Hooray for football! The six-act KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl kicks off an hour from now in Bowling Green, and everyone's invited. I saw that Mayfield "Schools will be closed Friday, December 3rd, for the High School Football 1A State Championship. Go Cardinals!" Maybe all of the participating schools are out. Heck, maybe all of Kentucky's schools are. I don't know. I wish I was closed. More field trips, more days off, more trophies, more pageantry, more eating out, more staying in hotels with indoor pools and fewer deadlines--that's what I say. Hooray for football! One more time, because this point simply cannot be stressed strongly enough: Hooray for football!
Class A, 11 a.m. Central today, Hazard vs. Mayfield
About Hazard: Mark Dixon and Jon Combs were their district's Kentucky Football Coaches Association coach and player of the year, respectively. ... Scout Kentucky Preps publisher Brian Eldridge has the Bulldogs keeping it close today.
About Mayfield: It's a matter of "unfinished business," baby! ... Two weeks ago, when the Cardinals were late getting to their first-round game in Louisville because of traffic? Well, late that same night, Mayfield's coach reportedly hit a deer on his way back home. ... Jonathan Jackson and Joe Morris were their district's Kentucky Football Coaches Association player and coach of the year, respectively.
Class 2A, 3 p.m. Central today, Newport Central Catholic vs. Owensboro Catholic
About NewCath: Eddie Eviston was his district's Kentucky Football Coaches Association coach of the year, respectively. ... The story of the new coach is interesting. ... So is the one of the old coach. ... Chris Kelly was his district's Kentucky Football Coaches Association player of the year.
About Owensboro Catholic: Two "Pep buses" will be following the Aces down U.S. 231 to Bowling Green. (Cool slide show at that link, too.) ... John Edge and Russell Hayden were their district's Kentucky Football Coaches Association coach and player of the year, respectively.
Class 4A, 7 p.m. Central today, Boyle County vs. Allen County-Scottsville
About Boyle: I hope the Colts are scheduling their practices and meetings around this game so that Jacob Tamme is free to listen. He has emerged as a force on The Heath Post's 1-11 Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football team. ... Boyle County's Lamar Dawson is generally considered to be the state's top college-football prospect. ... Dawson was his district's Kentucky Football Coaches Association player of the year .... Another Boyle senior waited to give his parents the bad news until after their 21st anniversary.
About AC-S: "People in Scottsville are ecstatic about the game. There are banners in store windows. Local coffee shops and restaurants are filled with people buzzing about the big game. Who could blame them?" ... It's the best season ever for the team, just three years after it went 2-9. ... Its coach tells Chad Bishop of The Park City Daily News that a "unit mentality" powers the Patriots' powerful line. ... The head coach tells Mike Fields of The Herald-Leader that he took a $49,000 pay cut to enter the family business, after all. ... Brad Hood and Hunter York was their district's Kentucky Football Coaches Association coach and player of the year, respectively.
Class 3A, 11 a.m. Central Saturday, Belfry vs. Louisville Central
About Belfry: Lots of Kentucky-West Virginia back-and-forth regarding the composition of Belfry's roster. ... Philip Haywood was his district's Kentucky Football Coaches Association coach of the year.
About Central: The Yellowjackets opened the season 1-5. ... The BluegrassPreps.com community likes Central's chances. ... Anthony Wales and Ty Scroggins were their district's Kentucky Football Coaches Association player and coach of the year, respectively.
Class 5A, 3 p.m. Central Saturday, Fort Thomas Highlands vs. Christian County
About Highlands: Here's another place where we apparently can listen and maybe even watch this game. ... The Bluebirds claim "mythical" state championships from 1930, 1943 and 1957. ... Dale Mueller and Patrick Towles were their district's Kentucky Football Coaches Association coach and player of the year, respectively.
About County: "Whack'em'Stackem'" details a strategy for Colonels success. ... Steve Lovelace and Marcoreyon Tandy were their district's Kentucky Football Coaches Association coach and player of the year, respectively. ... Meanwhile, in town, ...
