We pick games in all six classes
It is playoff time and this is where the proverbial rubber meets the road. We are going to select games to predict until we just get down to predicting them all as the field dwindles toward crowning six (6) KHSAA football champions. This week it is the first round. Ninety-five percent of (95%) of one-seeds have beaten four-seeds since adopting the present playoff structure our research tells us. We believe we may have a four-seed or two advance this year. Let the good natured debate commence.
Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Assistant Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Class 1A
Campbellsville (4) 3-7 at Ballard Memorial (1) 5-4; Campbellsville 35, Ballard Memorial 21
Game & Team Details
| Detail / Metric | Campbellsville Eagles | Ballard Memorial Bombers |
|---|---|---|
| Game Date & Time | Friday, Nov 6, 2026 @ 7:00 PM CST | Friday, Nov 6, 2026 @ 7:00 PM CST |
| Game Location | Ballard Memorial High School (Barlow, KY) | Ballard Memorial High School (Barlow, KY) |
| Playoff Brackets | KHSAA Class 1A, Region 1 (No. 4 Seed) | KHSAA Class 1A, Region 1 (No. 1 Seed) |
| 2026 Season Record | 3–7 overall (0–3 District) | 5–4 overall (3–0 District) |
| Head Coach | Zachary Chance | Jon Hedges |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2025 (Finished 11–2, advanced deep into Class 1A) | 2024 (Finished 4–7, regular Class 1A qualifiers) |
| Star Players | Daniel Forbis (QB), Kaceon Marrs (RB/DB), and Camron McMahan (WR/DB) | Jackson Sutton (QB/RB), Hunner Bealmear (SR), and Zt Sawvel (WR/FS) |
Key Takeaways
- Coaching Impact: Ballard Memorial is experiencing a historic resurgence under first-year head coach Jon Hedges, who took over in January 2024 and snapped a long drought by clinching the program’s first outright district title. Campbellsville relies on Zachary Chance, who has consistently guided the Eagles into the postseason over recent years.
- Playoff Background: Campbellsville is a postseason regular, having put up a spectacular 11–2 run just last season (2025). Ballard Memorial was knocked out early in the 2024 playoffs but returns with the home-field advantage as a regional frontrunner.
- Players to Watch: Ballard Memorial’s offense flows heavily through dual-threat playmaker Jackson Sutton, who averages 168 total yards per game, and senior Hunner Bealmear, known for dynamic multi-touchdown performances.
Louisville Holy Cross (3) 7-3 at Fulton County (2) 4-6; Holy Cross 42, Fulton County 7
| Detail / Team | Louisville Holy Cross Cougars | Fulton County Pilots |
|---|---|---|
| Current Coach | Eric Dick | Will Greer |
| Regular Season Record | 7-3 | 4-5 |
| Playoff Role | Region 1, No. 3 Seed | Region 1, No. 2 Seed (Host) |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2025 | 2025 |
| Star Players | • Jerek Hoover (QB/FS) • Marquel Wortham (WR/CB) • Asher Clark (TE/RB) | • Preston Smith (QB) • C.J. Keys (FB/DE – 757+ rush yds) • Hunter Stonecipher (DE – 6 sacks) |
Game Outlook
Fulton County secured home-field advantage as the district runner-up. Coach Will Greer has his squad firing on all cylinders. Senior quarterback Preston Smith is fully healthy after recovering from an elbow injury earlier this year to link up with power rusher C.J. Keys. On the defensive end, Hunter Stonecipher anchors a physical front line.
They host a dangerous Louisville Holy Cross squad led by Coach Eric Dick. The Cougars put up a strong 7-3 regular season mark, powered by multi-talented seniors like Jerek Hoover under center and playmaker Marquel Wortham on the outside.
