As the KHSAA State Football Championships etch closer, it’s time to look at some players to watch in this weekend’s games. The slate of games begins at 11 AM on Friday, with the 1A Championship of Mayfield vs. Williamsburg. The opener is followed by Wayne County vs. Belfry (3A) at 3 pm, and then nightcap will be the 6A title of Meade County vs. Scott County at 7 pm. The times will be the same for Saturday, with DeSales vs. Newport Central Catholic (2A) at 11, Collins vs. Highlands (4A) at 3, and Bowling Green vs. Pulaski County (5A) at 7. All games will be played at Western Kentucky University. There are several great matchups for this weekend, and several great players ready to take the field.
1A Mayfield vs. Williamsburg
Player to watch: Mayfield’s Deion Jackson
It is evident the amount of impact that Deion Jackson had in the state semifinals for Mayfield. After missing the first three games of the postseason, Jackson caught five passes for 110 yards and a touchdown to propel the Cardinals to a 35-7 win over Frankfort. The one score gave Jackson 11 touchdowns on the year in only 11 games. Mayfield struggled to find a consistent receiver without him in the three games he was absent. The Cardinals averaged 110 passing yards a game when Jackson was out, the same number of yards he had in his first game back. Jackson is a speedy weapon for Mayfield, as he also is a dynamic kick returner. Williamsburg has one of the best defenses in the state this season, but Jackson’s ability to find open space after a catch may provide a difficult challenge for a team that has shown their inability to stop opponent’s passing game at times. Being a senior, this is Jackson’s fourth trip to the state title game, and this will be an opportunity to win his third championship.
2A DeSales vs. Newport Central Catholic
Player to watch: DeSales’ Dylan Byrd
Dylan Byrd was named player of the year in his district, and for good reason. The senior running back dominated in 2013, carrying the ball for 1,886 yards and 34 touchdowns. Byrd is the all-time leading rusher for DeSales, with 4,112 career rushing yards over four years. Newport Central Catholic will be the toughest test that Byrd has faced in 2013. The Thoroughbreds have a great run defense, but DeSales has too many weapons on the ground for NCC to hold. With a running quarterback in Nathan Roush, Byrd won’t be the only threat that Newport Central Catholic will need to watch. If the rush defense holds Byrd down, then Roush can look for him in the air. Byrd has 17 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns this season. No matter what the Newport Central Catholic defense does, Byrd will be making an impact in the championship game.
3A Wayne County vs. Belfry
Player to Watch: Wayne County’s Tyler Guffey
Leading a team to a 14-0 record is a difficult task, but Wayne County’s Tyler Guffey managed the job like a pro. In his senior season, Guffey threw for 3,785 yards, and scored a total of 51 touchdowns. As a reward for his stats, Guffey was named Class 3A-District 4 Player of the Year. The playoffs have have brought Guffey even more success. In four postseason games, Guffey has thrown for ten touchdowns and he has found paydirt four times on the ground. Guffey has been an outstanding dual-threat quarterback for Wayne County this season. Belfry will have a difficult time figuring out Guffey in this game, and his abilities on the ground and through the air will drive their defense insane.
4A Collins vs. Highlands
Player to Watch: Highlands’ Drew Houliston
It’s hard to be as accurate as Drew Houliston has been in 2013. The Highlands’ quarterback has thrown only two interceptions to go along with 48 touchdowns. Houliston will be one of the top five vote getters for Kentucky Mr. Football after this season, and it’s a deserving title. Highlands has dominated the state lately, winning six consecutive state championships. Houliston showed out last week to put Highlands in the title game yet again. Against Lexington Catholic, Houliston threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns on 14/18 passing. The talented quarterback will meet up against Collins in the state championship game for the second consecutive season, and fans will be able to watch one of the best pure passers play in his final game.
5A Bowling Green vs. Pulaski Football
Player to Watch: Bowling Green’s Nacarius Fant
When fans go to watch Nacarius Fant, they expect nothing but highlight film worthy plays. The senior wide receiver has had one of the most prolific seasons in KHSAA seasons. Fant has caught 78 passes for 1,601 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2013, and has49 career receiving touchdowns. Fant is a Western Kentucky commit, and is rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com. He made headlines last season as well in the state championship against Cooper, catching three passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. Fant has the ability to change a game with his open-field speed and his ability to go up and get any ball. Bowling Green has gotten to see the talent’s of Fant, now he will put his skills on display for a larger audience at his future school this weekend.
6A Meade County vs. Scott County
Player to Watch: Scott County’s Keith Guy
For the first time since 2011, Scott County is in the state championship. One of the main reasons for their return is their rushing attack, which is led by running back Keith Guy. In their biggest game of the year against Male last week, Guy returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown, caught a touchdown, and rushed for 106 yards. Only a sophomore, Guy has rushed for more than 100 yards three times in the postseason in four games. Meade County’s defense will have their hands full with not only Guy, but also his counterpart Kevin Clausen.
