Class A football playoffs: Will Paintsville finish off undefeated run?
Paintsville’s in familiar territory as it opens the postseason against Paris on Friday.
The Tigers, slightly ahead of Beechwood for the No. 1 spot in the newest Cantrall Ratings, enter the playoffs undefeated after accomplishing the same feat a year ago. Last year’s edition succumbed to eventual champion Pikeville in the 2015 state semifinals as Mr. Football winner Kash Daniel watched from the sidelines with an MCL sprain. This year’s edition doesn’t have Daniel, but it does have star running back Kent Phelps, who’s accumulated 1,245 yards and 21 touchdowns so far.
Raceland, whom Paintsville defeated in overtime on the road last month, is a No. 2 seed but boasts the strongest bid for a regional matchup with the Tigers. The Rams would have to first get past Bishop Brossart at home and Nicholas County on the road, two teams that tied for the regular-season title in the 5th District. The Blue Jackets (9-1) won the tie-breaker and earned a bye to the second round.
Bracken County, which also tied with Bishop Brossart and Nicholas County, hosts Fairview as an underdog in the Cantrall Ratings. It is the first home playoff game for the Polar Bears (8-2) in the program’s 13-year history; they’ve never won a postseason contest.
Pikeville, whose only losses this season were to Paintsville and Class 3A title-favorite Belfry, is favored to beat Hazard in the regional round before hosting Paintsville in a state semifinals rematch. Wyatt Battaile has thrown for 1,450 yards and 17 touchdowns for the reigining champs. He’s also grabbed a team-best three interceptions on defense.
Beechwood, which won at Russellville in the state semifinals last year, is again expected to meet the Panthers in that round. Beechwood and Pikeville both have home-field advantage until the state finals if they win out. The Tigers fell 42-28 to Pikeville in last year’s finals.
Josh Moore: 859-231-1307, @HLpreps
Class A football playoffs
First round: Nov. 4 (at high seed)
Second round: Nov. 11 (at high seed)
Regionals: Nov. 18 (at high seed)
State semifinals: Nov. 25 (at Region 2 and Region 4 sites)
State finals: Dec. 2 (at Western Kentucky University)
This story was originally published November 1, 2016 at 7:23 PM with the headline "Class A football playoffs: Will Paintsville finish off undefeated run?."