Home games make up bulk of playoff games

Published 9:59 am Thursday, November 3, 2016

Lincoln County (1-9) at Whitley County (8-2)

7:30 p.m. tonight at Colonel Stadium

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Last week: Lincoln County lost to Rockcastle County, 55-8; Whitley County lost to Leslie County, 37-20

State rankings: Whitley County, Class 5A No. 10

WHEN LINCOLN COUNTY HAS THE BALL

Offense: The Patriots average 210 rushing yards per game. … RB Tra Carey has 1,105 yards and 11 TDs while QB Tanner McAninch adds 839 yards and 10 TDs. … In last week’s loss, the Pats totaled minus 7 rushing yards.

Defense: Corey Johnson has three interceptions. … The Colonels give up 21 points per game. … They’ve held five opponents to 14 points or fewer.

WHEN WHITLEY COUNTY HAS THE BALL

Offense: QB Dylan Wilson has thrown for 1,609 yards and 23 TDs. … Dawson Swain has 841 yards of total offense and nine TDs. … Swain averages 15.6 yards every time he touches the ball.

Defense: The Patriots allow 39 points per game. … DL Emmanuel Beasley has 63 tackles and three fumble recoveries.

4th and goal: Whitley hasn’t won a playoff game since 2012. … The Patriots haven’t won playoff games in back-to-back years since 2006 and ‘07.

Quick take: Never say never — the Pats won a similarly tough playoff game last year.

Allen Central (8-2) at Danville (8-2)

7:30 p.m. Friday, at Admiral Stadium

Last week: Allen Central def. Knott County Central, 32-14; Danville def. Frankfort, 47-0

State rankings: Allen Central, Class 2A RV; Danville, Class 2A No. 5

WHEN ALLEN CENTRAL HAS THE BALL

Offense: The Rebels enter on a two-game winning streak, during which QB Dylan Caudill has rushed for 190 yards and three TDs while throwing for 195 and three TDs. … They average 37 points per game. … The Rebels have rushed for 2,029 yards, 76 percent of their total output.

Defense: Christian Hill returned an interception 50 yards for a score last week. It was only the second defense TD of the year for the Ads. … Danville is allowing 97.6 rushing yards per game.

WHEN DANVILLE HAS THE BALL

Offense: The Admirals are sixth in Class 2A with 39.5 points per game. … QB Zach Dampier leads 2A with 2,403 yards and 31 TDs. … Ellison Stanfield, Dmauriae VanCleave and David Walker are among the 2A receiving leaders. … Those three have combined to catch 24 TDs.

Defense: The Rebels give up 175 yards and 18 points per game. … They’ve scored four defensive TDs, including three off interceptions. … They’ve given up 20 points or more in four games.

4th and goal: The Ads have gone 5-3 in playoff games under coach Clay Clevenger. … Entering this season, the Rebels had gone 12-31 in four seasons since their last winning record.

Quick take: Danville shouldn’t have much trouble keeping up its streak of first-round playoff wins.

Moore (7-3) at Boyle County (6-4)

7:30 p.m., Friday at Rebel Stadium

Last week: Moore def. Waggener, 39-28; Boyle County def. Dunbar, 14-7

State rankings: Moore, Class 3A RV; Boyle County, Class 3A No. 8

WHEN MOORE HAS THE BALL

Offense: QB Rae Von Vaden leads the attack, totaling 1,523 yards and 16 TDs. … Russell Vaden has 42 catches for 625 yards and eight TDs. … Tahja Gelin had 152 rushing yards and three scores in last week’s win.

Defense: The Rebels gave up 13 passing yards in last week’s game. … DBs Evan Tarter and Reese Smith each have six interceptions.

WHEN BOYLE COUNTY HAS THE BALL

Offense: RBs Tanner Crawford and Gunner Ashburn are averaging 7.0 yards per carry over the last two weeks. … Crawford has rushed for 225 yards and four TDs in the last two games and Crawford adds 209 and three.

Defense: Sincere McMurray three interceptions for 135 return yards and a TD. … Shawn Dent has five fumble recoveries.

4th and goal: One of Moore’s win was a 2-0 forfeit win over Shawnee in Week 1. … The Rebels have won six of their last seven games.

Quick take: The Rebels appear to be clicking with two straight wins. Chances are they’ll make it three straight.

