Ah, footbah

Some of today's games of note:

Heath at Fulton County. Would a win push the Pirates into Class 3A's Top 20?

Mason County at Harrison County. The visiting Royals will be without their star tailback/safety Josh Harris. The Herald-Leader's Mike Fields quoted Mason County's coach, David Buchanan: “Friday nights are a big deal here, and we treasure every Friday night. Josh knows his Friday nights are done and that’s hard for him to take." (Fields earlier this week noted that the star running back/linebacker for Union Larry A. Ryle, which is idle this weekend, is also out for the rest of this season.)

Henderson County at Bowling Green (No. 1 in the Associated Press Class 5A poll). The Purples' senior quarterback, Scooter Hollis, was especially sharp in Bowling Green's big win over Louisville Saint Xavier.

Harlan at Middlesboro. This game sounds a little like the Heath-Mayfield rivalry from Heath's perspective.

Muhlenberg County vs. Grayson County, Edmonson County vs. Hancock County and McLean County at Butler County. These three games comprise the first-ever something called the "MAC Conference Bowl," to be played Saturday in Morgantown. The game that most excites me is the noon first game, because of the inclusion of Kentucky-desk darling Grayson County. I stopped in the Fast Lane Marathon service station just off the Wendell H. Ford Western Kentucky Parkway in Leitchfield yesterday, and the woman working behind the counter wore a T-shirt reading, "If the ball has no point, there is no point." (The restrooms at this place, by the way, were totally 5 of 5 stars/highly recommended, by the way.)

Bell County at Whitley County. Actually, Bell County, too, is a pretty strong candidate for my pet team of the season. I love the Bobcats' Facebook page.

Murray at Mayfield (AP Class A No. 1). The Tigers might want to stay away from these highlights from the Cardinals' blowout win at rival Paducah Tilghman last week.

Webster County vs. Calloway County and Ballard Memorial at Marshall County. It's officially the "Marshall County Bowl."

Glasgow at Allen County-Scottsville. It's unofficially the "U.S. 31E Bowl."

Louisville Trinity (AP Class 6A No. 1) at Cincinnati Elder and Louisville Doss at Louisville Saint Xavier. I had dinner with a nice Catholic family in Louisville last night, and they revealed that St.X has launched a more aggressive recruiting strategy with the elementary schools--hosting a camp for third-grade boys, for example, whereas Trinity's youngest camp is for fourth-graders. These particular parents are turned off by the St.X blitz, but they said it has definitely grabbed their third-grader.

North Oldham at Elizabethtown. Here's hoping it was a happy last night in Sonora for Etown fans, who are likely pretty grumpy over the current team's 0-3 start.

Adair County at Breckinridge County. ColumbiaMagazine.com is starting to get excited about the Indians.

South Spencer of Indiana at Owensboro Catholic. With No. 1 Newport Catholic Central idle, No. 2 Owensboro Catholic is the state's top-rated Class 2A team in action this weekend.

Boyle County at Radcliff John Hardin.

Fort Knox at Fort Campbell.

Bardstown at Nelson County.

Louisville DuPont Manual at Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park.

Western at Fort Thomas Highlands (AP Class 4A No. 1).

Louisville Ballard at Louisville Central (AP Class 3A No. 1).

Paducah Tilghman at Graves County.

Madisonville-North Hopkins at Hopkinsville.

Reidland at Lake County (Tenn.)

Christian County at Lone Oak.

Caldwell County at Trigg County.

Crittenden County at Union County.