Who’s In, Who’s Out

It’s the final week of the high school football’s regular season. I was hoping to see four teams make the playoffs from the coverage area but, it looks like we will have to settle for two…Corbin and Williamsburg.
The Redhounds clinched the number one seed last week a win over the Casey County Rebels. That game was much closer than I expected but coach Steve Jewell told me a week earlier that this may be Casey County’s best team ever. With ten seniors on a small roster, the Rebels have played well this year and just might come out of the district with the number two seed.
The Redhounds will travel to Lancaster Friday night to take on the Lions of Garrard County. When I was researching this game for the Pigskin Previews, I first thought this might be a blow out…until I noticed that they have played a really tough schedule. They went on a five-game skid after beating Barren County 18-6. Those five teams have a combined record of 38-7 and all five will go deep into the playoffs. Frankfort and Mercer County have a great shot at getting to the finals of the A and AA playoffs.
Williamsburg got Cumberland in a shootout last week and won on the road 48-41. Senior quarterback Thomas Frazier just seems to get stronger. He had 531 all-purpose yards in the win. He threw for 334 yards and ran for 197. He had three touchdowns running the ball and passed for two others.
Seniors Aaron Root and Chase Hamblin also had big nights against Cumberland. Root had 96 yards (71 on 15 catches and 25 on three carries) while Hamblin had 63 yards on four catches.
The Jackets will have a tough game Friday night when they host the Lynn Camp Wildcats. I look for that to be a smash-mouth, hard-nosed game.
Lady Redhound Week
Talking about upsets. None was bigger than Corbin’s 13th region semifinal win over Rockcastle County in volleyball. Corbin defeated Rockcastle County then held off Clay County in the championship game to win the 13th region for the first-time ever.
The Lady Redhounds were named Corbin Colonels by the Mayor earlier this week and will celebrate until Friday when they play Central Hardin in the KHSAA State Volleyball Tournament in Frankfort.
The Lady Redhounds have a winnable game against Central Hardin, but the experience of playing in their first state tournament may be overwhelming. This is Central Hardin’s third trip to the “Sweet 16 of Volleyball”. They lost to St. Henry in 2004 and South Laurel in 2003.
Central Hardin and Corbin have played one common opponent in Pulaski County. Corbin played the Lady Maroons early in the season. I believe if the Lady Redhounds settle down after reaching the state tournament, they could win a game or two before having to play one of the heavyweights.
As matter of fact, the bottom bracket is wide open with South Oldham and St. Henry being the favorites and they have to play in the opening round. But, unfortunately they are in the same bracket with Corbin.
Letcher Central, Belfry, Lafayette and Madisonville are all in the lower bracket. The top teams like Assumption, Mercy and Newport Catholic are all in the top bracket.
Soccer “hounds in finals
The Corbin Redhounds soccer team lost to South Laurel in the finals of the 16th region after pulling off an upset of Perry Central. The Commodores had beaten Corbin at Campbell Field 2-0. But, the second time around, the Redhounds played a super defensive game to stop the speedy Commodores.
The death penalty
From the you just never know department. The KHSAA not only slapped the Woodford County girls soccer team on the hand, but gave them one of the worst penalties in recent years.
Woodford County was banned play in the district. The Lady Jackets, 11-4-4 had beaten all the district teams by a total score of 41-0. So, what did they do wrong. Woodford County played one too many games and someone turned them in prior to the start of the district tournament.
Do you realize how often this happens? Especially in softball and I know one case that it has happen in football this year (not around here). They just call them JV games.
By handing out this type of punishment, the KHSAA has set a precedent I think they need to adhere too. Will they hit the next school with the same punishment?
Mike Fields of the Lexington Herald-Leader says its too hash. I agree, but how do you give one school that type of punishment and not hand it out to the next one.
I aplaud the KHSAA for getting tough, they need to, but just make sure all schools are treated equally.
An even sadder situation for the Lady Jackets. They hosted the district tournament and had to watch from the sidelines.