Who wins the Douglass-Scott Co. showdown? Predictions for every Class 5A district.
It’s district championship week in the UK Orthopaedics/KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl featuring some Kroger Field-worthy games in just the second round of the playoffs.
These are familiar foes, who, if they got in their regular-season game despite COVID-19, knew they could get a rematch and a chance to either redeem themselves or prove their dominance.
Regardless, the KHSAA starts handing out trophies this week and each week until the biggest trophy gets awarded in December.
Here’s a brief summary of the 6th District championship, plus a quick look at the rest of Friday’s Class 5A slate with predictions. All rankings are according to the final week KHSAA RPI which will be used to seed the next round.
Featured matchup
6TH DISTRICT
No. 9 Frederick Douglass (5-1) at No. 2 Scott County (7-0), 7 p.m. Friday.
Last time: Did not play due to COVID-19 cancellation.
Why Frederick Douglass will win: The chip on their shoulder. Whatever anyone says about all the Division I prospects, Kentucky commits and star power on the Broncos’ team, there’s still an edge about how they approach their opponents and the game. Their No. 9 RPI ranking, frankly, is a result of a COVID-19 abbreviated schedule and there being a lot of teams not willing to take on Douglass if given the option not to. Before last Friday’s win over Great Crossing, Douglass had played only one quarter of competitive football in more than a month. Despite Fayette County’s “red” status, there were plenty of teams still playing football — just none that wanted to square up Douglass. The Broncos are title contenders raring to be set loose and prove that their collection of top players that includes the likes of Dekel Crowdus, Dane Key, Ty Bryant, Isaiah Allen, Darius Neal, Samuel Cornett and Jager Burton doesn’t just mean scholarship offers. It means trophies.
Why Scott County will win: Discipline and defense. However much the Cardinals’ personnel changes year-over-year, the constants remain. Scott County is going to run the ball right over you and its defense is going to make it hard for you to do what you want to do. With more than 2,000 yards rushing, the Cardinals rank among the top ground attacks in the state and their scoring defense also ranks in the top 25. Montago Jones averages 146 yards per game and Campton Martin routinely finishes drives with tough yards in the red zone. On defense, Martin leads the team with six of their 10 interceptions and has two pick-sixes. In a game that could come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes, the Cardinals have only committed three turnovers all year. The Broncos have nine.
@HLpreps pick: Douglass.
The rest of the field
1ST DISTRICT
No. 10 Graves County (7-2) at No. 1 Owensboro (9-0), 7 p.m. Friday.
Last time: Host Owensboro won 42-21 on Oct. 16.
@HLpreps pick: Owensboro.
2ND DISTRICT
No. 5 Bowling Green (6-2) at No. 7 South Warren (6-0), 7 p.m. Friday.
Last time: Visiting South Warren won 10-7 on Oct. 2.
@HLpreps pick: Bowling Green.
3RD DISTRICT
No. 21 Bullitt Central (4-5) at No. 11 Fairdale (6-0), 7 p.m. Friday.
Last time: Host Fairdale won 74-34 on Sept. 26.
@HLpreps pick: Fairdale.
4TH DISTRICT
No. 18 South Oldham (5-3) at No. 8 North Bullitt (7-2), 7 p.m. Friday.
Last time: Host North Bullitt won 28-0 on Oct. 9.
@HLpreps pick: North Bullitt.
5TH DISTRICT
No. 20 Highlands (5-5) at No. 3 Covington Catholic (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday.
Last time: Host Covington Catholic won 42-0 on Oct. 16.
@HLpreps pick: Covington Catholic.
7TH DISTRICT
No. 15 Woodford County (4-2) at No. 14 Madison Southern (5-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Last time: Visiting Madison Southern won 29-27 on Oct. 9.
@HLpreps pick: Woodford County.
8TH DISTRICT
No. 4 Southwestern (9-1) at No. 6 Pulaski County (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday.
Last time: Visiting Pulaski County won 15-12 on Oct. 23.
@HLpreps pick: Southwestern.
Last year’s Class 5A district finals @HLpreps picks: 7-1.
