Monday, December 1, 2014

State Finals

There are only 12 teams still playing high school football in Kentucky, and two of them are from Graves County -- population 37,451 (2013 est.).  This weekend, all 12 teams will converge on Bowling Green for six title games at Western Kentucky University (all times Central) (private schools in italics):

Friday, December 5:
11 A.M. (Class 3A):  Belfry (12-2) v. Lou. Central (10-4)
These two teams met for the title in 2010, 2011, and 2012, with Central winning each time.  Last year Central fell to Wayne County, which then lost to Belfry in the final.  So this is Belfry's fifth consecutive trip to the final.

2:30 P.M. (Class 2A):  Newport Cent. Catholic (8-5) v. Lou. DeSales (13-1)
This is a rematch of the 2013 title game, which DeSales won 34-26.  It will be NCC's sixth trip to the final since 2007; NCC won it all in 2010 and 2012.

6 P.M. (Class 5A):  Pulaski Co. (12-2) v. Graves Co. (11-3)
Since Class 5A began in 2007, Ft. Thomas Highlands (2007-10) and Bowling Green (2011-13) are the only two schools to capture the crown.  Pulaski County was here last year, but Graves has never played for a state title.

Saturday, December 6:
11 A.M. (Class 1A):  Williamsburg (14-0) v. Mayfield (13-1)
This is a rematch of last year's title game, which Mayfield won 42-0.  Mayfield is in its sixth consecutive title game -- the Cardinals won it all in 2010, 2012, and 2013.  On the other hand, Williamsburg is the only unbeaten team left in the Commonwealth.

2:30 P.M. (Class 4A):  Ft. Thomas Highlands (12-2) v. Owensboro (12-2)
Highlands won four 5A titles from 2007-10, and then won 4A titles in 2011-12, before finally losing to Collins in the final last year.  The last time Highlands was beaten in the playoffs prior to the final game was November 11, 2006, when the Bluebirds lost in the old AAA playoffs to Covington Catholic.  Owensboro hasn't won a state championship since they took the AAA title back in 1986, and this is the Red Devils' first title appearance since they reached the AAA final in 1999 and 2000.  In both of those years, they were beaten by Highlands.

6 P.M. (Class 6A):  Dixie Heights (13-1) v. Lou. Trinity (9-5)
This will be the eighth 6A title game in KHSAA history, and it will be Trinity's seventh appearance.  The Shamrocks took the crown in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012.  Last year, they finished 6-6 and were pounded by Male in the state quarter-finals.  But now they are back in their usual place.  Dixie Heights, on the other hand, has never played for a state football championship.

98 comments:

  1. I really like BluegrassPreps.com, and one of the things that I like about it is its diligence in amassing references such as this list of radio broadcasters per team and this list of stadium addresses around the state.

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  2. Freddie Maggard @FMaggard
    Central's Ty Scroggins and Belfry's Phillip Haywood have 8 state championships combined. 5 for Scroggins, 3 for Haywood. #KHSFB
    8:38 AM - 5 Dec 2014

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  3. For now, however, WYMC is interspersing "You Should Be Dancing" by the Bee Gees, etc., among Christmas music.

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  4. Central goes three-and-out on its first possession, and then Belfry covers about 60 yards in three runs for a score. It's the extra point, though, that seems to most excite the WDHR broadcasters: "These have cost Belfry before in these games." It's good, and the defending-champion Pirates lead, 7-0.

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  5. Mike Fields ‏@MikeFieldsNotes
    Central hit with back-to-back penalties, moving it back to Belfry 45. Central has been flagged 8 times for 65 yds. Belfry has no penalties.
    11:44 AM - 5 Dec 2014

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  6. Belfry runs 83 yards out of the quarterback option for an early second-quarter touchdown, and the kick makes it 14-0 in favor of the Pirates.

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  7. Jason Frakes @kyhighs
    Central trailed Corbin 26-0 in 2nd quarter, South Warren 14-3 in first quarter. Jackets have Belfry right where they want them.
    11:50 AM - 5 Dec 2014

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  8. With its starting fullback (who scored the first touchdown) taking his first play off, Belfry fumbles, and Central returns the recovery for a touchdown. It's 14-7 with 6:09 to go in the first half.

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  9. Having taken over at its 4, Belfry runs its triple-option offense to within the Central 30 with about eight minutes to go in the game. "There's just something about smash-mouth football on Pond Creek; I think it's called bloodline," says WDHR.

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  10. But the Pirates are stopped on downs with 5:46 to play. Central takes over at its own 30 ...

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  11. And the Yellowjackets immediately advance the ball to the Belfry 32 on a completed pass and Pirates personal foul. "This is crunch time right here, folks," says WDHR ...

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  12. And Belfry holds, stopping Central on downs at the Pirate 27 ...

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  13. After illegal procedure, the champs face third-and-10 with inside three minutes to play ...

