KHSAA Football Week Nine Recap — Presented by Kroger

Despite only one ranked battle in KHSAA’s week nine slate, there was no shortage of action with three weeks to go until kickoff of the 2021 playoffs.

Here are a few scores and stories from Friday night’s action:

No. 18 Owensboro (7-1) def. No. 22 Graves County (6-2) 35-28

KHSAA’s only ranked battle this week proved to be the best as Owensboro won on a last-second touchdown by Tramel Barksdale from 10-yards out. Barksdale finished with three scores on 155 yards rushing on the night.

“Tramel had a great game,” Red Devils head coach Jayson Fallin said. “He had some nice runs and also had some big catches out of backfield in big moments. We were just trying to get the ball back to the middle of the field and line up for a field goal, but it was a great run and he got in the end zone. Then the defense came out and got another big stop. Sahvon Hines got a big sack to win the game.”

Owensboro led 21-7 at halftime, but a pick-six by Red Devils QB Kasey Boone gave Graves County life in the third. The Eagles tied the game at 28, but the Barksdale touchdown was the difference-maker.

“There were a lot of things the guys had to overcome tonight,” Falin said. “It’s tough to win on road, and it’s tough to win on the road against a really good team. Throw in the elements and other factors, and it was a really important win for us.”

St. Mary’s (St. Louis), MO (6-1) def. No. 14 Trinity (2-6) 22-19

St. Mary’s stole a victory out from under the nose of the upset-minded Shamrocks Friday night. With under five minutes remaining in regulation, Jamal Roberts broke free for an 83-yard score that ultimately proved to be the game-winner.

Trinity boasted a 13-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter. St. Mary’s Kevin Coleman gave them the lead 14-13 with just over six minutes remaining.

That score was immediately answered by Trinity’s dual-threat QB Brady Willis on an 82-yard scramble for the Shamrocks’ final score of the game. A turnover by Trinity on their final possession allowed St. Mary’s to head back to Missouri with a victory under their belts.

No. 16 Ryle (6-2) def. Dixie Height (4-4) 13-12

Ryle moved into sole possession of KHSAA’s 6A District 6 division after sneaking past Northern Kentucky rival Dixie Heights Friday night.

The Colonels’ Logan Landers connected with Devin Holbert to find their way onto the scoring column first. Dixie Heights was without their kicker due to injury and the ensuing two-point conversion failed.

Following an interception by Ryle, quarterback Logan Verax scored on a keeper; the Raiders took the lead on the PAT attempt after.

Landers found Brach Rice for an 11-yard score that put Dixie Heights up 12-7 at half. Another Ryle score, this time from Lukas Colemire, gave the Raiders the victory in the fourth.

Ryle finished Friday’s matchup with 197 yards on the ground (284 total) while the Colonels mustered 219 total offensive yards.

No. 21 Covington Catholic (5-3) def. Highlands (4-5) 8-7

CovCath was shut out until the final minutes of Friday’s game against KHSAA 5A District 5 rival Highlands. With 2:50 remaining in the game, Owen Leen lunged forward on a four-yard score for the Colonels followed by a successful two-point conversion attempt ran in by Brayden Collins for the lead and ultimately the victory.

Highlands’ lone score came in the third quarter off a CovCath fumble in the end zone that was credited as a ‘team recovery.’

Pulaski County (6-3) def. Bell County (6-2) 27-24

For the first time in history—Pulaski County defeated Bell County. With the victory, the Maroons are now on a five-game winning streak after a 1-3 start to the 2021 season.

Quarterback Drew Polston threw for 189 yards on 14-19 passing, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the win; he also ran three times for 21 yards and a score. Running back Braden Gipson averaged 7.6 yards per carry while Cody Nichols ran in the only other rushing touchdown for the Maroons on the night.

Gipson also had one reception for 51 yards and a score that gave Pulaski County their first lead of the evening (20-16). Early in the fourth, Polston would pass the pylon on a scramble for the difference-making score that put the game out of reach for Bell County.

Other Notable KHSAA Scores:

No. 12 Woodford County (8-0) def. Collins (6-2) — 64-21

No. 15 Lexington Catholic (6-2) def. Bourbon County — 48-35

Adair County (6-2) def. Metcalfe County (5-3) — 28-26 (OT)

Union County (7-1) def. Paducah Tilghman (3-5) — 21-19

Kentucky Country Day (7-1) def. Frankfort (5-3) — 28-20

Bryan Station (7-1) def. Oldham County (6-2) — 42-21

Caldwell County (6-3) def. Murray (5-2) — 20-14

Hazard (6-3) def. Sayre (6-2) — 14-0

Bath County (5-4) def. Prestonsburg (4-5) — 21-20

Russell (5-3) def. Ashland Blazer (5-4) — 17-14

Roy Walton Bowl: Tates Creek (2-6) def. Lafayette (2-7) — 42-6

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