Bluegrasspreps
11-05-2009, 12:21 PM
Class 1A Football Playoff Preview
Region 1
Last year was much more the exception than the rule, when Mayfield was handed its head twice by Crittenden County and the Rockets advanced to the state semifinals.
This season, the first meeting produced a 42-7 victory for the 2nd-ranked Cardinals that exposed how vulnerable Crittenden was to a speed corps that may the best and deepest in Class A.
Even with an injury and/or a disciplinary issue that may sideline running back Decole Noonan for the postseason, Mayfield still boasts as much big-play weaponry as anyone in the field.
Senior Tyrese Murrell is the backfield workhorse and receiver Xavier Shelton might be the best pure athlete that the Cardinals have put on the field in several years — for good measure, he even takes a few snaps as quarterback in the wildcat formation.
Javarius Richardson is another big-play receiver for quarterback Luke Guhy, and don't be surprised if star freshman Jonathan Jackson — already a starting linebacker and Mayfield's leading tackler — assumes a larger role on the offense in the postseason.
Still, Mayfield needs to show consistency and the ability to handle success — the Cardinals closed out the regular season by blowing a fourth-quarter lead at underrated Caldwell County.
Crittenden remains a solid team, but the loss to Mayfield pointed to some areas of work. Crittenden's gotten some fine work from an offensive line that features a pair of freshman starters, but Mayfield's quickness caused a myriad of problems. And the Rockets, whose lack of speed showed up in a 24-7 loss to a Murray team that is ranked seventh in Class 2A the next week, just don't have a big-play weapon aside from quarterback J.D. Gray.
The only other legitimate contender in the region is Louisville Holy Cross, which actually has a common opponent with Mayfield — the Cougars led Paducah Tilghman at halftime before falling 38-7 in the final game of the regular season, while Mayfield raced to a 21-0 halftime lead before cruising past the talented-but-enigmatic Tornado 21-12.
Holy Cross has some beef up front but little in the way of speed and expects to host Crittenden in the second round of the playoffs. Mayfield made the same trip last year, knocking off the Cougars 24-7.
Projected regional final: Mayfield 38, Crittenden County 13
Region 2
The whispers have been there since the summer: If there is a year, the story goes, that Beechwood is to be knocked off its customary perch as Class A's top team, this is it.
Still, Beechwood locked up another district title and might be collecting more postseason hardware for the trophy case. There may be a pair of legitimate challengers within the region, but one of them has already been vanquished and Beechwood will only have to defeat one of them to advance to the semifinals.
Beechwood beat a solid Bellevue squad 20-8 in the regular season, and expect the "other" Tigers to hook up in the second round with a Frankfort team that had high hopes of a state title in preseason camp.
That was before two-way star Quan Weaver, a Louisville commitment, went down for good with a torn ACL and top-flight receiver Dwight Tillman was felled by an ankle injury.
Bellevue will ride workhorse running back Corey Buckler, who has more than 2,200 yards and 32 touchdowns this fall.
Nevertheless, the road to far western Kentucky — and the uncustomary long road trip that goes with it — seems on tap for Beechwood, which has gotten 2,000-plus yards and 23 touchdowns from the duo of tailback Joe Colosimo and quarterback Matt Rigdon.
Whoever comes out of the area will have to hit the road for more than four hours — it's more than 300 miles from Beechwood to Mayfield. Two years ago, Beechwood avoided the trip when Mayfield was beaten by Frankfort in the quarterfinals.
Projected regional finals: Beechwood 23, Bellevue 8
Region 3
Lexington Christian is the clear favorite, but one question of note is whether the regional semifinals will become little more than a District 5 party.
District 6 champion Campbellsville is the only team from that lot that seems certain to advance past the first round, but a couple of other games — Lynn Camp at Raceland and Fairview at Williamsburg — will be among opening night's more interesting scores to watch.
Otherwise, the next two rounds seem like little more of a coronation party for Lexington Christian, which battled Beechwood surprisingly close in he finals in 2007 and might have gotten caught taking Hazard for granted in last year's state semifinals — the Eagles had drilled Hazard 42-7 during the regular season, then fell 28-21 at Hazard in the postseason rematch.
LCA has proven itself time and time again against a solid schedule, putting up points almost at will (47 points per game) behind tailback Dominique Hayden (1,926 yards rushing with 29 TDs), quarterback Lucas Witt (1,536 yards with 24 TDs and zero interceptions, plus he's a run threat) and dangerous receiving corps that includes Hayden and Branden Burdette.
The Eagles will also be playing with some inspired affection for veteran coach Paul Rains, whose wife Denise was diagnosed during the season with breast cancer. After her diagnosis, teams across the state began wearing pink ribbon decals on their helmets to honor her and increase awareness of the disease.
Projected regional finals: Lexington Christian 44, Raceland 7
Region 4
The best chance for finding Class A's Cinderella would seem to be here, where upstart Allen Central (9-1) looks like the top challenger to usual favorites Hazard and Pikeville and a Harlan team that certainly can't be overlooked.
In fact, both projected semifinals — Harlan at Pikeville and Allen Central at Hazard — could be projected either way, although Hazard's state championship game experience (a surprisingly close 14-7 loss to Beechwood last year) and athleticism with quarterback Jon Combs and receivers Austin Olinger and Eric Back gives them the edge.
