Kroger KSR Games of the Week: Bullitt East at Male, KCD at Campbellsville

There will be two Kroger KSR Games of the Week on Friday. Part of the KSR crew will head to Louisville for a heavyweight matchup between Bullitt East and Male, while the others will go to Campbellsville to see the Eagles host Kentucky Country Day. Both games feature teams in the top three of their class in the RPI.

Let’s start with the 6A battle in the Derby City.

Bullitt East at Louisville Male

Bullitt East and Male squared off in the 6A title game a year ago when the Chargers converted a two-point conversion for the win and the championship. Friday will feature 6A’s No. 2 and 3-ranked teams. The outcome will have tremendous postseason ramifications.

MALE

The Bulldogs are 7-1 on the season and fresh off a 61-13 win over Fern Creek. Coach Chris Wolfe’s team is leading 6A in multiple statistical categories. Those include the classifications top scoring offense (41-PPG), defense (8-PPG), and rushing defense (41-YPG). The Bulldogs’ 33-point winning scoring margin also ranks first in 6A.

The offense is led by quarterback Kolter Smith’s 180 yards per game. The signal-caller has thrown for 1,266 yards and 14 touchdowns to 4 interceptions. Chayce Burton is the offense’s top rusher with 420 yards and 4 TDs. Shammai Gates has added 10 scores. All-purpose star Max Gainey has contributed 13 carries for 72 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. He also is Male’s top pass catcher with 21 receptions for 495 yards and 9 touchdowns. Gainey paced the Dogs with 10 catches for 153 yards and a score against Bullitt East in the state championship game a year ago.

The Male defense is stingy. It gives up just eight points per outing. Opponents are averaging just 41 rushing and 93 passing yards per game. Solomon Conley’s 52 tackles lead the way. He’s joined by Kevin Wilson’s 44. JaVeon Dorsey has added 26 stops including 5 for loss. Kicker Luke Vallandingham is 16/17 on PATs and 2/2 on field goals.

BULLITT EAST

The defending 6A champions are also 7-1 and coming off a 40-12 victory over Southern. Coach Keegan Kendrick’s team is averaging 35 points per outing which ranks third in 6A. It’s giving up 14.6 which also lists third in the classification. BE’s 20-winning point margin ranks only behind Male.

Quarterback Jack Zwernemann has completed 91/169 passes for 1,472 yards. He’s thrown 18 touchdown passes and 8 interceptions. The QB ranks third in 6A with a 210-passing yards per game average. Zwernemann is also the team’s leading rusher with 598 yards and 7 touchdowns. Michael West is second with 61 attempts for 228 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Cayden Cowan is Zwernemann’s top target. He’s contributed 27 receptions for 446 yards and 6 touchdowns. Tyler Spalding has 19 catches for 354 yards and 5 scores. Caden Bostock is third with 14 catches for 301 yards and 3 TDs.

Bullitt East is giving up 107 rush and 143 pass yards per outing. The defense is led by Ryan Rayhill’s 38 stops including one for loss and one QB sack. Baron Hardesty is the team’s second leading tackler with 36 including 5 for loss and 2 sacks. He’s followed by Brady Cornwell’s 33. Isaiah Hare is the top havoc producer with 5 TFLs and 4 QB sacks.

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Kentucky Country Day at Campbellsville

CAMPBELLSVILLE

The Eagles are flying high in 2023. Campbellsville enters Friday’s matchup with a perfect 8-0 and ranked No. 2 in the KHSAA RPI poll. Coach Dale Estes’ squad has dominated opponents by scoring 38 points per game and surrendering a lowly 6.5. CHS’s winning scoring margin of 31 is tops in 1A. The Eagles are coming off a 35-0 win over Louisville Holy Cross.

Quarterback Kace Eastridge has thrown for 1,037 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 531 yards and scored 11 TDs on the ground. Daniel Forbis has run for 680 yards and reached the end zone on 12 occasions in seven outings. Deondre Weathers is the team’s top pass catcher with 20 receptions for 437 yards and 9 scores. Kicker Nathan Contreras has converted 34/39 PATs.

The defense is paced by Keondre Weathers. The defender has racked up 57 stops, 17 tackles for loss, and 9 QB sacks. Forbis has pitched in 56 tackles, 15 TFLs, and 7 sacks. The Eagles have produced a whopping 81 tackles for loss and 31 QB sacks.

KENTUCKY COUNTRY DAY

The Bearcats are out of Louisville and ranked No. 1 in the KHSAA RPI poll. Like Campbellsville, KCD is 8-0 and coming off a 35-29 victory over Bethlehem. Coach Matthew Jones’ offense is averaging 35 points per game and giving up 18.

KCD is led by quarterback Ethan Harris. The QB has thrown for 1,178 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. His 148 pass yards per game play an integral role in the team’s overall plans. He’s also scored 7 rushing touchdowns.

The Bearcats also rush for 208 per game as well. Kassani Wilson ranks fourth in 1A after running for 894 yards to go along with 10 touchdowns. Cameron Edwards is KCD’s top pass catcher with 28 for 404 yards and 7 touchdowns. Troy Humphreys has added 22 receptions for 369 yards.

The defense is paced by Bowen Johnson’s 72 tackles, 1 TFL, and 3.5 QB sacks. Harrison Callahan has contributed 46 stops including 3 for loss. The Bearcats have registered 18 QB sacks and 22 tackles for loss. Kicker Filip Popa is 29/30 on PATs and 2/3 FGs.

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Previous Kroger KSR Games of the Week

KSR would like to thank Kroger for the opportunity to cross the Commonwealth to highlight Kentucky high school football. Kroger is your one-stop shop for everything you need. Kroger, where quality meets affordability.