Pineville (4) 3-7 at Pikeville (1) 9-1; Pikeville 49, Pineville 0
Here is the breakdown of the matchup, coaches, playoff histories, and key players for both teams:
| Detail | Pineville Mountain Lions | Pikeville Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Record | 3–7 (1–3 District) | 9–1 (2–0 District) |
| Head Coach | Arthur Carter | Chris McNamee |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2026 (Current) — also made it in 2024 and lost to Pikeville 42-0 | 2026 (Current) — won 5 state titles under Coach McNamee |
| Star / Key Players | • Kaden Taylor • Landon Feltner • Jaxon Helton • Braxton Baker | • Jayden Justice (#22 RB/OLB) • Brady Ratliff (#1 CB/SS) • Bryson “Mr. B” Johnson (#50), LB/FB • Griffin White (#14 WR) • Lane Ford (OL/DL) |
Game Outlook
Pikeville enters the game heavily favored as the top seed in the district with a dominant 9–1 record. They have a high-powered offense averaging 36.6 points per game, spearheaded by running back Jayden Justice. Pineville comes in looking for an upset after a tough 3–7 regular season under Coach Arthur Carter, leaning on leaders like Landon Feltner and Kaden Taylor to spark a turnaround.
Class 2A
Trigg County (4) 4-6 at Owensboro Catholic (1) 9-1; Owensboro Catholic 49, Trigg County 7
| Detail | Trigg County Wildcats | Owensboro Catholic Aces |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Regular Season Record | 4–6 | 9–1 |
| Head Coach | Curtis Higgins (Returned to program in 2026) | Jason Morris |
| Playoff Game Date & Time | Friday, November 6, 2026 @ 7:00 PM CDT | Friday, November 6, 2026 @ 7:00 PM CDT |
| Game Location | — | Steele Stadium (Owensboro, KY) |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2022 (Missed the postseason from 2023–2025) | 2025 (Reached the Class 2A State Championship game) |
| Star / Key Players | • Cade Scott (JR / QB) • Brody Calhoun (SR / DF) • Deonatae Edison (SR / DF) | • Dre’Mail Carothers (SR / QB — Louisville Commit) • Braylon Coots (WR / FS) • Shaiden Mitchell (RB / MLB) • Vince Carrico (Mike LB) |
Game Context & Trajectory
- Owensboro Catholic enters the postseason as a heavy favorite after a dominant 9–1 regular season, capped off by an explosive 48–20 win over Elizabethtown. Their high-powered offense is spearheaded by four-star quarterback and Louisville commit, Dre’Mail Carothers.
- Trigg County breaks a three-year playoff drought under legendary coach Curtis Higgins, who returned to lead the program this year. The Wildcats are coming off a strong late-season push, including a 41–12 victory over Fulton County.
DuBois (3) 7-3 at Green County (2) 7-3; Green County 31, W.E.B. DuBois 28
The 2026 KHSAA Class 2A first-round playoff game pairs W.E.B. DuBois Academy against Green County on November 6, 2026. Both squads enter the matchup holding 6-3 records, led by head coaches George Durant Jr. for the Lions and Kirklyn “Colt” Phelps for the Dragons.
Bracken County (4) 2-8 at Breathitt County (1) 8-2; Breathitt County 38, Bracken County 14
| Detail / Team | Bracken County Polar Bears | Breathitt County Bobcats |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Season Record | 2–8 | 8–2 |
| Head Coach | Jeremy Ahrens | Kyle Moore |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2026 (Class 2A Playoff Bracket) | 2026 (Class 2A Playoff Bracket) |
| Star / Key Players | • Ryland Tucker (QB/MLB) • Saegen Rosel (OLB/RB) • Andrew Kirk (WR/CB) • Dallas Bailey (OL/DL) | • Eli Thomas (RB/SS) • Kaden Spicer (MLB/G) • Miles Hollon (QB/SS) • Kylan Combs (SS/RB) |
Game Insights
- The Matchup: Both squads field highly competitive rosters under seasoned leadership. Breathitt County enters the contest looking to bounce back from an 8–24 defensive battle against Russell, while Bracken County heads to Jackson hot off a decisive 37-0 victory against West Carter.
