KPGFootball handicaps the matchup between Lexington Christian (9-2) and the visiting Green County High (8-3) in round two of the KHSAA playoffs
You can’t take any opponent for granted. The fact remains that Green County, who sent WEB DuBois packing in the first round, 31-29, is a dangerous, 8-win ball club with a fine tradition and should be treated that way. Anything less, and LCA may be hitting the basketball layup line sooner than expected. The second you take a game for granted, is the second you will deeply regret. LCA is coming off a thrashing of Metcalfe County in round one and has secured the top slot in the playoff from out of its district. The Eagles are seemingly rounding into championship form as they prepare to play Green County. LCA is 9-2 and the winners of eight (8) straight. We will take a look at this match-up and predict a winner and a score. Hey, the playoffs are here…act accordingly. Go Eagles!
Jumpin’-Jack Flash, Associate Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
eCampus.com was built on a simple idea: make textbooks affordable, convenient, and accessible for every student. Founded in 1999 in Lexington, KY and backed by visionary investors like Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas, the company has grown into a premier online textbook retailer for high school and college students nationwide.
Their mission has always been supporting student success both on and off the field through affordable access to the course materials they need. eCampus.com is excited to invest in our student-athletes through Kentucky Prep Gridiron (KPGFootball) which was founded to promote and assist young high school football players get promoted to “next level,” college football opportunities.
That is why eCampus.com sponsors the KPGFootball, Big Man on the eCampus series. This week we are doing something different. In stead of giving you a feature, we are going to scout the Metcalfe County Hornets (first round opponent) and lay out how we see this first round game coming off this coming weekend.
We aren’t sure how many of you remember this, but KPGFootball may have been the only Kentucky-wide publication which came out on the record and picked the Eagles to win the title last season (2025). We didn’t panic when the team came out of the gates losing three of its first four. We aren’t panicking now with the team standing at 9-2 through 11 of the tougher games any small school in Kentucky has perhaps ever played in any singular season. The schedule has been brutal. We are hunting our ninth win in succession.
Iron sharpens iron. We knew the tough early season schedule would pay off dividends in 2025 when it got to playoff time. We were right and believe the similar course of action, in 2026, may well net a similar result.
The 2A classification will be a tough league in 2026 and boasts as many top-flight, top-notch teams as any other class in the commonwealth. There are several teams who could take home the title with four to five at the top capable of beating the other depending on factors as rudimentary as the location of the game.
Lexington, KY: The Eagles are in prime playoff form at just the right time. We have an 8-3 Dragon squad coming off a brilliant, first round win over an equally yoked WEB DuBois (7-4) team which LCA has already played and beaten. These Dragons must not be taken lightly. Green County has a fine, football pedigree and long history.
We beat Danville, 55-14, in a game where Danville was mourning the loss of a teammate and a friend. The Admirals came into that game 8-0 and left it 8-1 with the Eagles emerging 6-2 and getting ready for the home stretch. Since then we have handled business with Washington County, handled 6A, Pleasure Ridge Park from Louisville, KY, and murdered Metcalfe in round one by half a hundo.
We have consistently maintained a high RPI, insuring us several rounds at home in the playoffs. What is to come is our reward for playing a tough schedule and taking care of our end of the equation. We will be at home for several rounds.
We are going to kind of give you the tale of the tape between the two teams. Then, we are going to pick a score and a winner. Won’t this be fun?
Round Two: Green County (8-3) at Lexington Christian Academy (9-2)
The round-two playoff matchup between the Green County Dragons (8-3) and the Lexington Christian Academy (LCA) Eagles (9-2) is a highly anticipated rematch in the 2026 KHSAA Class 2A football brackets. Last season, these two teams met in the postseason with LCA handling Green County in dominant fashion. This year, the stakes are just as high with a spot in the regional finals on the line.
🏟️ Venue Details
The game will be played at Lexington Christian Academy at their home field, White-Greer-Maggard Stadium, located in Lexington, KY. Because LCA secured the higher seed/better district positioning coming out of the regular season, they earned the right to host this crucial second-round matchup.
⭐ Star Players to Watch
- Lexington Christian Academy:
- Nash Whan (QB): The dynamic junior signal-caller who led the Eagles to a Class 2A State Title last year. He is regarded by his coaches as one of the best overall football players in the state.
- Sam Pearson (WR): A lethal senior target on the outside who is committed to Ohio University for his multi-sport talents.
- Paxton Gray & Brady Couch (WRs): Key targets who stretch the field; Couch is notably the son of former Kentucky Wildcat and NFL quarterback Tim Couch.
- Bode Darland (LB): The heavy-hitting junior who serves as the undisputed leader of a blistering-fast Eagles defense.
- Matthew Montgomery, (’28 OL): Maybe the best OL in the 2A classification across the Commonwealth.
- Green County:
- The Dragons rely on a physical, run-heavy scheme designed to chew up clock, dictate tempo, and keep explosive offenses, like LCA’s, off the field. Their success hinges on winning the battles in the trenches and executing flawless ball control.
- Deacon James – Senior (6’1″, 175 lbs) key skill player/leader
- Grady Shuffett – Junior (6’2″, 210 lbs) middle linebacker and running back anchoring the defense and run game
- Conor Gowen – Senior (6’1″, 185 lbs) tight end and strong safety
- Peyton James – Sophomore (6’1″, 205 lbs) running back and outside linebacker
- Carter Wright – Junior (6’4″, 230 lbs) defensive lineman
- Brayden Davenport – Junior (6’4″, 235 lbs) offensive tackle
👔 The Head Coaches
- Lexington Christian Academy: Led by Oakley Watkins. Now in his second season as head coach (and 13th overall with the program), Watkins successfully maintained LCA’s elite status by capturing a state championship in his debut year. He preaches “December habits”—eliminating mistakes early in the season to play perfect football when cold weather hits.
- Green County: Spearheaded by Colt Phelps and a coaching staff that excels at maximizing regional talent and executing disciplined, option-oriented, offensive game plans designed to neutralize athletic depth.
🏈 Handicapping & Score Prediction
Green County comes into this game as a dangerous underdog with an 8-3 record. To pull off an upset, the Dragons must play a perfect game: avoid turnovers, orchestrate 8-minute drives, and prevent LCA from striking quickly over the top.
However, LCA enters the game exceptionally hot, riding a massive wave of momentum after blanking Metcalfe County, 50-0, in round one. The Eagles are highly balanced, healthy, and possess too much firepower on the perimeter with Whelan distributing to Pearson and Couch and Montgomery and Greer upfront clearing paths. Expect Green County to fight hard early, but LCA’s speed will likely break the game open in the second half.
KPGFootball’s Prediction: Lexington Christian 42, Green County 14
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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