Kroger's Kentucky High School Football Rundown - Week 9
KSR was in Louisville on Friday night to watch a couple of high-caliber high school football games. No. 1 ranked St. Xavier clinched a district title with its win over Pleasure Ridge Park while No. 24 Scott County pulled off an impressive upset victory over No. 4 Ballard on the road. Check out KSR’s full recaps from both games below, along with a statewide scoreboard thanks to our friends at Kroger.
No. 1 St. Xavier smacks PRP, clinches 6A District 3 Title
BY: Daniel Hager
No. 1 St. Xavier (8-1) continued its domination over 6A competition on Friday night with a 50-14 victory over Pleasure Ridge Park (6-4). Seven different Tigers scored in the win, which included senior Adam Boone, juniors Davis Yates, Don’tre Richardson and Trevor Havill, sophomores Manny Gray and Michael Curry, and freshman Marlon Harbin. This game featured some Division I talent in three-star St. X EDGE rusher Micah Carter (Purdue), three-star PRP WR Jakob Dixon (Kentucky), and St. X LS Andrew Kros (Notre Dame).
Tigers Jump Ahead Early and Don’t Look Back
As St. Xavier senior Cooper Smith fielded the opening kickoff and was immediately dropped by the PRP special teams unit, the energy on the Panthers’ sideline was electric. Parents were fist bumping and young children were blasting music on a speaker that was brought onto the sideline. This energy however was immediately sucked out of the PRP sideline. On the fourth play from scrimmage, St. X junior quarterback Trevor Havill hit freshman receiver Marlon Harbin on a 20-yard pass to the sideline that Harbin would then take 54 yards to the house. The Panthers found themselves in an early 7-0 hole, and it wouldn’t get any better from there.
On the Panthers’ first offensive drive of the night, they would cough the football up at midfield. Two plays later, sophomore Mike Curry scored from 10 yards out, giving the Tigers a 14-0 lead. Before you knew it, an Adam Boone touchdown followed by a Trevor Havill QB sneak in the endzone made it 28-0.
PRP’s Luck Gets Even Worse
After falling behind 28-0, the Panthers needed to get something going. Off a slant pass from the PRP 40-yard line, big Jakob Dixon took it all the way to the St. X one-yard line. After rolling out and trying to dive for the pylon on the left side of the endzone, PRP starting quarterback Kayden Anderson was injured and did not return. Anderson has had a great season, passing for 1,759 yards with a 24-5 TD/INT ratio. Backup quarterback Anthony Woods replaced him and threw a touchdown to Dixon on his first pass of the game.
St. X Slams the Door Shut
After allowing a PRP touchdown right before the half, the Tigers came out and made sure this thing was over early. Junior running back Dontre Richardson scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season after a long drive to start the second half, followed by a statement touchdown by junior Davis Yates. Yates and his quarterback Havill even showed off a little celebration in the back of the endzone.
Following an amazing 44-yard touchdown run from sophomore Manny Gray, the Tigers wrapped this one up to win 50-14.
The Tigers officially clinched their third straight 6A District 3 Championship and will take on No. 11 Bowling Green next week in a heavyweight battle between District Champions before postseason play. Pleasure Ridge Park finishes with a 6-4 regular season record and looks to regroup before the postseason begins.
Three-Star WR Commit Jakob Dixon Talks Kentucky
After PRP’s loss Friday night, Kentucky football WR commit Jakob Dixon spoke with KSR. Following a stellar junior campaign that saw Dixon haul in 33 receptions for 663 yards and nine touchdowns, the relatively unknown receiver committed to Kentucky on July 10th. Dixon attended two Kentucky football camps in June and showed out in the camp setting. He ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and impressed the coaching staff with his combination of length and speed.
After Dixon received an offer from Vince Marrow, he was destined to be a ‘Cat. He has proved all of the doubters wrong this season, as he has blossomed into one of the best receivers in the state of Kentucky and has been ranked a three-star recruit by On3. Dixon followed up a good junior season with a great senior season. Coming into the St. Xavier matchup, Dixon had 45 catches for 797 yards and 12 touchdowns.
“I try to take every moment in and take it play by play,” Dixon said when talking about his success. “I don’t play for the future; I just need to play for the present.”
“They keep in touch often. They wish me good luck and send me mail and I’m very appreciative of them,” Dixon said while discussing the Kentucky coaching staff. “The hospitality is great. They’re very welcoming and they make you feel at home there.”
Dixon is the 14th-ranked recruit in Kentucky’s 2023 recruiting class, which is ranked 36th in the nation by On3, falling three spots after the decommitment of Franklin County running back Kaden Moorman on Friday.
