Class 4A football finals preview: Johnson Central vs. Boyle County
It’s championship weekend for the 2021 UK Orthopaedics State Football Finals. Here’s a look at Friday’s Class 4A state title game at Kroger Field.
Johnson Central (12-2) vs. Boyle County (13-1)
Kickoff: 8 p.m. Friday.
RPI Ratings*: No. 4 Johnson Central (.59702); No. 1 Boyle County (.73590).
Cantrall Ratings*: No. 3 Johnson Central (85.2); No. 1 Boyle County (89.1).
Championship history: Johnson Central (2-3) — Two titles, the last in 2019; Boyle County (9-2) — Nine titles; defending champion with three straight finals appearances.
Quick hits:
▪ The Golden Eagles have been led by interim head coach Steve Trimble since the death of Jim Matney on Sept. 28. Matney, 62, fell ill to COVID-19 following Johnson Central’s season opener at Henry Clay on Aug. 20 and subsequently suffered severe complications that contributed to his passing.
▪ The Golden Eagles carry Matney’s initials on their helmets and he continues to be listed as co-head coach above Trimble on their championship roster. Their home field has been renamed Jim Matney Field. Matney was honored posthumously as a district coach of the year by the Kentucky Football Coaches Association.
▪ This is Johnson Central’s sixth state finals appearance in seven years. The streak was interrupted by Franklin County last season in the state semifinals. The Golden Eagles advanced to this year’s finals by avenging that loss with a 42-24 win at home over the Flyers last week.
▪ Johnson Central’s 2019 state championship came at the expense of Boyle County. The Rebels coughed up three fumbles and two interceptions in a 21-20 loss. Golden Eagles linebacker Mason Lemaster was the second leading tackler on that team as a sophomore and had nine tackles and one of the fumble recoveries in the finals. Both teams were undefeated heading into that matchup.
▪ Boyle County wide receiver/defensive back Cole Lanter recently accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Kentucky. Lanter ranks among the top wide receivers in the state, averaging 84 receiving yards per game. His 19 receiving TDs are tied for most in the state. He also has four rushing TDs and two punt return scores.
▪ Johnson Central features Kentucky commit Grant Bingham, a four-star offensive tackle who no doubt contributes mightily to the Golden Eagles’ 4,335 rushing yards on the season, the second most in the state.
▪ Boyle County senior kicker Jackson Smith is another UK commit. Junior defensive end Tommy Ziesmer is a three-star recruit and has Kentucky among his reported eight college offers.
▪ Boyle County quarterback Jagger Gillis is a fifth-year senior who also played on the Rebels’ 2021 Sweet 16 basketball team along with wideouts Ayden Collins and Luke Imfeld, running back Dalton Stone, tight end/linebacker Jakei Tarter and Ziesmer.
▪ Johnson Central lost to Rock Creek Christian Academy (Upper Marlboro, Md.) on Sept. 17 and had a COVID-19 forfeit to Lexington Catholic on Aug. 27. The Golden Eagles have won nine straight. Boyle County’s only loss this season came at home at the hands of Class 2A finalist Lexington Christian, 35-28, on Aug. 28. The Rebels have won 12 in a row since, including a 34-7 victory over Class 5A finalist Frederick Douglass.
Johnson Central standouts: Zack McCoart, Fr. RB (1,176 yards/18 TDs); Matt Crum, Sr. RB (789 yards/10 TDs; Grant Rice, Sr. QB (349 yards/four TDs passing, 530 yards/11 TDs rushing); Carter Conley, So. RB (609 yards/nine TDs); Mason Lemaster, Sr. LB (107 tackles/7.5 for a loss/1.5 sacks); Jesse McCoy, Jr. DT (60 tackles/six for a loss/five sacks).
Boyle County standouts: Jagger Gillis, Sr. QB (2,520 yards/28 TDs passing, 429 yards/13 TDs rushing); Avery Bodner, So. RB/LB (1,107 yards/15 TDs rushing, 504 yards/two TDs receiving, 47 tackles/seven for a loss); Cole Lanter, Sr. WR/DB (1,172 yards/19 TDs receiving, 227 yards/four TDs rushing, 25 tackles, three interceptions); Tommy Ziesmer, Jr. DE (54 tackles/10 for a loss/10 sacks); Dalton Stone, Jr. LB (82 tackles/14 for a loss/one sack) Cole Sims, Jr. DB (63 tackles/12 for a loss/seven sacks).
@HLpreps pick: Boyle County 24, Johnson Central 22.
*End of regular-season ratings.
State championships
At Kroger Field in Lexington
Tickets: Available by advance sale digitally at KHSAAtickets.org. No walk-up paper tickets sold.
Online: Subscription required for live video stream at KHSAA.tv. Pay-per-view live HD video at Go.PrepSpin.com. Free audio stream at KHSAA.net.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Class A: Pikeville (13-2) vs. Russellville (12-1), Noon
Class 2A: Beechwood (14-0) vs. Lexington Christian (14-0), 4 p.m.
Class 4A: Boyle County (13-1) vs. Johnson Central (12-2), 8 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Class 3A: Belfry (8-6) vs. Paducah Tilghman (8-6), Noon
Class 5A: Frederick Douglass (13-1) vs. South Warren (13-1), 4 p.m.
Class 6A: Male (13-0) vs. St. Xavier (13-1), 8 p.m.
John Clay Podcast: Previewing Kentucky’s high school football championships
Class 6A football finals preview: St. Xavier vs. Male
Class 5A football finals preview: South Warren vs. Frederick Douglass
Class 3A football finals preview: Paducah Tilghman vs. Belfry
Class 2A football finals preview: Beechwood vs. Lexington Christian
