Kroger's Kentucky High School Football Playoff Rundown: Round 2
The second round of the Kentucky high school football playoffs wrapped up on Friday night and there were some wild results all over the state. Most notably, the top-ranked St. Xavier Tigers were upset by No. 21 Male 22-21 over in the Class 6A playoffs. Several other ranked schools went down on Friday too, including top 10 Covington Catholic. The Colonels were beat down by a soon-to-be No. 1 Frederick Douglass, 33-7, with KSR in attendance.
KSR made a few other trips across the Bluegrass as well, stopping in WKY for the Kroger Game of the Week to watch No. 12 Bowling Green trounce South Warren 34-0. KSR was also in Versailles for a ranked showdown between Woodford County and Pulaski County that saw the former come out on top with ease.
Check out KSR’s game recaps below, along with a statewide scoreboard thanks to our friends at Kroger. Round three of the playoffs begins on Friday.
Frederick Douglass Rolls over Cov Cath to Advance in 5A Playoffs
BY: Daniel Hager
The No. 2 Frederick Douglass Broncos (11-0) and the No. 9 Covington Catholic Colonels (9-2) met for just the second time in history Friday night. Both matchups between these teams have come in the 5A Playoffs. The Colonels, led by Notre Dame star Michael Mayer, defeated Douglass in the 2019 State Championship game 14-7 at Kroger Field. The Broncos got their win back Friday night, absolutely shutting down the Colonel offense to roll 33-7.
Colonels Come Out Swinging
The Covington Catholic fans traveled well Friday night, sporting a larger student section than the Broncos until the mid-second quarter. The entire first quarter of this game was a defensive battle. Catholic senior and Army West Point commit Aiden Jones made an immediate impact, pulling a Bobby Boucher-esque move and jumping on Douglass quarterback Cole Carpenter to force a Bronco punt late in the first quarter.
On the first play of the second period, a bad snap from the Douglass center and an awkward handoff led to a blown-up play. Covington Catholic’s defense swarmed and recovered the fumble in the endzone for a touchdown. Once the referees raised their arms to signal the score, it sounded as if the game was being played in Park Hills. The cowbells were loud.
This however would mark the beginning of the end of the Colonels’ 2022 season.
Broncos Settle in, Take Control
After forcing another Douglass punt, the Colonels took over deep in their own territory. A forced pass by Catholic quarterback Zaccary Roberts was intercepted by senior Isaiah Kenney, who holds an offer from Vince Marrow and the hometown Kentucky Wildcats.
Carpenter would find senior receiver Cameron Dunn wide-open on the sideline, allowing him to walk in for the 10-yard score. The Douglass defense would force another punt, and Carpenter would find Dunn down the sideline again, this time for a 50-yard score.
“It’s been in the gameplan all week,” Carpenter said after the win. “Our coaches drew it up and had a really good gameplan for us. I knew my guy could go get it.”
Douglass Defense Dominates Second Half
On Covington Catholic’s first offensive drive of the night, they secured three first downs. The rest of the game, however? Only two first downs.
“We settled our hips and played well,” Frederick Douglass head coach Nathan McPeek said of his defense after the game. “This defense is elite, and we know that. We knew coming into the season what we were, and we’ve got to lean on our defense.”
After forcing a punt on Catholic’s opening drive, Douglass senior Davaun Hart scored his 11th touchdown of the season to put the Broncos up 21-6 early in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Broncos rolled the dice and went for it on fourth down. Instead of taking the easy three, Carpenter hit Hart on a screen pass that Hart would take 30-yards for the score, giving Carpenter his third passing touchdown of the night.
Ball State commit T.J. Horton put this game on ice late, scoring from 15-yards out to increase the Bronco lead to 33-6 with four minutes remaining.
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This Bronco defense is elite, and might just be the best defense in the entire state.
The Broncos will face the No. 25 Woodford County Yellow Jackets (11-1) at home next week in the third round of the 5A Playoffs.
Woodford County locks up matchup with Douglass in 5A playoffs
BY: Troy Howell
The No. 25 Woodford County Yellow Jackets (11-1) defeated the No. 26 ranked Pulaski County Maroons (9-3) 49-28 in front of a festive crowd in Versailles on Friday night.
Turnovers Doom Pulaski
After their defense forced two early stops, the Maroons’ offense fumbled the ball leading to a scoop and score from Woodford County’s Caleb Brown.
Kenyun Maxberry added a touchdown run to put Woodford up 14-0 but Pulaski County answered with a one-yard touchdown run on the last play of the first half. The game turned on the first series of the second half, though, with Pulaski receiving the kickoff before fumbling on the first play from scrimmage. Preston Stacy’s hit forced the fumble, and Woodford’s Aiden Carroll recovered it near the Pulaski 20-yard line. Woodford cashed in with an Andrew Nason to Jabari Alexander touchdown to take a 21-7 lead.
Woodford’s Offense Continues to Roll
The Yellow Jackets, which rank fifth in the state in points per game (45.8), were superb on offense. After punting on their opening drive and missing a field goal on their next one, they found their groove, rolling up 35 second-half points. Sophomore Andrew Nason tossed two touchdown passes and rushed for another.
Every time Pulaski County would pull within seven, Woodford’s offense had an answer. The swarming Yellow Jacket defense also played well, often sacking or containing Brysen Dugger, who came in first in the state in touchdown passes and second in passing yards (behind only Lexington Christian Academy QB Cutter Boley).
