McCracken County ended the game on a 14-0 run last week to escape Newbern, Tennessee with a 41-27 win over Dyer County. Senior cornerback Kiael Waldon’s 90-yard interception return for a touchdown solidified the win for the Mustangs. One of two big interceptions the McCracken County defense had against the Choctaws.
“Our defense has had a bend but don’t break mentality over the last month,” McCracken County head coach Marc Clark said on the McCracken County Coaches Show Wednesday night. “They’ve really found their identity this season led by our senior leaders and has been executed by all of them. They’re a big reason we’ve been winning this last month.”
During the 4-game winning streak, the McCracken County defense has produced 10 turnovers and 14 quarterback sacks. And while the defense has anchored the Mustangs, special teams have also contributed. The McCracken County special teams unit created two extra possessions for the McCracken County offense in both the Daviess County and Henderson County games through kickoff attempts.
“What our special teams have accomplished this season is special,” said Clark. “Ben (Schofield) has really developed as a sophomore and is placing the football where he wants it and where we need it.”
A constant factor for McCracken County this season has been the offense. With the lone exception being the season opener against Paducah Tilghman, the Mustangs have scored double-digits in each game this season. After scoring just 16 points in the first two games of the season, the Mustangs have put up 251 points; an average of just under 36 points per game.
Junior quarterback Elijah Wheat continues to lead the Mustangs this season; passing for 1,377 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. Sophomore running back Hunter Bradley has rushed for 585 yards and 8 touchdowns, and junior receiver Franklin Hayes leads all receiver with 411 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Senior Alex Miezio has 403 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns as well for the Mustangs.
McCracken County has their bye week next week during the final week of the regular season before hosting Jeffersontown in the opening round of the playoffs in two weeks.
The Mustangs and the Mustangs square off Friday night at 7pm at McCracken County’s Marquette Stadium.
The Class 5A District 1 crown is up for grabs Friday night as (4-4, 3-0) Graves County travels to (6-2, 3-0) Owensboro to take on the Red Devils.
Graves County pulled off it’s most impressive win of the season last week, traveling to Hopkinsville and escaping with a 44-36 road district win. The win came at a price for the Eagles, though. Senior tailback Cody Goatley broke his foot and is out for the remainder of the season.
Replacing Goatley’s production will not be an easy task for the Eagles. Goatley rushed for 502 yard and 9 touchdowns this season. However, senior quarterback Ryan Mathis is coming off his strongest contest of the season. Against Christian County, Goatley accounted for all six Graves County touchdowns; Goatley had two passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns, and even a receiving touchdown. Last week also marked the first time every in Graves County history that 3 different Eagles had a touchdown pass; Drew Cooper, Cody Goatley, and Mathis all produced touchdown passes for Graves County.
A repeat performance from Mathis and then some may be needed to beat the Red Devils. After a 2-game losing streak, the Red Devils have won 4 in a row; winning in convincing fashion in all four contests. Over the last month, the Red Devils have averaged 43.5 points per game and outscoring opponents by a 174-41 margin.
The Eagles and Red Devils square off Friday night at 7pm at Owensboro High School.
Over the last several seasons, Mayfield has had little resistance within their own district. But this season, Mayfield has had little resistance over their entire schedule so far this season. The (8-0, 3-0) Cardinals look to stay undefeated as they battle (1-7, 0-3) Webster County Friday night.
A program as historical as Mayfield rarely produces teams that can compete for “best ever” awards, but Mayfield’s offense this season is beginning to stake it’s claim as the best ever offense Mayfield has ever produced.
In their 8 games this season, the Cardinals offense has put up 43 points, 35 points, 51 points in back-to-back weeks, 56 points, 45 points, 63 points, and 50 points last week in a 50-2 win over Ballard Memorial. So, through a fairly tough schedule, the least amount of points Mayfield has scored this season was 35 points against Hopkinsville in a 35-7 dominant win. Those numbers will be hard to beat for any program in the state, let alone Mayfield.
Junior quarterback Jaden Stinson continues to have one of the best touchdown-to-interceptions ratios in the state this season. So far this season, Stinson has 22 touchdowns to only one interception. He has passed for 1,723 yards on 84 completions this season; an average of 21 yards per completion.
Senior running back Kent Trey Matthews continues to be on the premier backs in Class 2A as well as throughout the state of Kentucky. Matthews has 16 rushing touchdowns this season to go with 1,134 rushing yards; an average of 162 yards rushing per game.
Webster County and Mayfield square off Friday night at 7pm at Mayfield’s War Memorial Stadium.
Coming off it’s biggest win of the season (district-wise) last week, (6-2, 2-1) Paducah Tilghman looks to continue their winning ways as they host (1-7, 0-3) Fort Campbell in Tornado Alley Friday night.
Paducah Tilghman clinched the number 2-seed in the Class 3A District 1 Playoffs last week with a 43-10 win in Morganfield against Union County. The Blue Tornado have won 4 of their last 5 games with the lone loss coming to district champion Caldwell County, 37-22. In the four wins during the 5-game stretch, Paducah Tilghman has scored at least 41 points in each contest.
Fort Campbell has struggled so far this season, especially inside the district. After a 27-12 win over Fort Knox four weeks ago, the Falcons have been outscored 110-28.
The Falcons and the Blue Tornado square off Friday night at 7pm at Paducah Tilghman’s McRight Field.
Friday Night's Games
Marshall County at Apollo
Logan County at Calloway County
Fulton County at Fulton City
Hopkins County Central at Hopkinsville
Christian County at Madisonville
Webster County at Mayfield
Muhlenberg County at McCracken County
Ballard Memorial at Murray
Graves County at Owensboro
Fort Campbell at Paducah Tilghman
Crittenden County at Russellville
Union County at Trigg County
Massac County at Salem
