KHSAA Football Finals

The State Championship Finals for KHSAA Football start today.  All games to be played at Commonwealth Stadium -- or whatever they call it now -- in Lexington, Kentucky.  MaxPrep rankings in parentheses:

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6:

11 A.M. Central -- Class 1A Championship

(35) Raceland (10-4) v. (33) Sayre (14-0)

3 P.M. Central -- Class 2A Championship

(20) Owensboro Catholic (14-0) v. (18) Beechwood (13-1)

7 P.M. Central -- Class 4A Championship

(4) Franklin Co. (13-0) v. (7) Paducah Tilghman (14-0)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7:

11 A.M. Central -- Class 3A Championship

(9) Christian Academy - Louisville (11-3) v. (26) Union Co. (12-2)

3 P.M. Central -- Class 6A Championship

(2) Ryle (12-2) v. (3) Lou. Trinity (12-2)

7 P.M. Central -- Class 5A Championship

(1) Cooper (14-0) v. (11) Bowling Green (12-2)

Based on the rankings, this is a very strong collection of games, with Christian Academy-Louisville and Cooper as the only clear favorites.

It seems clear that if Cooper wins their championship, they will finish the season as the Number One team in the Commonwealth.  But if Bowling Green pulls off the upset, then the Number One ranking will likely go to either Ryle or Trinity, depending on who wins that game.

KHSAA Football: Down to the Quarter-Finals

We are finally down to the quarter-finals in the KHSAA football playoffs.  The matchups are listed below.  For each game, the home team is listed first.  The numbers in parentheses represent the MaxPreps rankings.  Teams ranked in the top 20 are in bold:

CLASS 6A:

(1) Lou. Trinity v. (74) McCracken Co.

(13) Lou. Ballard v. (46) Cent. Hardin

(3) Lou. Male v. (7) Lex. Frederick Douglass

(11) Lex. Bryan Station v. (17) Ryle

CLASS 5A:

(15) Bowling Green v. (77) Lou. Fairdale

(55) Lou. Atherton v. (25) Owensboro

(6) Ft. Thomas Highlands v. (44) N. Laurel

(26) Southwestern v. (14) Cooper

CLASS 4A:

(10) Franklin Co. v. (47) Bardstown

(18) Pad. Tilghman v. (67) Spencer Co.

(4) Cov. Catholic v. (37) Johnson Cent.

(2) Boyle Co. v. (5) Corbin

CLASS 3A:

(12) Christian Academy-Louisville v. (30) Lou. Central

(29) Hart Co. v. (36) Union Co.

(31) Bell Co. v. (71) E. Carter

(49) Rockcastle Co. v. (22) Lex. Catholic

CLASS 2A:

(20) Owensboro Catholic v. (69) Green Co.

(27) Mayfield v. (9) Lex. Christian

(21) Beechwood v. (109) Martin Co.

(63) Somerset v. (90) Shelby Valley

CLASS 1A:

(61) Kentucky Country Day v. (120) Ludlow

(35) Campbellsville v. (103) Newport Cent. Catholic

(33) Pikeville v. (104) Middlesboro

(62) Lex. Sayre v. (38) Raceland

Here's what happened to the other teams in the top 20:

Last week, Number 8 Lou. St. Xavier lost to Lou. Trinity 38-14.

Last week, Number 16 Lou. Manual lost to Lou. Ballard 48-42.

Last week, Number 19 S. Warren lost to Owensboro 53-22.

The Class 3A Football Playoffs

Tilghman put up a good fight in the quarter-finals, but Christian Academy-Louisville didn't have any trouble after that.  For the season, the Centurions outscored their opponents 727-109 and finished with a record of 15-0.  Tilghman finished 6-7 against a very tough schedule with some close losses.  The Blue Tornados lost 16-14 to Mayfield, lost 24-20 to Henry County (Tenn.), lost 20-16 to Union County, and lost 30-24 to CAL.  So they were very close to having a spectacular year, and I'm pretty sure that they were the only team that played a full game against CAL without a running clock.  Union County finished 12-1.

Nov. 18, 2022:

Christian Academy-Louisville 30 - 24 Paducah Tilghman

Bell Co. 16 - 34 Ashland Blazer

Bardstown 66 - 33 Union Co.

Mason Co. 27 - 14 Greenup Co.

Nov. 25, 2022:

Christian Academy-Louisville 50 - 7 Ashland Blazer

Bardstown 38 - 28 Mason Co.