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  14. 2:44 to go, and Central calls timeout with Belfry facing fourth-and-6 ...

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  15. Central takes over at its 41 or 42 ... 2:33 ...

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  16. 1:51 ... Central has first down at the Belfry 49 ...

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  17. 1:11 ... Central completes rollout pass to Belfry 32 ...

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  18. Belfry has a sophomore defensive lineman, Ray Horton, whom Twitter has fallen in love with during this game, and he throws Central's quarterback for a sack. The Yellowjackets take timeout and will come back facing third-and-17 with 57 seconds to go ...

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  19. This time Central's quarterback eludes Horton, however, and completes a crazy pass to the Belfry 15 for first down ...32 seconds ...

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  20. Central has no timeouts ... at the 8 ...

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  21. 3 seconds to go ... incomplete ... fourth down ...

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  22. Incomplete! That's game. Belfry survives Central, 14-7, to repeat as 3A champ.

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  23. WDHR immediately loses its feed from Bowling Green.

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  24. Derek Forrest ‏@WLKYDerek
    Belfry ran 55 offensive plays, only one of those was a pass, it was incomplete. #3YardsAndACloudofDust
    2:00 PM - 5 Dec 2014

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  25. 12 minutes until kickoff of DeSales vs. NewCath ...

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  26. OK, the KHSAA just aired a little welcome message from the Bowling Green mayor, and then it played a little jingle for the city: "I can live; I can dream; I can be who I want to be in Bowling Green ..."

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  27. I think we've discussed this jingle before.

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  28. The 2A championship is about to kickoff; meanwhile, Owensboro's 102.7 FM is doing a live remote from OHS's pep rally. The radio guy says there's going to be re-enactment of the last-play-of-the-game, tipped-touchdown pass that Owensboro scored to win its 4A semifinal last Friday night.

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  29. "They just completed a dramatic recreation of the spectacular play now known as the 'Bluegrass Miracle.'"

    Now elementary-school students are apparently running onto the floor in faux Highlands Bluebirds uniforms.

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  30. The remote radio reporter says we're about to have a "deviled-egg game" and a "kiss-the-cheerleader contest" at Owensboro.

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  31. Meanwhile, in Bowling Green, the 2A final is underway. We've already had a DeSales fumble and now a NewCath pooch punt back to the 10 ...

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  32. 23 seconds to go in the first quarter, and the defending champs lead NewCath, 16-0 ...

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  33. Mike Fields ‏@MikeFieldsNotes
    DeSales has outgained NewCath 151-0 so far.
    3:22 PM - 5 Dec 2014

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  34. Another DeSales interception as the first quarter ends ...

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  35. Half: DeSales 23, NewCath 0.

    Todd Griffin ‏@toddgriffin100
    “@TroyTowery: @toddgriffin100 Ya know, that should be Caldwell's offense blasting thru New Cath today instead of Desales” Fate is fickle
    3:56 PM - 5 Dec 2014

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  36. Matt Jones @KySportsRadio
    Damien Harris will announce his decision on January 9th. He is expected at UK game tonight
    4:42 PM - 5 Dec 2014

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  37. Vaughts' Views @vaughtsviews
    A huge miracle I would say RT @FMaggard: Minus a Newport Catholic miracle, DeSales will repeat as 2A champions. 26-0 4th QTR.
    5:03 PM - 5 Dec 2014

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  38. 14-7, Pulaski over Graves, at the half in the 5A final ...

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  39. 10:02 in the third quarter ... it's pouring ... Graves recovers Pulaski fumble on punt catch at midfield ...

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  40. But the Eagles can get nothing going, and they punt back to Pulaski, now at its 35 or so ...

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  41. And now a Graves County interception puts the Eagles at the Pulaski 36 ...

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  42. Again, the Eagles cannot advance the ball, but they do continue to improve field position ... their latest punt rolls dead at the Pulaski 13 ...

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  43. Still 14-7 ... 3:12 to play ... Graves is taking over at its 6 after a long Pulaski punt ...

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  44. Graves turns the ball over on downs at midfield ... Pulaski takes over with 1:22 to play, and it appears the Maroons are headed to their first state championship ...

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  45. "You talk about a fun bus ride back up the Cumberland Parkway," the KHSAA.tv commentator sagely notes.

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  46. Big night in the mountains ...

    Belfry High School @belfryhigh
    Football team about 1 hour away!!!!!
    9:35 PM - 5 Dec 2014

    Michael Childers @GetChili22
    There will be a celebration for the Pulaski County Maroons tonight in the gymnasium. Welcome back the 2014 state champs in style!
    9:45 PM - 5 Dec 2014

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  47. Mayfield's WYMC claims to play "a mix of favorites like no other radio station in the country." To illustrate this claim, it then plays segments of "Barbara Ann" by the Beach Boys, "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr., "We Built This City" by Starship and "Down on the Corner" by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

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  48. Now WYMC is playing an Andy Griffith performance of "What It Was, Was Football." I'm pretty sure this means that they're about to go to their pregame for today's Class A championship.

