Last Friday's Games

To supplement Eric's usual great coverage, here is what happened in the State Quarterfinals of the KHSAA Football Playoffs on Friday night (home teams listed first):

Class 1A:
Mayfield 17 - 0 Russellville
Frankfort 35 - 21 Beechwood
Williamsburg 21 - 7 Hazard
Raceland 14 - 3 Pikeville

Mayfield, the defending state champs, are the only one of the four winners to reach the State Semi-Finals last year.  Cardinal fans will no doubt miss their near-annual semi-final with Beechwood.  But they will also like Mayfield's chances against teams with much less playoff experience.

Class 2A:
Caldwell Co. 14 - 27 Murray
Christian Academy-Louisville 0 - 34 Lou. DeSales
Gallatin Co. 12 - 34 Newport Cent. Catholic
Prestonsburg 21 - 28 Somerset

Wild stuff in Class 2A, where all the road teams won.  I am heartbroken for Caldwell County, who played so well all year and who were placed in (what is, to me) the unfair position of having to beat a tough and canny Murray team for the second time this year.  The Tigers, who have a lot of playoff experience themselves, have now pulled out huge road victories at Owensboro Catholic and Caldwell County.  But I can't help thinking that we are headed to an all-Catholic final here between DeSales and NCC.

Class 3A:
Paducah Tilghman 8 - 7 S. Warren
Lou. Central 7 - 17 Wayne Co.
Bourbon Co. 47 - 21 Mason Co.
Belfry 43 - 6 Pike Co. Central

I am extremely happy for Tilghman, which went through some rough patches earlier in the season, but which pulled off a huge victory over a South Warren team that was 11-1 on the year.  With Central out of the way, we will have a new champion in 3A.  My guess is that Belfry, which has been knocking on the door in recent years, will finally take the crown.

Class 4A:
Owensboro 21 - 13 Franklin-Simpson
Shelbyville Collins 42 - 14 N. Oldham
Lex. Catholic 49 - 14 Mercer Co.
Ft. Thomas Highlands 28 - 13 Cov. Catholic

Not much to say here, as Highlands appears to be cruising toward another title.  I would really like to see them play Bowling Green.

Class 5A:
Graves Co. 10 - 49 Bowling Green
John Hardin 28 - 14 Bullitt East
Anderson Co. 31 - 28 Franklin Co.
Pulaski Co. 32 - 28 Madison Southern

Some dramatic games here, although Bowling Green seems very much on pace for another easy title.  By the way, I would also note that tradition is very strong this year in western Kentucky.  Mayfield, Murray, Tilghman, Owensboro, and Bowling Green are five of the oldest high schools in the Commonwealth, and they are each representing the western end of Kentucky in their respective semi-finals.

Class 6A:
Meade Co. 43 - 7 Cent. Hardin
Lou. Butler 29 - 14 Simon Kenton
Lou. Male 31 - 7 Lou. Trinity
Scott Co. 37 - 34 Lex. Henry Clay

An amazing game in Georgetown, where Scott County pulled out a huge victory over Henry Clay.  But the big story here, of course, is the elimination of Louisville Trinity, which has so lorded over the rest of the Commonwealth in recent years.  In 12 seasons from 2001 to 2012, Trinity won the state championship in the class with the largest schools ten times.  The other two times (2004 and 2009), the title went to Louisville St. Xavier.  So this will be the first year since 2000 that the big-school state champion will be someone other than those Big Two.  It will be the first time since 1996 that neither Trinity nor St. X are playing for the state championship.  Male won the old AAAA title in 2000, and they are in a good position to win this year's 6A title.  The last team from outside Louisville to win the big-school championship was Nelson County, which captured the AAAA title in 1996.  I will be very impressed if Scott County or Meade County can get their own title this year.