‘Jacked up.’ Lexington Catholic-Boyle rematch part of a stellar football playoffs lineup.

After Lexington Catholic upset Boyle County with a stunning fourth-quarter rally last month, Coach Bert Bathiany told his Knights they would probably have to face the Rebels again come playoff time.

That moment has arrived.

We’ve reached the point of the postseason where all six football class brackets get seeded according to the regular season RPI Standings formulated by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.

The remaining teams in the western districts, 1 to 4, and eastern districts, 5 to 8, are seeded separately this week for the region championships. That system keeps a western Kentucky team like Class A No. 17 Crittenden County from having to travel 352 miles across the state to No. 2 Raceland for a “region” title.

But it also means some of each class’s top teams are going to battle this week rather than Dec. 2-3 at Kroger Field.

Every third-round matchup with predictions is broken down below, but first let’s take a closer look at Class 4A’s battle between No. 2 Boyle County (10-2) and No. 3 Lexington Catholic (10-2).

Despite LexCath’s head-to-head win over Boyle County and its first district title since 2016, it’s the Knights who must travel to Title Town for Friday’s rematch.

That’s thanks to home-field advantage being set this week and next by the RPI Standings, which rank Boyle County one spot ahead of the Knights by a mere 0.00048 of an RPI ratings point, a difference that pretty much comes down to the Rebels’ more difficult schedule.

“We just focus on us and control things we can control, because everything else, that’s out of our hands,” Bathiany said, dismissing the RPI issue. “We can stress about it, but that’s not going to do any good.”

Boyle County will be looking for revenge and trying to assert that it’s still a team that can defend the Class 4A title for a second straight year. Lexington Catholic will try to prove its 28-27 victory over the Rebels on Oct. 7 was no fluke and that whatever the RPI math says, it’s the better team in 2022.

“They are going to be jacked up about it. We’re going to be jacked up about it. I think we both have a reason to have a chip on our shoulder,” Bathiany said. “Not to mention that it’s a rivalry game. We’ve just got to play our game.”

The Knights have Class 4A’s top passer, Jackson Wasik (2,667 yards, 38 TDs), and top receiver, Max DeGraff (1,352 yards, 21 TDs), and a run game led by Walker Hall that can’t be discounted with more than 1,400 yards and 16 TDs. Its defense ranks second only to No. 1 Corbin, allowing just 10.7 points per game.

Lexington Catholic exploded for 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter against Boyle County last time out and shut down one of the state’s most dynamic offenses at the same time. But its slow start was a concern and something that LexCath probably can’t afford to do again.

“I think in the first quarter or two we were just kind of playing slow and weren’t really being ourselves,” Bathiany said. “We’ve got to play with confidence. That was our message at halftime when we played them last time, and we’ve got to do that again for four quarters.”

Boyle County has been without starting quarterback Sage Dawson due to injury since the last game of the regular season, but has more than enough weapons to compensate, starting with sophomore sensation Montavin Quisenberry who rushed for 150 yards and three TDs against Boyd County last week. The speedy Quisenberry is a threat on offense, defense and special teams. Running back turned QB Avery Bodner has been taking snaps and also poses a significant run threat as his 644 yards and nine TDs rushing attest.

The region championships

This week’s regional finals and @HLpreps’ picks. All games are Friday and all times are local to the home team. Ratings by the KHSAA’s RPI.

CLASS A

Featured game: No. 9 Newport Central Catholic (10-2) at No. 7 Kentucky Country Day (9-2), 7:30 p.m.

The Thoroughbreds have popped for 49 or more points five times this season, including last week’s 50-13 rout of Frankfort. Demetrick Welch (1,255 yard, 17 TDs) and Luke Runyon (394 yards, 12 TDs) lead the run attack. Kolton Smith (1,260 yards, 14 TDs passing) can hurt teams that stack the box. The Bearcats have dominated common opponents Frankfort and Eminence by similar scores and are led by QB Ethan Harris (1,419 yards, 19 TDs passing, 214 yards, five TDs rushing) and rusher Kassani Wilson, who went for 97 yards and three TDs last week.

