The Scribe
11-07-2007, 04:20 PM
Class 4A Playoff Preview
District 1
Lone Oak has been one of the state’s biggest surprises, going 10-0 (albeit against a very soft schedule) and riding a high-powered passing game triggered by quarterback Corey Robinson, who has thrown for 3,687 yards and a state-record 67 touchdowns with only four interceptions, completing 78 percent of his passes.
Robinson is 10 shy of the national single-season mark and should break it by the second round with the help of a deep stable of receivers led by junior Jamarielle Brown (63 catches for 1,129 yards and 22 TDs).
The Purple Flash has a much-improved defense, especially against the run, but has shown some vulnerability against good passing clubs.
Calloway County led Lone Oak 21-0 in the second quarter of the regular-season game, only to watch the Flash tie the score in the final seconds of regulation and prevail 34-28 in overtime. There were some postgame fireworks, and some comments made in the aftermath by the Calloway coaching staff that ensured the rematch will be one of western Kentucky’s most-anticipated games.
Calloway has a balanced attack keyed by quarterback Casey Brockman (nearly 2,006 yards and 26 TDs) and 6-3, 230-pound sophomore running back Tyrell Willis, who also anchors the Lakers’ defense at linebacker.
Receivers George Garner and Chris Dobbins have 40-plus receptions apiece.
But the Lakers will also have to get by Hopkins Central, which has an excellent corps of skill-position players.
District 4
This was one of the most fun district races to watch during the regular season — four of the six district games between Marion County, Bullitt East, North Bullitt and LaRue County were decided by a touchdown or less, and the first three have been fixtures in the BGP top 10.
Marion earned the top seed, but the Knights seemed to fade down the stretch with losses to Anderson County and Green County. Marion, led by tailback Elliott Hazelwood, showed a penchant for winning close games — five of their wins in an 8-0 start were by seven points or less.
Bullitt East recovered from a tough early-season stretch that saw the Chargers lose three one-point decisions in their first five games, all of them to teams (Woodford County, Central and Marion) that have been ranked much of the year. Bullitt East closed out the year in stronger fashion than their district rivals, playing Manual competitively before
beating Nelson County convincingly.
North Bullitt lost quarterback R.D. Reynolds to a knee injury at midseason, and his questionable status hurts the Eagles’ chances to advance far into the playoffs. Tailback Dalton Cissell (1,422 yards) leads a team that will likely have to win two road games to get to the quarterfinals.
Regional finals prediction: Lone Oak 37, Bullitt East 30
District 2
In his fourth year at Warren East, coach Ben Bruni has the Raiders in position to make a statewide splash. Quarterback Jordan Adams (2,078 yards, 23 TDs and five interceptions) leads a balanced attack and has plenty of offensive weapons at his beck and call.
The Raiders have been hurt by good passing clubs, as evidenced by losses to Owensboro Catholic and Bowling Green, but they have the athletes to make a long playoff march.
Franklin-Simpson and quarterback Courtney Dalcourt is the only hope to unseat the Raiders, but lost 34-7 to Warren East during the regular season.
District 3
Valley and Fairdale decided the top seed long ago, with the Vikings prevailing 36-34 in early September. The prospective rematch could be one of the state’s most interesting contests.
Gerwan Brewer, who plays running back and defensive back and returns kicks, is Valley’s explosive bread-and-butter player. He’s scored 19 touchdowns and also has served as the Vikings’ placekicker.
Fairdale boasts a solid passing game led by quarterback Jordon Mills and receivers Rodrick Ballard and Jaquan Ransom.
Regional finals prediction: Warren East 44, Fairdale 27
District 5
Franklin County showed there was truly life after record-setting quarterback Kaelin Ammons. Sophomore Sean Thompson stepped into Ammons’ shoes in more way than one, throwing for 2,329 yards and 23 touchdowns while also leading the Flyers in rushing. Running back Terry Metcalf is a dual threat with just over 1,000 combined yards in rushing and receiving, and Deron Hicks had 51 receptions for 1,025 yards.
The Flyers blasted Harrison County 38-6 three weeks ago to cop the top seed in the district playoffs, but Harrison is a solid club — its three losses are to ranked teams — led by quarterback Van Isaac and two-way performer Julius Talbott.
District 8
Boyd County seems like an unlikely top seed. The Lions got off to an 0-6 start, but rallied for four straight wins and beat Greenup County out for home-field advantage.
