The Scribe
11-01-2005, 12:44 AM
Region 1
Favorite: Mayfield
Top challengers: Crittenden County, Metcalfe County
Outlook: Mayfield in the state’s final four is almost an annual rite of fall. The Cardinals have won 25 regional titles in the last 30 seasons, including eight (and a couple of state titles) in 10 seasons since dropping to Class A in 1995.
The Cardinals haven’t quite met their lofty expectations, going 7-3 in the regular season when some were predicting a perfect record over the summer. But two of their losses were to ranked teams in higher classificiations (Marshall County and Hopkinsville) and the other was to archrival Paducah Tilghman, when the Cardinals — ranked fifth by BluegrassPreps.com — had a fumble returned for a touchdown and another score was set up by a bad snap in punt formation.
Mayfield has proven veterans and playmakers in QB Adam Shelton and RBs Blake Rust, Josh Hatchell and Tristan Dumas and WR Fred Brown. The Cardinals’ switch to an unconventional 3-5 defensive alignment to accommodate a lack of proven linemen and a wealth of capable linebackers (led by Hatchell and Brent Simpkins) has had some occasional hiccups.
Nevertheless, Mayfield is always the team to beat in this region. The Cardinals could face a tougher road than usual, though, particularly a potential second-round game with red-hot Crittenden County.
The Rockets (8-2) have destroyed their district competition after a surprising 22-12 loss at Metcalfe County in which their two top players (WR-DB T.K. Guess and RB-LB Blake Gardner) went down with injuries. Both are back in action and fully healthy again, and the Rockets’ shaky run defense has improved since a midseason change in alignment.
Metcalfe County should await the Mayfield-Crittenden winner in the regional finals. The Hornets (9-1), heavy on sophomores and juniors, were thought to be a year or two away, but TB Ryan England and a stingy defense have produced the program’s second district title in three seasons. The running game sets up a big-play passing attack triggered by sophomore QB Will Warf.
Regional finals prediction: Mayfield 21, Metcalfe County 6
Region 2
Favorite: Danville
Top challenger: Bardstown, Louisville Holy Cross
Outlook: Few, if any, teams in Kentucky have more players with championship-level experience than Danville, which won the state title in 2003 and lost last year‘s final to Beechwood. Several players that filled prominent roles on those teams are back for another postseason run.
But, as usual, the Admirals (9-1) — ranked #1by BGP — face a stiff challenge from District 3. Bardstown (10-0 and ranked #2 by BGP)
Danville has a wealth of offensive weapons at veteran head coach Sam Harp’s disposal. Jeffery Guest was moved from QB to RB in midseason, replaced by Rich Witten (15 touchdowns and only one interception) and joining Darren Ross, Darius Baughman and B.J Strode in a deep, talented backfield.
As usual, the Admirals were tested by a solid non-district schedule, which included wins over Class 3A playoff entries Rockcastle County and Southwestern. Their only loss is to archrival Boyle County, another team that has made a regular habit of playing for the state title in Papa John’s Stadium.
Bardstown rolled through District 3 on the strength of a rock-solid defense that has allowed only 37 points all season and less than 120 yards per game and shut out six opponents. The Tigers can put speed all over the field, led by QB Brian Calhoun and RBs Jamehyl Butler and Kwasi Obeng and several other cogs of the school’s back-to-back state team champions in track and field.
Louisvillle Holy Cross (8-2) has given Danville fits in the postseason the last two years and may get another shot at the Admirals in the second round, but Holy Cross would have have to beat both Danville and Bardstown on the road to advance to the semifinals.
Regional finals prediction: Danville 20, Bardstown 14
Favorite: Mayfield
Top challengers: Crittenden County, Metcalfe County
Outlook: Mayfield in the state’s final four is almost an annual rite of fall. The Cardinals have won 25 regional titles in the last 30 seasons, including eight (and a couple of state titles) in 10 seasons since dropping to Class A in 1995.
The Cardinals haven’t quite met their lofty expectations, going 7-3 in the regular season when some were predicting a perfect record over the summer. But two of their losses were to ranked teams in higher classificiations (Marshall County and Hopkinsville) and the other was to archrival Paducah Tilghman, when the Cardinals — ranked fifth by BluegrassPreps.com — had a fumble returned for a touchdown and another score was set up by a bad snap in punt formation.
Mayfield has proven veterans and playmakers in QB Adam Shelton and RBs Blake Rust, Josh Hatchell and Tristan Dumas and WR Fred Brown. The Cardinals’ switch to an unconventional 3-5 defensive alignment to accommodate a lack of proven linemen and a wealth of capable linebackers (led by Hatchell and Brent Simpkins) has had some occasional hiccups.
Nevertheless, Mayfield is always the team to beat in this region. The Cardinals could face a tougher road than usual, though, particularly a potential second-round game with red-hot Crittenden County.
The Rockets (8-2) have destroyed their district competition after a surprising 22-12 loss at Metcalfe County in which their two top players (WR-DB T.K. Guess and RB-LB Blake Gardner) went down with injuries. Both are back in action and fully healthy again, and the Rockets’ shaky run defense has improved since a midseason change in alignment.
Metcalfe County should await the Mayfield-Crittenden winner in the regional finals. The Hornets (9-1), heavy on sophomores and juniors, were thought to be a year or two away, but TB Ryan England and a stingy defense have produced the program’s second district title in three seasons. The running game sets up a big-play passing attack triggered by sophomore QB Will Warf.
Regional finals prediction: Mayfield 21, Metcalfe County 6
Region 2
Favorite: Danville
Top challenger: Bardstown, Louisville Holy Cross
Outlook: Few, if any, teams in Kentucky have more players with championship-level experience than Danville, which won the state title in 2003 and lost last year‘s final to Beechwood. Several players that filled prominent roles on those teams are back for another postseason run.
But, as usual, the Admirals (9-1) — ranked #1by BGP — face a stiff challenge from District 3. Bardstown (10-0 and ranked #2 by BGP)
Danville has a wealth of offensive weapons at veteran head coach Sam Harp’s disposal. Jeffery Guest was moved from QB to RB in midseason, replaced by Rich Witten (15 touchdowns and only one interception) and joining Darren Ross, Darius Baughman and B.J Strode in a deep, talented backfield.
As usual, the Admirals were tested by a solid non-district schedule, which included wins over Class 3A playoff entries Rockcastle County and Southwestern. Their only loss is to archrival Boyle County, another team that has made a regular habit of playing for the state title in Papa John’s Stadium.
Bardstown rolled through District 3 on the strength of a rock-solid defense that has allowed only 37 points all season and less than 120 yards per game and shut out six opponents. The Tigers can put speed all over the field, led by QB Brian Calhoun and RBs Jamehyl Butler and Kwasi Obeng and several other cogs of the school’s back-to-back state team champions in track and field.
Louisvillle Holy Cross (8-2) has given Danville fits in the postseason the last two years and may get another shot at the Admirals in the second round, but Holy Cross would have have to beat both Danville and Bardstown on the road to advance to the semifinals.
Regional finals prediction: Danville 20, Bardstown 14