The Gridiron Bowl Is Here

The two day festival to crown Kentucky's best football teams will take place this Friday and Saturday at L.T. Smith Stadium. Get ready for epic battles, blowouts, tears, cheers, and elation on the football field. Look for fender benders, screaming, fist fights, and parking tickets across campus parking lots at Western Kentucky University. Yes, the first weekend of December has arrived and now lets break down the contests.

Friday

1A; Mayfield vs. Hazard
Mayfield will have their toughest test on defense all year as they try to hold down Jon Combs, Jordan Olinger and the Hazard air attack. Mayfield has a balanced offensive attack and defense, defense wins championships right?
My pick: Mayfield in close battle

2A; Owensboro Catholic vs. Newport Central Catholic
There may be 100 points scored in this contest between the Aces and Thoroughbreds. I believe the Thoroughbreds have more weapons with dual threat quarterback Brady Hightchew and an outstanding running back in Chris Kelly.
My pick: Newport Central Catholic

4A; Allen County-Scottsville vs. Boyle County
This game will come down to defense, which team will be able to stop the others running attack? The answer is Boyle County. The Rebels defense is simply stronger.
My pick: Boyle County

Saturday

3A; Central vs. Belfry
Central's Anthony Wales is having a monster season running the ball, feed the monster the ball and good things will happen. Belfry has the ability to make it close for a while but I will take the more battle tested Yellow Jackets.
My pick: Central

5A; Christian County vs. Highlands
The Colonels defense and Anthony Hickey making plays at quarterback should keep this game close for a while. However, until somebody knocks off Highlands in 5A I will take the Bluebirds. Plus, they have a talented quarterback as well in Patrick Towles.
My pick: Highlands

6A; Male vs. Trinity
Unfortunately for the Male Bulldogs they have to play the juggernaut that is the Trinity Shamrocks. Since St. Xavier won the 6A crown last year, it is time for Trinity to win three in a row. Derek Bishop and company will not be denied on their way to the title.
My pick: Trinity

Another Fourth Quarter Collapse

Paducah, KY native Corey Robinson carved up the Hilltopper defense going 26 of 39 for 304 yards and 2 touchdowns. Robinson completed a 47 yard bomb to wide out Chip Reeves with 12:39 left in the game that broke a 14-14 tie. The final score was Troy 28, WKU 14.

Trying to figure out why the David Elson coaching regime did not heavily recruit this kid? He only set the national record with 91 touchdown passes his senior season at Lone Oak and he lives in your state.

Bobby Rainey once again put in a stellar performance with 27 rushes for 157 yards, accounting for both Hilltopper touchdowns.

On the flip side, Kawaun Jakes continues to be consistently inconsistent going 10 of 23 for only 81 yards. Really, just 81 yards! The quarterback situation needs to be assessed during the off season. WKU cannot depend on Bobby Rainey to be 85% of the offense every game.

The defense had another hard time putting together a complete game effort, playing well for three quarters but collapsing in the fourth.

The season ends with a record of 2-10, better than 0-12!

Patriots Advance To State Finals

The Patriots defeated the Western Warriors by a score of 20-16 in a grueling contest that was close throughout.

With the Warriors ahead 16-14 late in the fourth quarter the Patriots answered with a 14 play, 73 yard game winning drive that was capped off with a 2 yard touchdown run by Brandon Boards.

The Warriors had 1:52 to answer but was unable to convert on a 4th and 18 pass play. As the ball landed on the ground, the deal was sealed and Allen County-Scottsville Patriots will play for the 4A state championship.

Allen County-Scottsville vs. Boyle County for the 4A State Championship, 7 p.m. Friday at Houchens-Smith Stadium.

Patriots Collide With Warriors

With the Warren Central Dragons and the Russellville Panthers going down to defeat this past Friday night, the only team in the area still alive is the Allen County Scottsville Patriots.

The Patriots are coming off a huge win at home against the Lone Oak Purple Flash prevailing by a final score of 35-28. The ACS defense had a bend but not break attitude against the Purple Flash allowing them to get their passing yards (367) but shutting down their running game, the Flash only had 14 total rushing yards.

ACS showed a lot of determination by jumping out to a 20 point lead only to see that lead turn into a 28-27 deficit in the 4th quarter. The Patriots responded with a 43 yard touchdown run by Hunter York to take the lead for good. Lone Oak fumbled away their opportunity to tie the game on their next possession. The Patriots were lead by Brandon Boards with 19 rushes for 119 yards, despite being in a car wreck early in the morning...one tough dude!

Now its on to Louisville to face the Western Warriors (10-3) lead by running back Jacorey Ritchie, who is coming off a 170 yard 2 touchdown performance against Collins. The Patriots defense will have to key on the running attack of the Warriors if they want to make it to the big show in Bowling Green.

