State Finals

There are only 12 teams still playing high school football in Kentucky, and two of them are from Graves County -- population 37,451 (2013 est.).  This weekend, all 12 teams will converge on Bowling Green for six title games at Western Kentucky University (all times Central) (private schools in italics):

Friday, December 5:
11 A.M. (Class 3A):  Belfry (12-2) v. Lou. Central (10-4)
These two teams met for the title in 2010, 2011, and 2012, with Central winning each time.  Last year Central fell to Wayne County, which then lost to Belfry in the final.  So this is Belfry's fifth consecutive trip to the final.

2:30 P.M. (Class 2A):  Newport Cent. Catholic (8-5) v. Lou. DeSales (13-1)
This is a rematch of the 2013 title game, which DeSales won 34-26.  It will be NCC's sixth trip to the final since 2007; NCC won it all in 2010 and 2012.

6 P.M. (Class 5A):  Pulaski Co. (12-2) v. Graves Co. (11-3)
Since Class 5A began in 2007, Ft. Thomas Highlands (2007-10) and Bowling Green (2011-13) are the only two schools to capture the crown.  Pulaski County was here last year, but Graves has never played for a state title.

Saturday, December 6:
11 A.M. (Class 1A):  Williamsburg (14-0) v. Mayfield (13-1)
This is a rematch of last year's title game, which Mayfield won 42-0.  Mayfield is in its sixth consecutive title game -- the Cardinals won it all in 2010, 2012, and 2013.  On the other hand, Williamsburg is the only unbeaten team left in the Commonwealth.

2:30 P.M. (Class 4A):  Ft. Thomas Highlands (12-2) v. Owensboro (12-2)
Highlands won four 5A titles from 2007-10, and then won 4A titles in 2011-12, before finally losing to Collins in the final last year.  The last time Highlands was beaten in the playoffs prior to the final game was November 11, 2006, when the Bluebirds lost in the old AAA playoffs to Covington Catholic.  Owensboro hasn't won a state championship since they took the AAA title back in 1986, and this is the Red Devils' first title appearance since they reached the AAA final in 1999 and 2000.  In both of those years, they were beaten by Highlands.

6 P.M. (Class 6A):  Dixie Heights (13-1) v. Lou. Trinity (9-5)
This will be the eighth 6A title game in KHSAA history, and it will be Trinity's seventh appearance.  The Shamrocks took the crown in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012.  Last year, they finished 6-6 and were pounded by Male in the state quarter-finals.  But now they are back in their usual place.  Dixie Heights, on the other hand, has never played for a state football championship.