Final four: Get to know the 2018 Kentucky high school football semifinalists
Kentucky’s six high school football champions will be crowned at Kroger Field next weekend. But first the finals participants must be decided.
The semifinals of the KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl playoffs are this Friday. Here are the matchups, along with some details about each team.
All times are local to site. Eleven of the games are set to kick off at 7:30 p.m.; Covington Catholic at Pulaski County will begin at 6 p.m.
CLASS A
CAMPBELLSVILLE AT BEECHWOOD
Campbellsville (11-1): The Eagles’ only loss this season was to Casey County. They’ve reeled off 10 straight victories since, including last week’s 26-21 win over Crittenden County. This is their first road game in the postseason. Malachi Corley has rushed for 1,013 yards and also leads the Tigers in receiving with 766 yards on the year. He’s scored 25 total TDs (13 receiving, nine rushing, three others) and is among the team leaders with 89 total tackles.
Beechwood (10-2): It has allowed only 14 points in two playoff games following a first-round bye. The Tigers’ 49-8 win over Frankfort last week was their eighth straight win and 11th straight postseason win going back to 2016. Twenty-three of Logan Castleman’s 28 total TDs have come on the ground, where he leads Beechwood with 1,342 yards. The senior, who’s committed to play baseball at Wright State, has returned two of his three interceptions for TDs.
RACELAND AT PIKEVILLE
Raceland (11-2): The Rams staved off Paintsville on the road, 14-7, to secure their second straight semifinal bid; they converted a field goal against Pikeville as time expired to make their first finals appearance last season. Hunter Lacks leads the Rams in rushing (1,029 yards, 11 TDs) while quarterback Jacob Heighton has completed 63 percent of his passes (111 of 176) for 1,823 yards, 25 TDs and only three interceptions.
Pikeville (10-2): An already-potent offense went up another level in the postseason, in which the Panthers have scored 53.6 points per game. Quarterback Connor Roberts is a triple-threat: he’s thrown for 22 TDs, rushed for 15 and plays defensive back for the Panthers, who were the last team to defeat Beechwood in the playoffs (for the 2015 state title). Christian Billiter has a team-high six interceptions this season.
CLASS 2A
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF LOUISVILLE AT SOMERSET
CAL (13-0): Only Central, a Class 3A contender, has allowed fewer points this season than the 78 the Centurions have given up (an average of six points per game). Only DeSales — another top-ranked 2A team — has scored on them this postseason, and that was in a 34-7 loss last week. Harrison Zimmerman crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the season in that win over DeSales and has rushed for 16 TDs. Brandt Babin, who’s played in only nine games, isn’t far behind him with 740 yards and 12 TDs on 45 fewer carries.
Somerset (11-2): The Briar Jumpers rallied for a 35-31 win over an inexperienced Lexington Christian squad last week to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2013. They’ve been shut out only once this season — a 28-0 defeat at Beechwood in August — and have allowed just 116 yards per game to their opponents. Six players have scored at least five TDs this season for Somerset but Alex Miller, its leading rusher at 921 yards, leads the way with 15 total.
MAYFIELD AT WALTON-VERONA
Mayfield (13-0): It’s clear that the Cardinals want to make amends for last year’s loss in the finals: They’ve averaged a class-best 48.8 points per game and 56 points a night in the playoffs. Jaden Stinson has been productive and precise, completing 121 of his 183 pass attempts for 32 TDs and nearly 2,600 yards with only four interceptions on the year. Kent Trey Matthews leads the equally-effective rushing attack with 27 TDs and 1,604 of Mayfield’s 2,234 yards on the ground.
Walton-Verona (11-2): An 18-14 upset of Glasgow put the Bearcats in the semifinals for the first time in school history. They’ve done their damage by committee: they’ve rushed for about 3,000 yards this season but have no single standout. Eleven players have rushed for a TD and six have gone for at least 100 yards. Peyton Smith (674 yards, 10 TDs) and Micah Alford (654 yards, 12 TDs) lead the way. Grant Gubbs has recorded 112 total tackles (90 solo) and 25.5 tackles for loss to go along with 7.5 sacks.
