5 Takeaways Going into the Final Four of High School Football
Eagles Flying High. Probably one of the best storylines going into the next to last week of Football Playoffs is the Campbellsville Eagles. Although only a 4-6 team going into the playoffs, the Eagles rebounded from a 2-5 start to win 5 of their next six games including outscoring their opponents during that time 235-91. The secrets of their success are a runningback (Devonte Cubet) near 1,500-yards rushing and 23-TDs while both Arren Hash and Charlie Pettigrew have put together an 8-2 touchdown to interception ratio. However, head coach Dale Estes’ team will be tested with Beechwood (10-2) coming into town.
Lighting up the Scoreboard. The Boyle County @ Elizabethtown game should have the scoreboard attendant quite busy as two of the top offenses in 3-A go head to head. The Rebels can score on the ground with Crawford Tanner, who has accounted for 25-TDs on the ground, while Reed Lanter has a 22 to 4 TD to INT ratio. The Rebels have scored 40 or more points 11-times. Elizabethtown, also can score with Tyler Durbin who has thrown for 20-TDs and the Panthers have rushed for over 2,600-yards. It could come down to a last possession scenario as one of the best offenses (Boyle) will face the best Defense (ET) in 3-A.
Surprise BLOWOUT! With all due respects to both Boyle County and Elizabethtown, many feel the Championship game in 3-A was played last Friday Night between Belfey and Central (Louisville). The Yellowjackets allowed over 300-yards rushing to Belfey and still won going away, 60-21. Which really shouldn’t have come as no surprise since the two combine for plenty of State titles already.
For BRUIN NATION, playing in the Final Four is becoming a habit. Or at least recently as Central Hardin beat a tough Daviess County team to advance for the second time in three seasons. Central Hardin LOVES to run the ball, control the clock and stop the run forcing the other team to make a mistake that will cost them the game. The Bruins have rushed for 3,185 yards and the defense allows only 1,439. Most surprisingly is that the Central Hardin defense is doing this without two of their best tacklers. Head coach Tim Mattingly’s team always seems to find a way.
TITLE TOWN! Trinity (Louisville) is undefeated (no surprise) at 13-0 and has played not one of the toughest schedules in the state, but the nation as well and has scored 535-points despite that. It all starts with quarterback Nick Bohn, who has thrown for 2,965-yards and 33-TDs against 5-intercpetions. It is the defense in particular aganst the run which really shines as they have allowed only 536-yards all season. Should be interesting to watch the Trinity @ Central Hardin game as strength goes against strength.
