ve faced (No. 2 Boyle County and No. 3 Frederick Douglass) than it does to the quality of the team on Lexington’s north side.
“They’re really talented,” Scott County Coach Jim McKee said. “Jason Hocker is a really good linebacker, (Bryan Station quarterback) Trenton Cutwright can hurt you with his legs. … I think they’ve got six or seven guys with offers. We’re looking forward to it.”
McKee believes this year’s edition of Red Heat is better than last year and they’ve already proven it with a top 25 win over Franklin County, a team that routed them a year ago. The Defenders nipped Scott County 25-21 in 2021.
“We had a better summer and a much more efficient fall camp,” McKee said. “The challenge is to continue to move forward. But I like our team.”
Jacob Fryman rushed for 104 yards and two TDs against Franklin County in the opener and became a goal line specialist against Lafayette with three short-yardage scores. Sophomore quarterback Andrew Hickey popped for 183 yards and two TDs passing against the Generals, making the most of Scott County’s wing-T run-mostly offense. Isaac York caught both scores and topped 80 yards receiving along with Elijah Lilly.
“Fryman’s just a typical Scott County fullback,” McKee said. “He’s 5-8, loves to hunt and fish and throws his shoulder pads on over whatever shirt he wore to school that day. He’s real blue collar and helps make us go.”
▪ No. 17 Franklin County (1-2) at No. 5 Ballard (3-0), 7 p.m. The Bruins raised eyebrows across the state two weeks ago with a rare win over Male. The Flyers step up in class for the second week out of four to try to prepare for the postseason and shake off last week’s 40-20 loss to Corbin.
▪ No. 24 Pulaski County (3-0) at No. 7 Corbin (3-0), 7:30 p.m. The Pirates and Redhounds are both off to hot starts, but Corbin has more impressive wins over two ranked foes in the early going. Pulaski will look to avenge last year’s 49-6 drubbing,
▪ Elizabethtown (3-0) at Bardstown (3-0), 7:30 p.m. This high stakes district battle between two of Class 3A’s best teams could mean a trophy and a top playoff seed by season’s end. And it’s just Week 4.
Rivalries of the week
▪ Battle for the Barrel: East Carter (3-0) at West Carter (0-2), 7:30 p.m. It’s the 52nd edition of this contest between the Grayson and Olive Hill communities, a landmark event each year in Carter County. The Comets are looking to take the trophy barrel West for the third year in a row.
▪ Battle of Highway 32: Rowan County (1-2) at Fleming County (2-1), 7:30 p.m. There’s been a different winner in this rivalry each of the last four years. Rowan won last year, 47-26.
▪ Others of note: Montgomery County (0-2) at Clark County (3-0), 7:30 p.m.; John Hardin (0-3) at No. 23 Central Hardin (3-0), 7:30 p.m.; North Oldham (1-2) at South Oldham (0-3), 7:30 p.m.; Bishop Brossart (2-1) at Covington Holy Cross (1-2), 7 p.m.; No. 11 Owensboro (2-1) at Owensboro Catholic (1-2), 7 p.m.
Other Lexington games
▪ Paul Laurence Dunbar (1-2) at No. 3 Frederick Douglass (3-0), 6:30 p.m. The Douglass streak over city teams stands at 27-0.
▪ Tates Creek (1-2) at No. 12 Woodford County (3-0), 7:30 p.m.
▪ Pleasure Ridge Park (2-1) at No. 14 Lexington Catholic (2-1), 7:30 p.m.
▪ Madison Southern (0-3) at Lafayette (0-3), 7:30 p.m.
▪ Eastern (1-2) at Henry Clay (1-2), 7:30 p.m.
▪ Bye week: Sayre (2-1).
Should be a good one
▪ Whitaker Bank Game: Danville (2-1) at Mercer County (1-2), 7:30 p.m. A home win over the Admirals could boost Coach Craig Yeast’s Titans as they prepare for a difficult remaining schedule that includes No. 21 Southwestern and No. 8 Christian Academy-Louisville.
▪ No. 15 Bowling Green (3-0) at Hopkinsville (1-2), 7 p.m.
▪ No. 20 Raceland (3-0) at Highlands (1-2), 7 p.m.
▪ Central (1-2) at Belfry (1-2), 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 8, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
