Week 5 preview: Boyle County faces test at Bowling Green; Belfry takes on Pikeville
Here’s a look at some of the best high school football games of Week 5. 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. 3 Boyle County (4-0) at No. 13 Bowling Green (4-0), 6:30 p.m. The Rebels welcomed Class 6A Henderson County to Danville last Friday and got all the game they wanted.
“I’m proud of our team. It was 17-17 to start the fourth and (Henderson) had the momentum,” Boyle County Coach Justin Haddix said. “We really kind of took it over after that when we could have laid down or let them go.”
Boyle, which won that game 31-17, hits the road to take on one of Class 5A’s best teams this week. Bowling Green won the 5A title in 2020 and appears primed for another run.
In last week’s 35-6 win at Hopkinsville, Purples QB Deuce Bailey threw for 278 yards and three TDs and had a 101-yard receiver on the end of two of those in Easton Barlow.
“The quarterback’s a sophomore and he’s gotten a lot more comfortable. They have some skill guys that are playing really well, and their defense is always good, too,” Haddix said. “They’re athletic. It’s going to be a challenge for us.”
Haddix has some skill guys as well. Sage Dawson has thrived at quarterback for Boyle County.
“From the third quarter on, it’s like he’s been a different kid,” Haddix said. “He’s got confidence and he played at a different level and started taking some shots.”
Last week, Dawson threw two fourth quarter TDs to sophomore wideout/safety Montavin Quisenberry, a Garrard County transfer who has been a revelation on both sides of the ball for the Rebels. Quisenberry also had an interception in that decisive fourth quarter.
“He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands and he’s such a violent cutter that the first guy usually doesn’t tackle him,” Haddix said. “He’s got great ball skills, a great understanding of running routes. He’s just a football player.”
Excluding Danville, each of Boyle County’s non-district opponents has been from a bigger class. That’s by design. Haddix learned something about his team last week.
“We’re going to fight. We’re going to compete. When things go bad, we’re just going to plug away,” Haddix said. “And that’s what you want to see out of your team at this point. You want to get punched in the mouth and see how you’re going to react to it, and I feel like our group has done a great job.”
▪ No. 14 Lexington Christian (2-2) at No. 12 Lexington Catholic (3-1), 7:30 p.m. The Eagles have a three-game win streak in what has become the city’s best football rivalry in its short history. The series is tied 4-4. LCA sophomore quarterback Cutter Boley suffered an ankle injury last week, and his status for the game is uncertain.
▪ No. 5 Beechwood (4-0) at No. 9 Covington Catholic (3-1), 7 p.m. The Class 5A Colonels have dominated this Northern Kentucky series against the Class 2A Tigers over the years, but the smaller team from Fort Mitchell won last year, 27-7. Mitchell Berger has already racked up 621 yards rushing and 11 TDs for the Tigers in four games.
▪ No. 10 Male (1-2) at Trinity (3-1), 7:30 p.m. The Shamrocks aren’t ranked because they haven’t faced the Cantrall-required two in-state teams yet. But wins over two Indiana giants (Carmel and Center Grove) and Cincinnati’s La Salle, signal that the Bulldogs could have a third-straight loss in store, something that hasn’t happened to Male since 2012.
▪ Spencer County (4-0) at Bardstown (4-0), 7:30 p.m. The Bears are off to their best start since 2015. Bardstown got a huge district win over Elizabethtown last week.
Rivalries of the week
▪ Belfry (2-2) at Pikeville (1-2), 7:30 p.m. Don’t let the records fool you, these two remain among the best teams in their respective classes and will be championship contenders come November. Pikeville is led by running back Blake Birchfield (95.7 yards per game, four TDs). Belfry’s rushing machine counters with Dre Young (145.8 yards per game, four TDs) and a host of others.
▪ The Border War: Washington County (1-3) at Marion County (1-2), 7:30 p.m. The Commanders have won three straight in this longstanding southcentral Kentucky rivalry for the “Rob Reader Memorial Barrel.” A Washington County win Friday would even the series 24-24.
▪ Army Bowl: Fort Knox (2-2) at Fort Campbell (1-2), 7 p.m. Fort Knox has won two straight in this series between Army post schools after 16 years of domination by the Falcons.
▪ Others of note: Newport Central Catholic at Holy Cross (Covington), 7 p.m.; South Fulton (Tenn.) at Fulton County, 7 p.m.; North Hardin at John Hardin, 7:30 p.m.; Christian County at Hopkinsville, 7 p.m.; South Oldham at Oldham County, 7:30 p.m.
Other Lexington games
▪ No. 3 Frederick Douglass (4-0) at Henry Clay (2-2), 6:30 p.m. Broncos get one more tune-up ahead of their Sept. 23 district showdown with Scott County. The Blue Devils are improved but will need a gargantuan effort to make Douglass 28-1 against city rivals.
▪ No. 16 Scott County (3-0) at Paul Laurence Dunbar (1-3), 7:30 p.m. The Cardinals have won 14 straight in this annual series and cruised to a 55-0 win last season.
▪ Tates Creek (1-3) at Bryan Station (0-3), 6:30 p.m. The Defenders will be looking to prove they are the best 0-3 team in the state. (They are).
▪ Also: Sayre (2-1) at Dayton (2-2), 7:30 p.m.; Lafayette (0-4) at Madison Central (4-0), 7:30 p.m.
Should be a good one
▪ No. 12 Woodford County (4-0) at Franklin County (1-3), 7:30 p.m. The Flyers will need to resolve their ball security issues (seven turnovers in the last two games) in order to keep up with the red-hot Yellow Jackets.
▪ Frankfort (3-1) at Bracken County (3-0), 7:30 p.m. How will the Panthers’ wide-open offense fare on the road after putting up 81 points last week?
▪ Bourbon County (1-3) at Great Crossing (4-0), 7:30 p.m. The Colonels are better than their record indicates and could prove it with a win at the Birds Nest.
▪ Paducah Tilghman (2-1) at South Warren (1-2), 7 p.m. The Blue Tornado faces a stern test against the defending Class 5A champions.
▪ Others of note: Highlands at Ryle, 7:30 p.m.; Taylor County at Campbellsville, 7:30 p.m.; No. 23 Central Hardin at Henderson County, 7 p.m.; Harlan at Middlesboro, 7:30 p.m.; Barren County at North Laurel, 7:30 p.m.; Floyd Central at Prestonsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Check Kentucky.com on Friday for the latest audio and video streaming information for your favorite team.