Class 6A, 7 p.m. Central Saturday, Louisville Trinity vs. Louisville Male
About Trinity: Bob Beatty was his district's Kentucky Football Coaches Association coach of the year. ... "We Weren't Born to Follow."
About Male: Chris Wolfe was his district's Kentucky Football Coaches Association coach of the year. ... Good, concrete, differentiator stuff from Jim Halley in USA Today: "Male is trying to close the gap by improving its feeder system, adding a middle school team last year. But in Kentucky, catching up to St. Xavier or Trinity might be more complicated. Besides an advantage in facilities (they're the only schools in Louisville with turf fields), they have easily the largest boys enrollments in the state. According to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, Trinity had 1,381 boys in grades 9-12 last year and St. Xavier 1,456. Male had 831 boys."
OK, Mayfield's WYMC is on the air from Bowling Green!
ReplyDelete"We're getting calls that a lot of people are up in Beaver Dam getting here ... lot of people came over last night ..."
ReplyDeleteWYMC reports that none of the Mayfield players stayed up too late, banging on doors, etc., at the hotel in Bowling Green last night.
ReplyDeleteHooray for football!
ReplyDeleteThere's an interruption in the signal from Bowling Green to Mayfield, so WYMC is cramming in a bunch of commercials. The law firm of Null, Samson & Paitsel just congratulated and extended good-luck wishes to Coach Morris and the Cardinals.
ReplyDeleteThe Cardinals and Bulldogs have traded turnovers during the technical difficulties, and Hazard, trailing 7-0, has the ball at the Mayfield 40.
ReplyDeleteSecond interception of the game by a Mayfield defensive back nicknamed "J.V." with 5:36 to go in the first quarter ... Cardinals take over inside their 20.
ReplyDeleteHazard coach Mark Dixon to Cris Ritchie of The Herald Hazard: “The key to any football game is turnovers.”
ReplyDeleteMayfield touchdown: 14-0, 3:50 to go in the first quarter.
WYMC suggests: "Is it already gadget-play time for the Bulldogs?"
ReplyDeleteGo, Cardinals!
ReplyDeleteAs the second quarter opens, WYMC slips in a promo of the 2A tilt that follows this game: "A couple of Catholic schools. I wonder if they're serving fish."
ReplyDeleteMayfield's star running back, Jackson, is starring at linebacker today.
ReplyDeleteWYMC: "If you're not here to see this, we're doing everything we want to do right now."
ReplyDeleteMayfield wide receiver Kenny Payton catches a touchdown pass ... WYMC: "He deserves it--as good a kid as there is." ... PAT misses ... 20-0 with 4:07 to go in the first half.
ReplyDeleteMayfield High's enrollment is 373.
ReplyDeleteCome on, Mayfield! Put 'em away!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff from www.MayfieldCardinals.net:
ReplyDelete1947 WKC champs! only loss was season finale to Paducah 6-54 (Pad. was not in the conference at that time)
1942: Henry Cochran agreed to become Paducah’s coach just before the start of the season…then changed his mind and went back to Mayfield…for what turned out to be one more season) Cardinals tied for 2nd in the WKC
1939: Henry Cochran, former Paducah and Alabama star…after coaching one year of high school ball in Alabama… hired by Mayfield
1924: the “Little Ten Conference”…forerunner to the Western Kentucky Conference…began play with nine charter members…including Mayfield
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ReplyDeleteWYMC: "Fifteen-yard penalty on hands to the face of (Mayfield senior quarterback) Luke Guhy, and I know it makes Mitzi mad when they put their hands on her little boy's face."
ReplyDeleteWYMC reports that Jackson danced on his way into the end zone and that he's getting an earful from Coach Morris after the score, making it 26-0 with 40 seconds remaining in the half.
ReplyDeleteTwo-point-conversion attempt fails.
ReplyDeleteMayfield should have kicked the extra point there.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Sullivan, a senior defensive lineman, intercepts with 18 seconds to go, and Guhy and Payton connect on the ensuing down for a 33-0 Cardinals lead with 10 seconds remaining in the first half.
ReplyDeleteWYMC: "Wow."