No. 3 Hazard (8-4) at No. 2 Raceland (11-1), 7:30 p.m. Incredibly, these teams haven’t played each other since at least 1998. They both played Ashland Blazer this year, with the Rams notching the more impressive win.

No. 17 Crittenden County (8-4) at No. 6 Louisville Holy Cross (9-3), 7:30 p.m. Holy Cross’s stronger run game might be the difference here. Game will be played at Pleasure Ridge Park.

No. 18 Paintsville (6-5) at No. 1 Pikeville (9-2), 7:30 p.m. The Panthers rolled Paintsville 36-0 on Sept. 2.

@HLpreps picks: Newport Central Catholic, Raceland, Louisville Holy Cross, Pikeville.

CLASS 2A

Featured game: No. 7 Lexington Christian (8-4) at No. 2 Owensboro Catholic (9-3), 7 p.m.

LCA ranks No. 1 in the state in passing offense at 306 yards per game. Owensboro Catholic isn’t far behind at No. 5 and 238 yards per game. Can sophomore Cutter Boley (3,402 yards, 32 TDs passing) and the Eagles outgun fellow sophomore Brady Atwell (2,580 yards, 29 TDs passing) and the Aces in this rematch of last year’s region championship? Owensboro Catholic has the home-field advantage this time around and a slightly better run game that could reverse 2021’s 49-21 loss. This one will not be for the faint of heart.

No. 12 Shelby Valley (10-2) at No. 1 Beechwood (11-1), 7:30 p.m. The two-time defending state champs lost their top rusher to injury four weeks ago and still look like Beechwood.

No. 11 Breathitt County (9-2) at No. 9 Lloyd Memorial (9-3), 7:30 p.m. The Juggernauts, who are districted with Beechwood, are playing for their first region title since 2015.

No. 6 Metcalfe County (12-0) at No. 3 Mayfield (12-0), 7 p.m. One of these unbeatens has 12 state titles in the trophy case. The Hornets would be the talk of the state with an upset here.

@HLpreps picks: LCA, Beechwood, Lloyd Memorial, Mayfield.

CLASS 3A

Featured game: No. 9 Ashland Blazer (8-4) at No. 5 Bell County (10-2), 7:30 p.m.

The Tomcats walloped Belfry last week and will face a similar run-heavy attack from the Bobcats. Bell junior Daniel Thomas (2,057 yards, 28 TDs) leads the entire state in rushing and senior Dawson Woolum (919 yards, 12 TDs) makes for a powerful one-two punch. Ashland hit its stride midseason and features dual-threat QB LaBryant Strader (1,976 yards, 18 TDs passing, 576 yards, four TDs rushing) and a balanced run attack led by Braxton Jennings (1,005 yards, 17 TDs).

No. 3 Union County (12-0) at No. 2 Bardstown (12-0), 7:30 p.m. Both of these teams look the part and have quality wins on their resumes. Union County has been much more vulnerable against the run.

No. 17 Paducah Tilghman (6-6) at No. 1 Christian Academy-Louisville (12-0), 7:30 p.m. The Blue Tornado shocked the state by topping CAL at this same stage last year on the way to the finals. Can it happen again?

No. 10 Greenup County (8-4) at No. 4 Mason County (12-0), 7:30 p.m. The Royals edged Greenup 34-29 just three weeks ago with the help of two Terrell Henry interceptions.

@HLpreps picks: Ashland, Bardstown, CAL, Mason County.

CLASS 4A

Featured game: No. 14 Franklin County (7-5) at No. 4 Warren East (12-0), 7 p.m.

The Flyers look like their old selves of late with the return of the dynamic Kaden Moorman from injury playing a huge role. He had 150 yards and two TDs rushing last week. Dual-threat QB Dane Parsley (1,749 yards, 28 TDs passing; 1,443 yards, 26 TDs rushing) leads the Raiders’ attack and has Quinton Hollis (941 yards, 14 TDs rushing) among his weapons. Warren East is on its best season in a decade, but hasn’t faced as tough of a schedule as Franklin.