Greenup has won two of three, including an encouraging overtime loss to Mason County in the regular-season finale, after a turmoil-filled 1-6 start and benefitting from the presence from some transfers that became eligible in midseason.
Regional finals prediction: Franklin County 35, Boyd County 14
District 6
Lexington Catholic had the toughest schedule of any 4A school — its two losses are to Highlands and St. Xavier, the top-ranked teams in 5A and 6A, respectively, and the Knights have wins over three ranked ballclubs. Quarterback Nic Ward (1,775 yards, 15 TDs) runs an offense that is running on all cylinders with the return of tailback Shane Israel, who missed three games with an injury.
The Knights’ offense is anchored by a strong, veteran offensive line, and LexCath has one of the state’s better athletes in receiver-defensive back Winston Guy.
Boyle County got off to a rough start, losing their first five games against a murderous schedule that included Bowling Green, Lafayette, Henry Clay, Danville and Lexington Catholic. The Rebels lost 18-14 to LexCath, springing hope of a playoff upset.
If LexCath prevails, that could set up a quarterfinal clash with Bell County that would match up what many think are the two best teams in 4A.
District 7
Bell County’s steady march and a stingy defense that posted three shutouts and allowed just 81 points during the regular season eventually earned it the #1 spot in the BGP rankings.
And the Bobcats have legendary coach Dudley Hilton, who won a state titles at Bell County before winning another at Bourbon County and returning to Log Mountain five years ago. Hilton also passed the 300-win mark for his career a few weeks ago.
Quarterback Kyle Nelson has had a solid campaign but was injured against Tates Creek in the final game of the regular season. The Bobcats, as usual, sport a grind-it-out offense led by running backs Spencer Greer (1,221 yards) and T.R. Christopher.
Knox Central surprised some observers by beating Rockcastle County 15-0 back in September to earn the #2 seed. The Panthers host the rematch against a Rockcastle squad that has longtime coach Tom Larkey and a history of postseason success.
Regional finals prediction: Lexington Catholic 20, Bell County 14
Semifinals: Warren East 38 Lone Oak 33
Lexington Catholic 31, Franklin County 16
Championship: Lexington Catholic 27, Warren East 14
District 1
Lone Oak has been one of the state’s biggest surprises, going 10-0 (albeit against a very soft schedule) and riding a high-powered passing game triggered by quarterback Corey Robinson, who has thrown for 3,687 yards and a state-record 67 touchdowns with only four interceptions, completing 78 percent of his passes.
Robinson is 10 shy of the national single-season mark and should break it by the second round with the help of a deep stable of receivers led by junior Jamarielle Brown (63 catches for 1,129 yards and 22 TDs).
The Purple Flash has a much-improved defense, especially against the run, but has shown some vulnerability against good passing clubs.
Calloway County led Lone Oak 21-0 in the second quarter of the regular-season game, only to watch the Flash tie the score in the final seconds of regulation and prevail 34-28 in overtime. There were some postgame fireworks, and some comments made in the aftermath by the Calloway coaching staff that ensured the rematch will be one of western Kentucky’s most-anticipated games.
Calloway has a balanced attack keyed by quarterback Casey Brockman (nearly 2,006 yards and 26 TDs) and 6-3, 230-pound sophomore running back Tyrell Willis, who also anchors the Lakers’ defense at linebacker.
Receivers George Garner and Chris Dobbins have 40-plus receptions apiece.
But the Lakers will also have to get by Hopkins Central, which has an excellent corps of skill-position players.
District 4
This was one of the most fun district races to watch during the regular season — four of the six district games between Marion County, Bullitt East, North Bullitt and LaRue County were decided by a touchdown or less, and the first three have been fixtures in the BGP top 10.
Marion earned the top seed, but the Knights seemed to fade down the stretch with losses to Anderson County and Green County. Marion, led by tailback Elliott Hazelwood, showed a penchant for winning close games — five of their wins in an 8-0 start were by seven points or less.
Bullitt East recovered from a tough early-season stretch that saw the Chargers lose three one-point decisions in their first five games, all of them to teams (Woodford County, Central and Marion) that have been ranked much of the year. Bullitt East closed out the year in stronger fashion than their district rivals, playing Manual competitively before
beating Nelson County convincingly.