No. 24 Scott County gets Defensive; Defeats No. 4 Ballard 22-13
BY: Troy Howell
Luke Valencia returned a fumble to the one-yard line to set up a score and blocked a punt for a go-ahead safety as the No. 24 Scott County Cardinals used smothering defense to knock off the No. 4 Ballard Bruins 22-13.
If you like defense, then Georgetown was the place to be Friday night. The Bruins (7-2), powered by their defense, are having perhaps their best season in school history. They are giving up only 6.6 points per game, good for 2nd-best in Kentucky. They won low-scoring games against Trinity and Male thanks in part to game-changing plays on defense and special teams from Jaden Minkins, flipping the script against the traditional powers.
Meanwhile, Scott County (8-1) came into the game pitching shutouts in their last three games. It was the Cardinals’ defense that shined brightest on under the lights.
Ballard forced and recovered a fumble in Scott County territory on the Cardinals’ opening drive. Gavin Willis, who is 13th in the state in tackles, recovered it for the Bruins.
Despite 1st and goal from the two-yard line, Scott County denied the Bruins from scoring on fourth down. A false start penalty doomed Ballard; penalties would haunt them.
Cameron Norfleet then made a sensational individual play, taking the ball right out of the quarterback’s hands and running it in for a Bruin touchdown. The extra point was blocked.
The Bruins stopped the Cardinals on fourth down near midfield, but had to punt themselves. Scott County returned it for a touchdown, but it was nullified due to a blindside block.
After trading punts, the Cardinals got to the Bruin 35-yard line but were stopped on downs — again. Ballard led 6-0 at halftime.
Jacob Fryman then got Scott County on the board with a one-yard touchdown. The play was set up by a great defensive play from Valencia.
Ballard then used passes from Tristian Hawkins to Minkins and a touchdown pass to Ethan Barnett to answer and go up 13-7. Surprisingly, the Bruins elected not to go for two.
Scott County answered with an Ellis Huguely score early in the 4th, although the extra point was no good.
A blocked punt by Valencia led to a Cardinal safety to go up 15-13 on Ballard.
Scott County then drove down the field methodically, finishing off the drive with a short Fryman touchdown run. The Cardinals ran the “belly” play to success over and over. The extra point made it 22-13 with 5:10 remaining, and that was your ballgame, folks.
Kroger’s Scores From Around The State
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.
(KSR High School Rankings listed)
Thursday, Oct. 20
| No. 21 Beechwood | 57 | vs. Newport | 0 |
| Great Crossing | 42 | vs. Grant County | 0 |
| Greenwood | 35 | vs. No. 16 South Warren | 21 |
| Hopkinsville | 30 | vs. Hopkins County Central | 6 |
| Newport Central Catholic | 1 | vs. Bellevue (forfeit) | 0 |
Friday, Oct. 21
| No. 20 Southwestern | 31 | vs. No. 13 Pulaski County | 20 | Don Franklin Bowl |
| Allen County-Scottsville | 29 | at Russell County | 6 | |
| Ashland Blazer | 34 | at Greenup County | 21 | |
| Atherton | 48 | at North Bullitt | 26 | |
| Belfry | 42 | vs. Pike County Central | 7 | |
| Bell County | 38 | vs. Estill County | 13 | |
| Bethlehem | 48 | at Fort Knox | 6 | |
| Betsy Layne | 46 | at Fairview | 28 | |
| No. 11 Bowling Green | 50 | at Christian County | 7 | |
| Boyd County | 14 | at Rowan County | 7 | (overtime) |
| No. 8 Boyle County | 55 | at Bourbon County | 12 | |
| Bracken County | 14 | vs. Nicholas County | 13 | |
| Breathitt County | 40 | at Leslie County | 20 | |
| No. 27 Bryan Station | 35 | vs. Madison Central | 7 | |
| Bullitt Central | 42 | at Iroquois | 12 | |
| Bullitt East | 24 | vs. No. 10 Male | 17 | |
| Butler County | 61 | vs. Clinton County | 0 | |
| Campbell County | 49 | at Dixie Heights | 19 | |
| Campbellsville | 27 | vs. Holy Cross (Louisville) | 22 | |