The other WYMC dude: "Yeah, what else can you say?"
A worthy performance from the holders of the Coach Bushong Trophy.
ReplyDeleteGreat site honoring the 1959 2A-champion Henderson Flash.
ReplyDeleteCoach Bushong!
ReplyDeleteWYMC reports that even some Graves County High supporters have traveled to Bowling Green to root for the Cardinals. "It's good to see everybody coming together."
ReplyDeleteThe 1985 Class A (Crittenden County) and 2A champs (Mayfield) are being honored at halftime at L.T. Smith Stadium.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mayfield returns the second-half-opening kickoff to the Hazard 49.
ReplyDeleteDouble-reverse touchdown for the Cardinals: 39-0, pending the conversion try.
ReplyDeleteI am so proud and happy for Mayfield. I am one of those people "coming together."
ReplyDeleteWYMC: "47-0, and we'll take a break right now because we won't get another in the fourth quarter. Running clock in the state championship--this is my dream come true!"
ReplyDeleteWYMC: "The cheerleaders are second to none. It's just a class operation here in Mayfield."
ReplyDeleteWYMC reports that Mayfield's press-box coaches have informed them that the Cardinals will be switching to the junior-varsity team's offense when they next resume possession.
ReplyDeleteMayfield's J.V. offense convert a fourth-and-2 opportunity.
ReplyDeleteGatorade showers.
ReplyDeleteHazard gets on the board: 47-7.
ReplyDeleteSorry ... WYMC reports that the Hazard PAT snap is muffed. 47-6.
ReplyDeleteWYMC is keeping a live mic open from Jimmy Feix Field, among the celebrating Cardinals. "If someone says something vile and disgusting, then so be it--they're state champions!"
ReplyDeleteYEAH Mayfield!!
ReplyDeleteAnother WYMC reporter will be meeting the returning Mayfield team bus at T-Shirts Plus on the Cuba Road. State-champion T-shirts will be available for purchase!
ReplyDeleteWYMC returns to regular programming with Barry Manilow's "Somewhere in the Night." I've always enjoyed this song.
ReplyDeleteI'll be listening to Owensboro's WBIO 94.7 FM for coverage of the all-Catholic 2A title tilt. But its game broadcast doesn't begin until 2:40 p.m. Central, and right now we're stuck with country-and-western music. Urgh.
ReplyDeleteFrom 1939's Kentucky: A Guide to the Bluegrass State:
ReplyDelete"Church membership in Kentucky has increased at a rate faster than that of the population. Almost one-half of the people of the State--approximately a million--are church members today, while only about one person in 12 claimed membership in 1800.
"The different religious sects, of which there are nearly 60, show great disparity in size and represent divisions and subdivisions within some of the major denominations. The Baptists, the largest single group, have a total membership of 425,000, of which 300,000 are in the Southern Baptist Convention and the remainder in nine other Baptist divisions. The Catholics come in next in point of numbers, with 180,000 members, followed by the Methodists with 170,000 members distributed among eight subdenominations. The Disciples of Christ (better known in Kentucky as the Christian Church have a membership of 122,000 ...
"The religious history of the State falls roughly into four periods: the time of pioneering, the decades of the Great Revival beginning in 1797, the period dominated by the slavery issue and the War between the States; and what may be considered the modern epoch, following reconstruction and extending to the present. ...
"The Catholics were untouched by the revival, but were perhaps affected by the general awakening of interest in religion. The first diocese, which originally included Tennessee and all the Northwest Territory, was organized at Bardstown in 1808. The first bishop, Benedict Joseph Flaget, had his residence in a log cabin (still preserved) at St. Thomas, near Bardstown, and began building the first cathedral west of the mountains at Bardstown in 1819. It was not until 1841 that the see was transferred to Louisville. ...
"Catholic church membership is unevenly distributed. Thirty-four counties in the southwest and along the southern and eastern borders report no Catholics, while 115,000 of the total 180,000 are in Jefferson, Campbell, Nelson, and Kenton Counties."
The WPA Guide to Kentucky. Simon, F. Kevin, editor (Lexington, Ky.: University Press of Kentucky, 1996) 77-81.
