Kroger's Kentucky High School Football Rundown - Week 10

With just one more week of high school football left in Kentucky before the playoffs get rolling, we were treated to District Championships and Senior Nights all over the state on Friday night. This was also the first week of the season that saw us hold not one, but two Kroger KSR Game(s) of the Week.

In a top 25 matchup, KSR’s Daniel Hager saw No. 3 Male exact sweet revenge on No. 25 Bullitt East, which beat the Bulldogs twice last season, most notably in the 6A state championship. Male had little issue dealing with Bullitt East this time around, putting it on the Chargers from start to finish. Male came away with the easy 42-6 victory.

Not too far away in Taylor County, KSR’s Piper McCoun was treated to a much closer final score as Campbellsville took down Kentucky Country Day 21-13 in a battle of Class A unbeatens. Campbellsville improved to 9-0 with the win and is one of just two Class A teams that has yet to drop a game this season (Sayre; 9-0).

Those were the two Game(s) of the Week, but they weren’t the only matchups KSR covered on Friday night. Troy Howell was in Lexington to watch Sayre win their district while Phoenix Stevens traveled west to McLean County for the Cougars’ Senior Night. Before you dive into those recaps below — and the entire scoreboard rundown — let’s shout out our good friends at Kroger.

We are proud to support local schools through Kroger Community Rewards. This includes up to 3.5 million in quarterly gifts to the non-profit of your choice. Sign up using your Kroger loyalty card at Kroger.com/communityrewards.

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Sayre Rallies Past Eminence to Win First-Ever District Championship

BY: Troy Howell

The Sayre Spartans, ranked No. 4 by KSR in Class A, picked up a 12-8 home district win over the Eminence Warriors on a chilly, rainy night in Lexington. Sayre (9-0) won their first district championship in school history by limiting the usual high-flying passing attack of Eminence (5-4).

The Spartans came in ranked second in the state in defensive points per game allowed (6.0) and third in scoring margin (34.9) against a mediocre schedule. They held a good Eminence team to eight points. 

Still perfect

Sayre junior quarterback Luke Pennington has now thrown for 32 touchdowns and zero interceptions. His father, Sayre head coach Chad Pennington, played at Marshall University and the NFL. Half of Luke’s touchdowns have gone to junior Brock Coffman who has interest from several Power 5 schools, including Kentucky and Maryland. 

Passing attack grounded

The Spartan defense played lights out Friday night, holding the Warriors to zero passing touchdowns. Eminence junior Blaze Berry is tops in the state in passing yards per game (344) while Dalton Gambrel ranks second in receiving yards per game (120).  

Looking ahead

The Spartans earned home-field advantage throughout at least the first two rounds of the playoffs. They will likely host Paris in a second-round showdown of top five Class A teams in three weeks.

First Half

The Spartans got the ball first with Luke Pennington hitting Charlie Slabaugh over the top with a 43-yard completion. The duo hooked up for a nine-yard touchdown pass a few plays later to give Sayre a 6-0 lead, but Eminence blocked the extra point.

9-yard TD pass from Luke Pennington to Charlie Slabaugh opens the scoring.

Extra point was blocked.

The score was set up by a 43-yard completion from Pennington to Slabaugh.

Sayre 6
Eminence 0
1Q@lexsayrefb @lpennington_10 pic.twitter.com/o50imzMRF4

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) October 20, 2023

Eminence mishandled the ensuing kickoff and had to start at their own four-yard line. After a couple of first downs, the Warriors piled up some penalties and were forced to punt.

A 46-yard pass from Pennington to Grant Barnsten got Sayre back in the red zone.

Junior Brock Coffman, who leads the state in touchdown receptions, seemingly scored a touchdown on the next Spartan possession, but it was called back due to holding. The Warriors capitalized on the next play, with Landon Smither forcing a Coffman fumble that was recovered by Eminence’s Kenien Foree. 

The Warriors put together a long drive but Sayre’s Caden Jones came up with an interception in the end zone to prevent a touchdown.

Incredible INT from Sayre’s Caden Jones
Sayre 6
Eminence 0
Early 2Q pic.twitter.com/XrYPcfjsYq

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) October 21, 2023

Sayre then drove 68 yards before stalling on 4th-and-1 from the 12-yard line thanks to delay of game and unsportsmanlike penalties. Austin Bright broke up the 4th down pass in the end zone on fourth-and-long to give the Warriors back the ball.

Austin Bright (Eminence) breaks up Sayre’s 4th & long pass in the endzone.

Sayre 6
Eminence 0
2Q pic.twitter.com/nbyTAs1R5C

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) October 21, 2023

The Warriors put together an impressive drive, relying on the run game with Landon Smither rushing for 11 yards on 4th and 4 before he punched it in from the two-yard line for a touchdown. Instead of opting for an extra point in a tie ball game, Berry completed a pass to Bright for a successful two-point conversion to put the Warriors up 8-6.