Dec. 3, 2022:

Christian Academy-Louisville 38 - 0 Bardstown (at Kroger Field, Lexington)

KHSAA Update

Here are the top 20 high school football teams in Kentucky, according to MaxPreps:

1.  Lou. St. Xavier:  4-1

2.  Lex. Douglass:  6-0

3.  Lou. Trinity:  3-3

4.  Lou. Manual:  6-0

5.  Boyle Co:  6-0

6.  Cov. Catholic:  5-1

7.  Lou. Male:  3-2

8.  Christian Academy -- Louisville:  6-0

9.  Corbin:  5-0

10.  Lou. Ballard:  5-1

Here are rankings for the top eight teams west of Bowling Green and Owensboro:

17.  Mayfield:  6-0

18.  Henderson Co:  4-1

29.  Union Co:  6-0

38.  Pad. Tilghman:  2-3

60.  Hopkinsville:  2-4

67.  Madisonville-N. Hopkins:  4-2

70.  Trigg Co:  6-0

73.  Graves Co:  3-3

6th District Basketball, 2010-2019

Here are the last 10 finals of the Sixth District Boys' Basketball Tournament:

2019:  Union Co. 64, Henderson Co. 55
2018:  Henderson Co. 64, Union Co. 42
2017:  Henderson Co. 77, Webster Co. 59
2016:  Webster Co. 47, Henderson Co. 36
2015:  Henderson Co. 59, Webster Co. 47
2014:  Henderson Co. 73, Union Co. 49
2013:  Henderson Co. 71, Webster Co. 63
2012:  Webster Co. 56, Henderson Co. 44
2011:  Henderson Co. 56, Union Co. 46
2010:  Henderson Co. 62, Webster Co. 47

Henderson Co:  7 (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018)
Webster Co:  2 (2012, 2016)
Union Co:  1 (2019)

Oh, Kentucky

Catching up from the long weekend ...

Christmas parades: Sharpsburg, Nov. 9; Owensboro, Nov. 23; Central City, Nov. 24; Lebanon and Louisville, Nov. 29;  Greensburg, Guthrie and Pikeville, Nov. 30; Boyce, Dawson Springs, Murray, Salem and Sebree, Dec. 1; Bardstown, Dec. 5; Fredonia, Harrodsburg, Hopkinsville, London, Monticello, Pineville, Richmond and Trenton, Dec. 6; Barbourville, Berea, Bowling Green, Brownsville, Cadiz, Calvert City, Columbia, Corbin, Cynthiana, Danville, Frankfort, Glasgow, Grayson, Hawesville, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Lexington, Madisonville, Marion, Middlesboro, Morgantown, Murray, Owingsville, Paducah, Rabbit Hash, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Somerset, Trenton, Versailles, Whitley City and Winchester, Dec. 7; Georgetown, Dec. 8; Cave City, Dec. 10; Burkesville, Burnside, Elkton, Mayfield, Providence, Williamsburg, Dec. 14, and Tollesboro, Dec. 15.

Oh, Kentucky

Maybe one of the alternatives for the folks in Louisville could be bus trips to the state parks (except Levi Jackson Wilderness Road, of course), Henderson, Morganfield or Louisa. I love bus trips, public pools and all those places, so I think that would be great.

Owensboro will be home to Kentucky's first "Family Place Library," delivering "early literacy, parent education, family support and connection to the local community."

Jefferson Mall introducing new 'Youth Escort Policy' in June https://t.co/ltBf9bIFio pic.twitter.com/4CUgtgECnz

— WDRB News (@WDRBNews) May 23, 2019

An Australian community seeks to memorialize a Webbville man and his fellow aviation-safety game changers.

The American Doughboy statue is back--the one in Jamestown.

"Transitioning soldiers and veterans into Kentucky’s workforce at a faster rate," in Louisville and Somerset so far.

Oh, Kentucky

“While shared meals have been part of the religous practice of numerous groups for thousands of years, they are being given a new focus in Christianity through the ‘dinner church’ movement—churches that have a shared meal at the center of congregational life,” writes Henry Brinton at Read the Spirit. “… At Potluck Churh in Kentucky, every participant brings something to the table, and a former mayor worships alongside people who struggle to pay their monthly rent.”

"This is the first statewide program of its kind where all hospitals in Kentucky collaborate together to combat the opioid crisis at its root – inappropriate or excess opioid prescribing," says Dr. Phillip Chang, chief medical officer at UK HealthCare, in an encouraging story at The Lane Report.

Thanks, Feds, for the $25M for jobs projects in eastern-Kentucky coal communities.