WBIO 94.7 FM: After an interception, back-to-back illegal procedures back up NewCath to a first-and-20 at its 10 four minutes into the 2A championship.
ReplyDeleteAfter one quarter, it's NewCath 7, Owensboro Catholic 0.
ReplyDeleteA Hopkins County bus just unloaded some kids in the neighborhood, so, obviously, not everyone took today off from school for the KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl. This is one very good reason why all of Madisonville's elementary boys need to be practicing football every day.
ReplyDeleteJim Pickens reports in today's Messenger-Inquirer that the Aces are shooting "for the program’s elusive first state championship — an accomplishment that was denied the three previous Owensboro Catholic teams to play in state championship games (1997, 2004, 2005)."
ReplyDeleteOooh, I like the Owensboro Catholic Schools' jingle.
ReplyDelete"WE ARE ... O-C!"
Mmmm ... if we weren't having breakfast for dinner at the house tonight, I'd want to load up the fam and head to Owensboro to eat. I've always thought PizzAroma looked outstanding.
ReplyDelete4:30 to go in the first half ... NewCath is up, 14-0, and is about to take over near midfield after O-C fails on a fourth-down try.
ReplyDeleteOwensboro Catholic, trailing 21-0, kicks off to open the second half.
ReplyDelete7:50 to go in the third, and NewCath scores again ... 27-0, pending the kick ...
ReplyDeleteCountdown to State Championship!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
00 Days, 02 Hours, 16 Minutes, 12 Seconds.
Final: Newport Central Catholic 42, Owensboro Catholic 0. The Aces, who averaged 44 points a game before today, failed to even penetrate the NewCath 20.
ReplyDelete"Boyle County Rebels Championship Friday! Who you with? Rebels.... Rebels.... Rebels"
ReplyDeleteThis is effectively a home game for the Patriots, as Scottsville is just 24 twisty and tight miles down U.S. 231 from Bowling Green.
ReplyDeleteChad Bishop, writing in The Park City Daily News: "With a massive crowd expected, ACS will face a Rebels team (14-0) that hasn't lost in 29 straight contests and has six state championships in the last 10 years. 'We're gonna try and do the same thing we do every week - we're gonna come out and try and hit 'em in the mouth,' Patriots junior linebacker Cory Foster said."
ReplyDeleteI'm disappointed to see that The Daily News has switched from "AC-S" (the convention in my time at the newspaper) to "ACS" on second reference.
ReplyDeleteThe homeish crowd roars as AC-S star Hunter York is able to get around the corner of Boyle County's vaunted defense for a 17-yard run.
ReplyDeleteAnd the voices of the commentators from Danville's WRNZ FM 105.1 lift as York is stopped short on his next third-down run attempt.
ReplyDeleteBoyle County puts together the first deep penetration of the game. After taking over at their own 45 following a short punt, the Rebels advance to the AC-S 28 with a first-down run. On second down, they reach the 21. Then, however, Boyle County is twice thrown for losses and, on fourth down, throws an incomplete pass.
ReplyDeleteWith 2:11 to play in the first quarter of the scoreless 4A championship, the Patriots resume possession.
AC-S will be punting when we come back for the start of the second quarter.
ReplyDeleteOne of the AC-S assistant coach is the head coach's uncle, Joe Hood, who was the head coach of Warren Central High when it featured the best high-school-football player I've ever seen: Damon Hood.
ReplyDeleteThe Rebels again advance into the Patriots' half of the field, reaching the 30, but, again, the AC-S D stiffens and stops Boyle County on fourth down.
ReplyDeleteThe impatience in the voices of the WRNZ announcers is growing evident. Boyle County again held AC-S to a three-and-out. The punt snap was low, and the Rebels nearly blocked--but, ultimately, the ball bounded to a stop at the Boyle 38, where the Rebels will take over with about eight minutes to play in the first half.
ReplyDeleteL.T. Smith Stadium cheers as the Patriots recover a Boyle County fumble at midfield.
ReplyDeleteSix minutes to play in the first, and AC-S narrowly converts a third down at the Boyle 38 ...
