What to know about Louisville-area KHSAA football playoff second-round games in Class A-5A
Here’s a look at Friday’s Kentucky Class A-Class 5A second-round football playoff games involving Louisville-area teams.
All games are scheduled for Friday.
Atherton (7-4) at Fairdale (10-1), 7 p.m.
After getting its first-ever playoff victory last year, Atherton got its second one Friday with a 52-14 rout of Doss in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. Atherton’s seven victories are its most in a single season since the 1973 team went 9-1. The Ravens have a balanced offensive attack led by sophomore quarterback QuaShawn Thompson, senior running back Demetrius Dunlap and senior receivers Channce Thompson and Trenton Spurling.
Fairdale ran its winning streak to 10 with a 34-0 first-round victory over North Bullitt on Friday. Fairdale’s defense has been stout during the winning streak, posting five shutouts and allowing just 3.6 points per game. Junior tackle Maki Duncan (65) and senior linebacker DeAvion Crawley (61) lead Fairdale in tackles, and senior end/linebacker Daniel Winburn leads the squad in tackles for loss (14) and sacks (10). Junior cornerback Malik Buckner has a team-high three interceptions.
Fairdale and Atherton haven’t met since 2018, with the Bulldogs winning 26-18.
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Seneca (8-3) at South Oldham (7-4), 7 p.m.
Seneca got its first playoff victory since 2011 with a 50-0 rout of Bullitt Central on Friday in a Class 5A opener. Senior quarterback Antwan Young passed for 205 yards and four touchdowns, and junior Shane White rushed for 95 yards and a score. Seneca’s eight victories are its most in a season since the 2003 squad went 10-2.
South Oldham rolled past Western 42-0 in its playoff opener Friday as senior Jeffery Burton carried 21 times for 154 yards and three touchdowns. Burton has rushed for 979 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. The Dragons are trying to reach the third round of the playoffs for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.
South Oldham whipped Seneca 42-0 on Oct. 14 as Burton rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Franklin County (6-5) at Spencer County (10-1), 7:30 p.m.
Franklin County posted its third shutout of the season Friday in a 36-0 victory over John Hardin in a Class 4A playoff opener. Senior quarterback Emanuel Smith passed for 175 yards and two touchdowns. The Flyers average 31.6 points per game and have a slew of playmakers in senior wide receiver Gilead Calloway (10 total touchdowns), sophomore running back Christian Moore (678 rushing yards, 10 TDs), senior running back Kaden Moorman (482 rushing yards, eight TDs) and senior wide receiver Zach Claudio (six total TDs).
Spencer County ran its winning streak to six with a 56-28 first-round playoff victory over Shelby County on Friday. The Bears racked up 537 rushing yards and were led by junior Kellen Marksbury, who carried 18 times for 316 yards and three touchdowns. Spencer County is averaging 323.9 rushing yards per game, ranking fourth in the state. The Bears are trying to reach the third round of the playoffs for the second straight season.
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North Oldham (5-6) at Central (7-4), 7 p.m.
North Oldham got its first playoff victory since 2014 with a 41-0 win over Valley on Friday in a Class 4A opener. Senior Liam Hutson scored three touchdowns and now has a team-best eight on the season. The Mustangs lost at Central 52-0 on Oct. 14 and managed just 64 yards of offense.
Central got a first-round playoff bye when Marion County forfeited because of a lack of players. The Yellow Jackets closed the regular season with four straight shutouts of Shelby County, Waggener, North Oldham and Franklin County and have righted the ship after opening the season with blowout losses to Class 6A powers Manual (40-12) and St. Xavier (44-8). Sophomore running back Cortez Stone has rushed for 1,531 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Elizabethtown (8-3) at Christian Academy (11-0), 7:30 p.m.
Elizabethtown cruised past Mercer County 49-13 on Friday in its Class 3A playoff opener as junior Trey Durbin rushed for 232 yards and four touchdowns on just eight carries. Durbin has rushed for 1,109 yards and 13 TDs this season and leads an offense that averages 243.9 rushing yards per game. The Panthers beat CAL 39-20 in the semifinals of the 2020 Class 3A playoffs before falling to Ashland Blazer 35-14 in the state final.
Christian Academy whipped LaRue County 56-14 in its playoff opener Friday as junior quarterback Cole Hodge passed for 185 yards and six touchdowns. The Centurions are averaging 51.2 points per game, ranking No. 2 in the state behind Frederick Douglass (51.4 ppg). Hodge has two outstanding targets in the passing game in sophomore Trey Cotton (32 catches, 663 yards, 10 TDs and junior Justin Ruffin Jr. (31 catches, 662 yards, 10 TDs).
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Holy Cross (8-3) at Campbellsville (7-3), 7:30 p.m.
Holy Cross opened the Class A playoffs with a 42-14 victory at Russellville on Friday as senior quarterback Chris Perry rushed for three touchdowns and also passed for a score. Perry has rushed for a team-best 836 yards this season and accounted for 30 touchdowns (20 rushing, 10 passing). Senior Tyler Ballard has rushed for 718 yards and seven TDs, and junior wide receiver Joey Foushee has 28 catches for 355 yards and three scores. Ballard anchors the defense with 110 tackles (74 solo).
Campbellsville got a first-round bye in the playoffs and enters with a three-game winning streak after beating Atherton 34-27 in its regular-season finale. Freshman quarterback Kace Eastridge has passed for 1,136 yards and accounted for 18 touchdowns (11 passing, seven rushing). Junior Daniel Forbis is the top rusher (605 yards, seven TDs), and junior Deondre Weathers (33 catches, 505 yards, five TDs) is the top receiver.
Campbellsville beat Holy Cross 27-22 on Oct. 21 as Forbis rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
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Dayton (6-5) at Kentucky Country Day (8-2), 7:30 p.m.
Dayton knocked off Berea 22-7 on Friday in its Class A playoff opener. The Greendevils average 210 rushing yards per game and are led by senior Landyn Hopper (1,443 yards, 17 TDs). Dayton hasn’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 1998.
KCD got a first-round playoff bye after closing its regular season with a 29-28 overtime loss at Metcalfe County. The Bearcats average 34.6 points per game behind a balanced attack. Junior quarterback E.T. Harris has passed for 1,297 yards and 18 touchdowns, and his top target is junior Troy Humphreys (22 catches, 464 yards, four TDs). Juniors Kassani Wilson (624 yards, 11 TDs) and Alex Bahe (531 yards, seven TDs) lead the rushing game. KCD has reached the third round of the playoffs in five of the past six seasons.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: What to know about Friday's KHSAA football playoff games in Class A-5A
