Kroger KSR Game of the Week Preview: Male at Ballard

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The Kroger KSR Game of the Week makes its final stop of the season in Louisville Friday night for a 6A semifinal matchup between Male (#6 in KSR’s latest High School Football rankings) and Ballard (#10 in KSR’s latest High School Football rankings).

These two teams have already met once this season. On August 26th, Ballard beat Male 12-7 in a defensive slugfest that featured only 392 yards of total offense.

The Bruins and Bulldogs have met on 21 separate occasions since 1998. Male owns the series 16-5 and won 10 consecutive matchups from November 2009-August 2022. Since 1998, these two teams have met in the playoffs only once. Male defeated Ballard 35-23 in the second round of the 6A Playoffs in 2009.

Bulldogs Looking for Revenge

This season’s loss to Ballard was Male’s first loss to the Bruins in nearly 14 years, so that loss surely hasn’t sat well with head coach Chris Wolfe and this Bulldog team. Wolfe is in his 13th season at Male and sports a very impressive 136-36 record. Under Wolfe, Male has won two 6A state titles (2015, 2018) and has four runner-up finishes (2010, 2019, 2020, 2021).

Senior quarterback Lucas Cobler hasn’t quite filled the shoes of last year’s signal caller Nic Schutte, passing for only 1,123 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. Junior Kolter Smith has also seen time behind center this season, passing for 828 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions. In Male’s loss to Ballard earlier this season, Cobler passed for 72 yards and one interception.

Senior running back Daniel Swinney leads the Bulldogs in rushing, accumulating 966 yards and nine touchdowns on 145 attempts this season. Cobler is second on the team in rushing, having scrambled for 651 yards and five touchdowns on 81 attempts. Male rushed for 168 yards against Ballard on August 26th.

Male’s defensive standout is junior linebacker Kevin Wilson, who leads the team in tackles (132) by a large margin. Junior linebacker DeAndre Malone leads Male in tackles for loss (11) and sacks (five). The Bulldog defense allowed only 114 total yards in their loss to Ballard.

If Male is going to win this football game and advance to the 6A Finals for the seventh time under Coach Wolfe, Cobler and the offense need to finish drives and capitalize on turnovers the defense cause. The defense absolutely did its job earlier this season, it comes down to offensive execution. Through three postseason games, the Male offense is averaging 312 yards a game. The defense is allowing 274 yards a game.

Here it is: Male's game-winning two-point conversion to beat St. X 22-21 and advance in the 6A playoffs. Daniel Swinney takes the direct snap, gives it to Antonio Harris and Harris throws to Max Gainey. A memorable moment for the @MaleBulldogs. pic.twitter.com/ZDmMvVzy28
— Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) November 12, 2022

Ballard Looking to Make History

It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that this is one of the most important games for the Ballard Bruins in a long, long time. Friday night’s semifinal matchup is only Ballard’s second in the last 24 years, their first since 2014. Adrian Morton is currently in his seventh season as head coach (50-29) and is enjoying his best regular season yet (11-2). Morton’s teams have advanced to the third round twice, but never to the semifinal stage. That changes Friday night.

Ballard’s leading passer is senior quarterback Tristian Hawkins. Hawkins has passed for 1,378 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions this season. Hawkins threw for 54 yards and two interceptions in Ballard’s victory over Male earlier this season.

Junior Journey Wyche is Ballard’s leading rusher, having run for 898 yards and nine touchdowns on 99 attempts this season. Just like Male, Ballard’s second-leading rusher is their starting quarterback as well. Hawkins scrambled for 391 yards and five touchdowns on 62 attempts this season. Hawkins was Ballard’s leading rusher in that game against Male, running for 32 yards on six attempts. Journey’s brother, Kannon Wyche, is fifth on the team in tackles (73).

Senior linebacker Gavin Willis is the heart and soul of this team. Willis recorded 170 tackles, good for third in the entire state. He also recorded 11 tackles for loss with six sacks. He is flanked by senior linebackers Jamarques Frank and Cameron Norfleet, who combined for 226 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks this season. Through three postseason games, the defense has been lights out, only allowing around 216 yards a game.

Ballard’s only touchdown scored against Male was a fumble recovery touchdown by senior defensive back Jaden Minkins. If they want to win Friday night, the offense will have to put points up on the board and not rely so heavily on their defense. Pretty similar blueprints for both teams.

X’s and O’s

This game should be a defensive slugfest, won by the team that wins the turnover battle. Will Ballard finally get over the hump and get to Kroger Field, or will the Male dynasty continue its run of state title games? We’ll find out Friday night.

Kroger is a staple in your hometown community just like high school football. There’s nothing quite like Friday nights in the Bluegrass. We are honored to share this journey with Kroger and you for the third consecutive season.