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CENTRAL (13-2)

Coach: Ty Scroggins (seventh season, 63-25).

Starters back: Offense 7, defense 9.

Class: 3-A, District 3.

Player to watch: QB Sydney Tedford (Sr.). A backup signal-caller last year, Tedford received three solid weeks of varsity experience in the 2012 playoffs. "He's the key to our offense," Scroggins said. "His goal is to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 1,000 yards. If he does, we'll be real close to playing in the (state) championship game."

Other top players: LB Phillip Francis (Sr.), LB Donald Styles (Sr.), LB Derquione Mobley (Sr.), WR Marcel Malone (Sr.), S Jajuan Haley (Sr.), DE Anthony Hamblin (Sr.), FB Darren Powell (Sr.), DB Christopher Dinwiddie (Sr.), TB Stevon Beason (Jr.).

Outlook: The Yellowjackets will depend on an experienced defensive unit early, led by three veteran linebackers, until the offense gains more seasoning. Tedford and Malone should give Central a good passing game. "We have 32 seniors -- the most I've ever had -- and they all will play," Scroggins said. "I thought we had a lot of seniors (27) last year, but we played a lot of juniors then, too."

-- Bob White

Date Opponent Date Opponent
8/23 at Manual 9/27 ST. XAVIER
8/30 at Lafayette 10/11 *at Elizabethtown
9/6 at Eastern 10/18 *HENRY CO.
9/13 DOSS 10/25 *at LaRue Co.
9/20 at Western 11/1 PRP
*-District game.

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (8-4)

Coach: Stefan LeFors (third season, 16-9).

Starters back: Offense 6, defense 5.

Class: 2-A. District: 4.

Player to watch: Two-time all-district senior WR Chad Lewellyn hauled in 46 passes for 606 yards and six touchdowns last season. He'll be counted on heavily in former University of Louisville quarterback LeFors' offense as the Centurions plan to make up for the loss of six starters on defense with more offensive production.

Other top players: RB Nick Payne (Jr.), QB Nathan Christmas (Sr.), WR/LB Rider Sparrow (Sr.), DT Zach Page (Sr.), LB Zac Passafiume (Sr.), DB Nate Smith (Sr.).

Outlook: In his third year at the helm, LeFors will rely on his offense while the young defense gets its legs underneath it. Look for all-district running back Payne, who rushed for 1,219 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, and Christmas, who passed for 1,460 yards and 13 TDs, to carry the load along with Lewellyn. The Centurions are seeking to win their district for the third straight year. With the loss of key defensive personnel and a tough schedule, they have their work cut out for them, but LeFors says they have several young guys "chomping at the bit to show what they can do."

-- Brett Borden

Date Opponent Date Opponent
8/23 LEX. CHRISTIAN 9/27 *at Shawnee
8/30 EASTERN 10/4 *at Bardstown
9/6 at North Oldham 10/11 *FORT KNOX
9/13 *at Thomas Nelson 10/18 *DE SALES
9/20 *WASHINGTON CO. 11/1 at Male
*-District game.

DESALES (9-5)

Coach: Harold Davis (second season, 9-5).

Starters back: Offense 5, defense 6.

Class: 2-A. District: 4.

Player to watch: Senior RB/DB Dylan Byrd (5-9, 175 pounds) carried the Colts to three playoff wins last year, rushing 93 times for 574 yards and six touchdowns and catching seven passes for 156 yards and two TDs in four postseason games. He'll be counted on heavily again, albeit with four new starters on the offensive line opening holes for him. Byrd leads a backfield deep in talent and experience.

Other top players: QB Nathan Roush (Sr.), S Connor Shipley (Sr.), DT Dylan Cochran (Sr.), T Matt Bledsoe (Jr.).

Outlook: DeSales put together a nice playoff run last season and has the 1-2 punch of Byrd and Roush back for one more shot at it. The Colts lost 11 of 22 starters, six on offense, but their goal is to compete for the district title again. Davis attended DeSales and played on the 1981 team that made the Class 4-A title game and was an assistant coach on the 2009 team that made the 2-A final, the only times DeSales has played for a state championship.