Hilltoppers Finds Another Way To Lose

I will admit that I have exiled myself from blogging about Hilltopper football after watching the North Texas debacle. A performance like that causes a fan to be uninspired to talk about a team that shows no effort against a team that is beatable, its North Texas not Nebraska!

However, after showing an inspired effort and guts in their one point overtime victory over Arkansas State, I made my way to L.T. Smith Stadium for the home finale against Middle Tennessee. For the first three quarter I was impressed with the play of WKU, they put together a complete game as Bobby Rainey ran wild and the defense played lights out. Even special teams were playing decent, blocking a couple of punts to set up scores. That made up for Middle's Eric Russell 97 yard kickoff return touchdown and that Casey Tinius extra point that was blocked.

The positive outlook changed on one play in the 4th quarter with the Hilltoppers leading 26-13, 4th down and one yard away from the end zone. Coach Taggart decides to put this game away and go for the touchdown, I liked the call until I saw Kawaun Jakes fumble the snap and the Blue Raiders' Rod Isaac scoop and score for a 99 yard touchdown. The Hilltopper lead is cut to 26-20. All of a sudden, I had flashbacks to the Louisiana-Monroe game. Sound familiar:

- The offense stalls on their next possession

- MTSU puts together a 10 play, 77 yard drive capped off with a Ben Cunningham 6 yard touchdown run. 27-26 MTSU with the lead.

- The offense puts together a drive and sets up Casey Tinius for a 34 yard field goal with 2:26 remaining, only to have Blue Raiders defensive lineman Jarrett Crittenton block the attempt. Game over.

Notes: The Good, The Bad, The Horrible

- Bobby Rainey had a monster game with 45 rushes for 248 yards and 2 touchdowns.

- Kawaun Jakes was once again inconsistent, going 9-22 for only 98 yards and the goal line fumble.

- The defense held MTSU to 208 total yards and allowed only one touchdown.

- Special teams were good and terrible. Back to back blocked punts helped set up early touchdowns for the Hilltoppers. However, a kickoff return for a touchdown and causing the Blue Raiders to block an extra point and field goal attempt cost WKU big time.

- I have a feeling that special teams will be emphasized in practice this week.

Dragons Denied At Goal Line

- Think this game was important? Warren Central opens the game with on onside kick which they recovered only to have their drive stall.

- After Christian County scored off a Dragon turnover to make the score 6-0, Cortez Barber took the ensuing kickoff to the house to make the score 7-6 in favor of the Dragons.

- In the 3rd quarter, Cortez Barber intercepts an Anthony Hickey pass and sets up the Dragons for a field goal, 10-6 Dragons.

- The Colonels convert on a 4th and 16 play that sets up a Marcoreyon Tandy touchdown scramble out of the wildcat formation. 13-10 Colonels.

- The Dragons add a field goal early in the 4th to tie the game at 13.

- Late in the 4th quarter, Warren Central's Eric Brown busts loose for a 25 yard touchdown run off the sweep. 20-13 Dragons.

- The Colonels face a long field with very little time left in the quarter, Anthony Hickey runs, passes, and scrambles the Colonels down to the red zone. The drive is capped off with an Anthony Hickey (who else) touchdown run and we are tied at 20.

- Overtime...Colonels get the ball first and score on an Anthony Hickey touchdown run, 27-20 Colonels.

- The Dragons answer on their possession as Michael Bush connects with Cortez Barber on a roll out for the touchdown reception. Instead of kicking the extra point, the Dragons go for the two point conversion and the victory. They run their familiar sweep play, the hand off to the motion back hoping for daylight around the corner but nothing is there except Colonel defenders to crush the hopes of the Warren Central Dragons. The final score is 27-26 (OT) in favor of the Christian County Colonels in a fantastic playoff game.

High School Playoff Picture

My apologies for not having posted in a couple of weeks, my job that actually pays my bills has been keeping me busy and I have not been able to get out to any games so far this playoff season. However, I plan on a reappearance this Friday and what a great time to gloss the sidelines again with these fantastic match ups in the south central Kentucky area:

3A: Paducah Tilghman at Russellville
Prediction: Two teams on a roll collide as the Panthers look to beat the defending 3A state champions, but I think the Blue Tornado win in a close one.

4A Lone Oak at Allen County-Scottsville
Prediction: Can the Patriot defense stop the Purple Flash offense? Lone Oak too much in this one.

5A Christian County at Warren Central
Prediction: A rematch of the Rafferty's Bowl game where the Colonels defeated the Dragons 15-8, that was then, this is now...Dragons pull this one out at home.