Class A football finals preview: Paintsville vs. Pikeville
It’s championship weekend for the 2019 UK Orthopaedics/KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl. Here’s a look at Friday’s Class A state title game at Kroger Field.
Paintsville vs. Pikeville
Kickoff: 2 p.m. Friday
RPI ratings: No. 4 Paintsville (.69460); No. 2 Pikeville (.76144)
Cantrall Ratings: No. 3 Paintsville (63.3); No. 1 Pikeville (78.7)
Championship game history: Paintsville (0-2) — The Tigers’ last appearance was a 1985 loss to Crittenden County. Pikeville (4-3) — The Panthers lost in last year’s title game to Beechwood. Their last title win came in 2015.
How they got here: Paintsville (11-3) defeated No. 1 Kentucky Country Day on the road, 44-20. Pikeville (13-0) defeated No. 3 Louisville Holy Cross, 36-7. Among common opponents, Paintsville lost to Hazard 23-14. Pikeville beat Hazard handily twice, 42-0 and 45-12.
Quick hits: Pikeville got a grinding 9-8 victory at Paintsville back on Sept. 6 in a game the Tigers led 8-6 at halftime. The difference came down to the kicking game where the Panthers’ Tanner Hamilton made a go-ahead 26-yard field goal in the third quarter after missing an extra point in the first half. The Tigers’ Seth Trador pushed his 25-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter wide left. Paintsville got another possession down to the Pikeville 22, but failed to convert a fourth-and-2 with just over three minutes to go. The Tigers were inches short.
Paintsville standouts: Jake Hyden, Jr. QB/DB (1,585 yards, 15 TDs passing, 738 yards, 10 TDs rushing, six defensive INTs); John Walker Phelps, Sr. RB/CB, Centre commit (1,237 yards, 18 TDs rushing, 54 tackles); Karsten Poe, Jr. WR (654 yards, nine TDs receiving); Luke Hyden, Jr. LB (99 tackles).
Pikeville standouts: Isaac McNamee, So. QB (2,254 yards, 29 TDs passing); Cody Raines Sr. RB (993 yards 14 TDs rushing); Jackson Hensley, Sr. WR, Harvard commit (730 yards, 10 TDs receiving, 154 yards, one TD rushing); Jon Collum, Sr. DB (112 tackes, two sacks); Kaden Caudill, Sr. LB (102 tackles, one sack).
@HLpreps pick: Pikeville 28, Paintsville 18.
State championships
At Kroger Field in Lexington
Friday
Class A: Paintsville (11-3) vs. Pikeville (13-0), 2 p.m.
Class 3A: Belfry (10-3) vs. Bell County (14-0), 7 p.m.
Saturday
Class 2A: Mayfield (13-1) vs. Somerset (13-1), 1 p.m.
Class 4A: Boyle County (14-0) vs. Johnson Central (14-0), 4:30 p.m.
Class 5A: Covington Catholic (14-0) vs. Frederick Douglass (14-0), 8 p.m.
Sunday
Class 6A: Male (14-0) vs. Trinity (12-2), 2 p.m.
This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 8:55 AM.
