KHSAA football: Bell County’s Daniel Thomas breaks records in Kentucky
Bell County’s Daniel Thomas is the running back that broke three records in Kentucky this season. He now heads to the KHSAA Championship on Saturday.
Here are the picks for this weekend’s high school football state championship games from The Courier Journal’s Jason Frakes and Brooks Holton, WHAS-11’s Kent Spencer and WLKY-32’s Dominique Yates.
All games will be played at the University of Kentucky’s Kroger Field in Lexington.
Friday’s games
Class A, Raceland (11-3) vs. Pikeville (11-2), noon
Jason Frakes’ pick: Pikeville 17-14. Until someone dethrones them, I’m sticking with the Class A kings.
Brooks Holton’s pick: Raceland 28-14. Rams beat the Panthers, 7-6, in September and were firing on all cylinders during last week’s running-clock blowout of Kentucky Country Day. They’ll use that momentum to avenge last year’s loss to Pikeville in the state final.
Kent Spencer’s pick: Pikeville 28-21. Pikeville has been a machine once again this year. I expect the Panthers continue to roll.
Dominique Yates’ pick: Raceland 21-14. Raceland’s running game with Noah Wallace and company has been solid. If it can establish it while also take care of the ball, this program finally gets over the hump and wins the title.
Class 2A, Owensboro Catholic (14-0) vs. Mayfield (12-1), 4 p.m.
Frakes: Mayfield 34-28. Toughest pick of the weekend. Mayfield has the pedigree (12 state titles), Owensboro Catholic has the arm (quarterback Brady Atwell). Go with the pedigree.
Holton: Owensboro Catholic 38-28. In a matchup of the state’s No. 1 and No. 3 scoring offenses, Owensboro Catholic’s 12th-ranked defense will make the plays that lead to victory.
Spencer: Mayfield 24-21. I thought Beechwood was the best team in 2A. Mayfield feels like a team of destiny.
Yates: Mayfield 31-28. Mayfield has been battled tested all season. Zane Cartwright has been solid (2,306 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and just two interceptions).
Class 4A, Covington Catholic (14-0) vs. Boyle County (14-0), 8 p.m.
Frakes: Boyle County 28-13. Make it a four-peat for the Rebels, the best team in the state, no matter the class.
Holton: Boyle County 31-24. No team has scored more than 14 points against Boyle County during the Rebels’ playoff run. Covington Catholic will, but it won’t be enough.
Spencer: Boyle County 35-31. Can’t believe this is the first game between these two traditional powers. I smell instant classic.
Yates: Boyle County 28-24. Has the potential to be the best game of the weekend. So many studs will be on the field. Boyle County gets coveted four-peat.
Saturday’s games
Class 3A, Christian Academy (13-1) vs. Bell County (13-1), noon
Frakes: Christian Academy 45-13. It will be fun to watch Bell County star Daniel Thomas, but this one will be over early. A CAL repeat.
Holton: Christian Academy 42-21. Cole Hodge’s final game quarterbacking CAL will be one to remember. The Centurions’ defense has given the East Carolina commit plenty of breathing room all season, and he’ll dissect whatever Bell County throws at him en route to back-to-back state titles.
Spencer: Christian Academy 35-21. I believe CAL vs. Central was for the state championship. Centurions will go back to back.
Yates: Christian Academy 35-14. CAL’s weapons on offense with the likes of the Hodge brothers, Trey Cotton and Justin Ruffin should step up. If the Centurions’ run defense can get it done, I think they repeat.
Class 6A, Trinity (11-3) vs. Bryan Station (11-3), 4 p.m.
Frakes: Trinity 24-13. It won’t be a running clock like their regular-season meeting, but running back Clint Sansbury and the Shamrocks defense will get it done.
Holton: Trinity 35-14. I covered the Shamrocks’ 36-3, season-opening romp over the Defenders, and coach Jay Cobb’s team has only gotten better since turning to freshman quarterback Zane Johnson. But Trinity’s defense will again be the difference-maker.
Spencer: Trinity 42-28. I know Bryan Station has improved a lot since their first meeting at the beginning of the season, but so has Trinity.
Yates: Trinity 28-14. Trinity’s defense delivers one more time, and the offense gets it done. Freshman QB Zane Johnson has handled the spotlight well, and the run game with Clint Sansbury will be key. Rocks get title No. 28.
Class 5A, Bowling Green (11-3) vs. Cooper (12-2), 8 p.m.
Frakes: Bowling Green 28-21. Purples pull it out, but fans shouldn’t sleep on the Jaguars.
Holton: Bowling Green 45-28. It’s hard to pick against the Purples, who outscored opponents 188-29 on their playoff run to Kroger Field.
Spencer: Cooper 35-31. This team has silently been a juggernaut this season. Beating a traditional power like Bowling Green would seal the deal.
Yates: Bowling Green 35-31. A fun matchup with high-action quarterbacks — Bowling Green’s Deuce Bailey (3,316 passing yards, 40 passing and eight rushing touchdowns) vs. Cooper’s Cam OHara (3,141 passing yards, 45 touchdowns).
Standings
1. Frakes, 9-3 last week, 230-62 overall
2. Holton, 9-3 last week, 222-70 overall
3. Spencer, 8-4 last week, 220-72 overall
4. Yates, 8-4 last week, 208-84 overall
High school hoops is here: Our preview of Louisville teams, players and more
Reach Jason Frakes at [email protected] and follow him on X @kyhighs.
Sarah Wilson is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
