Boyle County at Frederick Douglass Preview, Presented by Kroger
I will head to The Farm in Hamburg on Friday night to cover the Top-10 Matchup between Frederick Douglass and Boyle County. Follow me on Twitter at @teeroyhowell for updates and check back on KSR for a game recap. The game kicks off at 7:30 P.M. this Friday at Frederick Douglass High School.
Past History
I know it was only 7-on-7 but it was a chippy and intense battle at EKU. Douglass held on to win after the Boyle County would-be tying score was disallowed due to a timing sack being called. There were some heated moments between the players and some jawing going on between the Douglass sideline and the Boyle County fans. I know both teams have been looking forward to Friday night for a long, long time.
Frederick Douglass
KSR State Ranking: 4
KSR Class Rank: #1 in 5A
State Championships: 0
State Runner-up: 1 (a 14-7 2019 loss to Michael Mayer and the Covington Catholic Colonels)
Last Season: Finished 7-2. Missed a late field goal and lost to Gavin Wimsatt and the Owensboro Red Devils 28-27 in 5A semifinals)
Coach: Nathan McPeek is in his 2nd season as the Broncos’ head coach. He has a 16-2 record at Douglass
Key Players
Sr. WR Dane Key –Leads the team receptions (31) yards (501) and TDs (5). One of the favorites for Mr. Football.
Sr., QB Samuel Cornett – 92-for-149 for 1,453 yards, 15 TDs and 2 picks. Has shown tremendous improvement since arriving at Douglass at the start of last season from Washington state. Holds offers from Butler, Valparaiso and Stetson.
Jr., DB Ty Bryant – 25 Tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions – 1 returned for a TD. Committed to UK.
Boyle County
KSR State Ranking: 7
KSR Class Rank: #2 in 4A
State Championships: 9 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2017 2020)
State Runner-up: 2 (2004, 2019)
Last Season: 11-0. Defeated Franklin County 31-28 (OT) in 4A finals on this 4th down stop from Luke Sheperson
Coach: Justin Haddix – Led Boyle County to the 2020 state championship in his first year as the Rebels’ coach. Finished runner-up to Boyle County in 2017 and to Central in 2018 as head coach at Corbin
Key Players
Sr., QB Jagger Gillis – 116-for-173 for 1,784 yards, 20 TDs and 2 picks, 7 rushing TDs. Returned for a second senior season and is a Mr. Football candidate.
Sr., WR Cole Lanter – 52 catches for 919 yards and 15 touchdowns, 7 rushing TDs, 1 return TD. Underrated player. Cousin of former UK basketball played Tod Lanter.
Top 10
- 1
Tim Tebow
DJ Lagway reason for Ole Miss nerves
- 2
Tom Brady helped land QB
Michigan got assist on Underwood
- 3
MSU TE hospitalized
Jack Velling injured on first possession
- 4
Rhett Lashlee
SMU coach gets extension
- 5
Justin Fields
OSU legend to make CGD picks
Sr., K/P Jackson Smith – 42-of-46 on extra points and 5-of-7 on field-goal attempts. Committed to UK.
Jr., DL Tommy Ziesmer – 37 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 2 sacks. One of the top defensive linemen in the state.
Preview
Frederick Douglass (7-0) comes in facing their toughest competition of the season. They have one Top-25 win (27-14 over #13 Bryan Station in Week 1). Boyle County (7-1) has won six straight games after losing to #3 LCA 35-28 in week 2. The Rebels hold a Top-25 win over #17 Lexington Catholic 16-10.
Both quarterbacks are excellent. Frederick Douglass has an elite WR in Key, while Boyle County counters with Lanter, whose 103 receiving yards per game puts him at #3 in the state.
Though often teams will rest their stars on the last night of the regular season, I don’t expect that to happen in this matchup. Both are looking to get in some good competition after a season filled with blowouts. Frederick Douglass is currently in a dead heat with Woodford County for the #1 RPI in 5A, so a win could be important. Boyle County currently has the #1 RPI in 4A.
Prediction
If the game comes down to a last second kick, UK commit Jackson Smith is a guy that can be counted on to make clutch field goals. He drilled what turned out to be the game-winner in overtime of the state finals last year. That is exactly what Jude Howell thinks will happen.
Barkley’s Prediction: Frederick Douglass 42 Boyle County 28
Troy’s Prediction: Frederick Douglass 28 Boyle County 25
Jude Howell Prediction: Boyle County 35 Frederick Douglass 28
Weather
Football weather. Low 50s and potential showers.
Podcast
I interviewed Boyle County Coach Justin Haddix on the Kentucky High School Sports Podcast this summer. Hear what he had to say about his squad:
Subscribe to the podcast to check out my game preview and recap episodes. There will also be a basketball preview coming soon.
A Message from Kroger
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