North Bullitt lost quarterback R.D. Reynolds to a knee injury at midseason, and his questionable status hurts the Eagles’ chances to advance far into the playoffs. Tailback Dalton Cissell (1,422 yards) leads a team that will likely have to win two road games to get to the quarterfinals.
Regional finals prediction: Lone Oak 37, Bullitt East 30
District 2
In his fourth year at Warren East, coach Ben Bruni has the Raiders in position to make a statewide splash. Quarterback Jordan Adams (2,078 yards, 23 TDs and five interceptions) leads a balanced attack and has plenty of offensive weapons at his beck and call.
The Raiders have been hurt by good passing clubs, as evidenced by losses to Owensboro Catholic and Bowling Green, but they have the athletes to make a long playoff march.
Franklin-Simpson and quarterback Courtney Dalcourt is the only hope to unseat the Raiders, but lost 34-7 to Warren East during the regular season.
District 3
Valley and Fairdale decided the top seed long ago, with the Vikings prevailing 36-34 in early September. The prospective rematch could be one of the state’s most interesting contests.
Gerwan Brewer, who plays running back and defensive back and returns kicks, is Valley’s explosive bread-and-butter player. He’s scored 19 touchdowns and also has served as the Vikings’ placekicker.
Fairdale boasts a solid passing game led by quarterback Jordon Mills and receivers Rodrick Ballard and Jaquan Ransom.
Regional finals prediction: Warren East 44, Fairdale 27
District 5
Franklin County showed there was truly life after record-setting quarterback Kaelin Ammons. Sophomore Sean Thompson stepped into Ammons’ shoes in more way than one, throwing for 2,329 yards and 23 touchdowns while also leading the Flyers in rushing. Running back Terry Metcalf is a dual threat with just over 1,000 combined yards in rushing and receiving, and Deron Hicks had 51 receptions for 1,025 yards.
The Flyers blasted Harrison County 38-6 three weeks ago to cop the top seed in the district playoffs, but Harrison is a solid club — its three losses are to ranked teams — led by quarterback Van Isaac and two-way performer Julius Talbott.
District 8
Boyd County seems like an unlikely top seed. The Lions got off to an 0-6 start, but rallied for four straight wins and beat Greenup County out for home-field advantage.
Greenup has won two of three, including an encouraging overtime loss to Mason County in the regular-season finale, after a turmoil-filled 1-6 start and benefitting from the presence from some transfers that became eligible in midseason.
Regional finals prediction: Franklin County 35, Boyd County 14
District 6
Lexington Catholic had the toughest schedule of any 4A school — its two losses are to Highlands and St. Xavier, the top-ranked teams in 5A and 6A, respectively, and the Knights have wins over three ranked ballclubs. Quarterback Nic Ward (1,775 yards, 15 TDs) runs an offense that is running on all cylinders with the return of tailback Shane Israel, who missed three games with an injury.
The Knights’ offense is anchored by a strong, veteran offensive line, and LexCath has one of the state’s better athletes in receiver-defensive back Winston Guy.
Boyle County got off to a rough start, losing their first five games against a murderous schedule that included Bowling Green, Lafayette, Henry Clay, Danville and Lexington Catholic. The Rebels lost 18-14 to LexCath, springing hope of a playoff upset.
If LexCath prevails, that could set up a quarterfinal clash with Bell County that would match up what many think are the two best teams in 4A.
District 7
Bell County’s steady march and a stingy defense that posted three shutouts and allowed just 81 points during the regular season eventually earned it the #1 spot in the BGP rankings.
And the Bobcats have legendary coach Dudley Hilton, who won a state titles at Bell County before winning another at Bourbon County and returning to Log Mountain five years ago. Hilton also passed the 300-win mark for his career a few weeks ago.
Quarterback Kyle Nelson has had a solid campaign but was injured against Tates Creek in the final game of the regular season. The Bobcats, as usual, sport a grind-it-out offense led by running backs Spencer Greer (1,221 yards) and T.R. Christopher.
Knox Central surprised some observers by beating Rockcastle County 15-0 back in September to earn the #2 seed. The Panthers host the rematch against a Rockcastle squad that has longtime coach Tom Larkey and a history of postseason success.
Regional finals prediction: Lexington Catholic 20, Bell County 14
Semifinals: Warren East 38 Lone Oak 33
Lexington Catholic 31, Franklin County 16
Championship: Lexington Catholic 27, Warren East 14