Road tests await local teams in region finals

Published 9:09 am Thursday, November 17, 2016

Casey County (10-1) at Corbin (11-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday at Denes Stadium

Last week: Casey County def. Estill County, 49-21; Corbin def. Bell County, 44-8

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State rankings: Casey County, Class 3A No. 7; Corbin, Class 3A No. 2

WHEN CASEY COUNTY HAS THE BALL

Offense: The 49 points scored in last week’s win is a school record for points in a playoff game. … A.J. Glenn, Breece Hayes, Dalton Summers and Preston Tucker all scored rushing TDs last week. … Hayes has 2,495 passing yards and 27 TDs.

Defense: Ethan Sims returned an interception 80 yards in the previous meeting. … The Redhounds are allowing 133 yards per game. … They’ve forced 17 turnovers.

WHEN CORBIN HAS THE BALL

Offense: QB Cameron Sizemore threw for 208 yards and a TD in the first meeting this season. … Sizemore also rushed for two scores in the win. … In two playoff wins, Sizemore has thrown for 523 yards and nine scores, completing 30-of-39 passes. … The Redhounds have outscored their two playoff opponents 100-8, gaining 961 yards in the wins.

Defense: The Rebels have allowed an average of 206 yards in two playoff wins. … A.J. Glenn had 15 tackles last week. … Glenn had 10 tackles in the first meeting with Corbin.

4th and goal: Casey County has never played in a region final. … This is the third straight region final appearance for the Redhounds. … Corbin has won 31 of 39 games under third-year coach Justin Haddix.

Quick take: It’s going to take a tremendous effort if Casey wants to keep its record-setting season alive.

Danville (10-2) at Lexington Christian (12-0)

7:30 p.m. Friday at LCA Stadium

Last week: Danville def. Leslie County, 34-10; LCA def. Somerset, 47-14

State rankings: Danville, Class 2A No. 5; LCA, Class 2A No. 3

WHEN DANVILLE HAS THE BALL

Offense: RB Donlevy Harris has 169 rushing yards and four TDs in two playoff games, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. … QB Zach Dampier has thrown for 470 yards and four TDs in the playoffs. … In the regular season matchup, Harris had 124 yards and two scores and Dampier had 310 yards and four TDs.

Defense: The Eagles have allowed 40 points and 516 yards in the playoffs. … LBs Kaleb Bolton and Clay Eliot have combined for 25 tackles this postseason, and DL Will Mayo has 14.

WHEN LCA HAS THE BALL

Offense: RB Dillon Wheatley has rushed for 367 yards and six scores in the playoffs, averaging 8.7 yards per rush. … As a team, the Eagles are averaging 6.8 yards per rush in the playoffs. … Wheatley rushed for 249 yards and four TDs in the first meeting. … QB Brayden Miller threw for 217 yards and three TDs last week.

Defense: The Ads give up a little more than 95 rushing yards per game. … They’ve given up 167 rushing yards in the playoffs. … They’ve forced six turnovers in the last two games.

4th and goal: This is the fourth time in two years these teams have played, with Danville owning a 2-1 record and a 139-61 scoring edge. … Danville won 56-14 in last year’s region final matchup.

Quick take: Danville needs to take the same path to the state semifinal this year as last. Can the Ads do it again?

Mercer County at Wayne County

7:30 p.m. Friday at Jewell Field

Last week: Mercer County def. Rockcastle County, 31-30 (OT); Wayne County def. East Jessamine, 41-20

State rankings: Wayne County, Class 4A No. 6

WHEN MERCER COUNTY HAS THE BALL

Offense: WRs Tanner Robins and Trevon Faulkner are averaging 15.1 yards per reception in the playoffs. …  QB Gunnar Gillis has thrown for 358 yards and five scores in the playoffs. … RB D Smith had 83 yards and one score on the ground last week.

Defense: The Cardinals give up 136 rushing yards per game. … Mercer rushed for 50 yards in the first meeting. … LBs Clay Shelton and Chris Dunagan have combined for 254 tackles this year. … DBs Lane Turner and Aubrey Weaver each have four interceptions.

WHEN WAYNE COUNTY HAS THE BALL

Offense: RB Dalton Garner is averaging 8.6 yards per carry in the playoffs, totaling 275 yards and three scores. … On the whole, the Cardinals are averaging 6.9 yards per rush in the playoffs. … The Cardinals average just over 200 rushing yards per game this season, including 326 in the regular season win over Mercer. … Garner rushed for 131 yards and two scores in that win.

Defense: The Titans have intercepted 26 passes this season, led by Trevon Faulkner (7), Aaron Johnson (5) and Seth Tatum (5). … The Titans have allowed 382 rushing yards in two playoff games. … LB Grayson Blevins averages nearly 14 tackles per game.

4th and goal: This is the second straight game against a top-10 team for the Titans after beating No. 4 Rockcastle last week. … Mercer hasn’t advanced to a state semifinal since winning the 2006 state championship.

Quick take: The Titans have a difficult road to travel — both figuratively and literally — to make is past the Cardinals.

Follow Jeremy Schneider on Twitter @jschneideramn