Kroger KSR Game of the Week: West Carter at Middlesboro (2A Quarterfinal)
KSR will travel south to Middlesboro on Friday to cover two quarterfinal games. Bell County hosts Belfry in 3A while Middlesboro plays hosts to West Carter in 2A. Here is a preview for the 2A quarterfinal.
Middlesboro (12-0) is one of only eight remaining undefeated teams in Kentucky. They only lost once last season but were not able to compete in the playoffs due to a COVID cancellation.
West Carter (9-3) had one of the best seasons in school history last year. They lost to Beechwood in a heartbreaking 35-34 semifinal in the KSR Game of the Week. Quarterback Orry Perry and running back Leetavious Cline graduated but the Comets bounced back nicely, losing only two games in 2021 (Rowan County 23-21 and Raceland 21-0).
Running back Cole Crampton of West Carter leads Class 2A in rushing yards per game with 153. Caleb Bogonko of Middlesboro is fourth with 140 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Cayden Grigsby, who also plays DB, has 10 touchdown carries and gives Middlesboro a true dual threat. He has thrown for 19 touchdowns and has more defensive interceptions (3) than offensive interceptions (2).
Grigsby and Bogonko help Middlesboro have a dynamic offense that is fourth in the class in both scoring (43.1 ppg) and scoring margin (27.4). West Carter has a balanced attack (28 rushing TDs, 23 receiving TDs). Quarterback Eli Estepp has thrown for 23 scores and his favorite target is Jackson Bond (813 receiving touchdowns, 9 touchdowns).
West Carter (9-3)
KSR Class Ranking: No. 6 in Class 2A
State Championships: 0
State Runner-up: 0
Last Season: Finished 10-2, lost to eventual champion Beechwood 35-34 in the semifinals of the 2A Playoffs
2021 Playoffs: Defeated Bath County 51-25 in Round 1; Defeated Martin County 27-19 in Round 2
Key Players
Jr. QB Eli Estepp: 86-for-176 for 1,741 yards, 23 TD, 4 INT, 3 rushing TDs
Jr. RB Cole Crampton: 272 carries for 1,837 yards, 23 TDs, 4 receiving TDs
Sr. WR Jackson Bond: 36 receptions for 813 yards and 9 TDs
Sr. Isaac Bond: 113 tackles, 5 TFL
Sr. LB Samuel Rayburn: 65 tackles, 16 TFL, 6.5 sacks
Middlesboro (12-0)
KSR Class Ranking: No. 4 in Class 2A
State Championships: 1 (1998)
State Runner-up: 3 (1964, 1974, 1975)
Last Season: Finished 6-1, did not play in playoffs due to a COVID cancellation
2021 Playoffs: Defeated Leslie County 46-0 in Round 1; Defeated Breathitt County 43-33 in Round 2
Key Players
So. QB/DB Cayden Grigsby: 70-for-105 for 1,545 yards 19 TDs and 2 INT, 78 carries for 767 yards and 10 TDs
Sr. RB Caleb Bogonko: 115 carries for 1,263 yards and 21 TD
Sr. DB Tyler Kelly: 73 tackles, 8 TFL
Jr. LB Terrance Brooks: 30 tackles, 10 TFL
Sr. WR/ DB Logan Daniels: 16 catches for 379 yards and 6 TD, 3 interceptions
Predictions
Barkley’s Pick – Middlesboro 28 West Carter 17
Troy’s Pick – Middlesboro 42 West Carter 36
Jude Howell’s Pick – Middlesboro 35 West Carter 32
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