Week 2, the weirdness continues, DeSales miracle, 0-2 Rocks, Ballard probs

The Miracle on Crums' Lane

Butler blew it. The Bears were up 14 with 4:15 minutes to go in the fourth quarter at home. On their next possession, DeSales scored on an efficient drive that only took 1:21 off the clock. Butler got the ball back and started their final drive on their own 12 after a personal foul, with 2:54 left in the game. Eric Jackson took a handoff and raced up the DeSales' sideline for 36 yards on the first play of the drive.

DeSales only had one time out left.

The clock was just over 2:00 when the Bears called a questionable pass play on the second down. The ball fell incomplete to the turf and Butler bailed DeSales out of their timeout dilemma. On the next play DeSales would stop Chaz Burks 7 yards short on 3rd and 13 with 1:22 left, one second more than it took the Colts to score their last touchdown that cut the lead to six, and the Colts burned their final timeout. On the ensuing punt, the Colts blocked it, a Bear flopped on it at the Bears' 25 yard line, and Butler players on the sideline collapsed in agonizing frustration.

The Bears defense held for three plays forcing an intentional grounding call that forced a fourth down on the Butler 27. That's when this happened:

Antione Johnson hauled in the pass on the backline of the end zone. The DeSales sideline and stands erupted in jubilation as Johnson raced back to his sideline, then paused to look back to the refs in the end zone to make sure what just happened was real. It was. DeSales kicked the extra point to go up 35-34, which would be the final score as a last ditch hook and later ended with DeMontae Crumes getting blasted at midfield into the Colt's sideline by a DeSales defender.

DeSales is now 2-0 with huge wins over 6A heavy hitters St. X and Butler. They will play rival Holy Cross (1-1) next week in a game that won't be pretty for the Cougars. Butler will have a tune up game against Western (0-2) who is coming off an embarrassing 61-0 evisceration at the unmerciful hands of the Central Yellow Jackets, who haven't given up a point yet this season.

Male beats down Ballard

Male destroyed Ballard, shutting out Austin Carr and the Bruins 47-0. Ballard lost Markeice Warner for the season with a knee injury in the opening scrimmage but one man does not excuse a 47-0 drubbing by a team many thought would be on an even scale with them this season. I spoke with head coach Adrian Morton before the season and told him, "Man you guys are stacked with talent, you better win." He agreed but gave me a caveat that many of his stars were transfers like Warner and Carr and 4-star linebacker Jared Casey has more offers than varsity starts. Those are all valid points, but not to the extent to validate a 47-0 drubbing.

2020 3-star receiver Izayah Cummings dominated with six catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns. QB Dennis Garrett shredded the Bruins on 16 for 19 passing for 247 yards and 4 touchdowns. He did throw a pick though so it wasn't all good. Speaking of not all good, Male lost versatile all-purpose back Henry Vestall for the season with a knee injury. That being said, Male looks like a complete team that can overcome such a serious injury to a major cog in their machine, unlike Ballard in the case of Markeice Warner.

The Male defense sacked Austin Carr five times and picked him off once. They also shut down the Bruins running game to the tone of 46 total yards. That's right, the Bruins managed 46 total yards for the whole game. Male has given up three points this season and a total of 160 yards so far. They take on a Doss (2-0) team coming off a 42-6 beatdown at the hands of South Oldham next week so the floggings will continue until moral improves. Ballard looks to get in the win column against an 0-2 Collins team who fell to the Moore Mustangs in a close one 38-33 on the road.

Ballard has the talent to right the ship. Next week will show the resolve of the players and coaching staff against Collins (0-2) as will the week four showdown with Central (2-0).

Pikeville looks dominant early

Pikeville, pronounced PACK-ville by locals, avenged a 49-21 at the hands of Lexington Christian Friday with a statement making 50-7 manhandling. Pikeville finished the 1A season last year with a 17-14 loss in the semifinals of the state playoffs last year, winning seven straight games after starting 1-4. Six-foot-one, Junior wide receiver Hensley Jackson was the star of the game hauling in five catches for 146 yards and four touchdowns in the route. Make no mistake, Beechwood rules 1A football on the state of Kentucky but Panthers must be respected as they have won nine of their last ten and have looked dominant early this season going 2-0 putting up 96 points and only giving up seven in their first two games. Pikeville and Hensley Jackson are making a case to pull this analyst out of the the Louisville/Lexington area to Appalachia to take in some Panthers football.