- Playoff History: This game marks a rematch of their notable postseason meeting from November 2025, where the Bobcats defeated the Polar Bears 49–14 in the playoffs.
Class 3A
Hart County (4) 6-4 at Murray (1) 9-1; Murray 49, Hart County 6
The detailed breakdown of both programs heading into this postseason game:
| Metric / Detail | Hart County Raiders | Murray Tigers |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Regular Season Record | 6–4 | 9–1 |
| Head Coach | Chad Griffin | Melvin Cunningham |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2025 (Lost to Murray 49–6 in the 2nd round) | 2025 (Finished as the KHSAA Class 3A State Runner-Up with a 14–1 record) |
| Star Players & Key Names | • Darius Anderson (Sr., RB/CB) • Jashawn Buntyn (Jr., WR/CB) • Conner Netherton (Sr., C/NG) • Gage Owens (Sr., RB/OLB) | • Bruce Willis (Sr., QB) • Gage Chapman (Sr., MLB/RB) • Trendon Curd (Sr., WR/SS) • King Williams Jr. (Sr., DE/OLB) |
Mercer County (4) 2-8 at Christian Academy (1) 10-0; Christian Academy-Louisville 49, Mercer County 7
Game & Team Overview
| Detail | Mercer County Titans | Christian Academy-Louisville Centurions |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Travis Burns (hired May 2026) | Hunter Cantwell |
| Star Players | Michael Cox (WR), Canon Buchanan, Tan Best, AJ Reerford | Jackson Burke (QB), Ja’Hyde Brown (WR) |
| Last Playoff Appearance | Active 2026 KHSAA Postseason (Class 3A) | Active 2026 KHSAA Postseason (Class 3A defending champions) |
| Recent Matchup Score | 7–54 loss (Nov 7, 2025) / 22–49 loss (Nov 15, 2024) | 54–7 win (Nov 7, 2025) / 49–22 win (Nov 15, 2024) |
Key Details
- Mercer County:
- Head Coach: Travis Burns took over the program ahead of the 2026 season after previously coaching Pulaski County to a Class 5A state runner-up finish.
- Star Players: Senior/key standouts include wide receiver Michael Cox and captains Canon Buchanan, Tan Best, and AJ Reerford.
- Playoff Status: The Titans continue competing in the KHSAA Class 3A playoffs.
- Christian Academy-Louisville (CAL):
- Head Coach: Former University of Louisville and NFL quarterback Hunter Cantwell leads the Centurions.
- Star Players: Record-setting quarterback Jackson Burke and Louisville wide receiver commit Ja’Hyde Brown headline the offense.
- Playoff Status: CAL is a multi-consecutive KHSAA Class 3A state champion pursuing deep state-tournament runs.
DeSales (3) 4-6 at Bardstown (2) 7-3; Bardstown 35, DeSales 14
The DeSales at Bardstown varsity football game is a highly anticipated matchup scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM EST. This high-stakes game is a first-round pairing in Region Two of the Class 3A Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) State Playoffs.
| Team Metric / Detail | DeSales Colts | Bardstown Tigers |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Regular Season Record | 4–6 (1–3 District) | 7–3 (3–1 District) |
| Head Coach | Mike Jackson | Justin Grundy |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2026 (Current participant, Class 3A) | 2026 (Current participant, Class 3A) |
| Star / Key Players | • Max Oliverio (#3 RB/LB) • Noah Cross (#8 QB/DB) • Silas Jones (#4 WR/OLB) | • Elijah Young (#8 RB/QB) • Tylan Spalding (#3 WR/CB) • Saul Hinestroza (#14 RB) |
| Team Stat Leaders | • Max Oliverio: 49.8 Rush Yds/G • Noah Cross: 60.3 Pass Yds/G | • Elijah Young: 426.0 Pass Yds/G • Tylan Spalding: 117.0 Rec Yds/G |
Game Context & Playoff Seeding
In this opening Class 3A playoff round, DeSales enters as the No. 3 seed from District 3, while Bardstown hosts the game as the No. 2 seed from District 4.
