District Do-or-Dies

We have reached week five of the eleven-week regular season, and district games are beginning to fill up the schedule. So starting this week, we'll look at seven teams that pretty much need to win their district game this weekend if they are to reach their district goals...

1) Lone Oak (2-2, 0-1)...at home vs. Heath
The Purple Flash are expected to contend for a playoff spot in 2A's 1st district. Last week, they dropped their district opener to Caldwell County 31-21. It seems Trigg County and Fort Campbell are locks for the playoffs. With only two spots open, a loss this Friday to Heath would all but eliminate Lone Oak from contention.

2) Edmonson County (3-1, 1-0)...at Todd County Central
With Glasgow and Monroe County down from past years, Edmonson County has an excellent opportunity this fall to host a playoff game. The Wildcats got off to a great start with a 42-0 win over Hart County, their first district opponent. Todd Central occupies the basement of the district with Hart County, and a Wildcat loss here would likely erase their chances of a playoff game in Brownsville.

3) North Bullitt (2-1, 1-1)...at home vs. Central
North Bullitt has two incentives to win this game: 1) Central has already defeated Bullitt East (and convincingly, I might add) and a win here would give them full control of this district; 2) Last week's upset loss at Valley puts North in a precarious position if they lose this game as well. Future road games at Bullitt East and Doss would be tough tasks if they were needed for a playoff berth.

4) Clay County (4-0, 0-0)...at Letcher County Central
Now it might be silly to put a team on here that hasn't played a district game yet, but consider: Clay County shares a district with Rockcastle County and Bell County. If they are to challenge those two teams for a district crown, games against lower-tier district teams like Letcher County Central need to be won.

5) Shelby County (2-1, 0-0)...at Oldham County
The race is on in 4A's 5th District for third place. Trinity is a lock to capture the district title, and Ballard should be able to win enough games to finish second. That leaves six teams to fight for two playoff spots. Shelby County figures to be one of the two teams in the hunt, as the Rockets were highly touted coming into the year. Oldham County is 1-3 and struggling; this needs to be a Rocket win.

6) Waggener (2-1, 0-1)...at Jeffersontown
Two weeks ago, Waggener dropped a 14-12 decision to North Bullitt. If they had won that game, their playoff chances would have been great. However, a loss Friday to Jeffersontown would almost bury their chances. Waggener faces a tough three-week stretch starting next week (Fairdale, at Central, at Bullitt East). Overlooking Jeffersontown would not be wise.

(7) Bellevue (2-1, 0-0)...at Ludlow
If you haven't noticed, the 5th District in Class A is pretty much stacked. There's Newport Central Catholic, Beechwood and Covington Holy Cross. And then there's Bellevue, which continues to lurk in the shadows of the 5th. If they are to make a move up the pecking order, a win at Ludlow is needed. The fun will begin for them next week, as they visit Covington Holy Cross.