KHSAA Football Playoffs Round One Preview — Presented by Kroger

The playoffs are finally here, and round one features a full slate of postseason district action. Here are a few games from every bracket to keep an eye on this weekend.

1A

Sayre (8-2) at Hazard (7-4)

We have a top-five matchup in 1A’s first-round with Sayre (5) traveling to the mountains to battle No. 4 Hazard in one of, if not the biggest matchup in all of KHSAA’s opening round.

The Spartans have dropped only two games all season, both of which have come against No. 1 Pikeville and Hazard. In their previous matchup, the Bulldogs shut out Sayre 14-0.

Hazard’s Max Johnson took 34 carries for 140 yards and the only two touchdowns of the game. Sayre was held to just 151 yards of total offense on the night, 107 of which came through the air via quarterback Cole Pennington.

The winner of this matchup will play the victor of Pikeville vs. Phelps in round two of the playoffs. It’s tough sledding when three of your division’s top-five teams are in the same district.

Other notable games:

• Eminence (7-3) at Frankfort (6-4)
• Betsy Layne (8-2) at Paintsville (5-5)

2A

Caldwell County (7-3) at Murray (7-2)

Caldwell County has some bad losses this season. They’re the only team that lost to Christian County, who took down the Tigers 24-3 in the season-opener. The Colonels would go on to lose their next nine with a daunting date with South Warren in their opening matchup. Caldwell County also lost to Hopkinsville in week three, a team that would start the season 1-3.

Despite Caldwell County’s 1-2 start, they’d finish the season 6-1 and head into the postseason on a three-game winning streak. In those last seven games, Caldwell County met with 2A’s No. 5 Murray in week nine, defeating them 20-14.

Murray’s only other loss came at the hands of Union County (9-1), whose only loss was also to Caldwell County.

The Caldwell County rushing attack is what did Murray in during their first battle. Jack Stevens, Logan Smiley and Jamus Carneyhan rushed for a combined 179 yards and two scores while kicker Black Vivrette went 2-3 on field goal attempts to seal the victory for Caldwell.

The winner of this matchup will go on to face either No. 3 Mayfield or Ballard Memorial in round two.

Other notable games:

• Bath County (6-5) at West Carter (7-3)
• Shelby Valley (5-5) at Martin County (7-4)

3A

Adair County (7-3) at Taylor County (8-2)

For the second time in three weeks, the Indians and Cardinals are set to face off in the highest-rated 3A week one playoff matchup record-wise. In their first meeting, Taylor County won handily 40-25.

Peyton Smith ran wild on Adair County, rushing for 250 yards and three touchdowns. The Cardinals would rush for five total on the night.

Smith, 3A’s top rusher in the regular season, has yet to be slowed down. 162 carries, 1,505 yards and 21 touchdowns later, Taylor County is in a great position to speed their way into a second-round playoff date with either No. 2 Glasgow or Hart County.

Other notable games:

• Hart County (6-4) at Glasgow (9-1)
• Estill County (6-5) at Bell County (8-2)
• Ashland Blazer (6-4) at Russell (6-4)

4A

Perry County Central (7-3) at Letcher County Central (6-3)

4A’s week one slate is rather disappointing when it comes to solid, competitive matchups on paper. With that being said, Perry County Central and Letcher County Central is an intriguing matchup to have for week one.

While the Cougars blew out Perry County Central 42-6 in their regular-season matchup, both teams have gone on to have completely different seasons since their mid-season battle.

The Commodores are 4-1 since the loss, the lone blemish coming against No. 3 Johnson Central in a 41–0 shutout. For Letcher County Central, they haven’t won since the second week of October; their losses include Johnson Central (48-`18) in the Kroger KSR Game of the Week and to Bourbon County (23-20) in the regular-season finale.

The winner of this one will take on the winner of Johnson Central and Clay County.

Other notable game(s):

• Scott (6-4) at Holmes (8-2)

5A

North Laurel (8-2) at Pulaski County (6-4)

This might be the most intriguing game in the week one playoff slate. The regular-season game between these two ended with a surprising score of 40-16 with Pulaski County coming out on top. North Laurel hasn’t lost a game since falling to the Maroons.

Pulaski quarterback Drew Polston had yet another incredibly accurate night, completing 22 of 27 passes for 250 yards and two scores.

Aside from Polston’s weekly performances, Pulaski County had a disappointing regular season. With a top-heavy schedule to start the season, the Maroons started out 1-3 before winning five of their last six.

The Maroons look to match their first performance against North Laurel in round one as they look to get back on track in the playoffs against either Whitley County or No. 5 Southwestern.

Other notable games:

• Greenwood (7-3) at Bowling Green (5-5)
• Highlands (5-5) at Covington Catholic (7-3)
• Conner (6-4) at Cooper (7-3)
• Great Crossing (8-2) at Scott County (5-5)

6A

Oldham County (8-2) at Madison Central (8-2)

After a 6-0 start to the season for Oldham County, the Colonels fell to Madison Central in week seven 31-15.

Indians quarterback Hagan Harrison was 0-7 through the air against Oldham County, but hurt them on the ground with 113 yards and one touchdown. Brady Hensley led Madison Central with 21 carries for 170 yards and two scores. The rushing attack was capped off with Adrian Parks’ 117 yards and one more touchdown for a total of 400 rushing yards from the Indians on the night.

Colonel quarterback Sam Young’s two interceptions hindered Oldham County’s offense from finding the end zone more than twice. Young was responsible for all 15 of the Colonel’s points as well with 245 all-purpose yards, inclyding one score through the air and one on the ground.

The winner will go on to face either George Rogers Clark or Bryan Station. The Defenders beat both teams during the regular season, defeating Madison Central 21-13 and Oldham County 42-21.

Other notable games:

• Henderson County (6-4) at Apollo (6-4)
• Pleasure Ridge Park (6-4) at DuPont Manual (7-3)

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