CLASS 3A
LARUE COUNTY AT CENTRAL
LaRue County (8-5): The Hawks reached the semifinals in spectacular fashion, overcoming a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit at Elizabethtown to win their first region title since 1991. Anthony Adkins, a Louisville commit, scored LaRue County’s final two TDs and has 30 on the season. He’s rushed for 1,906 yards and scored 15 two-point conversions. LaRue County has accumulated more than 4,000 yards total on the ground.
Central (11-2): They’re tops in the state in points allowed at 5.7 per game, but the Yellow Jackets have been even better in the postseason: they’ve yet to surrender a point through three games and have given up just two TDs since September ended. Their only losses were to Ballard (27-20) and St. Xavier (20-19), both 6A programs. Central has made 21 interceptions, eight of them returned for TDs. Quintez Payton leads the way with eight picks, four of them taken back for scores.
BOYLE COUNTY AT CORBIN
Boyle County (13-0): The Rebels have scored at least 40 points in all but three of their games, and two of those were against 6A competition (the other was a 34-17 win over rival Danville). A week after winning in one of the toughest environments to win (41-24 at Belfry), they’ll again travel, this time to face the team they eliminated for last year’s state title. Multiple future college football stars are scattered in their ranks, led by two-way junior Reese Smith (1,172 receiving yards, 20 TD receptions, three interceptions, one TD interception return).
Corbin (12-1): Three of the Redhounds’ wins were against teams still in the hunt for a title, including Class A favorite Beechwood. Passes aplenty could be thrown between Corbin and Boyle; Redhounds quarterback Chase Estep has thrown for 2,590 yards and 36 TDs with only four interceptions on 144 of 213 passing this season. The UK baseball commit also leads the team with eight rushing TDs. Jacob Steely has caught 46 of Estep’s throws for 847 yards and 10 TDs.
CLASS 4A
KNOX CENTRAL AT JOHNSON CENTRAL
Knox Central (10-3): The Panthers flipped the script on Franklin County last week, shifting from a 42-20 loss in the regular season to a 13-7 overtime win for a regional title, their first in program history. Knox Central’s defense has come up with 34 turnovers — 20 interceptions and 14 fumbles — and registered more than 1,000 tackles as a unit, led by Tucker Holland (176) and Trace Floyd (121). Blevin Campbell and Dane Imel have picked off passers seven times each, and Holland is tied with Michael Bays for the team lead in sacks (seven).
Johnson Central (12-1): Since dropping its season opener, 28-21, to Capital — a team that’ll play in West Virginia’s top-level state semifinals this week — the Golden Eagles have made quick work of just about every team on their schedule. Joe Jackson, who missed out on last season’s run to the finals, has rushed for 2,024 yards and 27 TDs while Devin Johnson had produced 1,093 yards and 13 scores on almost 100 fewer carries (89 to Jackson’s 188).
FRANKLIN-SIMPSON AT TAYLOR COUNTY
Franklin-Simpson (12-1): It got a test from Madisonville last week but the defending 4A champ came out on the winning end of a 12-10 decision. The Wildcats boast two of the best rushers in the class with Tre Bass (1,712 yards, 28 TDs) and Carlos McKinney (1,409 yards, 18 TDs), and have rushed for 4,311 yards as a team. Three defenders have been involved in more than 100 tackles for Franklin-Simpson: Michael Punzalan (116, 16 for loss), Connor Rogers (107, 22) and Collin Preston (105, 27).
Taylor County (12-1): The Cardinals upset Moore, 22-17, to win their first region title since 1999 and extend their win streak to 10 games since dropping one at rival Campbellsville. Tre Goodin — the brother of Xavier basketball star Quentin Goodin — has rushed for 14 TDs along with Wes Oliver, the team leader in rushing yardage with 1,128. Taylor County’s interior defense has produced 39 sacks this season, six each coming from Logan Parker and Matthew Oliver.
