Yahoo Sports Friday’s high school kickoffs include state title rematch at Bryan Station
The high school football season kicks off Friday with some blockbuster games that include a rematch of last season’s Class 6A state championship between Trinity and Bryan Station to be played in front of what is sure to be a packed house on the Northside.
It will be the fourth meeting between the two programs in two years. Bryan Station stunned the Shamrocks in a 2022 regional championship game in Lexington. Trinity exacted its revenge with a sweep of their meetings last year, including the 41-20 win at Kroger Field for the state title.
Trinity ranked No. 1 in this year’s Herald-Leader Class 6A preseason survey with the Defenders coming in at No. 5. Though there’s not much history between the two schools, the intensity of their recent games has drawn the attention of the “Great American Rivalry Series,” which has been highlighting high school football for 20 years.
“Just playing Trinity itself at home is a big opportunity, but to know you’re playing in a game the Great American Rivalry Series — they have five national games a week — to be one of those games says a lot for what we’re doing, and I think it’ll be great for our kids,” Bryan Station coach Phillip Hawkins said.
In addition to being featured on the Rivalry Series website, each team’s senior player of the game will receive an award, and a donation will be made to Bryan Station’s athletics program.
Glicod will stream the game on its YouTube channel. Kickoff is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
“We have created a little rivalry,” Hawkins said. “Last year’s games didn’t go how we wanted, but our kids know if they do the right things and they compete, we can be competitive in that game. I don’t have to do a hard sell. (Beating Trinity) has been done. We’re excited.”
Orange on schedule in Paris
Paris High School’s renovations to Blanton Collier Stadium will still be ongoing even after their home game against Frankfort on Friday, but superintendent Stephen McCauley said the new orange turf field will be ready for kickoff.
The goal posts were installed this week and the end zone lettering was scheduled to be stitched in on Thursday. The No. 8 Greyhounds host Frankfort at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
“The field will be complete and safe and all the safety measures will be in,” McCauley said.
The rest of the renovations, including a new scoreboard and a synthetic track behind the grandstand, should be done by Paris’ second home game on Sept. 13. A temporary scoreboard and the old sound system will be used Friday, McCauley said.
“We’ll have a ribbon cutting and have the (new) video board and hopefully everything’s done by then.”
Big games in Bowling Green on Saturday
Two ranked Lexington teams head to Western Kentucky University’s Houchens Industries L.T. Smith Stadium for the annual Rafferty’s Bowl, which includes two defending state champions.
Class 2A No. 3 Lexington Christian will take on Class 4A No. 1 Boyle County at 5 p.m. Central Time. The Eagles stunned Boyle County in Danville in 2022, handing the only loss of that season to the eventual state champions. Last year Boyle beat LCA 47-38 in a thriller on the way to a fourth consecutive state title.
A rematch of 2022’s Class 5A state championship game will follow as Class 5A No. 1 Bowling Green takes on now Class 6A No. 3 Frederick Douglass at 8 p.m. Central Time.
The Broncos beat the Purples 28-7 at Kroger Field for the 5A title two seasons ago before moving up into Class 6A. Bowling Green won the 5A title last season.
While most of the players involved in that 2022 title game have graduated, that’s not the case for Bowling Green quarterback Deuce Bailey, who’s surely determined to bury that sophomore memory with a senior-year win.
Other games of note Friday
All times 7:30 p.m. local time unless noted.
▪ Franklin County faces Scott County at 6 p.m. Friday at Great Crossing in the annual Battle of Elkhorn Creek. Madison Southern vs. Great Crossing will follow.
▪ Edmonson County travels to Grayson County for the annual fight for the Tobacco Stick.
▪ Ashland Blazer at Raceland; Breathitt County at Belfry, Christian Academy-Louisville at Owensboro; Covington Catholic at Ryle; Manual at Central; Pikeville at Corbin.
▪ Other Lexington teams: Oldham County vs. Henry Clay (at Lafayette), 6 p.m.; Fleming County at Lafayette, 8:45 p.m.; Lexington Catholic at Highlands, Conner at Paul Laurence Dunbar; Covington Holy Cross at Sayre; Eastern at Tates Creek.
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