For all intents and purposes, the playoffs start for Lincoln County this week.
The Patriots travel to Southwestern on Friday with fourth place in Class AAAAA, District 7 on the line.
“Our players understand the importance of this game,”¿Lincoln coach Mike Settles said. “We don't want to be packing up our equipment in two weeks. We want to play some games in November. Those are the games the kids remember.
“Southwestern is the team that prevented us from winning the district championship last year. There is no reason for our players to not be motivated for this game. It will be a tough game to win on the road.”
Both teams are sitting at 1-2 in the district, while North¿Laurel and Madison Southern are at 2-1 and Pulaski County is sitting 3-0.
The Warriors (3-4) are coming off a 17-7 loss to North Laurel and are averaging 17 points and 271 yards per game. On defense, Southwestern is giving up 31 points and 309 yards per game. The Warriors are averaging 224 yards rushing per game, and leading rusher Logan Campisano averages 136 yards per game and has nine touchdowns.
“Southwestern is big and physical up front and they have a nice running back. They do a lot of different things offensively,”¿Settles said. “They can line up in an overload formation with no receivers, then on the next play, line up in a four wide receiver set. It is tought to prepare for defensively.”
Quarterback Austin Smiddy has thrown for 331 yards and three touchdowns, and has 295 yards rushing with two scores. Jordan Maggard has 252 yards and two scores on the ground. Devon¿Baker has caught 10 passes for 225 yard and three scores.
“(Last week), they threw a fade pass to their tight end (6-3, 275 pound Gunnar Pittman), who lined up as a split end,”¿Settles said. “Our players have seen a lot of different schemes up to this point in the season, so our guys should be prepared for this. It will be a tough, physical game, the way high school football is suppose to be played.”
Lincoln (4-4), coming off a 63-20 win over South Laurel, is averaging 29 points and 271 yards per game, and allowing 29 points per game.
Logan Martin has 633 yards rushing with 12 touchdowns, Marvin Robinson has 370 yards and six score, and Deonte Coulter has 323 yards and four scores. Quarterback Justin Hubble has thrown for 400 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Aaron Cress leads the team with 10 catches for 245 yards and three touchdowns.
Garrard County (3-4) at Western Hills (1-7)
While a home playoff game may be out of the picture for the Golden Lions (1-2, Class AAA, District 5), there is still lots to play for in their final two district games.
Garrard is in a three-way tie for third in the district at 1-2, and cannot afford to slip at Western Hills (1-2 district) on Friday.
“That it is time that we get on track and focus on the most important game on the schedule, the next one,”¿Garrard coach Mark Scenters said. “We must play a complete game. We are not far off at all, but it is going to take every member of our program fully coming together to allow us to finish strong and gain momentum heading into the playoffs.”
The Wolverines have given up at least 35 points in every game this season and are allowing 55 points per game while scoring just 19. Garrard comes in averaging 21 points and 287 yards per game, while giving up 19 points and 246 yards.
Noah Williams leads the team in rushing with 811 yards and five touchdowns, Jaylan McPherson has 192 yards and three scores, and Garrett Caudill has 161 yards and two scores.
Bill Abney is 38 of 80 passing for 501 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions, and has rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Jacob Smith has seven catches for 163 yards and two scores and Caudill has 10 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.
Metcalfe County (2-5) at Casey County (2-6)
After two-straight losses to top-10 teams, the Rebels step out of district play Friday by hosting a Metcalfe team coming off a 44-0 loss to Green County.
But Casey coach Sam Marple is not taking anything for granted.
“We just have to focus on this week and work hard together and get another win,”¿Marple said.
Metcalfe is averaging 17 points per game and allowing 33 points per contest.
Going into the Green game, Brandon Glass had rushed for 486 yards and four touchdowns and Kyle Brant had 289 yards and four touchdowns.
Quarterback Ty McMurtrey had thrown for 368 yard, six touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Logan Bell had 12 catches for 143 yards and two scores and John Smith seven grabs for 146 yards and three scores.
Casey’s Alex Bolin added to his area-leading rushing total last week, and has 1.413 yards and 21 touchdowns. Wyatt Bishop has 410 yards and two scores.