| Carroll County | 42 | at Gallatin County | 14 | |
| Caverna | 55 | at Jackson County | 6 | |
| Central | 24 | at Franklin County | 0 | |
| Central Hardin | 38 | at North Hardin | 7 | |
| No. 6 Christian Academy-Louisville | 62 | vs. Western Hills | 0 | |
| Clay County | 50 | vs. Magoffin County | 16 | |
| No. 5 Corbin | 38 | at Wayne County | 0 | |
| No. 19 Covington Catholic | 42 | vs. Conner | 3 | |
| Crittenden County | 43 | at Russellville | 8 | |
| Daviess County | 28 | vs. Apollo | 0 | |
| Dayton | 28 | at Ludlow | 21 | |
| Doss | 22 | at Western | 14 | |
| No. 3 DuPont Manual | 23 | vs. Butler | 14 | |
| Elizabethtown | 50 | at LaRue County | 14 | |
| Fern Creek | 21 | vs. Southern | 7 | |
| Fleming County | 46 | at Lewis County | 18 | |
| Fort Campbell | 38 | vs. Ballard Memorial | 6 | |
| Frankfort | 44 | vs. Berea | 26 | |
| No. 2 Frederick Douglass | 58 | vs. Montgomery County | 13 | |
| Garrard County | 31 | at Rockcastle County | 27 | |
| George Rogers Clark | 48 | vs. Oldham County | 7 | |
| Glasgow | 65 | vs. Casey County | 34 | |
| Graves County | 52 | vs. Muhlenberg County | 7 | |
| Harlan | 42 | vs. Pineville | 20 | |
| Harlan County | 52 | at Perry County Central | 36 | |
| Hart County | 50 | at Community (Unionville), TN | 0 | |
| No. 17 Henderson County | 43 | at McCracken County | 7 | |
| No. 18 Highlands | 34 | vs. Cooper | 5 | |
| Holmes | 44 | vs. Scott | 6 | |
| No. 25 Johnson Central | 35 | vs. Letcher County Central | 34 | |
| Kentucky Country Day | 44 | at Eminence | 6 | |
| Knott County Central | 50 | at Phelps | 24 | |
| Knox Central | 30 | at Lincoln County | 28 | |
| Lake County (Tiptonville), TN | 52 | vs. Fulton County | 6 | |
| Lawrence County | 49 | at Floyd Central | 28 | |
| No. 7 Lexington Catholic | 63 | at Anderson County | 8 | |
| Lexington Christian | 38 | at Danville | 21 | |
| Lloyd Memorial | 47 | at Holy Cross (Covington) | 13 | |
| Logan County | 42 | at Calloway County | 17 | |
| Marion County | 12 | vs. Moore | 6 | |
| Martin County | 27 | at Prestonsburg | 20 | |
| Mason County | 37 | at Powell County | 24 | |
| No. 15 Mayfield | 42 | at Murray | 10 | |
| Meade County | 48 | at Barren County | 13 | |
| Mercer County | 30 | at DeSales | 25 | |
| Metcalfe County | 27 | at Green County | 22 | |
| Monroe County | 22 | vs. Edmonson County | 16 | |
| Nelson County | 44 | vs. Thomas Nelson | 0 | |
| North Laurel | 21 | at Henry County | 10 | |
| Ohio County | 55 | at Breckinridge County | 14 | |
| Owen County | 29 | vs. Shawnee | 0 | |
| Owensboro | 55 | at Grayson County | 0 | |
| No. 28 Owensboro Catholic | 40 | vs. McLean County | 6 | |
| Paducah Tilghman | 49 | vs. Webster County | 7 | |
| Paul Laurence Dunbar | 44 | vs. Lafayette | 6 | |
| No. 14 Pikeville | 52 | vs. Hazard | 7 | |
| Raceland | 38 | vs. Paintsville | 14 | |
| Russell | 16 | vs. East Carter | 7 | |
| Sayre | 15 | vs. Paris | 12 | |
| No. 24 Scott County | 22 | vs. No. 4 Ballard | 13 | |
| Seneca | 58 | vs. Jeffersontown | 0 | |
| Shelby County | 65 | vs. Waggener | 12 | |
| Shelby Valley | 62 | at Bath County | 6 | |
| Somerset | 21 | at Washington County | 20 | |
| Spencer County | 43 | vs. John Hardin | 0 | |
| 1. St. Xavier | 50 | vs. No. 26 Pleasure Ridge Park | 14 | |
| Tates Creek | 22 | at Henry Clay | 19 | |
| Taylor County | 56 | vs. Adair County | 6 | |
| Todd County Central | 16 | vs. Hancock County | 14 | |
| No. 12 Trinity (Louisville) | 35 | at Eastern | 6 | |
| No. 22 County | 42 | vs. Trigg County | 7 | |
| Walton-Verona | 35 | vs. Trimble County | 8 | |
| Warren Central | 36 | at Marshall County | 21 | |
| West Carter | 33 | vs. East Ridge | 14 | |
| West Jessamine | 48 | vs. Collins | 34 | |
| Whitley County | 47 | vs. South Laurel | 18 | |
| Williamsburg | 42 | at Lynn Camp | 6 |
Saturday, Oct. 22
| Ryle | at Simon Kenton | 5:00 PM |
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