Kentucky's governor's race made ProPublica (via The Courier-Journal).

Dave Spencer of Owensboro's WBKR wished us a happy Mother's Day, and we almost missed it.

Oh, Kentucky

Trump's emergency declaration for border wall funds could cut money for projects like a Kentucky middle school.

Graham: "It's better for the middle school kids in Kentucky to have a secure border. We'll get them the school they need, but right now we've got a national emergency" pic.twitter.com/Vty1rbx979

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 17, 2019

Guns, guns, guns: Bowling Green.

On "Somerset's blossoming downtown."

Hiring in Frankfort (for Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives archivists) and Lucas (for Barren River Lake State Resort Park recreation workers, etc.)

Turning to sports, the first eliminations for Kentucky's 2019 boys' and girls' high-school basketball championships are determined tonight.

Oh, Kentucky

PikeCoKY/MingoCoWV line @WYMT @brobwx @KelliWYMT @PaigeWYMT @SpecNewsKY @JimWKYT @Kentuckyweather @ChrisWKYT @JoshFitzWx @AMHQ @SpencerWeather pic.twitter.com/7otizFszIK

— Mary Reed Runyon (@MaryReedRunyon1) October 9, 2018

Good jobs news from Elizabethtown and Louisville.

"One of the busiest bridge-building years in the state’s history" is allegedly afoot, reports Tom Latek of Kentucky Today.

Oh, Kentucky

Congrats on 40 years behind the mic at @WFTMRadio , @DannyEWeddle pic.twitter.com/5kAjrJDduT

— Ron Bailey (@RonEBailey) August 21, 2018

 

No. 16!

More foster-care children, longer periods to locate foster homes.

Nipping the opioid bud in Muhlenberg County.

Leitchfield's city parks are getting a refresh.

A dog-friendly park is scheduled to open in Georgetown next spring.

On the construction-jobs boom coming to Ashland.

Adam May with WHOP reports that New Hampshire vice-presidential hopeful Matt Bevin "sounds like someone who will be on the ballot" for re-election as governor of Kentucky in 2019.

Union County's White Buck Vineyards and Winery is on the market.

The Cadiz Main Street of the 1920s is coming back to life next month.

Solving the mystery of a 1919 desk from the Butler County Courthouse.

Oh, Kentucky

At a time when movie theaters are struggling, a developer is betting on on success with a new drive-in opening Friday in Oldham County https://t.co/kbF9QkIYaq pic.twitter.com/kXU1tJehLO

— Courier Journal (@courierjournal) August 8, 2018

 

"A cupboard door shuts, a refrigerator door opens" for Paintsville's Angie's Cast Iron Grill.

Bean Haus booms in Covington.

Ice-cream expansion in Paducah.

Ongoing contraction in both the eastern and western coalfields.

A gubernatorial hopeful focuses for now on solar in Johns Creek.

"Low spending and strong school system" ... No. 20 in the nation.

Oh, Kentucky

Paducah Sen Danny Carroll, whose district includes Marshall County, says gun control won't stop school shootings "these go beyond things we can solve in Frankfort."

Says people need to change the way they talk to each other. pic.twitter.com/F4RZHtxgea

— Ryland Barton (@RylandKY) January 24, 2018

 

Standing with the Marshals.

On tourism in Elkton.

Bullitt County: "an exciting mix between 'No Country For Old Men,' 'Deliverance,' and 'The Shining.'"

Louisville is amid a Community Mikvah crisis.

Good jobs news from Guthrie.

Jerry's is no more in Bowling Green, but this might not be the end of the story.

Pennyrile is souping up for spring.

Wipes of all types — even ‘flushable’ ones — wreaking havoc in city sewer system https://t.co/Eo40tR2OuX pic.twitter.com/lAWiFaddGC

— Nelson Co. Gazette (@NCGBreakingNews) January 22, 2018

Oh, Kentucky

#Raptors coach Dwane Casey was attending an all-Black school in racially segregated small town in Kentucky when MLK was assassinated. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/MsFo15aKKw

— Gianina (@giaplusnina) January 15, 2018

23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Walk - Cadiz https://t.co/j0bSSAKjeH

— WKDZ Radio (@WKDZ) January 15, 2018

Today in my hometown, Owensboro, Kentucky @visitowensboro the @sozochildren choir was part of a MLK celebration worship service. This awesome choir was rehearsing prior to the service. It includes our Sheriff, Mayor, my 9th grade science teacher etc #thistownrocks #obky pic.twitter.com/tDJpgehPcM

— Jon Brennan (@jonbrennan_com) January 15, 2018

Lexington, UK celebrate MLK Day with downtown march and program: https://t.co/y5z4AefHVu pic.twitter.com/1x3JCNT2N4

— Kentucky Kernel (@KyKernel) January 15, 2018

Kentucky's most recently formed public library is in McLean County, created six years ago, and now it's among the first three in the state to participate in Library Economic Advantage Forum collaboration, reports Rhonda Miller with WKU Public Radio.

