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 5A, six teams are vying for their spot in next week’s state semifinals, including Owensboro as they host Fairdale Friday at Rash Stadium.
Other 5A games include: North Bullitt at Bowling Green and Frederick Douglass at Southwestern. Covington Catholic has already moved on to the semifinals after Madison Southern had to drop out due to Covid-19.
Here’s a look at the other two quarterfinal matchups in Class 5A.
North Bullitt at Bowling Green
The Bowling Purples are trying to get back to their second-straight state semifinal as they take on North Bullitt Friday in BG.
According to the RPI, the Purples (7-2) and North Bullitt are in the middle of the pack when it comes to Class 5A as Bowling Green is fourth at .62004 while the Eagles are fifth at .59753.
This is the furthest North Bullitt (8-2) has advanced in the playoffs since they fell in the 2016 quarterfinals to South Oldham in a 45-42 shootout.
Conner Cooper has led the Purples as quarterback this season with 1,387 yards to go with 11 touchdowns and 5 picks while also rushing for 216 yards and 3 scores.
Javeius Bunton leads BG in rushing with 795 yards and 15 scores. Eli Burwash (162 yards, 2 touchdowns) has also founded the endzone with his legs this season.
The Purples have six receivers with at least 10 receptions, 100 yards and a touchdown but Kentucky commit Jordan Dingle (32 catches, 422 yards, 2 touchdowns), Burwash (285 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Tyler Strode (20 catches, 195 yards, 3 touchdowns) lead the way.
Rece Jones has led BG on defense with 104 tackles, 4 TFL and 3 sacks on the year. Four Purples have two interceptions this year as Bowling Green has accumulated 20 takeaways on defense.
For the Eagles, Drew Hadley has thrown for 1,272 yards with 13 scores and 8 picks while also rushing for 416 yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground.
Cole Durbin leads the North Bullitt offense with 1,448 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. Nathan Sparks (264 yards, 7 touchdowns) and Austin Hayes (188 yards, 3 touchdowns) have helped add to the Eagles 46 touchdown this season.
Austin Hayes (507 yards, 7 touchdowns), Jayden Weber (286 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Brock Snead (198 yards, 3 touchdowns) have been Hadley’s favorite targets in the passing game this season.
Josh Ashbaugh leads the defense with 51 tackes and 1.5 sacks. Clay Coomes leads the team with 7.5 sacks this season. Ty Howard has four interceptions on the season and two interception returns for touchdowns.
North Bullitt and Bowling Green hit the field at 7 p.m. Friday.
Frederick Douglass at Southwestern
Southwestern currently sits at No. 3 in RPI in 5A at .63358 as it’ll take on Frederick Douglass and it’s No. 6 RPI at .58386 when the two meet Friday for a spot in the semifinal.
Southwestern’s (10-1) lone loss this season came in a 15-12 battle against Pulaski County. The Warriors are looking to rewrite recent history as they’ve fallen in the third round the last four seasons.
In just its fourth year in existence, the Frederick Douglass Broncos are coming off of a state championship appearance in 2019 after they beat Owensboro 28-17 in the state semifinals a year ago.
Southwestern has used the two-headed attack of Tanner Wright and Giddeon Brainard in the running game this season as the duo has combined for 30 touchdowns on the ground.
Wright (1,320 yards, 14 touchdowns) and Brainard (810 yards, 16 touchdowns) have led the way while David Crabtree has thrown for 754 yards with 10 touchdowns and 8 interceptions this season.
Mason Hibbard is the leading receiver for the Warriors with 14 catches for 265 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Rowan Pennington leads the defense with 70 tackles on the year while Cody Harmon has racked up 6.5 sacks in 9 games.
For the Broncos, Samuel Cornett has thrown for 1,147 yards and 22 touchdowns with just 5 interceptions this season.
Darius Neal has the bulk of the carries for Frederick Douglass as he’s accumulated 695 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.
Dane Key (26 catches, 427 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Kentucky commit Dekel Crowdus (23 catches, 295 yards, 8 touchdowns) led the Broncos in receiving.
Ty Bryant leads the team with 47 tackles while Davis Joyne (2 interceptions) and Isaiah Kenney (2 interceptions) have four of the Broncos’ 11 picks on the season.
Frederick Douglass and Southwestern kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday.