Class 4A
Marion County (4) 3-7 at Paducah Tilghman (1) 10-0; Paducah Tilghman 49, Marion County 14
| Detail | Marion County Knights | Paducah Tilghman Blue Tornado |
|---|---|---|
| Game Info | Away at Paducah Tilghman • Friday, Nov 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM CDT | Hosts Marion County • Friday, Nov 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM CDT |
| 2026 Record | 3–7 overall (1–3 District) | 10–0 overall (5–0 District) — Undefeated |
| Head Coach | Ross Brown | Sean Thompson |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2026 (This season; though they have been eliminated in the 1st round or missed completely every year since a quarterfinal run in 2009) | 2026 (Continues an active streak of making it to at least the second round every year since 2009; State Champions in 2024) |
| Star Players | • Laderius Thornton (#23 RB) • Wyatt Thompson (#4 QB/FS) | • Avery Thompson (ATH/WR, heavily recruited DI prospect) • Xavier Isable (QB) • Chance McPike Jr. (ATH) • Isaac James (RB) |
Johnson Central (3) 3-7 at Covington Catholic (2) 6-4; Covington Catholic 34, Johnson Central 14
The details for the Johnson Central vs. Covington Catholic football matchup, along with team profiles, coaches, and standout players, are outlined below.
| Detail | Johnson Central Golden Eagles | Covington Catholic Colonels |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Jesse Peck | Eddie Eviston |
| Star Players | • Braxton Perry (RB) • Zack McCoart (RB) • Christian Barnes (OL/DL) | • Kiyan Miller (RB/DB) • Jonny Lind (WR/DB) • Cash Harney (ATH) |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2025 (Class 4A Quarterfinals / 2nd Round) | 2025 (Class 4A Quarterfinals) |
| 2026 Game Matchup | November 6, 2026 at Park Hills, KY | November 6, 2026 at Park Hills, KY |
| Recent Series History | • 2025: Lost 29-36 • 2024: Lost 13-14 • 2023: Lost 0-31 | • 2025: Won 36-29 • 2024: Won 14-13 • 2023: Won 31-0 |
Taylor County (3) 5-5 at Logan County (2) 7-3; Logan County 38, Taylor County 21
The Taylor County Cardinals will travel to face the Logan County Cougars on Friday, November 6, 2026, in Russellville, Kentucky. This highly anticipated matchup serves as the first round of the KHSAA Class 4A State Football Playoffs.
Taylor County at Logan County Matchup Details
| Detail | Taylor County Cardinals | Logan County Cougars |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Season Record | 5-5 (2-2 District) | 7-3 (4-1 District) |
| Playoff Seed | Class 4A, District 2 — No. 3 Seed | Class 4A, District 2 — No. 2 Seed |
| Head Coach | William Harris | Todd Adler |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2025 (Exited after a strong 7-4 season campaign) | 2025 (Finished with an impressive 10-3 postseason run) |
| Key Star Players | • Jace Anderson (RB/WR) • Rex Parkey (Senior Leader) • Braxtyn Abren (Senior Standout) | • Tysean Thomeczek (RB/WR) • Lane Bush (RB) • Elijah Sells (WR/SS) • Lucas Cross (OL) • Carson Carlock (LB) |
Game Outlook & Coaching Notes
- Taylor County’s Resilience: Head coach William Harris took over the Cardinals in January 2026 after building them into a top-tier state defense as defensive coordinator. The team relies heavily on an aggressive defense and an opportunistic offense led by playmakers like Jace Anderson.
- Logan County’s Stature: Longtime head coach Todd Adler has successfully engineered a winning culture in Russellville. The Cougars enter the postseason as favorites with a powerful offensive engine fueled by dynamic yard-producers Tysean Thomeczek and Lane Bush.