Trinity is 0-2 for the first time in four years.

The last time Trinity went 0-2 was 2014. That was the year Male lost to Trinity in the 6A state title. If we are to extrapolate the first two games of the 2018 season, it appears these two teams are once again on a collusion course in the state championship, but watch out for Frederick Douglass.

Before we get into Frederick Douglass, who may be stacked enough to knock off anyone in the state, an examination of the Rocks' loss to Indiana powerhouse Warren Central must be examined.

Last year Trinity beat Warren Central 42-41. This year, Warren Central beat Trinity 42-41. In both games the home team was the victor. Que the Mysteries of the Unknown theme music. What is known, is that Trinity's 0-2 record against Carmel and Warren Central mean nothing in the grand scheme of Kentucky football. They could go 0-4 against out of state schools this year and still run the table instate. They have not been healthy this season and they will be without starting all purpose back Gereimah Smith for the rest of the year after he suffered a knee injury. Is it time to panic in St. Matthews? Nah. The Rocks are a young team that lost a lot of talent. That being said, they have a nice mix of experienced players and young talent that will gel by the playoffs. They face Male on September 7th after they take on Archbishop Moeller (1-0) out of Cincinnati. Let's say the unthinkable happens and Trinity starts out 0-4, it will still be hard to bet against them in Kentucky, but one team looms large out in Lexington ...

Frederick Douglass rolls to a 2-0 start, are they an emerging force in Kentucky 6A?

No doubt. The Broncos are 2-0 after blowing out Wayne County (1-1) 48-10 and Tate's Creek (0-2) 48-17. 6-foot-8 senior quarter back and Cincinnati commit Cameron Jones has been almost perfect over the first two games going 29 for 32, 528 yards, 9 touchdowns, and zero picks. Junior receiver Dekel Crowdus has 10 catches for 204 yards and four touchdowns and the defense looks solid. Their first real test will be week five v. Madison Central (2-0) and then Scott County (2-0) in week eight.

Be on the look out for Frederick Douglass from week to week. They look poised to pounce on 6A in what appears to be a down year for Kentucky's biggest class.

Bowling Green rolls on without Kevin Wallace

The Purples lost their long time head coach Kevin Wallace to St. Xavier this season and questions abounded about how the Purples would fair this season. Well so far so good as Bowling Green is 2-0 after blowing out Pleasure Ridge Park, avenging a 31-25 loss in Louisville to the Panthers last year.

4-star DeVito Tisdale hasn't been playing much defense this year but he has been the star of the Purples offense so far rushing for a total of 270 yards on 35 carries and a score as well as six catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.

The Purples face their former coach and the 0-1 St. X Tigers on the road next week in what promises to be the most intriguing matchup in Kentucky and the KyPreps game of the week.

Wandale Robinson dominates

Wandale Robinson has been my pick for the 2018 Kentucky Mr. Football award since 2016. In two weeks he has 34 carries for 323 yards and 4 touchdowns, 4 catches for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns, a punt return touchdown, 16 tackles and an interception.

Izayah Cummings is off to a hot start

His Bulldogs are 2-0 and Cummings is a big part of the offensive explosion. Over two weeks he has nine catches for 189 yards and four touchdowns. Last season Male was an offense reliant on power running and screens. This year, Cummings has given them the ability to stretch the defense with his ability to not only win jump balls down field, but run by defenders with his improved ability to stem routes and get defenders to open the gate inside. His early start trends well for him to become an integral part of Male's offense and put up bigger numbers as the season continues.

JJ Weaver has emerged as a dominant force

Moore is 2-0 and a big part of that is because of 4-star 2019 defensive end JJ Weaver. He has 16 tackles, three sacks, and an interception so far this year. Moore's offense has been carried, literally by senior running back Larry Johnson to the tune of 28 carries for 258 yards and two touchdowns. The Mustangs (2-0) take on Seneca (0-1) next week.