CLASS 5A
COVINGTON CATHOLIC AT PULASKI COUNTY
Covington Catholic (13-0): While not as stingy as last season’s, CovCath’s defense has had plenty to write home about in 2018. The Colonels have shut out three of their last four opponents, including a 36-0 rout over rival Highlands, who earlier in the season played them within a touchdown. Sophomore Caleb Jacob has stepped up well in the quarterback spot — 2,306 yards and 23 TDs with only five picks — but Casey McGinness is the superstar on offense. The senior has rushed for 1,774 yards and 29 of the team’s 44 rushing TDs. Junior Michael Mayer — a Notre Dame commit — has team-highs with 10 TD receptions and 74 tackles.
Pulaski County (11-2): Wiley Cain, whose past two seasons ended in surgeries (broken collar bone as a sophomore, torn labrum as a junior), has been superb as a senior, tossing for 3,738 yards and 33 TDs. A third of his completions have been to Jake Sloan, who’s got 1,552 yards and 12 TD grabs on 109 catches. Tristan Cox — a sophomore committed to UK — has rushed for a team-high 20 TDs and recorded 103 tackles for the Maroons, who became region champs for the fifth time in the last six seasons after a 13-6 win over rival Southwestern last week.
SOUTH WARREN AT SOUTH OLDHAM
South Warren (13-0): It took the Spartans only two seasons to claim a region title as a 5A school, and they’re favored to make their first trip to the title game as one. South Warren has allowed a class-best 9.1 points per game and scored at the best clip in the class (44.0). Gavin Spurrier — the grandson of former college football coach Steve Spurrier — has thrown for 1,977 yards and 33 TDs with only three interceptions as a senior. Clayton Bush, a WKU commit, has reeled in nine of those TD throws, rushed for eight scores on only 16 carries and leads the team with seven interceptions. Jacob Lacey, a defensive tackle who’s headed to Notre Dame, has 10 sacks.
South Oldham (12-1): Class 2A favorite Christian Academy of Louisville was the only team to beat the Dragons this season, and that was in their first game. Their offense is right behind South Warren’s (43.7) but relies much less on passing; South Oldham has rushed for 3,700 yards this season while throwing for just 1,074. Keaton Martin leads the way with 1,432 yards and 18 TDs on 152 carries. Three Dragons — JT Benson, John Downing and Cade White — have recorded four interceptions apiece.
CLASS 6A
TRINITY AT MALE
Trinity (7-6): The Shamrocks would have to make the state finals to be guaranteed a non-losing season, and lately the two-time defending champs have looked like a team capable of making it three in a row. They allowed only 8 total yards to Ballard in a 50-0 win for their third straight region title to set up a date with Male, the last team not named “Trinity” to don the 6A crown. The Shamrocks have won six straight games since losing six of their first seven — including a 17-3 home loss to Male.
Male (12-1): The Bulldogs rank first in offense (37.8 points per game) and defense (7.7) in Class 6A and last week avenged their only loss, winning 20-10 at St. Xavier. Garrett Dennis in his first year starting at quarterback has emerged as a dark horse for the Mr. Football award: He’s thrown for 31 TDs with only five interceptions and leads Male with 784 yards and 13 TDs on 145 rushes. Izayah Cummings — a junior with offers from UK, Louisville, Duke, Indiana and Cincinnati — has 10 TD catches.
MADISON CENTRAL AT SCOTT COUNTY
Madison Central (10-3): An extra point made the difference in the Indians’ 28-27 double-overtime win against Conner, giving them their first region title in school history and back-to-back come-from-behind victories in the playoffs. Freddy Chanault has rushed for team-highs of 1,113 yards and 18 TDs. Jackson Juett has been involved in 130 total tackles and leads the Indians with three sacks. Kenton Humphrey has a team-high four interceptions.
Scott County (10-3): Class 6A’s road warriors will get to host their first home game of the postseason with a bid to the state championship game on the line. Austin Barnett leads a high-octane rushing attack with 1,553 yards and 23 TDs, but Bronson Brown isn’t too far behind in either category (1,308 yards, 16 TDs). Bryan Hudson — who will throw discus and shot put for the track-and-field team at Virginia Tech in addition to playing football — has a team-high eight sacks while Glenn Covington leads the team in receiving (366 yards, six TDs) and interceptions (three).
This story was originally published November 18, 2018 at 10:59 PM.