2-yard TD run by Landon Smither gives the Warriors the lead.

The 2-pt try was good.
Eminence 8
Sayre 6

2Q pic.twitter.com/zN0IQ4rGYn

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) October 21, 2023

Who goes for TWO when TIED? Eminence that is who!

Conversion is good – Berry to Bright

8-6 Eminence leads Sayre pic.twitter.com/aCIgwOZutU

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) October 21, 2023

The Spartans got the ball back with one minute left in the half and quickly marched down the field but ran out of time, with Eminence tackling Coffman in bounds before the Spartans could run a final play.

Second Half

Sayre forced a Warrior punt on the opening drive. The Spartans piled up several passing first downs before a screen from Pennington to Kemonte Braxton gave the Spartans first and goal from the four-yard line. The Warriors’ defense got tough and forced a short Spartan field goal attempt, which they blocked.

The Warriors drove to the Spartan 35-yard line, where Sayre forced an incompletion on 4th-and-14.

On the next possession, Charlie Slabaugh rushed for a 23-yard touchdown for his second of the night making it 12-8 Sayre. The two-point conversion failed.

Charlie Slabaugh with a 23-yard TD run for Sayre. His second touchdown tonight.

Sayre 12
Eminence 8

9:56 left in 4Q pic.twitter.com/KDELUSGsSH

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) October 21, 2023

A personal foul penalty following a possible no-call pass interference forced the Warriors to punt with five minutes remaining. Sayre was able to run out the clock to preserve the victory and their unbeaten streak.

Two weeks after suffering a surprising loss to Frankfort, the Warriors gave Sayre all they wanted on a night most people expected Sayre to roll. They provided the Spartans with their toughest test all year thanks to a tough defense and solid rushing attack.

McLean County Surges Past Trigg County 44-14 on Senior Night

BY: Phoenix Stevens

When Freddie Maggard ventured to McLean County for the Kroger KSR Game of the Week on October 5th, he was amazed by the environment in Calhoun, KY. So, KSR had to make the trip back to cover McLean County’s senior night against Trigg County, and it did not disappoint.

Head Coach Zach Wagner brought all of the seniors to the weight room where they would be honored for their contributions to the program in front of their friends and family.

Every year on senior night, McLean County honors its seniors by reading off “senior profiles” that feature some words of praise for its seniors. pic.twitter.com/erpODJAoC7

— Phoenix Stevens (@PStevensKSR) October 20, 2023

Now, in the post above, you may see that the players are wearing black jerseys, but that was actually a setup for a big surprise. Assistant Coach/Defensive Coordinator Justin Cook brought out the real jerseys that the Cougars would be wearing. Instead of going all black, McLean County debuted their pink breast cancer awareness jerseys.

McLean County’s seniors sporting the new pink breast cancer awareness jerseys on senior night. pic.twitter.com/Pf7qQZ1jmE

— Phoenix Stevens (@PStevensKSR) October 21, 2023

The game itself was a beat down from the get-go. Freshman QB King Williams was put under immense pressure with Trigg County’s leading passer being removed from the team. Williams would throw four interceptions in the loss. The McLean County Cougars absolutely rocked the Wildcats on the ground, with the highlight of the night being a 68-yard gain. RB Elijah Baldwin carried a defender for the better part of 20 yards on the run.

What a MONSTROUS 68 yard gain from McLean County’s Elijah Baldwin as the 3rd quarter comes to a close!

McLean 44 | Trigg 6 | End 3Q pic.twitter.com/FIEZ3osi1N

— Phoenix Stevens (@PStevensKSR) October 21, 2023

Trigg County did get things going on the ground, but star RB Davaree Gude would exit the game early after a lower-body injury in the second half. McLean County would hit big play after big play, and that would lead to a 44-14 route on senior night. McLean County (7-2) finishes the regular season undefeated at home. They’ll face Marshall County next week in the final game before the postseason.

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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 fourth consecutive season. Check out all of the scores from throughout the weekend below.

Thursday, Oct. 19

Butler	35	vs. Iroquois	8
No. 14 Highlands	57	at Scott	6
Newport Central Catholic	49	at Bellevue	14
Shelby Valley	58	at East Ridge	30
Spencer County	25	at North Oldham	14
Western	34	at Waggener	16