Class 5A
Grayson County (3) 8-2 at Madisonville-North Hopkins (2) 8-2; Madisonville-North Hopkins 38, Grayson County 24
| Team | Current Record | Head Coach | Last Playoff Appearance | Key Star Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grayson County Cougars | 8–2 | Bryan Jones | 2026 (Current Qualifiers, 5A First Round) | Kadin Hanshaw (RB) (reached 4,000+ career rushing yards) Jamycen Buster (CB/SB) |
| Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons | 8–2 | Chris Price | 2026 (Current Qualifiers, 5A First Round) | Ryder Sandidge (RB/WR) Alex Richards (QB) Kadence Price (OL/DL) |
Game Details:
- The Matchup: Grayson County at Madisonville-North Hopkins.
- Event: First Round of the 2026 Kentucky (KHSAA) Class 5A State Football Championships.
- Date & Time: Friday, November 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM CDT.
- Location: Madisonville-North Hopkins High School (Madisonville, KY).
- Significance: This is a rare and highly anticipated postseason meeting, noted as the only first-round game in the Class 5A bracket featuring two teams with identical 8–2 records.
Anderson County (4) 3-6 at Cooper (1) 8-2; Cooper 38, Anderson County 7
The upcoming matchup features the Anderson County Bearcats traveling to face the Cooper Jaguars in the opening round of the 2026 KHSAA Class 5A Football Playoffs. Don’t be too surprised if we see an upset here.
Here are the details for the game, coaches, postseason context, and key impact players for both teams:
| Detail | Anderson County Bearcats | Cooper Jaguars |
|---|---|---|
| Game Details | Away (Record: 4-6 / 3-6) | Home (Record: 8-2) Date: Friday, November 6, 2026 @ 7:00 PM EST |
| Head Coach | David Buchanan | Adam Begley |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2026 Playoff Qualifier (First playoff berth under Buchanan’s continuous rebuild; broke a multi-year dry spell). | 2025 Playoff Qualifier (Advanced deep into the postseason; Class 5A State Runner-Up in consecutive years, 2023 & 2024). |
| Star / Impact Players | • Hudson Degarmo (#12 SS/RB) • Henry Cooper (#2 QB) • Coleman Boggs (#40 OLB/TE) • Antoinne Beeman (#4 MLB/FB) | • Corey Freihofer (#31 RB/Star Scorer) • Zach Kostopoulos (#7 QB/Passer) • Kaiden Savage (#2 WR/Athlete) • Christian Inabnit (#10 MLB/Tackler) |
Game Context & Tactical Breakdown
- The Matchup: Cooper enters as the definitive statistical favorite, riding a highly efficient defensive unit allowing just 14.1 points per game and an explosive ground game led by Corey Freihofer. Anderson County relies heavily on workhorse back Hudson Degarmo to control the clock and keep the ball away from Cooper’s potent offense.
- The Coaching Dynamic: This game showcases a fascinating sideline battle. Anderson County is led by legendary Kentucky high school coach David Buchanan, who sits high on the state’s all-time wins list. Conversely, Cooper is anchored by first-year head coach Adam Begley, who took over the reins of the powerhouse program in May 2026 after serving as an assistant under longtime coach Randy Borchers.
South Laurel (3) 7-3 at Madison Southern (2) 6-4; South Laurel 31, Madison Southern 24
Here is the breakdown of the upcoming KHSAA Class 5A first-round playoff matchup between South Laurel and Madison Southern:
| Detail / Category | South Laurel Cardinals | Madison Southern Eagles |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Regular Season Record | 7–3 overall (1–2 District) | 6–4 overall (2–1 District) |
| Game Information | Away at Madison Southern • Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, at 7:30 PM EST | Home vs. South Laurel • Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, at 7:30 PM EST |
| Current Head Coach | John Hines (2nd season) | Cody Harp / Tim Kirk * (Both listed as HFCs) |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2025 (Reached the second round of the Class 5A playoffs) | 2024 (Advanced to face Pulaski County in the brackets) |
| Star / Key Players | • Maddox Warren (#10, QB) • Noah Ison (#1, RB/OLB) • Caleb Roark (#18, WR/CB) • Malachi Smith (#34, RB/OLB) | • Gabriel Beard (#13, QB) • Semaj DeShields (#14, RB/CB) • David McCoy (#8, SS/WR) • Saurin DeShields (#22, DB/RB) |
*Note: Madison Southern’s programmatic staff transitions are guided by coaching veterans including Tim Kirk during the 2026 campaign.