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  49. Mayfield is playing for its sixth straight Class A state championship. During this run, the Cardinals have played the maximum-allowable number of games, and so far they are 83-6.

    Next season, Mayfield moves to Class 2A.

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  50. Mike Stunson ‏@Mike_Stunson
    Mayfield will be playing for its 11th state title today. This is its 20 appearance.
    10:29 AM - 6 Dec 2014

    Tanner Hesterberg ‏@TannerWYMT
    This is the best team in Williamsburg history. Can the Yellow Jackets knock off perennial powerhouse Mayfield, which shut them out last yr?
    10:30 AM - 6 Dec 2014

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  51. Mayfield assistant coach David Morris raves about the Cardinals' semifinals victim, Fort Mitchell Beechwood, whom he describes as the best team Mayfield faced all season. "They're probably having a party over there with us moving to 2A next year," he says on WYMC's preview show.

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  52. Jason Frakes ‏@kyhighs
    Most KHSAA state football titles: 22 - Highlands/Trinity 12 - St. Xavier 11 - Beechwood 10 - Danville/Mayfield
    10:56 AM - 6 Dec 2014

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  53. 7:09 to play in the first half, and Williamsburg is up 10-0 after a 35-yard field goal ...

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  54. Jason Frakes ‏@kyhighs
    Total offense so far: Williamsburg 103 yards, Mayfield minus-6.
    11:33 AM - 6 Dec 2014


    The Cardinals return a squib kickoff to their own 49. "Now we're ready to play some football," says WYMC, hopefully. Indeed, Mayfield has now put together four first downs and has first-and-goal at the 4 ...

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  55. And now Mayfield recovers a Williamsburg fumble on the kickoff return, at the Yellow Jackets' 25. One of the WYMC announcers, who began standing up in the press box before the last Cardinals possessions, says he is going to now remain standing the rest of the game ...

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  56. Mike Stunson ‏@Mike_Stunson
    4th and 3 at the 44 after a timeout with 6 seconds left. Williamsburg will likely go for the endzone here, nothing to lose.
    12:06 PM - 6 Dec 2014

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  57. On their opening possession, Mayfield is held without a first down. Williamsburg quickly moves to the Cardinal 1 on an over-the-shoulder, dead-sprint completion to a wide out 20 yards downfield. But Mayfield's defense stiffens, and the Yellow Jackets settle for a field goal: 14-13 ...

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  58. Another three-and-out and punt for Mayfield ...

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  59. The EndZone ‏@Theendzonett
    Mayfield blocks punt. Takes over at Williamsburg 41 with 4:55 left in third quarter.
    12:51 PM - 6 Dec 2014

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  60. The Cardinals rush in a new quarterback, WYMC says, for the first time this season, and he sprints around left end to inside the Williamsburg 5. "I hate them for not telling me about that!" says one of the WYMC announcers of the Mayfield coaches. Two plays later, the Cardinals plunge in for a touchdown: 21-13 ...

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  61. 6:15 to play, and the score remains 21-13. The WYMC announcer emits a huge groan as a third-and-6 Mayfield pass falls incomplete. "Our defense is going to have to win this game today," he says. The Yellow Jackets will take over at their 21 after a punt ...

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  62. Williamsburg's passing game is fantastic. A Williamsburg receiver made--honestly--a one-handed catch with his left hand of about a 25-yard pass as he crosses the goal line. The Yellow Jackets are within 21-19, and Mayfield takes timeout with 4:10 to play before a two-point conversion try ...

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    Replies
    1. Tanner Hesterberg ‏@TannerWYMT
      You must must must watch our coverage later to see the Corey Shelton TD catch. It was so clutch and so spectacular. @SportsOT
      1:26 PM - 6 Dec 2014

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  63. It's good, and it's tied! 21 apiece with 4:10 to play ...

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  64. And now Williamsburg intercepts! The Yellow Jackets intercept on the first Mayfield play from scrimmage, and Williamsburg has it at the Cardinal 43 ...

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  65. Williamsburg misses a field-goal try from the 21, and the game is still tied with 1:26 ...

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  66. Touchdown, Williamsburg, on the first play of overtime ...

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  67. The kick is no good, however ... 27-21, Yellow Jackets ...

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  68. TOUCHDOWN, MAYFIELD!

    "GET THAT PAT, BUDDY!" WYMC BELLOWS!

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  69. 27-27 ... timeout, Williamsburg ...

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  70. Mayfield's kicker is 70 for 72 on extra points during his career ...

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  71. And now he's 71 of 73! It's good, and Mayfield repeats as Class A state champions!

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