Week Four in Kentucky, Three in Ohio is headed your way on Friday night.
Teams are trying to fine-tune and perfect their craft as district play aka the “second season” is just weeks away.
I myself will be at Fleming County at Rowan County, but will breakdown each game below.
Here’s a brief look at the area’s contests come Friday evening:
FLEMING COUNTY AT ROWAN COUNTY
Who: Fleming County Panthers (1-1) at Rowan County Vikings (2-1)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Rowan County High School, Morehead
Previous Meeting: Rowan County won 39-14, Sept. 7, 2018
Series since 1998: Fleming County leads 10-9
Outlook: This rivalry has gone in waves. Fleming County dominated from the early to mid 2000’s, Rowan County returning the favor from 2008-15. Things have leveled off a bit lately with the two splitting their last four matchups. Fleming County enters off a bye week, one in which they had to sit on a tough 40-36 loss to Greenup County. The offense has had no problem finding the end zone, the Panthers scoring 90 points in their first two games. Quarterback Jonathan Maher has accounted for seven touchdowns (five passing, two rushing), hitting Logan Pinkley and Kaleb Flanery as his primary targets. The Panthers defense will be challenged once again, facing a Rowan County team that’s put up 102 points in their first three contests. The Vikings got off to a 2-0 start and last week was a “show me” type game against Raceland, getting beat 42-7. They’ll be out to prove it was a rough week as they try to rebound. No. 26 will be the primary target for the Panthers defense, Cole Wallace coming in with 44 rushing attempts for 345 yards and seven touchdowns. Wallace ran for 265 yards and four touchdowns last season against the Panthers in a 39-14 Vikings win. This may not be a district contest, but bragging rights are definitely on the line in this one.
MASON COUNTY AT GRANT COUNTY
Who: Mason County Royals (1-2) at Grant County Braves (2-1)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Grant County High School, Dry Ridge
Previous Meeting: Grant County won, 35-27 Oct. 19, 2018
Series since 1998: Tied 1-1
Outlook: Mason County is coming off a much needed victory in the Don Franklin Appalachian Bowl against Clay County in Manchester last week. The Royals have been ballhawks defensively this season, forcing eight turnovers through their first three games, including four last week in the win over the Tigers. The defense will get a stiff test come Friday night, Grant County featuring a balanced offense that’s averaging 37.3 points per game. The Royals will hope to offset that as they were also able to get a bit of a run game established last week with Caden Clark-Roberts, the freshman tallying 122 yards and a score. Primarily facing run-oriented teams the first three weeks, the Mason County secondary will get tested in this one as the Braves have thrown the ball 102 times in their first three games for 810 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Braves also possess a fast tempo offense, averaging 64.3 plays per game. This will be the third straight year these two have met, splitting the last two matchups.
NICHOLAS COUNTY AT LEWIS COUNTY
Who: Nicholas County Bluejackets (1-2) at Lewis County Lions (0-3)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Lewis County High School, Vanceburg
Previous Meeting: Nicholas County won, 49-8 Sept. 7, 2018
Series since 1998: Nicholas County leads 10-5
Outlook: Things haven’t come easy for Lewis County, outscored 126-14 in their first three contests. The Lions have failed to register more than 69 yards of offense in their last two games while turnovers and special teams haven’t helped the cause. They’ll hope to get things moving against a Nicholas County team that’s allowed 110 points in their first three games. The Bluejackets have allowed 389 yards per game so the opportunity exists. One thing is for sure, Nicholas County will deploy its ground game, averaging 45.6 rushing attempts per contest spearheaded by Cain Saucedo with 328 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Bluejackets ran wild in last season’s affair, tallying 303 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in a 49-8 victory.
BRACKEN COUNTY AT NEWPORT
Who: Bracken County Polar Bears (0-3) at Newport Wildcats (3-0)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Newport High School, Newport
Previous Meeting: First ever meeting
Series since 2003: N/A
Outlook: This will be the first ever meeting between Bracken County and Newport. The Polar Bears were finally able to find the end zone last week after being blanked in their first two games, but that was about the only thing that went right in a 57-12 loss to Pendleton County. Carson Hord hit Emery Woods for two touchdown strikes from 30 yards out. Newport enters as the 11th ranked team in Class 2A and a 3-0 record, outscoring opponents 99-20 in their first three games. The Wildacts show a balanced attack, passing for 607 yards and running for 621 in their first three contests.
GREEN AT MANCHESTER
Who: Franklin-Furnace Green (1-1) at Manchester Greyhounds (0-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Manchester High School, Manchester
Previous Meeting: Green won 55-0, Oct. 5, 2019
Series since 2008: Green leads 6-4
Outlook: Manchester hopes to get its offense going after being blanked by Portsmouth East last week, 34-0. The Greyhounds have been able to muster up just one touchdown so far on the season. They take on a Green team coming off a 54-14 loss to Cincinnati College Prep Academy.