ReplyDeleteThe Patriots have a first-and-goal from the Boyle 8 ...
ReplyDeleteBUT THIS TIME IT'S "BLUE-COLLAR BOYLE" THAT STIFFENS! The Patriots pick up only three yards in three downs and then miss a 22-yard field-goal attempt.
ReplyDeleteStill scoreless in the 4A final.
WRNZ bumpers from the commercial break with "Celebrate" by Kool and the Gang, as Boyle County takes over at its 20 with 1:54 to go in the first half.
ReplyDeleteOne WRNZ dude: "I don't think Boyle can catch a cold."
ReplyDeleteAnother: "That's about the third drop, and it's cost them."
WRNZ on an AC-S end-of-first-half hail Mary: "Between two Boyle County defenders ... he just threw that up for grabs ... it's complete ... they have it at the 13-yard line ... 13 seconds to go in the half ..."
ReplyDeleteThe Patriots call timeout with four seconds to go in the half and then connect on a touchdown pass on the last play before intermission. It's 7-0, AC-S.
ReplyDelete"We better get on the stick, or we're going to come home with a loss," Boyle County's coach tells the WRNZ sideline reporter before heading to the locker room.
Terrific jingle for Heart of Danville Main Street Program:
ReplyDeleteHey, Danville!
Hey, Danville!
Downtown's the place to be
Great places to eat
Friendly community
Hey, Danville
Hey, Danville
The heart of Danville
is downtown Danville
Boyle County attempts a fourth-down conversion for the third time in the game, and, for the first time, the Rebels are successful. First and 10 at the AC-S 19.
ReplyDeleteAnd on the ensuing down, Boyle runs for all 19 yards and a tying score: 7-7 early in the third quarter.
ReplyDelete21-yard punt by AC-S ...
ReplyDeleteOne WRNZ dude: "That's the Rebel crowd that you hear now."
Another WRNZ dude: "Johnny O. Mo has kind of switched around now."
Lamar Dawson touchdown on a six-yard run. Boyle County ahead for the first time tonight, 14-7.
ReplyDeleteColt tight end Jacob Tamme is stumping for Bluegrass Community Bank in the subsequent WRNZ commercial.
13,167 is tonight's official L.T. Stadium attendance.
ReplyDelete"Johnny O. Mo," indeed: Boyle County 21, Allen County-Scottsville 7, with 1:54 to play in the third quarter.
ReplyDeleteBACK COME THE PATRIOTS! An 85-yard drive pulls AC-S back to within 21-14 with 6:56 to play. The Patriots kick deep, and Boyle County will take over at its 21.
ReplyDeleteTwo first downs, and Boyle County is still grinding ... now into AC-S territory ... 5 minutes to play ...
ReplyDeleteFirst down, Boyle County, at AC-S 39 after Patriot offsides ...
ReplyDeleteI know how it feels to Boyle County. But this game has been closer than I expected.
ReplyDeleteThird-and-5 coming, 2:55 to play ... first down, Rebels, at AC-S 27 ...
ReplyDeleteThe results of the first two games, by the way, show that Kentucky really doesn't need six separate classes for football. Mayfield v. Newport Central Catholic would have been a much better game.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Eric that AC-S is better than ACS.
ReplyDeleteFourth-and-7 coming from the Patriots' 24 ...
ReplyDelete1:25 to play ...
ReplyDeleteGO PATRIOTS!
ReplyDeleteIncomplete! AC-S will get a shot to tie. 1:20 to play, and the Patriots will take over at their 24.
ReplyDeleteThird-and-12 ... about a minute to go ...
ReplyDeleteBOYLE COUNTY SACK! 35 seconds left ... fourth coming from the AC-S 12 ...
ReplyDeleteAlso, it would have been interesting to see a playoff between Boyle County and Lou. Central.
ReplyDeleteInterception ... that'll do it, football fans.
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Eric.
ReplyDeleteWRNZ: "They're in the victory formation ... takes a snap, a knee ... They're out there having a ball, dancing around ... "
ReplyDelete