Chandler Godby’s Big Night
Pulaski County’s Chandler Godby, who leads the state in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, showed why he is a Mr. Football candidate on Friday. The senior standout returned a kickoff for a 90-yard touchdown to keep the Maroons in the game right after they fell behind 21-7. He added two rushing touchdowns and was a force all night, despite Woodford’s game plan to contain him.
Big Dog in Attendance
Kentucky Wildcats’ top assistant Vince Marrow was at the game. Both teams have several key players to watch including Woodford County sophomore receiver Makhi Smith, who has an offer from Kentucky. Seniors like Godby and Woodford County’s Aden Nelson, who made an incredible catch right in front of Marrow, are some of the other players that will play well at the next level. Woodford County offensive lineman, Tristan Cook, a Ball State commit is another highly regarded in-state player.
Former Wildcat Dennis Johnson Turned Woodford Around
After going winless in 2017 and winning only two games in 2018, head coach Dennis Johnson has Woodford trending up. The Yellow Jackets went undefeated until the state semifinals last season and have only lost once this year.
Looking Ahead
After not playing any team currently ranked in the top 20 so far, Woodford County will certainly have a difficult task next week when they travel to 5A juggernaut Frederick Douglass. The Broncos will move up to No. 1 in the KSR rankings next week after current #1 St. Xavier fell to Male in overtime. Expect most of Woodford County to turn up in the Hamburg area of Lexington next Friday. Last one out of Versailles turns the lights off.
Kroger’s Scores From Around The State
Kroger is a staple in your hometown community just like high school football. There’s nothing quite like Friday nights in the Bluegrass. We are honored to share this journey with Kroger and you for the third consecutive season.
(KSR High School Rankings listed)
Friday, Nov. 11
| Crittenden County | 33 | vs. Bethlehem | 20 |
| Hazard | 29 | at Williamsburg | 0 |
| Holy Cross (Louisville) | 28 | at Campbellsville | 19 |
| Kentucky Country Day | 36 | vs. Dayton | 8 |
| Newport Central Catholic | 50 | vs. Frankfort (at Covington Catholic) | 13 |
| Paintsville | 42 | at Bishop Brossart | 16 |
| No. 10 Pikeville | 43 | vs. Harlan | 8 |
| No. 27 Raceland | 43 | vs. Paris | 6 |
| No. 17 Beechwood | 62 | vs. Carroll County | 14 |
| Breathitt County | 34 | vs. Martin County | 21 |
| Lexington Christian | 42 | vs. Somerset | 13 |
| Lloyd Memorial | 41 | at Walton-Verona | 0 |
| No. 11 Mayfield | 49 | vs. Murray | 14 |
| Metcalfe County | 21 | vs. Danville | 14 |
| No. 29 Owensboro Catholic | 47 | vs. McLean County (at Steele Stadium, KWC) | 32 |
| Shelby Valley | 28 | vs. Middlesboro | 21 |
| Ashland Blazer | 48 | vs. Belfry | 7 |
| No. 14 Bardstown | 21 | vs. Nelson County | 7 |
| Bell County | 47 | vs. Fleming County | 6 |
| No. 4 Christian Academy-Louisville | 46 | vs. Elizabethtown | 7 |
| Greenup County | 28 | at Lawrence County | 7 |
| Mason County | 25 | vs. Estill County | 0 |
| Paducah Tilghman | 56 | at Casey County | 22 |
| No. 21 Union County | 34 | vs. Hart County | 20 |
| No. 8 Boyle County | 43 | at Boyd County | 21 |
| Central | 31 | vs. North Oldham | 7 |
| No. 3 Corbin | 49 | vs. Letcher County Central | 0 |
| Franklin County | 40 | at No. 30 Spencer County | 14 |
| No. 28 Johnson Central | 43 | vs. Wayne County | 6 |
| No. 7 Lexington Catholic | 14 | vs. Bourbon County | 0 |
| Logan County | 21 | vs. Hopkinsville | 7 |
| Warren East | 28 | vs. Madisonville-North Hopkins | 17 |
| No. 12 Bowling Green | 34 | vs. South Warren | 0 |
| Fairdale | 22 | vs. Atherton | 0 |
| No. 2 Frederick Douglass | 33 | vs. No. 9 Covington Catholic | 6 |
| Owensboro | 27 | vs. Greenwood | 21 |
| No. 5 Scott County | 29 | at No. 15 Highlands | 23 |
| South Oldham | 46 | vs. Seneca | 0 |
| No. 6 Southwestern | 35 | vs. North Laurel | 7 |
| No. 25 Woodford County | 49 | vs. No. 26 Pulaski County | 28 |
| No. 13 Ballard | 26 | vs. Ryle | 14 |
| No. 20 Bryan Station | 45 | vs. Tates Creek | 14 |
| No. 18 Bullitt East | 36 | vs. No. 16 DuPont Manual | 35 |
| Central Hardin | 17 | vs. Daviess County | 3 |
| Henderson County | 35 | vs. Meade County | 6 |
| Madison Central | 45 | at Paul Laurence Dunbar | 42 |
| No. 19 Male | 22 | at No. 1 St. Xavier | 21 |
| No. 23 Trinity (Louisville) | 51 | at No. 24 Simon Kenton | 20 |
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