When Friday night’s contests ended, 48 teams across Kentucky were still alive as this week brings the third round of the KHSAA State Football Playoffs.
In Class 2A, eight teams are vying for their spot in next week’s state semifinals, including Owensboro Catholic as they hit the road to take on the Murray Tigers.
Other 2A games include: Metcalfe County at Lexington Christian, Walton-Verona at West Carter and Breathitt County at Beechwood.
Here’s a look at the other three quarterfinal matchups in Class 2A.
Metcalfe County @ Lexington Christian
Lexington Christian (8-1) has the top RPI in Class 2A as they welcome Metcalfe County this Friday with the Eagles going for their first semifinal since they fell to Hazard 31-30 in 2010 quarterfinals.
The Hornets (6-2) head into Friday after taking down Monroe County (34-6) and Edmonson County (34-27) to advance to their first quarterfinal since 2007 where they advanced to the semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Fort Campbell.
LCA is led by quarterback Drew Nieves and his 2,138 passing yards this season. Nieves has 24 touchdowns and 8 interceptions but has also run for 279 yards and 2 scores on the ground. Xavier Brown (259 rushing yards, 5 touchdowns), Jeffrey Selby (220 rushing yards) and Tyler Morris (167 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns) have also helped the Eagles in the ground game.
Brown (760 receiving yards, 9 touchdowns) and Mason Moore (721 receiving yards, 9 touchdowns) have led LCA in receiving this season.
Mattie Lebryk leads the Eagle defense with 106 tackles, 9 TFL and 4.5 sacks.
For the Hornets, Gabe Zurmehly leads the offense with 857 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on the season while Devin Alderson (451 yards, 2 touchdowns), Peyton Dial (344 yards, touchdown) and Michael Bennett (100 yards, 2 touchdowns) have all hit the century mark in rushing.
Dial has also thrown for 922 yards with 13 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
Wyatt Blythe (468 yards, 8 touchdowns), Sawyer Edmunds (348 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Rudy Wisdom (149 yards, touchdown) have been Dial’s favorite receivers this season.
Bennett also leads the Hornet defense with 62 tackles, 9 TFL and 4 sacks. Blythe leads the team with five interceptions.
Lexington Christian and Metcalfe County hit the field at 7 p.m. Friday.
Walton-Verona @ West Carter
West Carter has the second-best RPI in Class 2A at .68421 while Walton-Verona has the worst among remaining teams at .49113.
West Carter’s (9-1) lone loss came against Paintsville as it fell 34-12 on Oct. 17. The Comets have now made the quarterfinals in back-to-back seasons.
Walton-Verona (7-4) dropped its first two games of the year before going 7-2 in the remaining games as the Bearcats are in the quarterfinals for the third-straight year.
West Carter has been rolling over teams this season as its lead by a two-headed attack in Orry Perry at quarterback and Leetavious Cline running the ball.
Perry has thrown for 1,117 yards with 21 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions while Cline has run for 1,735 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. Cole Crampton has also helped in the running game with his 376 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Jackson Bond (420 yards, 7 touchdowns), Blake McGlone (343 yards, 5 touchdowns), Gage Leadingham (141 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Cline (105 yards, touchdown) have led the Comets in receiving.
For the Bearcats, Tray Hatmaker has thrown for 1,121 yards with 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions while also running for 70 yards and a score.
Jacob Gaines (600 yards, 10 touchdowns), Jonathan Freeman (361 yards, 8 touchdowns) and Wiley Baker (285 yards, 2 touchdowns) have led W-V in rushing this season.
Colton Shawver (552 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Trey Ferguson (399 yards, 8 touchdowns) have been Hatmaker’s favorite targets this season.
Dawson Catlett has 65 tackles, 19.5 TFL and 7.5 sacks to lead the Bearcat defense.
Walton-Verona and West Carter hit the field at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Breathitt County at Beechwood
With Murray eliminating Mayfield Friday night, Beechwood moves up to No. 3 in RPI at .67171 while Breathitt County is just behind Owensboro Catholic at .58646.
Beechwood (7-2) won three-straight state championships from 2016-18 before falling in the fourth round last season to the aforementioned Cardinals.
Breathitt County (6-1) is trying to make it to the state semifinals for the second year in a row as the Bobcats fell to Somerset a year ago to end their season.
Cameron Hergott has been the offensive juggernaut for the Tigers as he has 1,903 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and 4 interceptions but has also accumulated 645 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground. Avery Courtney is the team’s second-leading rusher with 278 yards and 4 scores.
Mitchell Berger (523 yards, 5 touchdowns), Brady Moore (404 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Parker Mason (390 yards and 3 touchdowns) have led Beechwood in receiving.
For the Bobcats, Jaylen Turner has thrown for 1,167 yards with 16 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Lane Weddle (715 yards, 13 touchdowns), Turner (449 yards, 9 touchdowns) and Caden Bowling (300 yards, 3 touchdowns) have helped Breathitt to 25 rushing scores on the season.
Austin Perry leads BC in receiving with 548 yards and 6 scores while Weddle has added 361 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air.
Weddle has got it done on both sides of the ball for the Bobcats as he also leads the team with 48 tackles.
Breathitt County and Beechwood kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday.
