These are the best Kentucky football Class 4A games each week in 2020
READ MORE
2020 Kentucky high school football preview
The 2020 high school football season kicked off Friday, Sept. 11. High school sports beat writer Jared Peck wrote numerous stories in the Herald-Leader and on Kentucky.com previewing the season around the city, region and state and highlighting the top players and games and rankings. Click below to read all of his stories in case you missed any of them.
Expand All
Franklin County had a double obstacle to its season goals in 2019, but it carried the same name.
Louisville’s Central Yellow Jackets jumped into the Flyers’ district up from Class 3A where they had just won their sixth state title. But the new classification wasn’t the only twist.
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association also revamped the playoff format last year to make district foes square off against each other again in the playoffs before having a chance to advance further in the postseason. That meant one of the 4th District’s two best teams wouldn’t make the regional unlike in past years.
It’s a dilemma every coach faces again this season and the Franklin County-Central matchup is, again, one of the toughest games in Kentucky high school football’s Class 4A.
Flyers Coach Eddie James didn’t mind the new competition or the new rules, but the 18-7 loss in the district finals after beating Central in the regular season and gaining home-field advantage still stung.
“It’s one of those deals where as a coach, you want to win that (regular season) game because you want to play the second one at home,” James said. “But at what cost? How much do you want to show in the regular season to turn around and have to play them again in the playoffs and have emptied your tool chest so to say.”
Unfortunately, for the playoff rematch, the Flyers were without starting quarterback Nick Broyles, who was injured in the previous game. The true dual-threat QB (2,437 passing yards, 959 rushing yards and 43 TDs) is back for his senior season.
We don’t make any excuses,” James said of the loss. “Jade Madison stepped in and played well and did an admirable job, but you lose your one of your best players, it’s tough.”
James knows Central isn’t going anywhere, and the road to a possible state championship for Franklin County will have to go through them.
“We just talk to our kids about playing at the highest level and think the rest will take care of itself,” James said.
Here are some of the other best games in Class 4A this season against teams at or above these teams in Kentucky’s class division system. For 4A games against top Class A, 2A or 3A opponents, see those respective stories.
All times listed are local to site.
Week 1 (Sept. 11)
Game of the week: Southwestern at No. 6 Wayne County, 7:30 p.m. This Lake Cumberland special features Class 5A’s No. 10 Warriors who rallied late in the season for a district title. Wayne County has Braedon Sloan, however, one of the best running backs in the state, who rushed for an incredible 2,804 yards and 48 TDs as a junior.
Henderson County at No. 9 Hopkinsville, 7 p.m. Hoptown dropped this rare matchup with the 6A Colonels last year, 28-13. The two have played only three times this century. With leading rusher Jayden Dillard back, Hopkinsville could be ready for them in 2020.
Harlan County at Knox Central, 7:30 p.m. Both of these teams got enough votes to put them just outside the Herald-Leader preseason top 10.
Week 2 (Sept. 18)
Game of the week: No. 3 Central at South Warren, 7 p.m. A true test for the Yellow Jackets at Class 5A No. 5 South Warren. Each team’s last state title came in 2018.
Woodford County at No. 4 Franklin County, 7:30 p.m. It’s been a slow build for Former Cat Dennis Johnson at Woodford County, but the Yellow Jackets had their best season yet in 2019 with a winning record for the first time since 2011.
No. 6 Wayne County at Harlan County, 7:30 p.m. This is Harlan County’s chance to make some noise.
North Hardin at John Hardin, 7:30 p.m. This game seems lopsided toward the Class 6A No. 4 Trojans, who are, of course, loaded. But county rivalries are a tricky thing and John Hardin has gotten its licks in every now and then.
Week 3 (Sept. 25)
Game of the week: No. 1 Johnson Central at Simon Kenton, 7:30 p.m. The defending champion Golden Eagles try to bite off Class 6A’s No. 8 Pioneers and we’ll see how repeat ready they are against a district champ who has a healthy dual-threat QB back in Chase Crone. Johnson Central returns title game MVP Dylan Preston.
