Kroger KSR Game of the Week: Pulaski at Southwestern (5A Playoffs)

KSR will travel down to Somerset on Friday for a battle between two county rivals in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30.

Southwestern’s Momentum

After several close matchups, the Warriors have dominated the two most recent contests, including a 35-14 playoff victory last year in the Kroger KSR Game of the Week.  Southwestern rolled up 400 yards in that playoff victory before falling to Frederick Douglass by one point in the 5A quarterfinals.  Pulaski County quarterback Drew Polston missed that game with an injury.

• 2018:  Pulaski County 21 Southwestern 14
• 2018:  Pulaski County 13 Southwestern 6 (3^rd Round of 5A playoffs)
• 2019:  Southwestern 15 Pulaski County 7 (overtime)
• 2019: Southwestern 17 Pulaski County 7 (2^nd Round of 5A playoffs)
• 2020:  Pulaski County 15 Southwestern 13
• 2020:  Southwestern 35 Pulaski County 14 (2^nd Round of 5A playoffs)
• 2021:  Southwestern 42 Pulaski County 14

Pulaski County visits #18 Southwestern Friday in a rematch of last year’s 2nd round playoff contest, which I covered for the Kroger KSR Game of the Week and SW won. Here is last year’s game summed up in 20 seconds. pic.twitter.com/fr5sHu1SQp

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) November 9, 2021

This Season

Pulaski County (7-4) opened the season 1-3 with those three losses coming to #16 Lexington Catholic (38-36), #5 Boyle County (60-29), and #4 Corbin (49-6).  The Week Two game against Lexington Catholic, which finished well after midnight, saw the Maroons lose one of their top wide receivers, Barek Williams, to an injury that made him miss six games.  The Maroons had a valiant comeback before Lexington Catholic kicked a last-second field goal to win the Kroger KSR Game of the Week.

The Maroons have regrouped down the stretch, losing only one of their last six games, a 42-14 loss to Southwestern on October 22.  Pulaski County started out the year ranked #17 and is currently not ranked.  Polston is one of the top quarterbacks in the state.  He has 28 passing touchdowns, with half of them going to Chandler Godby.

Southwestern started out the season ranked #16, briefly dropped out after a Week Five loss to Mercer County (22-21), and haven’t lost since.  They are currently ranked #18 in the state.  The Warriors are 8^th in the state in rushing and 6^th in the state in rushing defense.  They feature a running back by committee approach, led by Tanner Wright and Giddeon Brainard.  Southwestern ran for 293 yards in the victory over Pulaski County last month.  

Pulaski County

KSR State Ranking:  Not Ranked

State Championships:  1 (2014)

State Runner-up:  3 (2013, 2015, 2016) – All three losses were to Bowling Green

Last Season:  Finished 8-2, Lost to Southwestern 35-14 in the 2nd round of 5A Playoffs 

2021 Playoffs:  Defeated North Laurel 40-14 in 1^st Rd of Class 5A Playoffs

Key Players

Sr. QB Drew Polston – 190-for-249 for 2,261 yards and 28 TDs and only 6 picks, 29 carries for 238 yards, and 3 rushing TDs

Jr. WR Chandler Godby– Has 70 catches for 1,008 yards and 14 TDs

Jr. S Layton Abbott – Has 114 tackles and 2 TFL

Southwestern

KSR State Ranking:  18^th overall, 5^th in Class 5A

State Championships:  None

State Runner-up:  None

Last Season:  Finished 10-2, Lost to Frederick Douglass 21-20 in 3^rd round of Class 5A playoffs 

2021 Playoffs:  Defeated Whitley County 41-6 in 1^st round of Class 5A Playoffs

Key Players

Jr. RB/DB Tanner Wright – Has 114 carriers for 936 yards and 10 rushing TDs

Sr. RB/ LB Giddeon Brainard  – Has 80 carries for 848 yards and 11 rushing TDs, 68 tackles, 27 TFL, and 6.5 sacks

Sr TE/ DL Cody Harmon – Has 68 tackles, 26 TFL, and 6 sacks

Predictions

Barkley’s Pick – Southwestern 38 Pulaski County 21

Troy’s Pick – Southwestern 35 Pulaski County 30

Jude Howell’s Pick – Southwestern 42 Pulaski County 31

Jude Howell is picking @Southwestern_FB to win the Kroger @KySportsRadio Game of the Week against Pulaski County. He is a fan of both teams and expects a great game in the 2nd round of the 5A playoffs! pic.twitter.com/aojrkRVbQ0

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) November 11, 2021

Who wins the Kroger @KySportsRadio Game of the Week? 🏈 5A 2nd round

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) November 11, 2021

A Message from Kroger

We’re excited to tell you about something new from our friends at Kroger. Did you know Kroger is America’s largest grocery chain that started over 135 years ago? They are doing something they’ve never done before: bringing fresh groceries right to you with a new service called Hometown Pickup. 

That’s right, for those of you in Cynthiana, Midway, Eminence, Bedford, McKee, Dry Ridge, Carlisle, Eubank, Georgetown, Mt. Vernon, Jackson, Frenchburg, Irvine, Mt. Olivet, and Paris, Kentucky you can now order all your groceries online and pick them up at a central location in your hometown. No more long drives into the city to get fresh food for you and your family. Now THAT is truly Fresh for Everyone. Thanks, Kroger. 

Learn more and place your first order at Kroger.com/hometown.