Powell County (4-6) at Casey County (8-1)

7:30 p.m. Friday at Rebel Field

Last week: Powell County lost to Lexington Christian, 60-18; Casey County def. Adair County, 36-26

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

WHEN POWELL COUNTY HAS THE BALL

Offense: RB Nathan Skidmore has 1,410 yards and 21 TDs to lead the Pirates rushing game. … Skidmore had 51 yards in the first meeting this year. …  QB John Brooks has 840 yards and seven TDs through the air. … The Pirates totaled 152 yards in the Week 0 loss.

Defense: The Rebels give up 19 points per game. … They’ve forced 21 turnovers this year. … Dalton Lawrence had nine tackles and A.J. Glenn had eight in the first meeting.

WHEN CASEY COUNTY HAS THE BALL

Offense: In the first meeting, QB Breece Hayes threw for 128 yards and two TDs while completing 13-of-15 passes. … Hayes has totaled a school-record 2,080 yards and 21 TDs this year.

Defense: The Pirates gave up 419 yards in the earlier loss to the Rebels. … Powell gives up 40 points and 423.3 yards per game.

4th and goal: The Rebels won the Week 0 matchup 37-0. … Casey has won only one playoff game in school history. … Powell averages less than six wins per year over the last six seasons.

Quick take: Don’t expect the Rebels to stop making history this week.

Garrard County (5-5) at Central (5-5)

7:30 p.m. Friday at Central Football Stadium, Louisville

Last week: Garrard County def. West Jessamine, 69-30; Central lost to PRP, 42-3

State rankings: Central, Class 3A No. 6

WHEN GARRARD COUNTY HAS THE BALL

Offense: It’s no secret what the Lions do on offense — they average 285 rushing yards per game, one of Class 3A’s leaders. … RB Jacob Foley has 1,530 yards and 19 TDs, both career highs. … Foley had 222 yards and three TDs last week while teammate Josh Warren led the way with 238 yards and three scores.

Defense: The Jackets have forced 16 turnovers this year. … They allowed 43 points in their five wins.

WHEN CENTRAL HAS THE BALL

Offense: Corey Johnson and Chereioun Jones have combined to rush for 1,153 yards and 14 TDs. … They average 5.7 yards per rush. … In their five games, they average 36 points. In their five losses, they average under 12 points.

Defense: The Lions give up nearly 32 points per game. … Josh Warren averages 7.8 tackles per game. … They’ve allowed 30 points or more five times this year.

4th and goal: Central has averaged 12 wins per season over the last five years. … Central went 5-0 in district play this year. … Garrard has won seven straight first round playoff games.

Quick take: What a tough way to open the playoffs for the Golden Lions. Just ask Boyle County.

Knox Central at Mercer County

7:30 p.m. Friday at Alvis Johnson Field

Last week: Knox Central lost to Corbin, 39-0; Mercer County def. GRC, 43-0

State rankings: Knox Central, Class 4A RV

WHEN KNOX CENTRAL HAS THE BALL

Offense: The Panthers have lost three straight games, including two straight shutouts. … RB Donavan Arthur has 209 rushing yards and no scores in those games. … Knox has 135 passing yards in the last three weeks.

Defense: Grayson Blevins, Austin Logdon and Tyus Short all average double digit tackles. … The Titans have 21 interceptions, led by four each from Trevon Faulkner, Seth Tatum and Aaron Johnson.

WHEN MERCER COUNTY HAS THE BALL

Offense: The Titans are on a three-game winning streak. They’ve rushed for 782 yards and scored 10 TDs on the ground in those games. … D Smith, Grayson Blevins and Dustin Baker have combined for 1,551 yards and 22 TDs on the ground.

Defense: The Panthers have given up 955 yards over the last three games. … Troy Bierman has four interceptions. … Josh Swafford and Tanner Wells have combined for 143 tackles.

4th and goal: The Panthers won last year’s playoff matchup 19-17. They threw for three TDs in the win. … This will be the fourth matchup in the last five playoffs between the teams. The Panthers are 2-1 in the preview three meetings.

Quick take: If winning a playoff game wasn’t enough motivation, the Titans can get a little revenge for last year’s loss.

Follow Jeremy Schneider on Twitter @jschneideramn