No. 2 Boyle County at Highlands, 7:30 p.m. It’s apparently “Visit a bigger class powerhouse week.” Highlands is No. 7 preseason in Class 5A. This will be a tough road test for the Rebels’ new coach, Justin Haddix.
No. 5 Corbin at Bowling Green, 7 p.m. Continuing the theme, the Redhounds travel to Class 5A’s No. 3 Purples.
Allen County-Scottsville at Franklin-Simpson, 7 p.m. This game could vault the winner into regular-season rankings consideration. Both are looking to have bounce-back seasons.
No. 8 Madisonville at Logan County, 7 p.m. One of Logan’s best players is nicknamed “Rooster.” Anthony Woodard had 818 yards and 14 TDs receiving last year and has a number of Division I college offers. Plus, Logan County has 16 starters back. The Maroons are a bit of a mystery after losing one of the state’s top rushers.
Week 4 (Oct. 2)
Game of the week: No. 9 Hopkinsville at Logan County, 7 p.m.
Week 5 (Oct. 9)
Game of the week: No. 2 Boyle County at No. 7 Lexington Catholic, 7:30 p.m. Both teams lost offensive standouts. It will be interesting to see how each has reloaded.
No. 8 Madisonville at No. 9 Hopkinsville, 7 p.m.
Knox Central at No. 5 Corbin, 7:30 p.m. Knox Central has 19 seniors and Coach Fred Hoskins believes they have the experience and talent to make a leap this season. Senior Brady Worley is already the program’s all-time leading passer. The Redhounds feature standout running back Treyveon Longmire and wide receiver Dakota Patterson.
Logan County at No. 10 Franklin-Simpson, 7 p.m. If the Cougars are serious, this week will prove it.
Week 6 (Oct. 16)
Game of the week: No. 9 Hopkinsville at McCracken County, 7 p.m. The Tigers like to play 6A teams with some pop, apparently. The Mustangs can light up a scoreboard.
No. 1 Johnson Central at Harlan County, 7:30 p.m. The game where the Black Bears must take a stand in the 8th District.
No. 4 Franklin County at Waggener at 7:30 p.m. A district rivalry game that cannot be overlooked. The Wildcats hit a skid at the end of 2019, and will be looking to build around sophomore QB Josh Steineker.
Week 7 (Oct. 23)
Game of the week (a): No 3 Central at No. 4 Franklin County, 7:30 p.m.
Game of the week (b): No. 5 Corbin at No. No. 6 Wayne County, 7:30 p.m.
Week 8 (Oct. 30)
Game of the week: No. 3 Central at Fern Creek, 7:30 p.m. This looks like a mismatch against Class 6A’s No. 7 Fern Creek, but the Yellow Jackets have taken two of the last three — and handily. The Tigers have most of their offense back, including 1,100 yard rusher Terrance Mitchell.
Madison Southern at No. 2 Boyle County, 7:30 p.m. Class 5A’s Eagles are coming off a district championship and have a dangerous running back in AJ Jones.
No. 7 Lexington Catholic at Frederick Douglass, 7:30 p.m. The Class 5A No. 2 Broncos are scary on paper: Seven UK offers and several more Division I-caliber players. Last year, LexCath hung with them for a half with their best QB in years. Then Douglass dropped the hammer. It remains to be seen if Douglass has that gear again.
Week 9 (Nov. 6)
Game of the week: Covington Catholic at No. 7 Lexington Catholic, 7 p.m. If the Knights survived last year’s Class 5A runner-up, they should be ready for the team that beat them. CovCath is ranked No. 1 preseason.
No. 6 Wayne County at Pulaski County, 7:30 p.m. The Maroons swooned late last season after an injury to their QB. This was a tight game last year with the Cardinals taking a 35-27 loss in August.
No. 9 Hopkinsville at Bowling Green, 7 p.m. Sure, tuneup for the playoffs against a Class 5A power, Hoptown.
Danville at Boyle County, 7:30 p.m. We mentioned this game in our Class 2A story. But if we left it out here, we’d be told what idiots we are. Regardless of our mental acumen, this Title Town matchup must be highlighted on the calendar.
This story was originally published September 8, 2020 at 10:09 AM.
