Mayfield Seeks Revenge Against CAL in State Semis

The Mayfield Cardinals (12-1) look to win their eighth game in a row and a berth in the Class 2A KHSAA State Championship game next Saturday at Kroger Field in Lexington as they take on the defending Class 2A State Champion, the Centurions of Christian Academy - Louisville (11-2).

The Cardinals are trying to get back to the KHSAA State Football Championship Game for the fifth time in six seasons. And Mayfield is playing their best football of the season. During the current seven game winning streak, Mayfield has made quick work of the opposition; outscoring them by a combined score of 394-77 and having a running clock scenario (leading by more than 35 points) in seven of the eight games.

Sophomore Jayden Stinson was solid and steady last week against Owensboro Catholic; passing for 184 yards on 14-of-19 passing and a touchdown. Stinson has played the most snaps at quarterback for Mayfield, passing for 1,853 passing yards and 23 touchdowns on the season. Stinson’s lone touchdown pass last week went to Perry Diaz who chipped in with 88 receiving yards.

The Cardinals offense this season has been a statistical split in yardage from the ground game and the passing game. As a team, the Cardinals have passed for 2,687 yards and rushed for 2,458 yards. The Cardinals feature two different running backs with over 500 rushing yards. Junior Kent Trey Matthews leads all rushers with 852 rushing yards, including his 128-yard rushing performance last week against Owensboro Catholic. Sophomore Travon Haliburton has 531 rushing yards and four touchdowns for the Cardinals.

Christian Academy-Louisville has been a mainstay in the Class 2A playoff picture the last seven seasons under head coach Stefan LeFors, former quarterback of the University of Louisville. The Centurions are 71-19 with a state championship in LeFors’ seven seasons at the helm, and have currently won 25 of their last 27 games. The Centurions upended Mayfield’s season last year, routing the Cardinals 48-24 in Louisville.

The Centurions feature a ground heavy offense with two different rushers with over 700 yards rushing. Senior running back Anteneh Thompson leads all rushers with 766 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Senior tailback Tanner Palin chimes in with 724 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

The Centurions and the Cardinals kick off Friday night at 7pm at War Memorial Stadium in Mayfield.