[Stardust]

EASTERN AT BALLARD

When: 7:30.


Records: Eastern 4-2, 0-0 Class 6-A, District Five; Ballard 1-5, 0-0.


Notes: The Eagles were off last week after falling 49-24 to Male on Sept. 23. Quarterback Tanner Evans has completed 91 of 172 passes for 1,326 yards and 11 touchdowns with seven interceptions. His top targets are Austin Kessler (23 catches, 309 yards, one TD) and Shane Fields (18-318-3). Fields also has five interceptions at safety. The Bruins’ losing streak stands at three after they were outscored 21-0 in the fourth quarter of last week’s 34-27 loss to Warren Central. Cam Lewis had 10 catches for 186 yards and three TDs for the Bruins. Ballard won last year’s meeting 38-21.


Quotable: “We know Ballard has played a real good schedule and used a lot of different people,” Eagles coach Ken Whalen said. “Their quarterback (Tyler Owen) was out for a while … so this is not the same Ballard team as the beginning of the season.”



Jason’s pick: Eastern 28-21.


BUTLER AT SOUTHERN

When: 7:30.


Records: Butler 4-2, 0-0 Class 6-A, District Three; Southern 4-2, 0-0.


Notes: The Bears’ four-game winning streak ended last week in a 40-35 loss at Manual. It was a big night for junior quarterback J.D. Morgan, who passed for 321 yards and five TDs, but he also had two interceptions returned for TDs. Kiante Northington had four catches for 126 yards and two TDs. The Trojans are 4-2 for the first time since 2003, when they finished 6-4. Southern won three straight before being off last week. Senior running backs Marcus Bennett and Deondre McRae and senior quarterback Mike Case lead the offense.


Quotable: “Marcus is a tough, between-the-tackles runner with a lot of football sense about him,” Southern coach Corey Crume said. “You know he’s going to break the first tackle and get a lot of yards after contact. Deondre is quicker and more of a finesse guy. We use him more on the perimeter and in the passing game.”


Jason’s pick: Butler 35-20.


NORTH OLDHAM VS. COLLINS

When/where: 7:30 at Shelby County.


Records: North Oldham 6-0, 1-0 Class 4-A, District Three; Collins 4-2, 1-0.


Notes: The Mustangs are 6-0 for the first time since starting 8-0 in 2008. They’re averaging 49.7 points behind a rushing attack that features Jacob Raymond (480 yards, three TDs) and Josh Smith (402 yards, three TDs). The team’s leading rusher, Zach Evans (510 yards, 13 TDs), suffered a broken foot Sept. 16 against South Oldham and is out for the season. The Titans have two straight shutouts, beating Spencer County 21-0 and Shelby County 39-0. Michael Brooks leads the defense with 101 tackles (52 solo) and also has scored 11 TDs (seven rushing, two receiving, one interception return, on fumble return). Quarterback Lawson Page (620 passing yards, eight TDs) and running back Deandre Farris (408 yards, four TDs) pace the offense.


Quotable: “Our line and backs and receivers have done a wonderful job blocking, so we’ve been able to run the ball well,” North Oldham coach Billy Martin said. “And it’s not been just one guy. We’ve been able to spread it around.”


Jason’s pick: Collins 23-20.


JOHN HARDIN AT JEFFERSONTOWN

When: 7:30.


Records: John Hardin 6-0, 1-0 Class 5-A, District Three; Jeffersontown 5-1, 1-0.


Notes: No. 4 in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings, John Hardin is averaging 47.7 points and has four straight shutouts (Meade County, Boyle County, Iroquois and Central Hardin). Jeremy Harness (919 yards, 15 TDs) and Quinsie Brown (548 yards, 10 TDs) lead the rushing attack, and Eli Mitchell has passed for 660 yards and 11 TDs with just one interception. The Chargers posted a big district victory last week, knocking off North Hardin 33-13. Quarterback DeMichael Jackson continued to shine, throwing for two TDs and rushing for another. He’s accounted for 19 TDs this season (14 rushing, five passing).


Quotable: “I think we’ve finally overcome all the adversity of the last three years, and now it’s about dealing with the accolades and the success,” J’town coach Gary Weiter said. “We’re 5-1, and in my opinion we should be 6-0. … This will be a major test for us. We’ll see where we are as a program.”


Jason’s pick: John Hardin 35-20.


MALE AT ST. XAVIER

When: 7:30.


Records: Male 2-4, 0-0 Class 6-A, District Four; St. Xavier 3-4, 0-1.


Notes: In a series that dates to 1924, this marks the first time that both teams enter the game with losing records. St. X has won the past three meetings, but Male leads the series 52-38-2. The Bulldogs were off last week after a 49-24 victory over Eastern in which both quarterbacks (Lorentez Barbour and Aladin Ganibegovic) had TDs running, passing and receiving. Male coach Chris Wolfe said Barbour will start against St. X. The Tigers are coming off a 41-6 loss to rival Trinity in which senior quarterback Alex Mattingly passed for 142 yards and rushed for 98 yards and a TD.


Quotable: “St. X has played a tough schedule,” Wolfe said. “They could have scheduled themselves to be 5-1 if they wanted to, so I don’t take a whole lot from their record.”


Jason’s pick: St. X 24-14.

[Stardust]

OTHER PREDICTIONS

(Home team in CAPS)


BULLITT EAST 20, Bullitt Central 13


Central 47, ELIZABETHTOWN 14


BARDSTOWN 27, Christian Academy 10


DESALES 33, Shawnee 6


FAIRDALE 28, Doss 26


Fern Creek 27, OLDHAM COUNTY 21


NORTH HARDIN 49, Iroquois 7


MOORE 30, Valley 20


NORTH BULLITT 37, Shelby County 14


PLEASURE RIDGE PARK 31, Seneca 13


COOPER 24, South Oldham 14


SPENCER COUNTY 34, Waggener 16


Central Hardin 23, WESTERN 17


Last week’s record: 13-2.


Season record: 97-21.


— Jason Frakes