Week 10: District titles at stake as LCA visits Danville, Bryan Station hosts Madison Central
Here’s a look at some of the best high school football games of Week 10, including a number of matchups that will decide district championships.
The KHSAA’s recent postseason format changes mean those titles are being decided during the regular season again after three years of being awarded in the playoffs..
All games are Friday and all times are local to the home team. Top 25 rankings listed are by Dave Cantrall.
Lexington Christian (4-4) at Danville (4-4), 7:30 p.m. Since a difficult three-game stretch of losses against No. 4 Christian Academy-Louisville, No. 3 Lexington Catholic and No. 17 Pikeville, Lexington Christian has pulled itself together and should be getting a few key players back into the lineup for the stretch run that includes Friday’s district championship game in Danville against the Admirals.
Danville had its own midseason lull, but also hit stride in district play with back-to-back wins led by Demauriah Brown, a running back turned quarterback for the last three games.
“He’s done a great job with it and been a great leader for us all season,” Danville Coach Mark Peach said.
A runner more than a thrower, Brown’s 141 yards per game ranks second in Class 2A as does his 1,128 rushing yards. He’s scored 16 rushing touchdowns in addition to a kickoff return TD and a scoop-and-score fumble return.
Brown has LCA Coach Doug Charles’ attention.
“He is a very gifted athlete that can truly beat you in multiple ways,” Charles said. “We’re not going to be able to completely negate him, but we’re going to try to make him work for what he gets and try to limit the explosive plays as much as we can.”
In snapping a four-game losing streak, Danville routed both Somerset and Washington County in the last two weeks by nearly the same margins LCA enjoyed against those district rivals.
“We’re playing better defense, right now,” Peach said. “And we’ve been able to run the ball and been good in special teams. I always like the saying, ‘You don’t have to be flashy. Just be steady.’ … If you do those three things, you give yourself an opportunity.”
Lexington Christian, on the other hand, has been able to steady itself with flash.
Sophomore quarterback Cutter Boley’s 361.6 yards per game and 2,531 total passing yards lead the state despite playing one fewer game than other top signal callers on the charts. His 20 passing TDs rank him among the top 10. He completed 36 of 57 passes for 507 yards with two TDs and two interceptions Friday against Somerset.
Charles said their wide-open passing attack is not necessarily by design.
“We see where we can exploit a defense or a particular defender and we get guys with a hot hand,” Charles said. ‘We never intended to throw the ball 55 times the other night. … But that’s what the defense gave us.”
Danville’s Peach knows his defense will be challenged.
“I think Boley’s outstanding. He can make all the throws, long, intermediate, short, has touch on the ball and can get it downfield.” Peach said. “He makes good decisions and they throw it around to a lot of different guys.”
Eight different LCA receivers have caught TD passes with Parker Chaney establishing himself as the favorite target with 993 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Chaney had an incredible 291 receiving yards against Somerset.
LCA is expected to get back leading rusher J’Vontae Emerson after an extended illness and plans to get wideout/safety Drew Nieves more involved this week as he works his way back to full-go after a knee injury in Week 2.
Danville last won a district title in 2017, the same year of its last state championship. LCA has claimed back-to-back district crowns and gone on to the state finals both times. If the moment wasn’t big enough already, Danville is also holding its senior night Friday.
“I’m excited for our seniors,” Peach said. “I told our guys yesterday a lot of guys go through their career and don’t get the opportunity to play for a district championship. We’re fortunate to be able to do that.”
Madison Central (7-1) at No. 22 Bryan Station (5-3), 7:30 p.m. The Indians looked shaky earlier in the season after standout junior running back Brady Hensley went out in Week 2 with an ankle injury, and yet they only lost one game without him.
Hensley’s 180 yards rushing and two TDs last week signaled that he’s back for Madison Central’s run at a second straight district title.
Meanwhile, the Defenders have been crushing opponents during their five-game win streak and have had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games from Jeremiah Mundy-Lloyd.
Central (5-4) at Franklin County (4-4), 7:30 p.m. Both of these teams took on brutal early schedules to prepare for this district title tilt. Franklin County’s Kentucky commit Kaden Moorman returned to the Flyers’ lineup last week after missing the previous three games. He scored twice.
Hazard (6-2) at No. 17 Pikeville (6-2), 7:30 p.m. Hazard’s playoff upset of Pikeville in 2020 remains one of the more shocking results in recent years. A Bulldogs’ win here would set the state aflutter again.
McLean County (7-1) at Owensboro Catholic (5-3), 7 p.m. The Aces have owned this series except for the 2019 district title game. And Owensboro Catholic has a pass-happy offense similar to LCA’s, which is an important note for Eagles fans down the road. McLean or Owensboro Catholic could be in LCA’s playoff path.
Rivalries of the Week
No. 23 Pulaski County (8-1) at No. 21 Southwestern (8-0), 7:30 p.m. The Warriors have won three straight in this crosstown clash that has decided the district championship each of the last two years. The Maroons have a 2,000-plus yard passer with Brysen Dugger. Southwestern favors the ground game with Tanner Wright (857 yards, 15 TDs) and Christian Walden (678 yards, nine TDs) leading the charge.
Pineville (7-1) at Harlan (6-2), 7:30 p.m. Pineville has won five straight in this 102-year-old football rivalry said to be the oldest in eastern Kentucky. Harlan had won 15 of 18 until the current streak.
Pride Bowl: Thomas Nelson (0-8) at Nelson County (5-3), 7:30 p.m. The entire community gets involved in this rivalry each year with festivities including teachers wearing player jerseys during the week and at the game. Thomas Nelson’s run of six straight wins in the series looks to be in jeopardy.
Other Lexington games
No. 3 Lexington Catholic (7-1) at Anderson County (2-6), 7:30 p.m. The Knights are looking to wrap up their first district championship since 2016. LexCath beat Anderson 50-0 last season.
Montgomery County (2-6) at No. 2 Frederick Douglass (8-0), 7:30 p.m. The Broncos have allowed four touchdowns in seven games (one win was a forfeit) with three straight shutouts, all against district rivals. Montgomery County scored a TD in both games against Douglass last year, losses of 54-7 and 57-7.
Paris (6-2) at Sayre (4-4), 7:30 p.m. Both teams are young and will have a lot coming back next year, which adds a level of interest to this one because these two could be district foes under realignment in 2023.
Tates Creek (2-6) at Henry Clay (3-5), 6:30 p.m. Despite the records, this should be a competitive game with second place in the district on the line. And that could mean a more favorable postseason opponent in two weeks.
Lafayette (0-9) at Paul Laurence Dunbar (4-4), 6:30 p.m. The Bulldogs can stretch their win streak to four heading into next week’s game against Bryan Station.
Should be a good one
Collins (6-2) at West Jessamine (3-5), 7:30 p.m. Two of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the state go at it in a game that could fatigue the scoreboard operator. Collins junior Kenyon Goodin (1,410 yards, 17 TDs passing; 896 yards, 14 TDs rushing) and West Jess senior Jacob Jones (1,760 yards, 20 TDs passing; 1,405 yards, 18 TDs rushing) can light it up.
Metcalfe County (8-0) at Green County (6-2), 7 p.m. Undefeated but lowly rated (RPI No. 12/Cantrall No. 11 in 2A) the Hornets can avenge last year’s playoff loss to the Dragons and claim the district title.
Casey County (6-2) at Glasgow (5-3), 7 p.m. A Rebels win over the Scotties, something that’s not been done in three tries, would make their district trophy shine a little brighter.
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