Friday, Oct. 20

Southwestern	28	at Pulaski County	16	Don Franklin Bowl
Woodford County	40	at Anderson County	0	Freedom Air Homecoming
Adair County	49	at McCreary Central	20
Allen County-Scottsville	20	at Hopkinsville	19	(overtime)
Apollo	30	at Marshall County	13
Atherton	24	vs. Fairdale	6
Ballard	48	at Eastern	6
No. 16 Beechwood	41	vs. Bracken County	0
Belfry	54	vs. Powell County	15
Bell County	41	at Clay County	20
Betsy Layne	32	vs. Pike County Central	21
Bishop Brossart	57	at Trimble County	28
No. 19 Bowling Green	48	vs. Greenwood	13
Boyd County	22	at Lawrence County	14
No. 1 Boyle County	49	vs. Wayne County	14
Breathitt County	50	at Danville	13
No. 17 Bryan Station	49	at Madison Central	3
Campbell County	28	vs. Great Crossing	22
Campbellsville	21	vs. Kentucky Country Day	13
Carroll County	21	vs. Gallatin County	9
Casey County	41	vs. Marion County	32
Caverna	52	vs. Ballard Memorial	6
Central	50	vs. LaRue County	7
Central Hardin	43	at Barren County	0
No. 10 Christian Academy-Louisville	55	vs. Elizabethtown	7
Collins	21	at South Oldham	20
Conner	38	at Boone County	13
Cooper	21	vs. Dixie Heights	14
No. 2 Corbin	55	vs. Perry County Central	0
No. 5 Covington Catholic	50	at Mason County	14
Crittenden County	27	vs. Caldwell County	7
Daviess County	14	at McCracken County	6
DeSales	49	vs. Doss	14
No. 11 DuPont Manual	48	at Meade County	21
East Carter	28	at Russell	21
Fern Creek	42	at Southern	0
Fleming County	41	vs. Bath County	0
Frankfort	43	at Berea	0
No. 15 Franklin County	49	vs. Western Hills	0
No. 4 Frederick Douglass	50	vs. George Rogers Clark	6
Glasgow	47	at Butler County	0
Graves County	55	vs. Muhlenberg County	21
Grayson County	53	at Breckinridge County	0
Green County	38	at Metcalfe County	21
Greenup County	55	vs. Rowan County	19
Hancock County	30	at Hopkins County Central	20
Harrison County	45	vs. Holmes	0
Hart County	21	at Franklin-Simpson	18
Henderson County	64	vs. Christian County	32
Henry County	34	vs. Shelby County	28
Holy Cross (Louisville)	42	at Bethlehem	27
Jeffersontown	42	at Valley	8
Jellico, TN	31	vs. Jackson County	7
Johnson Central	36	vs. No. 8 Ashland Blazer	33
Letcher County Central	35	at Whitley County	31
No. 24 Lexington Catholic	72	vs. Pendleton County	0
No. 7 Lexington Christian	55	at Washington County	12
Lloyd Memorial	47	vs. Bourbon County	6
Logan County	49	vs. Warren East	21
Ludlow	38	vs. Holy Cross (Covington)	13
Madison Southern	39	vs. West Jessamine	7
Madisonville-North Hopkins	45	vs. Owensboro	38
Magoffin County	38	at Estill County	19
No. 3 Male	42	vs. No. 25 Bullitt East	6
Martin County	55	vs. Floyd Central	16
No. 20 Mayfield	49	vs. Murray	14
McLean County	44	vs. Trigg County	14
Mercer County	48	at Garrard County	20
Monroe County	42	vs. Clinton County	22
Montgomery County	14	vs. East Jessamine	13
Morgan County	48	at Phelps	8
Nelson County	32	at John Hardin	28
Newport	38	at Dayton	7
North Bullitt	21	vs. Moore	20
North Hardin	49	vs. Warren Central	16
North Laurel	28	at Harlan County	12
No. 13 Owensboro Catholic	56	vs. Fort Campbell	7
No. 18 Paducah Tilghman	70	at Calloway County	7
Paris	31	vs. Fairview	0
Paul Laurence Dunbar	16	at Lafayette	14
No. 23 Pikeville	43	at Hazard	7
Pineville	29	at Lynn Camp	23
Prestonsburg	52	vs. Knott County Central	20
No. 21 Raceland	49	at Nicholas County	14
Rockcastle County	52	at Knox Central	14
Russellville	42	vs. Fulton County	6
Ryle	24	vs. Simon Kenton	21
Sayre	12	vs. Eminence	8
Seneca	47	at Bullitt Central	7
Somerset	36	at Leslie County	13
No. 22 South Warren	41	at Ohio County	0
No. 12 St. Xavier	55	at Pleasure Ridge Park	0
Tates Creek	35	vs. Henry Clay	6
Taylor County	37	at Lincoln County	21
Thomas Nelson	18	at Grant County	12
Todd County Central	26	at Edmonson County	14
No. 6 Trinity (Louisville)	38	vs. Oldham County	0
Union County	36	vs. Webster County	7
Virginia (Bristol), VA	61	at Jenkins	14
WEB DuBois	23	at Shawnee	6
Walton-Verona	24	vs. Owen County	0
West Carter	41	at Lewis County	6
Williamsburg	28	at Harlan	14

Saturday, Oct. 21

Riverview East Academy (Cincinnati), OH

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at Paintsville

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2:00 PM