Class 6A
Daviess County (3) 1-9 at Christian County (2) 3-7; Christian County 45, Daviess County 7
The matchup details for the Daviess County Panthers at Christian County Tigers Class 6-A playoff game are structured below:
| Detail / Team | Daviess County Panthers | Christian County Tigers |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Quadarius Wallace | Dustin Lopez |
| Current Playoff Appearance | 2026 (Playing Nov 6, 2026) | 2026 (Hosting Nov 6, 2026) |
| Star Players | • Liam Carlson (Fr. QB) • Jimarcus Tyler (Jr. RB/SS) • Christopher Evans Jr. (Sr. WR/DB) • Mason Vanover (Jr. MLB/TE) | • Jasiah McCarley (Jr. QB) • Paul Abren (Sr. RB/LB) • Deasian Harris (Sr. RB/NG) • Tristin Dillard (Sr. RB/LB) • Jaylen Ray (Sr. WR/CB) |
| 2026 Record / Context | 1–9 overall | 3–7 overall (Won previous 2026 matchup 48-5) |
Pleasure Ridge Park (4) 2-8 at Trinity (1) 9-1; Trinity 49, PRP 0
The upcoming Pleasure Ridge Park (PRP) vs. Trinity game is a first-round matchup in the 2026 KHSAA Class 6A State Football Playoffs, scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026, at Trinity.
Details for both teams, including coaches, playoff contexts, and key star players, are organized below:
| Detail | Pleasure Ridge Park (PRP) Panthers | Trinity Shamrocks |
|---|---|---|
| Upcoming Game Details | At Trinity, Friday, Nov 6, 2026 (7:00 PM EDT) | Hosting PRP, Friday, Nov 6, 2026 (7:00 PM EDT) |
| Current 2026 Record | 2-8 (0-3 District) | 9-1 (3-0 District) |
| Head Coach | Keith May | Jay Cobb |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2026 (Current appearance; previously made it in 2025 and 2024) | 2026 (Current appearance; 30-time State Champions, made 6A Title game in 2025) |
| Star Players | Tristen Hall (WR/CB)Calvon Mitchell(RB/SS)Tucker RothJaishaun Earsery | Zane Johnson (QB)Jayce Duvall (WR)Ashton Taylor(RB)JaHyde Brown (WR) |
Ballard (3) 2-8 at St. Xavier (2) 4-6; St. Xavier 31, Ballard 13
| Category / Detail | Ballard Bruins | St. Xavier Tigers |
|---|---|---|
| Game Schedule | Friday, November 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM EST | Friday, November 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM EST |
| Location | @ St. Xavier High School (Louisville, KY) | St. Xavier High School (Louisville, KY) |
| 2026 Record | 2-8 (Overall), 1-2 (District) | 4-6 (Overall), 2-1 (District) |
| Head Coach | Matt Kuehn | Brian Landis |
| Last Playoff Appearance | 2025 (Reached Class 6A State Semifinals) | 2025 (Finished season with a 10-4 record) |
| Star Players | • Jacob Elder (Sr., DE/OLB – 9 TFL, 7 sacks) • Derryon Mitchell (Sr., MLB/RB – 6 TFL, 5 sacks) • Kenneth Mozee (Sr., CB) • Demaj Adams (Fr., WR) | • Cooper Yates (Sr., RB) • William Shoptaw (Jr., QB) • Parker Landis (WR) • Jamari Carroll (Sr., DB) |
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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