A guide to Kentucky high school football’s best first-round playoff games

The first round of the Kentucky high school football playoffs are here with games kicking off Thursday, Friday and Saturday to determine who will advance in the 2022 UK HealthCare Sports Medicine State Football Finals in each of six football classes.

The controversial “intra-district” format used in the first two rounds for the last three years has been banished. In its place, the KHSAA returns the “sister-district” structure that seeds neighboring districts against each other in playoff Weeks 1 and 2.

What does that mean? In Lexington, for example, it means that Class 6A District 8 champion Bryan Station will host District 7 fourth-place team Lafayette, and Lexington Christian, the Class 2A District 4 champ, will host District 3 fourth-place team Edmonson County. The sister districts in each class are paired 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8.

Never mind how the KHSAA’s RPI standings figure into the playoffs for now. Let’s focus on Week 1. There will be some enormous blowouts. There always are. But here are a few games in each class that could be special. All times are local to the host site. All rankings listed are KHSAA RPI, but for some more context, we’ll also throw in how Dave Cantrall assesses these programs.

Class A

No. 15 Sayre (5-5) at No. 17 Harlan (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday

Why it’s on our list: Their last game was a dandy.

Cantrall ratings: Spartans 10; Green Dragons 18.

Common opponents: Sayre defeated No. 8 Williamsburg 35-21 on Sept. 30. Harlan lost to the Yellow Jackets 26-16 on Oct. 7.

Last meeting: Harlan defeated the visiting Spartans 50-42 on Sept. 23.

Standing out: Sayre — Luke Pennington (1,690 yards and 24 TDs passing); Charlie Slabaugh (384 yards, one TD rushing, 421 yards, eight TDs receiving, team-high 74 tackles); Brock Coffman (817 yards, nine TDs receiving). Harlan — Jayden Ward (1,160 yards, 18 TDs rushing), Donovan Montanaro (415 yards, seven TDs passing, 410 yards, seven TDs rushing), Darius Akal (613 yards, six TDs rushing, Dylan Middleton (71 tackles, five sacks).

No. 10 Bracken County (7-2) at No. 18 Paintsville (4-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday

Why it’s on our list: Does tradition top newfound success?

Cantrall ratings: Polar Bears 19; Tigers 7.

Common opponents: None.

Last meeting: Paintsville won 39-6 in the 2018 playoffs.

Standing out: Bracken County — Dylan Teegarden (1,153 yards, 15 TDs rushing), Dalton Tarter (446, nine TDs rushing, team-high 111 tackles), Chase Wilson (443 yards, three TDs rushing, 85 tackles); Paintsville — Harris Phelps (1,096 yards, 13 TDs rushing, 217 yards, four TDs receiving), Frederick James (1,203 yards, 11 TDs passing), Cain Grim (79 tackles).

Class 2A

No. 15 Somerset (5-5) at No. 11 Green County (7-3), 8 p.m. Friday

Why it’s on our list: They’re closely ranked, and Somerset’s losses have all come to perennial powers.

Cantrall ratings: Briar Jumpers 11; Dragons 12.

Common opponents: None.

Last meeting: 2002, a 40-14 Green County win.

Standing out: Somerset — Guy Bailey (1,064 yards, 13 TDs rushing, team-high 77 tackes, two sacks), Josh Bruner (721 yards, five TDs passing), Cayden Cimala (398 yards, three TDs receiving); Green County — Houston Hodges (1,478 yards, 15 TDs passing, 73 yards, two TDs rushing), Blake Houchins (979 yards, 10 TDs rushing, 187 yards, one TD receiving), Julian Seymour (711 yards, nine TDs rushing, team-high 82 tackles).

No. 18 Prestonsburg (8-2) at No. 16 Middlesboro (6-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday

Why it’s on our list: It’s a Prestonsburg heat check. Success on the road here could mean something for next week.

Cantrall ratings: Blackcats 23; Yellow Jackets 14.

Common opponents: None.

Last meeting: The 2017 playoffs, a 35-14 Prestonsburg win.

