We selected 48-second round games in which we picked the winner for Round 2 of the KHSAA football playoffs. In those 48-games, we were correct 40 times. Our 2nd round winning percentage was just over 83% (.833 ad infinitum). Don’t care who you are, that is pretty dad-burn good. We went 18-6 in the Regional Championship round, which is 75%, with some rather astounding upsets standing between us and perfection and in round 4 we (again) clipped it at 75% going 9-3.
What can we say? We aren’t the foremost authority in HS football in Kentucky for nothing. This week, like we have done in the past, we will tell you which teams will win it all. We will do pick the winner in each classification.
1A
Paintsville vs. Pikeville: Pikeville was in this game a year ago falling by just one point to Beechwood. Paintsville and Pikeville played early in the regular season and Pikeville won that game by a single point. These are pretty clearly the best two teams in this classification. We like Pikeville in this game because of versatility and speed. Pikeville can stretch you down the field in the vertical passing game with the best QB and WRs this classification has seen in a while. Painstville is big and physical upfront and can run the ball too. It will be another close game.
The Champion will be Pikeville
2A
Somerset vs. Mayfield: Mayfield is very athletic and has one of the premier QBs in the 2A classification. Do you know who is another team benefitting from stellar play from its QB position? You guessed it, Somerset. I believe, provided Somerset lines up in a power run set and runs its 230-240 pound running backs dead at Mayfield, Mayfield will have a hard time defending that action. Mayfield allowed Madisonville North-Hopkins 50 points late in the regular season winning that game 53-50. Yeah, we know North-Hopkins was a 4A semifinalist but Johnson Central had little problem stopping them as the 54-12 score would indicate. If Somerset tries to turn this game into a track meet it may find itself in trouble. If they play the type of down-hill power game it used against Breathitt County in the semis, we like the Briar Jumpers here.
The Champion will be Somerset
3A
Bell County vs. Belfry: We expected Bell County to play DeSales in this game. Didn’t think it was possible for Belfry to line up and run it down DeSale’s throats which is exactly what they were able to do. Both these head coaches, Dudley Hilton at Bell County and Philip Haywood at Belfry, are two of the best high school head coaches football in Kentucky has ever known. Bell County is super athletic, particularly at QB, and can spread you out, throw over the top of you, or run at you, whatever the situation dictates. This game is a toss-up.
The Champion will be Bell County
4A
Boyle County vs. Johnson Central: I think Boyle County is mighty good. They have some of the best players about whom the KHSAA can boast and are certainly well coached. Johnson Central is too big and too physical to be stopped. I was impressed with North-Hopkins and its physicality until I saw what Johnson Central did to them. This time of year, I think power run teams have an advantage. Johnson Central is the best power run team in all of the commonwealth.
The Champion will be Johnson Central
5A
Covington Catholic vs. Frederick Douglass: Covington Catholic beat a really fine Bowling Green team in the Semis and Frederick Douglass beat an equally talented and forceful bunch from Owensboro. This should be a back and forth affair. I put a lot of stock in the Calpreps.com computer algorithm and it tells me Covington Catholic is the best football team, regardless of classification, in all of Kentucky. Crediting that, we will pick them to win this game.
The Champion will be Covington Catholic
6A
Male vs. Trinity: These are two very talented and deep football teams each of whom are very well coached. Male is ranked among the best 25 high school football teams in America, a poll on which Trinity (in the past) has been a regular entrant. Trinity destroyed North Hardin in the Semis and North Hardin is loaded with division 1, FBS-level, talent on the roster. Will be a close game but we like Trinity in a mild upset.
The Champion will be Trinity
That’s how we see The Championships shaking out this coming weekend. Don’t worry if we didn’t pick your team to win, we only got 75% of round 4 correct, 75% of round 3 correct, 83% of round 2 correct, and nearly 90% of round 1 correct. So, we’ve been wrong before, albeit not often, but we have been before wrong.
Reporting for KPGFootball, this is HB Lyon, reminding all of you ballers out there that #WeGotUCovered and we’re JUST CALLING IT LIKE WE SEE IT!
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