Scott County vs. Franklin County: Kroger KSR Game of the Week Preview

For the first Kroger KSR Game of the Week, we head north to Georgetown for the highly-anticipated matchup between the Scott County Cardinals and the Franklin County Flyers. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. Friday at Great Crossing High School. The game is the first of two that make up the Battle of Elkhorn Creek Bowl, presented by Bluegrass Orthopedics; it is also made possible by Chick-Fil-A (which I love by the way)!

Great Crossing will square off against Western Hills in the nightcap.  After a close first quarter, Great Crossing pulled away 42-7 to win last year’s matchup. GCHS is led by University of Tennessee commit Kalib Perry.

KSR Curse Reversed?

Home teams were only 4-9 in the Kroger KSR Game of the Week last season, but crowds were limited. Can home teams do better this season with more fans in the stands cheering them on?

• Week 1: Frederick Douglass LOST to North Hardin 19-17
• Week 2: Pikeville DEFEATED Belfry 20-14
• Week 3: Simon Kenton LOST to Johnson Central 47-17
• Week 4: Bowling Green LOST to South Warren 10-7
• Week 5: Owensboro Catholic LOST to Owensboro 28-14
• Week 6: Somerset LOST to LCA 28-21
• Week 7: Bardstown LOST to Elizabethtown 33-6
• Week 8: Johnson Central DEFEATED Belfry 35-14
• Week 9: Lexington Catholic DEFEATED Covington Catholic 29-28
• Round of 32:  Pikeville DEFEATED Sayre 49-13
• Round of 16:  Pulaski County LOST to Southwestern 35-14
• Quarterfinals:  Bryan Station LOST to Dunbar 21-16
• Semifinals:  West Carter LOST to Beechwood 35-34

Scott County 

KSR State Ranking:  18

State Championships:  2 (1975, 2013)

State Runner-up:  3 (2004, 2011, 2018)

Last Season:  7-1.  Lost to Frederick Douglass 39-21 in 5A 2^nd Round

Coach:  Jim McKee is the only coach to lead a non-Louisville team to a 6A state title. He is in his 26^th season at Scott County.

Key Players

Sr RB Montago Jones – 128 carries for 811 yards, 12 TDs

Jr RB/DB Campton Martin –61 carries for 438 yards, 12 TDs, 6 defensive INT – 2 returned for TD

Sr RB/WR/DB Jeremy Hamilton – 53 carries for 413 yards, 6 TDs, 24 Tackles

Sr LB Isaac Krebs – 28 Tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3.5 Sacks

Jr DE Elijah Adams – 49 Tackles

Franklin County

KSR State Ranking: 11

State Championships:  None

State Runner-up:  1 (2020)

Last Season:  Finished 9-2.  Lost to Boyle County 31-28 (OT) in 4A State Championship

Coach:  Eddie James led Frankin County to its only state title game appearance in 2020.  In the offseason he accepted the head coaching job at Highlands before having a change of heart and returning to Franklin County.

Key Players

Jr RB Kaden Moorman – 101 carries for 606 yards, 13 TDs

Jr WR/DB Zack Claudio – 43 catches for 666 yards, 6 TDs, 6 defensive INTs – 3 returned for TD

Sr LB Brenton Sears – 104 tackles

Jr LB Peyton Ledford – 103 tackles

Sr DB Jayden Mattison – 89 tackles, 8.5 TFL

Scott County vs. Franklin County Preview

Last season, Franklin County surprised a few people, winning on the road at Johnson Central in the 4A semifinals and coming within a play away from a state championship against Boyle County in the finals. A run to the state championship game again this year should surprise absolutely no one, as the Flyers return most of their starters, including one of the top juniors in the state in RB Kaden Moorman. Scott County knows how explosive of a player he is.

“I’ve been a part of this game for a long time and Kaden Moorman is a good a back as there is in the state of Kentucky,” said Coach McKee.

Franklin County up 28-21 after 99 yd TD drive cappped off by ⁦@kadenmoorman4⁩ TD run. 5:44 left in game. pic.twitter.com/piU2FvdpQi

— Troy Howell (@teeroyhowell) December 19, 2020

Franklin County does need to replace their quarterback, Nick Broyles and his top target, Fred Farrier who both graduated.  Zack Claudio will be a key target for the new QB to throw to.  Claudio hauled in six touchdown passes last year and picked off six passes.

Scott County usually relies on a run-heavy wing T offense; I don’t expect that to change much this year, with the trio of Montago Jones, Campton Martin, and Jeremy Hamilton all returning.  Coach McKee says that Martin, who had six interceptions last year, will play mostly on offense this season, and that Hamilton will be a versatile player.

“We are going to start Andrew Hickey at quarterback next Friday night,” Coach McKee said at last week’s press conference.  “He’s a freshman.  It is the first time Scott County has ever started a freshman at quarterback.  He’s had a great preseason.”

The Cardinals will have to deal with Frederick Douglass in the district but should have the firepower to contend this season. I caught up with Coach McKee a couple of weeks ago on my podcast.

Press Conferences

Scott County vs. Franklin County Prediction

Franklin County 35

Scott County 26

A Message from Kroger

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