Standing out: Prestonsburg — Ethan Jarvis (1,628 yards, 26 TDs rushing), Reece Hamilton (744 yards, 13 TDs passing), Logan Stumbo (79 tackles); Middlesboro — Cayden Grigsby (996 yards, 12 TDs passing, 944 yards, 14 TDs rushing), Vincent Smith (620 yards, 10 TDs rushing), Kameron Wilson (454 yards, seven TDs rushing), Logan Richie (67 tackles).

Class 3A

No. 15 East Carter (6-4) at No. 8 Lawrence County (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday

Why it’s on our list: East Carter looking for redemption after late-season struggles; Lawrence County looking for more validation of a sensational season thus far.

Cantrall ratings: Raiders 14, Bulldogs 8.

Common opponents: East Carter lost to Russell 16-7 and Greenup County 21-20; Lawrence County beat Russell 50-10 and lost to Greenup 17-14.

Last meeting: Lawrence County defeated East Carter 42-26 on Sept. 23 with 183 yards rushing and four TDs from Dylan Ferguson while its defense held the Raiders to 119 yards of total offense.

Standing out: East Carter — Isaac Boggs (1,286 yards, 17 TDs rushing), Eli Estepp (1,008 yards, nine TDs passing), Rylan Yoak (85 tackles); Lawrence County — Dylan Ferguson (1,028 yards, 18 TDs rushing), Talan Pollock (521 yards, four TDs passing, 381 yards, seven TDs rushing), Cody Crum (581 yards, six TDs rushing).

No. 20 Mercer County (5-5) at No. 6 Elizabethtown (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday

Why it’s on our list: Titans are better than their record indicates.

Cantrall ratings: Titans 8; Panthers 6.

Common opponents: None.

Last meeting: Have not met in the KHSAA’s online record era dating to 1998.

Standing out: Mercer County — Thaddeus Mays (1,169 yards, 12 TDs passing, 747 yards, nine TDs rushing, 25 tackles), Denim Griffieth (857 yards, eight TDs rushing) Ashton Drakeford (408 yards, four TDs receiving, 39 tackles); Elizabethtown — Trey Durbin (847 yards, nine TDs rushing, 265 yards, five TDs receiving), Ryder Gregory (871 yards, 13 TDs passing, 208 yards, four TDs rushing), Nate Nett (61 tackles, two sacks).

Class 4A

No. 29 Bourbon County (2-8) at No. 19 Holmes (6-4), 7 p.m. Friday

Why it’s on our list: Cantrall ratings indicate this is a closer matchup than records indicate, and the Colonels are due.

Cantrall ratings: Colonels 19; Bulldogs 15.

Common opponents: Bourbon beat Harrison County 70-53 on Sept. 2; Holmes beat Harrison 48-15 on Oct. 14.

Last meeting: 2018, a 28-21 Holmes win.

Standing out: Bourbon County — Clay Estes (1,687 yards, 12 TDs passing, 394 yards, 11 TDs rushing), Josh Moody (588 yards, seven TDs rushing, 416 yards, three TDs receiving), Cam Ron Goodwin (98 tackles); Holmes — Curtez Hill (1,370 yards, 13 TDs rushing), Emauryon Arnold (741 yards, 13 TDs rushing, team-high 59 tackles), Miguel Garcia (428 yards, six TDs passing, 125 yards, five TDs rushing).

No. 15 Hopkinsville (5-5) at No. 11 Franklin-Simpson (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday

Why it’s on our list: This is one of five games this week where the Cantrall and RPI ratings flip the favorites. Cantrall has Franklin-Simpson as a home underdog.

Cantrall ratings: Tigers 10; Wildcats 13.

Common opponents: Hopkinsville lost to Logan County 49-28 on Sept. 23, Franklin-Simson lost to Logan 41-31 on Sept. 9.

Last meeting: Franklin-Simpson won the 2017 region championship 35-20 on the way to the state title.

Standing out: Hopkinsville — Daisjaun Mercer (722 yards, eight TDs receiving, 230 yards, five TDs rushing, 313 tackles, three interceptions), Zach Moss (1,308 yards, 13 TDs passing), Darrius Green (312 yards, four TDs rushing); Franklin-Simpson — Blake McPherson (831 yards, five TDs rushing), Gavin Dickerson (455 yards, eight TDs rushing), Atakis Allen (90 tackles, four sacks).

