KSR's Kentucky High School Football State Semifinal Predictions

Only one round of playoff football separates Kentucky’s top high school programs from the chance at winning a state championship at Kroger Field next weekend.

Throughout Friday night, 24 teams across the state will face off in semifinal action, with half moving on to their respective class’s state title game and the rest going home until next season. Tonight’s matchups include 17 teams among KSR’s statewide rankings, including the Kroger KSR Game of the Week featuring a top 10 intracity showdown in Louisville between No. 6 Male and No. 10 Ballard. No. 1 Frederick Douglass and No. 2 Corbin are also in action as they appear to be on a collision course for the Class 4A championship.

To preview all of the Friday Night Lights’ action, KSR has provided prediction picks (with some scores, too) for all 12 games. The likes of Freddie Maggard, Zack Geoghegan, Brady Byrdwell, and Daniel Hager have all made their selections below, as have a trio of members from the football-crazed Howell family: Troy, Clark, and special guest picker baby Jude.

Let’s dive right in.

Jude excited about KHSAA 🏈 semifinals and ready to make some picks! pic.twitter.com/QfhNjZuFPb

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) November 23, 2022

Class 1A

Newport Central Catholic at No. 9 Pikeville | 7:00 PM

Freddie Maggard’s Pick: Pikeville
Zack Geoghegan’s Pick: Pikeville, 38-13
Brady Brydwell’s Pick: Pikeville
Daniel Hager’s Pick: Pikeville, 34-13
Clark Howell’s Pick: Pikeville
Troy Howell’s Pick: Pikeville, 31-17
Jude Howell’s Pick: Pikeville

KSR’s Pick: Pikeville (7-0)

Louisville Holy Cross at No. 24 Raceland | 7:30 PM

Freddie’s Pick: Raceland
Zack’s Pick: Raceland, 35-13
Brady’s Pick: Raceland
Daniel’s Pick: Raceland, 40-17
Clark’s Pick:  Raceland
Troy’s Pick: Raceland, 24-10
Jude’s Pick: Raceland

KSR’s Pick: Raceland (7-0)

Class 2A

Lloyd Memorial at No. 21 Beechwood | 7:30 PM

Freddie’s Pick: Beechwood
Zack’s Pick: Beechwood, 42-10
Brady’s Pick: Beechwood
Daniel’s Pick: Beechwood, 38-20
Clark’s Pick: Beechwood
Troy’s Pick: Beechwood, 38-14
Jude’s Pick: Beechwood

KSR’s Pick: Beechwood (7-0)

Lexington Christian Academy at No. 17 Mayfield | 7:00 PM CST

Freddie’s Pick: Mayfield
Zack’s Pick: Mayfield, 31-27
Brady’s Pick: LCA
Daniel’s Pick: Mayfield, 27-24
Clark’s Pick: Mayfield
Troy’s Pick: Mayfield, 28-27
Jude’s Pick: LCA

KSR’s Pick: Mayfield (5-2)

Class 3A

No. 27 Mason County at No. 18 Bardstown | 7:30 PM

Freddie’s Pick: Bardstown
Zack’s Pick: Mason County, 20-14
Brady’s Pick: Bardstown
Daniel’s Pick: Bardstown, 28-17
Clark’s Pick: Bardstown
Troy’s Pick: Bardstown, 31-24
Jude’s Pick: Bardstown

KSR’s Pick: Bardstown (6-1)

Ashland at No. 7 Christian Academy-Louisville | 7:30 PM

Freddie’s Pick: CAL
Zack’s Pick: CAL, 31-14
Brady’s Pick: CAL
Daniel’s Pick: CAL, 49-7
Clark’s Pick: CAL
Troy’s Pick: CAL, 28-20
Jude’s Pick: CAL

KSR’s Pick: CAL (7-0)

Class 4A

Central at No. 5 Boyle County | 7:00 PM

Freddie’s Pick:  Boyle County
Zack’s Pick:  Boyle County, 45-10
Brady’s Pick:  Boyle County
Daniel’s Pick:  Boyle County, 38-28
Clark’s Pick:  Boyle County
Troy’s Pick: Boyle County, 38-21
Jude’s Pick: Boyle County

KSR’s Pick: Boyle County (7-0)

Franklin County at No. 2 Corbin | 7:30 PM

Freddie’s Pick: Corbin
Zack’s Pick: Corbin, 28-20
Brady’s Pick: Corbin
Daniel’s Pick: Corbin, 42-24
Clark’s Pick: Franklin County
Troy’s Pick: Corbin, 21-20
Jude’s Pick: Franklin County

KSR’s Picks: Corbin (5-2)

Class 5A

No. 23 Owensboro at No. 1 Frederick Douglass | 6:00 PM

Freddie’s Pick: Douglass
Zack’s Pick: Douglass, 42-7
Brady’s Pick: Douglass
Daniel’s Pick: Douglass, 45-7
Clark’s Pick: Douglass
Troy’s Pick: Douglass, 28-10
Jude’s Pick: Douglass

KSR’s Pick: Douglass (7-0)

No. 13 Bowling Green at No. 3 Southwestern 7:30 PM

Freddie’s Pick: Southwestern
Zack’s Pick: Southwestern, 28-27
Brady’s Pick: Bowling Green
Daniel’s Pick: Bowling Green, 34-22
Clark’s Pick: Southwestern
Troy’s Pick: Bowling Green, 45-42
Jude’s Pick: Bowling Green 

KSR’s Pick: Bowling Green (4-3)

Class 6A

No. 6 Male at No. 10 Ballard | 7:00 PM (Kroger KSR Game of the Week)

Freddie’s Pick: Male
Zack’s Pick: Ballard, 31-17
Brady’s Pick: Male
Daniel’s Pick: Ballard, 21-17
Clark’s Pick: Male
Troy’s Pick: Male, 17-12
Jude’s Pick: Ballard

KSR’s Pick: Male (4-3)

No. 11 Bullitt East at No. 16 Bryan Station | 7:00 PM

Freddie’s Pick: Station
Zack’s Pick: Station, 24-17
Brady’s Pick: Station
Daniel’s Pick: Station, 31-24
Clark’s Pick: Bullitt East
Troy’s Pick: Station, 35-33
Jude’s Pick: Station

KSR’s Pick: Bryan Station (6-1)