Meet the Eight Undefeated Teams Ahead of the KHSAA Playoffs

The 2021 KHSAA football season has come to a close and the playoffs are now upon us. Eight teams have run the gauntlet and finished the season with an unblemished record. Here’s how those teams made it through the regular season unscathed:

No. 1 Male (9-0)

With their 23-0 victory over rival DuPont Manual, Male head coach Chris Wolfe broke the record for most undefeated regular seasons at the helm of the Bulldogs’ program with four (2014, 2015, 2019, 2021).

Male outscored their opponents this season 355-71 in nine games, earning the No. 1 slot in 6A’s RPI (.667) while winning each game by an average of 32 points.

The Bulldogs are led by running back Daniel Swinney (137 carries, 1,171 yards, 18 touchdowns), quarterback Nic Schutte (85-132, 1,623 yards, 19 touchdowns, zero interceptions) and wide receivers Vinny Anthony (26 receptions, 651 yards, eight touchdowns) and Max Gainey (24 receptions, 388 yards, six touchdowns).

Their most impressive victories come against No. 2 St. Xavier (28-21), No. 8 Dupont Manual (23-0) and No. 15 Trinity (24-10).

No. 3 LCA (10-0)

LCA scored 400 points throughout the regular season while only allowing 102 total (10.2 per game). The Eagles also won each game by an average of 33 points.

In three of their last four matchups, LCA has won by at least 50 points and the one time they didn’t, they won by 42, which has contributed to their No. 1 2A RPI ranking of .823.

Virginia commit and star running back Xavier Brown has led his team with 77 carries, 879 yards and 11 touchdowns; Brown also averaged 11.4 yards per rush. He’s complemented by Miami (OH) commit Mason Moore, whose 636 receiving yards and seven touchdowns rank fifth in 2A.

Defensively, Tyler Morris’ eight sacks and Parker Chaney’s four interceptions both rank in 2A’s top-10 in their respective categories.

Even with a stacked 2A division for KHSAA this season, it’s tough to see anyone taking down the Eagles going forward after wins over Madison Central, Boyle County, CAL, Lexington Catholic and Pikeville earlier in the year.

No. 5 Corbin (10-0)

Corbin is a quiet 10-0. Not once did anyone challenge the Redhounds all season long. Their closest victory came in their season opener against North Carolina’s Christ School, 35-21.

Since then, Corbin has outscored all opponents 409-74; the Redhounds only allow an average of 8.2 points per game and forced three different shutouts against Whitley County, Knox Central and Wayne County, the latter of which they’ll meet this Friday in the first round of the 4A KHSAA playoffs.

Redhound quarterback Cameron Combs utilizes two threats on the outside, featuring two of 4A’s premier wideouts: Kentucky commit Treyveon Longmire and uncommitted Dakota Patterson who have combined for 831 of Combs’ 1,066 passing yards and all 10 of his touchdowns. Seth Mills is a superstar in the backfield as well, boasting 857 yards and 15 touchdowns on the year.

No. 10 Beechwood (10-0)

The reigning co-Kentucky Mr. Football Cam Hergott had another incredible season in 2021. His 2,981 all-purpose yards and 41 total touchdowns lead 2A in both categories.

Averaging over 11 yards per carry, a 72 percent completion percentage and only two turnovers all season, the EKU football commit had one of, if not the best regular season of any player throughout KHSAA.

It’s not just Hergott who’s been impressive for the Tigers, it’s been an entire team effort. Beechwood outscored their opponents 133-0 in the first three weeks of the season and didn’t give up more than three scores in a single game all season.

Their worst defensive matchup came in week four, where Hergott and the Tigers defeated northern Kentucky foe Simon Kenton 49-21. Since, Beechwood has outscored their opponents 290-41 and have scored at least 54 points in each of their last four games.

No. 11 Woodford County (10-0)

Dennis Johnson and Woodford County are having the season of their lives right now. The Yellow Jackets are undefeated for the first time since 1988.

Their explosive offense led by quarterback Bryce Patterson and running back Preston Stacy has compiled 461 total points while the defense has only allowed 121 points. Woodford County also ranks No. 1 in 5A’s RPI standings with a .668 rating.

Patterson has shown off his dual-threat ability this season throwing for 21 touchdowns and rushing for 12 more. His best game this season came against West Jessamine for the Kroger KSR Game of the Week, where the senior put up 344 passing yards and five touchdowns through the air and another on the ground.

Stacy, on the other hand, was held to under 100 yards rushing just twice all season. The junior was just shy of a 1,000 yard rushing season, putting up 978 yards and 10 touchdowns on the year.

Middlesboro (10-0)

Three COVID-19 cancelations throughout KHSAA play have helped the Yellowjackets keep their perfect season alive—that shouldn’t downplay the season they’ve had, however.

Running back Caleb Bogonko scored four or more touchdowns in three separate games. He finished the regular season with 959 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Yellowjacket quarterback Cayden Grigsby was also a highlight for Middlesboro. Each game you could tell the sophomore became progressively more comfortable in the pocket. He finished the season with 1,226 yards and 13 touchdowns; not to mention 486 yards on the ground and eight more scores.

Middlesboro has Leslie County this Friday in round one—they’re one of two teams that were able to contain Bongoko, stifling him for just 70 yards on 13 carries.

Bardstown (10-0)

Bardstown boasts the top-ranked quarterback in KHSAA’s 3A class with Brady Clark. His 1,931 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and only three interceptions are a big reason why the Tigers have scored at least 33 points in all 10 games this season.

As you would expect out of a team with a prolific passing attack, Bardstown has the most effective one-two receiver combination in 3A. Shannon Tonge (34 receptions, 673 yards, 11 touchdowns) and TJ Greenwell (31 receptions, 669 yards, eight touchdowns) have nearly identical numbers heading into the postseason.

Bardstown has district foe Thomas Nelson in the first round of the playoffs, a team they took care of rather easily in week nine 54-18. If everything goes as planned, they’ll have to face off against 3A’s No. 1 in CAL in the quarterfinals.

Bishop Brossart (10-0)

Bishop Brossart utilizes the pure rushing attack to perfection. Their defense is no slouch either, pitching five shutouts in the regular season while only giving up 42 points throughout their 10 wins.

Their star running back Jed Martin surpassed 1,000 yards in their season finale against Pendleton County while quarterback Jacob Leicht amassed 826 rushing yards and 13 scores on the ground this season. The QB also has 21 completions for 351 yards and four touchdowns this year.

Despite being the lone unbeaten 1A team, Russellville (.746), Pikeville (.731), Raceland (.719) and Kentucky Country Day (.694) rank ahead of the Mustangs in the RPI.