Male vs. Saint Xavier: Kroger KSR Game of the Week Preview

The Kroger KSR Game of the Week is headed to Louisville for a battle between two top-ten teams in Male (2-0) and Saint Xavier (2-0). Kickoff for the 6A power houses is set for 7:30 p.m. at Brother Thomas More Page Stadium.

The last time these two teams faced off against one another dates back to Sept. 9, 2019 where Male defeated Saint Xavier 51-14.

Past Kroger KSR Game of the Week Success

Friday’s match up will be the first time the event has ever been hosted in Louisville. Neither team has yet to participate in the Kroger KSR Game of the Week until now.

Male

KSR State Ranking: 1

State Championships: 15 (1924, 1937, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1951, 1954, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2015, 2018) *Titles prior to 1959 not officially recorded in KHSAA record books.

State Runner-up: 5 (2020, 2019, 2010, 2002, 2001)

Last Season: 8-2. Lost to Trinity in the season opener (43-14) and the 6A state championship game (28-0).

Coach: Chris Wolfe: 160-75 overall coaching record.

Key Players:

• DE Selah Brown: Four-star prospect by Rivals. Holds offers from Wisconsin, Louisville, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Stanford and others.
• RB Daniel Swinney: 29 rushing attempts, 330 yards and six touchdowns. His 262-yard performance and three scores in week two led Male to a 51-14 victory over Ballard.
• QB Nic Shutte: 297 passing yards this season, five touchdowns.
• WR Vinny Anthony: Consensus three-star prospect committed to Wisconsin. Had three catches for 111 yards and a score last week against Ballard.

Saint Xavier

KSR State Ranking: 9

State Championships: 14 (1956, 1957, 1962, 1969, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1986, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2009) *Titles prior to 1959 not officially recorded in KHSAA record books.

State Runner-up: 5 (2017, 2007, 2005, 2003, 1991)

Last Season: 6-3. Lost to Trinity (31-0) in the 6A state semifinals.

Coach: Kevin Wallace: 324-114 overall coaching record.

Key Players:

• QB Jack Sivori: Passing — 13-21, 135 yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions. Rushing — 29 attempts, 274 yards, five touchdowns.
• RB Justin Walsh: 33 rushing attempts, 180 yards
• S Tyler Boggs: Leads the team in total tackles (15), 11 solo in two games this season.
• WR Michael Duddy: Three receptions this season for 68 yards, three touchdowns. St. X doesn’t pass the ball much, but when they do, Duddy can be counted on to make a play.
• DE Micah Carter: The 6-foot-5 junior edge defender has offers from Kentucky, Louisville and seven others. He suffered an injury in the season-opener vs. Owensboro and his status for this Friday is unknown.

Male vs. Saint Xavier Preview

Male vs. Saint Xavier is one of the most anticipated Kroger KSR Games of the Week in terms of star power and playoff implications. Both teams have a run-first philosophy when it comes to pushing the ball downfield. While Male has the edge throwing the ball on the stat sheet, it’s because Saint Xavier boasts one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the state in Jack Sivori.

Sivori’s 274 rushing yards through two games this season has been the biggest factor in their two early season victories, averaging 137 yards per game. Four-star Male defensive end Selah Brown, the No. 3 player in Kentucky, per Rivals, might have something to say about that. Last season Brown recorded 38 tackles, and more importantly, amassed 12.5 tackles for loss.

Saint Xavier doesn’t have a player like Brown on the defensive side of the ball, which might make for a long night for the Tiger defense in the case of Bulldog running back Daniel Swinney. Swinney rushed for 262 yards in Male’s 51-14 victory over Ballard last Friday, only playing one full half due to cramping in the third quarter. He played sparingly the remainder of the game and is expected to make the start in Louisville this weekend.

While Male’s running game with Swinney is their No. 1 priority, they have one of the top receivers in the state, something Saint Xavier can’t say about themselves. Vinny Anthony, a Wisconsin commit, has recorded 157 passing yards and two touchdowns this season and if the Bulldogs can get the ball in his hands, it’ll mean trouble for the Tigers.

Saint Xavier has given up 387 passing yards through two games, mostly due to the fact that Ownesboro’s Gavin Wimsatt threw for 282 yards in the season opener.

Bottom Line: Saint Xavier needs to be able to stop the Swinney and the Bulldog run game while keeping the ball out of Anthony’s hands. Male has to shut down Sivori and keep him inside the numbers and out of the end zone, something neither Owensboro or Central could do in the last couple of weeks.

Male vs. Saint Xavier Prediction

Barkley’s prediction: Male 42, Saint Xavier 28

Who wins the Kroger @KySportsRadio Game of the Week?

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) August 30, 2021

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