Channel 6, hacking off the rest of the Mississippi River counties.

Oh, Kentucky

Good jobs news from West Paducah, Morganfield, Murray, Louisville, Glasgow, Frankfort, Florence, Lexington and Pikeville.

"Motivated to serve families and children in the family’s homes"? Hiring in Hopkinsville, Mayfield and Princeton.

Christmas parades: Irvington and Owensboro, Nov. 18; Central City, Nov. 19; Ashland, Nov. 21; Lebanon, Nov. 24; Brownsville and Danville, Nov. 25; Greenup, Nov. 28; Cumberland, London, Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 1; Arlington, Barbourville, Beaver Dam, Bowling Green, Cadiz, Corbin, Fordsville, Georgetown, Glasgow, Harlan, Hartford, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Madisonville, Marion, Munfordville, Murray, Paducah ("a beautiful night for this wonderful community"), Somerset and Winchester, Dec. 2; Dawson Springs, Evarts and Nortonville, Dec. 3; Mount Sterling, Dec. 4; Lexington, Dec. 5; Bardstown, Dec. 7; Frankfort ("Saving Christmas") and Fredonia, Dec. 8; Augusta, Berea, Burnside, Cave City, Crofton ("no entry free and no theme"), Edmonton, Elkton, Hanson, Hopkinsville, Paintsville, Salem and Whitesville, Dec. 9, and La Center and Oak Grove, Dec. 16.

Across the last 60 years, Frankfort resident Patsy Faulconer and Pulaski County resident Doris Arnold, have been sending the same Christmas card back and forth, often in creative ways. https://t.co/BeqNBvaNoa pic.twitter.com/XJISvUx1Pr

— The State Journal (@statejournal) December 7, 2017

 

Oh, Kentucky

Edmonson County Schools Start Weds, August 2nd: School and Law Enforcement Officials Offer Advice, Encouragement - https://t.co/kkm9pC6Ft3 pic.twitter.com/WevHgQkt9a

— The Edmonson Voice® (@edmonsonvoice) August 1, 2017

"He would call me late in the night from somewhere on the road, a ghost town in Texas, a rest stop near Pittsburgh, or from Santa Fe, where he was parked in the desert, listening to the coyotes howling. But most often he would call from his place in Kentucky, on a cold, still night, when one could hear the stars breathing ..."

Questions and answers with Paducah's mayor.

Fear and accusations from Kentucky's governor.

Coming off his 29th western Kentucky town hall, U.S. Rep. James Comer rolls on to Princeton today and Clinton tomorrow.

An ad maker for President Obama's 2008 and 2012 campaigns has created a spot introducing a retired Marine lieutenant colonel and Democratic challenger to U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, described as Sen. Mitch McConnell's "hand-picked congressman." 

Todd County's fiscal court has ordered all landings and takeoffs at the local airport stop, but that hasn't happened and the airport board has lawyered up. The judge-executive says it has to do with reducing liability on the county, but the airport people apparently think the judge-executive is just mad about a mower. WHOP has an excellent report from Monday's meeting in Elkton. 

Pat McDonough of The Courier-Journal takes his notebook and camera to Tompkinsville and checks in on some of the best marbles players in the world, at the Monroe County Marble Club Super Dome.

What's it like back home for one of these superstar prospects who leave the local high school and transfer to some out-of-state prep school to prepare for the next level? Kevin Patton of Henderson's Gleaner gets the perspective from Union County's KHSAA- and national-champion wrestler at 106 pounds, Zeke Escalera, in the last days before he moves on to Pennsylvania's Wyoming Seminary.

Rest in peace, Mr. Hanor, American Towman Award winner, owner/operator of body shops in Clay and Henderson, Clay city councilperson, ex-commissioner of Clay ABA Basketball, husband of 18 years and father of three.

Oh, Kentucky

"Totality alley."

#VivaLaVue!

You can get a certified Gig in Adairville, Auburn and Lewisburg.

Ballard County has a new judge-executive, and he's a Class-of-'84 Bomber.

Lexington is getting a fourth skate park; Benton, a new library.