Class 5A

No. 12 Great Crossing (8-2) at No. 4 Covington Catholic (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday

Why it’s on our list: The Warhawks would make a serious statement with a road win over CovCath. The winner will most likely next face No. 1 Frederick Douglass.

Cantrall ratings: Warhawks 15; Colonels 5.

Common opponents: None.

Last meeting: This will be their first.

Standing out: Great Crossing — Jakeece Patterson (728 yards, five TDs rushing), Gabe Nichols (533 yards, five TDs passing, 86 yards, five TDs rushing), Isaiah Johnson (471 yards, six TDs rushing), Oryend Fisher (69.5 tackles, 13.5 sacks); Covington Catholic — Evan Pitzer (1,082 yards, 10 TDs passing, 312 yards, three TDs rushing), Owen Leen (1,016 yards, 14 TDs rushing), Aiden Jones (53 tackles, 4.5 sacks).

No. 16 North Laurel (5-5) at No. 18 Collins (6-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday

Why it’s on our list: The Jags pulled a stunner over Johnson Central earlier in the year; Collins has dynamic QB Kenyon Goodin.

Cantrall ratings: Jaguars 16; Titans 18.

Common opponents: North Laurel beat Whitley County 35-19 on Oct. 13. Collins beat Whitley 41-21 on Sept. 30.

Last meeting: This will be their first.

Standing out: North Laurel — Warren Tucker (1,258 yards, nine TDs passing, 851 yards, 12 TDs rushing), Ethan Gregory (1,070 yards, eight TDs rushing), Austin Johnson (78 tackles, 20 sacks); Collins — Kenyon Goodin (1,725 yards, 22 TDs passing, 1,137 yards, 15 TDs rushing, 49 tackles, four defensive interceptions), Darius Evans (884 yards, 11 TDs receiving), Joshua Lainhart (71 tackles).

Class 6A

No. 14 Clark County (7-3) at No. 18 Tates Creek (4-6), 7 p.m. Friday

Why it’s on our list: Creek is a home underdog on a three-game win streak and played Bryan Station tougher than the Cards did.

Cantrall ratings: Cardinals 15; Commodores 22.

Common opponents: Clark beat Lafayette 56-7 and lost to Bryan Station 50-7; Creek beat Lafayette 43-0 and lost to Bryan Station 40-19.

Last meeting: 2019, a 34-28 Clark County win.

Standing out: Clark County — Tyleik Maxwell (937 yards, 11 TDs passing, 412 yards, six TDs rushing), Kalen Washington (966 yards, 16 TDs rushing), Bryce Chestnut (582 yards, five TDs rushing), Zaydin Turner (422 yards, six TDs receiving), Landon Marcum (77 tackles, 7.5 sacks); Tates Creek — Andrew Witherington (1,264 yards, 12 TDs passing, 224 yards, two TDs rushing), Ke’shon Douthitt (513 yards, eight TDs receiving), Logan Julian (77 tackles, two sacks).

No. 21 North Hardin (4-6) at No. 13 Daviess County (6-4), 7 p.m. Friday

Why it’s on our list: North Hardin’s three-star junior Shaun Boykins has been offered by Kentucky and Louisville. Cantrall ratings indicate this is a close matchup.

Cantrall ratings: Trojans 16; Panthers 12.

Common opponents: North Hardin beat Apollo 52-25 and lost to Meade County 35-28; Daviess beat Apollo 28-0 and Meade County 43-14.

Last meeting: 2017 playoffs. Daviess County won 33-7.

Standing out: North Hardin — Jayden Thorpe (1,523 yards, 16 TDs passing, 493 yards, four TDs rushing), Kye Boyd (918 yards, 11 TDs rushing), Shaun Boykins (797 yards, 10 TDs receiving, 166 yards, three TDs rushing); Daviess County — Bryson Parm (1,325 yards, 15 TDs rushing, 188 yards, two TDs receiving), Decker Renfrow (649 yards, 10 TDs receiving), Isaac Blue (104 tackles).

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