The Patriots travel to Southwestern on Friday with fourth place in Class AAAAA, District 7 on the line.
“Our players understand the importance of this game,”¿Lincoln coach Mike Settles said. “We don't want to be packing up our equipment in two weeks. We want to play some games in November. Those are the games the kids remember.
“Southwestern is the team that prevented us from winning the district championship last year. There is no reason for our players to not be motivated for this game. It will be a tough game to win on the road.”
Both teams are sitting at 1-2 in the district, while North¿Laurel and Madison Southern are at 2-1 and Pulaski County is sitting 3-0.
The Warriors (3-4) are coming off a 17-7 loss to North Laurel and are averaging 17 points and 271 yards per game. On defense, Southwestern is giving up 31 points and 309 yards per game. The Warriors are averaging 224 yards rushing per game, and leading rusher Logan Campisano averages 136 yards per game and has nine touchdowns.
“Southwestern is big and physical up front and they have a nice running back. They do a lot of different things offensively,”¿Settles said. “They can line up in an overload formation with no receivers, then on the next play, line up in a four wide receiver set. It is tought to prepare for defensively.”
Quarterback Austin Smiddy has thrown for 331 yards and three touchdowns, and has 295 yards rushing with two scores. Jordan Maggard has 252 yards and two scores on the ground. Devon¿Baker has caught 10 passes for 225 yard and three scores.
“(Last week), they threw a fade pass to their tight end (6-3, 275 pound Gunnar Pittman), who lined up as a split end,”¿Settles said. “Our players have seen a lot of different schemes up to this point in the season, so our guys should be prepared for this. It will be a tough, physical game, the way high school football is suppose to be played.”
Lincoln (4-4), coming off a 63-20 win over South Laurel, is averaging 29 points and 271 yards per game, and allowing 29 points per game.
Logan Martin has 633 yards rushing with 12 touchdowns, Marvin Robinson has 370 yards and six score, and Deonte Coulter has 323 yards and four scores. Quarterback Justin Hubble has thrown for 400 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Aaron Cress leads the team with 10 catches for 245 yards and three touchdowns.
Garrard County (3-4) at Western Hills (1-7)
While a home playoff game may be out of the picture for the Golden Lions (1-2, Class AAA, District 5), there is still lots to play for in their final two district games.
Garrard is in a three-way tie for third in the district at 1-2, and cannot afford to slip at Western Hills (1-2 district) on Friday.
“That it is time that we get on track and focus on the most important game on the schedule, the next one,”¿Garrard coach Mark Scenters said. “We must play a complete game. We are not far off at all, but it is going to take every member of our program fully coming together to allow us to finish strong and gain momentum heading into the playoffs.”
The Wolverines have given up at least 35 points in every game this season and are allowing 55 points per game while scoring just 19. Garrard comes in averaging 21 points and 287 yards per game, while giving up 19 points and 246 yards.
Noah Williams leads the team in rushing with 811 yards and five touchdowns, Jaylan McPherson has 192 yards and three scores, and Garrett Caudill has 161 yards and two scores.
Bill Abney is 38 of 80 passing for 501 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions, and has rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Jacob Smith has seven catches for 163 yards and two scores and Caudill has 10 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.
Metcalfe County (2-5) at Casey County (2-6)
After two-straight losses to top-10 teams, the Rebels step out of district play Friday by hosting a Metcalfe team coming off a 44-0 loss to Green County.
But Casey coach Sam Marple is not taking anything for granted.
“We just have to focus on this week and work hard together and get another win,”¿Marple said.
Metcalfe is averaging 17 points per game and allowing 33 points per contest.
Going into the Green game, Brandon Glass had rushed for 486 yards and four touchdowns and Kyle Brant had 289 yards and four touchdowns.
Quarterback Ty McMurtrey had thrown for 368 yard, six touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Logan Bell had 12 catches for 143 yards and two scores and John Smith seven grabs for 146 yards and three scores.
Casey’s Alex Bolin added to his area-leading rushing total last week, and has 1.413 yards and 21 touchdowns. Wyatt Bishop has 410 yards and two scores.