Projected regional final: Hazard 34, Pikeville 14
Projected semifinals: Mayfield 27, Beechwood 20;
Lexington Christian 55, Hazard 14
Projected championship: Lexington Christian 33, Mayfield 24
Region 1
Last year was much more the exception than the rule, when Mayfield was handed its head twice by Crittenden County and the Rockets advanced to the state semifinals.
This season, the first meeting produced a 42-7 victory for the 2nd-ranked Cardinals that exposed how vulnerable Crittenden was to a speed corps that may the best and deepest in Class A.
Even with an injury and/or a disciplinary issue that may sideline running back Decole Noonan for the postseason, Mayfield still boasts as much big-play weaponry as anyone in the field.
Senior Tyrese Murrell is the backfield workhorse and receiver Xavier Shelton might be the best pure athlete that the Cardinals have put on the field in several years — for good measure, he even takes a few snaps as quarterback in the wildcat formation.
Javarius Richardson is another big-play receiver for quarterback Luke Guhy, and don't be surprised if star freshman Jonathan Jackson — already a starting linebacker and Mayfield's leading tackler — assumes a larger role on the offense in the postseason.
Still, Mayfield needs to show consistency and the ability to handle success — the Cardinals closed out the regular season by blowing a fourth-quarter lead at underrated Caldwell County.
Crittenden remains a solid team, but the loss to Mayfield pointed to some areas of work. Crittenden's gotten some fine work from an offensive line that features a pair of freshman starters, but Mayfield's quickness caused a myriad of problems. And the Rockets, whose lack of speed showed up in a 24-7 loss to a Murray team that is ranked seventh in Class 2A the next week, just don't have a big-play weapon aside from quarterback J.D. Gray.
The only other legitimate contender in the region is Louisville Holy Cross, which actually has a common opponent with Mayfield — the Cougars led Paducah Tilghman at halftime before falling 38-7 in the final game of the regular season, while Mayfield raced to a 21-0 halftime lead before cruising past the talented-but-enigmatic Tornado 21-12.
Holy Cross has some beef up front but little in the way of speed and expects to host Crittenden in the second round of the playoffs. Mayfield made the same trip last year, knocking off the Cougars 24-7.
Projected regional final: Mayfield 38, Crittenden County 13
Region 2
The whispers have been there since the summer: If there is a year, the story goes, that Beechwood is to be knocked off its customary perch as Class A's top team, this is it.
Still, Beechwood locked up another district title and might be collecting more postseason hardware for the trophy case. There may be a pair of legitimate challengers within the region, but one of them has already been vanquished and Beechwood will only have to defeat one of them to advance to the semifinals.
Beechwood beat a solid Bellevue squad 20-8 in the regular season, and expect the "other" Tigers to hook up in the second round with a Frankfort team that had high hopes of a state title in preseason camp.
That was before two-way star Quan Weaver, a Louisville commitment, went down for good with a torn ACL and top-flight receiver Dwight Tillman was felled by an ankle injury.
Bellevue will ride workhorse running back Corey Buckler, who has more than 2,200 yards and 32 touchdowns this fall.
Nevertheless, the road to far western Kentucky — and the uncustomary long road trip that goes with it — seems on tap for Beechwood, which has gotten 2,000-plus yards and 23 touchdowns from the duo of tailback Joe Colosimo and quarterback Matt Rigdon.
Whoever comes out of the area will have to hit the road for more than four hours — it's more than 300 miles from Beechwood to Mayfield. Two years ago, Beechwood avoided the trip when Mayfield was beaten by Frankfort in the quarterfinals.
Projected regional finals: Beechwood 23, Bellevue 8
Region 3
Lexington Christian is the clear favorite, but one question of note is whether the regional semifinals will become little more than a District 5 party.
District 6 champion Campbellsville is the only team from that lot that seems certain to advance past the first round, but a couple of other games — Lynn Camp at Raceland and Fairview at Williamsburg — will be among opening night's more interesting scores to watch.
Otherwise, the next two rounds seem like little more of a coronation party for Lexington Christian, which battled Beechwood surprisingly close in he finals in 2007 and might have gotten caught taking Hazard for granted in last year's state semifinals — the Eagles had drilled Hazard 42-7 during the regular season, then fell 28-21 at Hazard in the postseason rematch.
LCA has proven itself time and time again against a solid schedule, putting up points almost at will (47 points per game) behind tailback Dominique Hayden (1,926 yards rushing with 29 TDs), quarterback Lucas Witt (1,536 yards with 24 TDs and zero interceptions, plus he's a run threat) and dangerous receiving corps that includes Hayden and Branden Burdette.
The Eagles will also be playing with some inspired affection for veteran coach Paul Rains, whose wife Denise was diagnosed during the season with breast cancer. After her diagnosis, teams across the state began wearing pink ribbon decals on their helmets to honor her and increase awareness of the disease.
Projected regional finals: Lexington Christian 44, Raceland 7
Region 4
The best chance for finding Class A's Cinderella would seem to be here, where upstart Allen Central (9-1) looks like the top challenger to usual favorites Hazard and Pikeville and a Harlan team that certainly can't be overlooked.
In fact, both projected semifinals — Harlan at Pikeville and Allen Central at Hazard — could be projected either way, although Hazard's state championship game experience (a surprisingly close 14-7 loss to Beechwood last year) and athleticism with quarterback Jon Combs and receivers Austin Olinger and Eric Back gives them the edge.
Projected regional final: Hazard 34, Pikeville 14
Projected semifinals: Mayfield 27, Beechwood 20;
Lexington Christian 55, Hazard 14
Projected championship: Lexington Christian 33, Mayfield 24