No. 3 Lexington Catholic (10-2) at No. 2 Boyle County (10-2), 7:30 p.m. Four full quarters from both teams should be electric. Will Boyle County reassert its dominance or will LexCath get a rare sweep?

No. 7 Johnson Central (10-2) at No. 1 Corbin (12-0), 7:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles have ended Corbin’s season each of the last two years, but it’s the Redhounds who appear to be the team to beat in 2022.

No. 13 Central (8-4) at No. 6 Logan County (11-1), 7 p.m. Logan County is looking for its second straight region title. Central lost to South Warren 24-0 on Sept. 23. Logan beat the Spartans 27-17 on Oct. 28.

@HLpreps picks: Franklin County, Lexington Catholic, Corbin, Logan County.

CLASS 5A

Featured game: No. 3 Southwestern (12-0) at No. 2 Scott County (11-1), 7:30 p.m.

Things I had to look up: Is slobber knocker one word or two? The Warriors rank No. 1 in the class in rushing offense with more than 3,600 yards led by two 1K guys, Tanner Wright (1,478 yards, 24 TDs) and Christian Walden (1,040 yards, 15 TDs). Scott County’s 3,130 yards ranks third, led by Jacob Fryman, Ellis Huguely and Thomas Feickert who each top 700 yards and 10 TDs. The Cards’ sophomore QB, Andrew Hickey, has become proficient in the wing-T’s keep ‘em honest air attack with 1,000 yards and 10 TDs passing.

No. 7 Woodford County (11-1) at No. 1 Frederick Douglass (12-0), 7:30 p.m. The game Central Kentucky has been waiting for these last two years has arrived.

No. 14 South Oldham (8-4) at No. 5 Bowling Green (10-2), 7 p.m. The Purples’ defense has pitched back-to-back shutouts. Look out.

No. 11 Fairdale (11-1) at No. 9 Owensboro (10-2), 6 p.m. The Red Devils have been a lock for the state semifinals for three years and reached the championship game in 2020.

@HLpreps picks: Scott County, Frederick Douglass, Bowling Green, Owensboro.

CLASS 6A

Featured game: No. 11 Madison Central (9-3) at No. 3 Ballard (10-2), 7:30 p.m.

Ballard’s loss to Scott County on Oct. 21 and No. 1 St. Xavier’s loss to Male last week help make Class 6A seem as wide open as it’s perhaps ever been. The Indians put a scare into St. X last year and seem to have a fully healthy Brady Hensley back at running back after his 323 yards and five TDs last week. Ballard’s defense can keep it in any game, though. QB Tristian Hawkins (1,288 yards, 12 TDs passing; 343 yards, three TDs rushing) and RB Journey Wyche (832 yards, nine TDs rushing) lead the offense.

No. 9 Trinity (8-4) at No. 5 Bryan Station (9-3), 7 p.m. Beating the 27-time KHSAA champs might seem impossible unless your program has done it before. The Defenders topped the Rocks 31-21 in 1999, the last meeting between the two.

No. 10 Central Hardin (11-1) at No. 6 Bullitt East (11-1), 7:30 p.m. The Chargers have knocked off Male and Manual in less than a month, which has to make them a favorite here.

No. 8 Henderson County (10-2) at No. 7 Male (8-4), 7:30 p.m. Rumors of the Bulldogs’ demise this season have been greatly exaggerated.

@HLpreps picks: Bryan Station, Ballard, Bullitt East, Male.

About the picks

Each postseason, I make my best guess as to who might win in the playoffs beginning with the second round based on what I’ve seen in person and what I can glean from what I see on paper. It’s not hard to pick perennial favorites. It is hard to pick close games. As always, the picks are for fun. I’m completely happy being completely wrong about your team. Good luck to all.

Last week’s @HLpreps picks record: 41-7.

Last year’s @HLpreps region picks record: 18-6.

At last: Woodford County versus Douglass is happening and a region trophy is on the line.

‘Puncher’s chance.’ Bryan Station looking to make history against mighty Trinity.