-- Brett Borden

Date Opponent Date Opponent
8/23 a-Holy Cross 9/27 *d-Bardstown
8/30 b-John Hardin 10/3 *at Fort Knox
9/6 at Warren Central 10/11 *at CAL
9/13 *at Washington Co. 10/17 *d-Thomas Nelson
9/20 *c-Shawnee 11/1 at Southern
*-District game; a-at Fairdale; b-at Central Hardin; c-at Iroquois; d-at Southern.

SHAWNEE (1-10)

Coach: Jason Wyatt (first season).

Starters back: Offense 3, defense 4.

Class: 2A, District 4.

Player to watch: With only seven starters back, senior running back/defensive end Devon Raye will be counted on heavily.

Other top players: OL/LB Gerald White (Sr.), TE/DE Austin Thomas (Sr.), RB/DB Dallas Johnson (Sr.), OL/LB Marques Salters (Sr.).

Outlook: "We have some new players who should help on both sides of the ball, such as Damian Allen, Cody Harral, Andre Crittenden and Patrick Gatson," said Wyatt, who played at the University of Louisville from 1995-98 and was defensive coordinator at Shawnee the past three seasons.

-- Brett Borden

Date Opponent Date Opponent
8/23 KCD 9/27 *CAL
8/30 at Eminence 10/4 *at Thomas Nelson
9/6 ATHERTON 10/11 *WASHINGTON CO.
9/13 *at Fort Knox 10/25 *BARDSTOWN
9/20 *at DeSales
*-District game.

HOLY CROSS (3-9)

Coach: Todd Crumbacker (second season).

Starters back: Offense 6, defense 8.

Class: A, District: 2.

Player to watch: OL/DL C.J. Jacoby (6-3, 327) is one of just six seniors on the team and by far the biggest. His talent and bulk will be vital on both lines.

Other top players: TE/LB Nick Hickey (So.), TE/DB Brandon Moulden (Sr.), OL/DL John Skinner (Jr.), WR/DB Nathan Elder (Jr.).

Outlook: The Cougars again have depth issues. There are 38 players on their submitted roster, including only six seniors and seven juniors. But there is impressive size in the trenches, led by Jacoby. Crumbacker says having a year under his belt will be crucial. "We are under our second year as a coaching staff," he said. "Offensive and defensive philosophies are familiar to the team." Crumbacker is looking for leaders to step up in Year 2. Eight starters returning on defense will help.

-- Brett Borden

Date Opponent Date Opponent
8/23 at DeSales 9/27 at Waggener
8/30 FORT KNOX 10/11 *KCD
9/6 at Providence (IN) 10/18 *at Caverna
9/13 HENRY COUNTY 10/25 *BETHLEHEM
9/20 VALLEY 11/1 at Bardstown
*-District game.

KY. COUNTRY DAY (11-2)

Coach: Matthew Jones (second season).

Starters back: Offense 4, defense 6.

Class: A. District: 2.

Player to watch: Senior running back/wide receiver/safety Jordan Duff is one of just four returning starters on offense, but he's a good one to have back. He rushed for 784 yards on 50 carries and added 410 yards on 17 receptions a year ago. He also scored 20 touchdowns (15 rushing and five receiving). As if that weren't enough, he also registered 74 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries on defense.

Other top players: RB/LB Tommy Staffieri (Sr.), T/DT Emilio Zayas (Sr.), G/LB Alan Papalia (Jr.), FB/LB Evan Mauck (Jr.)

Outlook: Jones has given himself a tough act to follow, but he has some talented players on hand to do just that. The defending district champions will be inexperienced, especially on offense, but having Duff and Staffieri (nine touchdowns rushing, seven receiving) helps a lot. The Bearcats will have a new quarterback in junior Blake Phillips (6-2, 198) but will rely on Duff, whom Jones calls the team's "electric playmaker."

-- Brett Borden

Date Opponent Date Opponent
8/23 at Shawnee 9/27 at Eminence
8/30 at Atherton 10/11 *at Holy Cross
9/6 WALTON-VERONA 10/18 *at Bethlehem
9/13 CARROLL COUNTY 10/25 *CAVERNA
9/20 IROQUOIS 11/1 TRIMBLE COUNTY
*-District game.

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