Murray is considering payroll and net-profit taxes, and, in a shocker, 73 percent of the businesses and other members surveyed by the local chamber oppose the proposal, WestKentuckyStar.com reports.

WEKU says Williamstown's Ark Encounter has appealed for a break on the $700,000 bill for increased police and fire services but that the city says, uh, no.

Hoptown's north-side IGA is closing.

Good jobs news in Somerset.

Rest in peace, Mr. Reno, a former McLean County magistrate, multiple-term county clerk, Sacramento Lions Club charter member, district Lions wheel and husband of Mrs. Reno for 68 years.

Oh, Kentucky

Harness racing today at the Graves County Fair. pic.twitter.com/aqNx0VQLD9

— Ryan Hermens (@ryanhermens) June 7, 2017

Tyler Eschberger in The Middlesboro Daily News has an intriguing story about a man's visit to the local country club to spur investment and interest in making a movie about the town's integrated Little League baseball team in 1953. Ron Schmidt is quoted: "So we make a movie with a Kentucky story, that not only shows kids, but it shows Middlesboro and it shows the beauty and culture of Appalachia…can we all hit a home run? Can you do that? Can you help bring hope to our kids?" Indeed, I would be interested in watching a movie based on Tyler Eschberger's story about Ron Schmidt's 2017 trip to the Middlesboro Country Club to talk about the 1953 story.

Meanwhile, here's a very dark and sad story about demons, healing, sickness, confession, redemption, relapse, justice and everything else in The Casey County News. Prayers for the pastor, the flock, the church, the police, the reporters and everyone around it.

Now back to happy--thanks to Adam Black in Ashland's Daily Independent: "When we first got married, I told her we would never move to Kentucky. Now look, we have opened a restaurant and live right down the road."

NKU's Vegy Vida for kids has been voted among the "Best University Startups 2017."

Appalshop scores among the "100 people, organizations, and movements that are shaping the future of culture."

Louisville comes in at No. 4 among the "Top Ten Worst Trucking Chokepoints in America."

Good jobs news from Bowling Green, Danville and Morganfield ("Leave the emotional garbage at home, you'll get your feelings hurt because we are realist. We are here to work not babysit the emotionally needed folks or put up with excuses. If you've got what it takes, we'd love to talk to you about joining our team.")

Says Kentucky's state climatologist: "For the average person it can be difficult sometimes to see, or maybe to convince yourself, that climate can be changing. But within the scientific community, people that spend their careers studying these things, there’s really a growing consensus that our climate is changing and that human activity is making an impact on that."

The city of Hartford is selling its recycling equipment and tearing down the building where it was used to turn into scrap metal for the practice of student welders. (Also, there will be no movies on the square this summer.)

Madisonville's skate park is open! And it's free to get into our ATV park all year. And we're having a Santa Race next month. So, boom.

Oh, Kentucky

Who's the fifth face on the Webster County courthouse?

Bad jobs news from Pineville. Good at Kroger.

Belfry High and other southeastern-Kentucky schools eye the potential of drone development and training.

Morganfield has fired another police chief.

Fort Campbell is opening a new United Service Organization Center.

Former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes has died at 77. In 1984, working for Mitch McConnell, he created now-famous ad. https://t.co/HVGhOh7Mlf ^JC

— Bluegrass Politics (@BGPolitics) May 18, 2017

Kentucky Rep. James Comer (R-Tompkinsville) is getting a lot of time on the radio these days. NPR visited with him today. Meanwhile, the congressman recently hung out with Mayfield's WYMC.

Rest in peace, Mrs. Lewis, Cave-In-Rock Ferry co-operator for more than 20 years. (And please plan your Saturday accordingly, Crittenden County.)

Oh, Kentucky

Kentucky for sale (but not anymore--this dude was gone about five minutes after it posted yesterday, sold for $7):

Kentucky is not joining the constitutional-convention bandwagon (for now).

Georgetown is considering considering a fairness ordinance.

Henderson is going to take a long look at World War I.

Good jobs news from Hanson (thanks to expansion of one of the companies that sponsors the fantastic Bob Mays KHSAA-history site).

A bridge inspector and maintenance superintendent took a break from their Kentucky Transportation Cabinet duties last week to read to Staffordsville Head Start students.

"If you have to decide if you have enough gun on you for an event, perhaps you should rethink going to that event."

What up 41075. Your city is the safest in Kentucky. https://t.co/aGwPKY7Xe4 pic.twitter.com/QrqWdlSi4Z

— Fort Thomas Matters (@FtThomasMatters) March 6, 2017