Class A region title preview: Can Sayre handle last year’s state football runner-up?
It seems with each passing week Sayre’s football team faces its “biggest game in program history.”
That will happen when your school has been playing varsity football for only four years and it goes from being a complete unknown to a district champion and one of the last eight teams standing in the Class A playoffs.
Though the No. 5 Spartans (12-0) rank higher than the visiting No. 6 Raceland Rams (9-3) in the KHSAA’s RPI standings, there are no illusions that last year’s state runners-up are an underdog in their region championship game at Sayre Athletic Complex on Friday.
Raceland quarterback Logan Lundy (1,648 yards, 21 TDs passing) and running back Noah Wallace (819 yards, 14 TDs rushing) have helped lead the Rams two two straight region titles. They are used to winning at this stage. Raceland’s three losses this season have all come against big-time programs at larger schools.
“When you play a team like Raceland, you’ve got to be able to handle their physicality,” Sayre coach Chad Pennington said. “You’ve also got to be able to handle a program that’s used to playing in championship games. … How we respond to that will be important.”
Until this season, Sayre had been in the same district as two-time defending Class A champion Pikeville, so many of this year’s Spartans have seen the level they will have to play at to beat Raceland.
Sayre quarterback Luke Pennington has thrown for 2,081 yards and 42 touchdowns with no interceptions. And the Spartans have playmakers who can hurt opponents on both sides of the ball. Brock Coffman leads the team in receiving (952 yards and 19 TDs) and interceptions (five). Charlie Slabaugh and Travis Smith lead Sayre in both rushing and tackles.
“It’s a tall task for us, but we’re excited about it,” Pennington said. “We’re going to do everything we can to put ourselves in a good position to be successful on Friday.”
Class A region championships
All games are Friday with times local to the host site.
EAST REGION FINALS
No. 6 Raceland (9-3) at No. 5 Sayre (12-0), 7:30 p.m. The Spartans will need their best game yet against last year’s state runners-up. Sayre’s rout of Paris last week makes all things seem possible. The Rams feel like a team on another level. Can Sayre play at that level?
No. 9 Middlesboro (9-2) at No. 3 Pikeville (9-2), 7:30 p.m. The Yellowjackets moved down from Class 2A this season, but the Panthers are not a regular Class A team as the seven-time state champs, including the last two in a row. Both have throttled common opponents Harlan, Paintsville and Williamsburg.
WEST REGION FINALS
No. 11 Ludlow (8-4) at No. 1 Kentucky Country Day (10-2), 7:30 p.m. Ludlow won on the road last week with district player of the year Dameyn Anness topping 100 yards rushing and causing problems on defense. KCD presents a balanced offense with Ethan Harris at QB and Lawson Cantley stepping up after the Bearcats’ top rusher got hurt.
No. 10 Newport Central Catholic (8-4) at No. 2 Campbellsville (10-1), 7:30 p.m. The Eagles’ lone loss came against Hart County, one of Class 3A’s best teams. NCC has a state championship pedigree and will be a tough out, but pulling an upset at Campbellsville will be difficult.
@HLpreps predictions for next week’s state semis: Sayre at Kentucky Country Day; Pikeville at Campbellsville.
This story was originally published November 15, 2023 at 9:30 AM.
