Class 3A football finals preview: Elizabethtown vs. Ashland Blazer
It’s championship weekend for the 2020 UK Orthopaedics/KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl. Here’s a look at Saturday’s Class 3A state title game at Kroger Field.
Elizabethtown (12-0) vs. Ashland Blazer (10-0)
Kickoff: 11 a.m. Saturday.
RPI ratings: No. 1 Elizabethtown (.74015); No. 2 Ashland Blazer (.65919).
Cantrall ratings: Elizabethtown (81.1); Ashland Blazer (83.9).
Championship history: Elizabethtown (1-4) — Won the Class 2A title in 1969, last appearance came in 2003; Ashland Blazer (2-2) — Won titles in 1967 and 1990, its last appearance in a finals.
How they got here: Elizabethtown defeated No. 9 Christian Academy-Louisville 39-20 in the state semifinals and had to get past No. 5 Bardstown for a district title. Ashland Blazer edged No. 7 Belfry 10-3 in the state semis and escaped No. 3 Russell 10-7 for its district championship.
Quick hits:
▪ This is the only state championship of the six featuring two undefeated teams and teams who finished the regular season ranked Nos. 1 and 2, according to the KHSAA RPI.
▪ Ashland Blazer ranks as the stingiest scoring defense in all of Kentucky high school football, having allowed only 45 points all season with four shutouts, including in its regional finals against Fleming County.
▪ However, the Tomcats have not faced an offense as balanced or prolific as Elizabethtown’s attack. The Panthers have generated nearly 5,000 yards of offense — almost equally distributed between pass and run — and E-town’s 45.1 points per game ranks sixth in the state. They can defend, too, ranking 25th in the state with 14.7 points allowed per game.
▪ Elizabethtown’s quarterback, Clay Games, a Kentucky Wesleyan commit, throws for 194 yards per game, ranking him among the state’s top 25 passers. One of his targets, wide receiver Camden Williams, ranks as a two-star recruit with offers from Air Force and Dayton among his options.
▪ Ashland Blazer running back Keontae Pittman gets three stars on his recruiting chart and recently committed to Army. Last week, Pittman was named Class 3A player of the year by the Kentucky Football Coaches Association, making him a candidate for the organization’s Mr. Football award.
Elizabethtown standouts: Clay Games Sr. QB/DB (2,130 yards/30 TDs passing/28 yards/two TDs rushing); Camran McNeil Sr. RB/LB (1,086 yards/12 TDs rushing, 85 tackles); Khia Sherrard Sr. RB (590 yards/eight TDs rushing, 655 yards/eight TDs receiving); Camden Williams, Sr. WR (580 yards/three TDs receiving); Trey Durbin, So. LB (83 tackles/three sacks).
Ashland Blazer standouts: Keontae Pittman, Sr. RB (1304 yards/21 TDs rushing); JT Garrett, Sr. RB/WR (463 yards/10 TDs rushing, 502 yards/five TDs receiving); Brett Mullins, Jr. QB (867 yards/seven TDs passing); Caleb Tackett, Sr. RB/LB (353 yards/three TDs rushing, 103 tackles/one sack); SJ Lycans, Jr. PK (38/40 PATs, 6/6 FGs).
@HLpreps pick: Elizabethtown 14, Ashland Blazer 10.
This weekend’s championships
Where: Kroger Field
Tickets: Available by advance sale at KHSAA.org. No walk-up sales.
Online: Subscription required for live video stream at KHSAA.tv. Free audio stream at KHSAA.net
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Class A: Kentucky Country Day vs. Paintsville, 11 a.m.
Class 2A: Lexington Christian vs. Beechwood, 3 p.m.
Class 4A: Boyle County vs. Franklin County, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Class 3A: Elizabethtown vs. Ashland Blazer, 11 a.m.
Class 5A: Owensboro vs. Bowling Green, 3 p.m.
Class 6A: Trinity (Louisville) vs. Male, 7 p.m.
This story was originally published December 16, 2020 at 7:25 AM.
