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Eminence is allowing just 12.3 points per game, a figure that drops to just 7.4 ppg if you remove the Warriors’ loss to Paintsville (8-1). The Tigers, who beat them 46-8 back on Sept. 4, are the only team in the Class A RPI top 10 that Eminence has played this season (Paintsville is No. 7 entering the week; Eminence is No. 10). Three of their wins came against the bottom three teams in the division: Trimble County, Berea and Caverna (only Trimble has a win among that trio).

Eminence did handle business against No. 12 Covington Holy Cross (6-2), though, so it’d be unfair to dismiss them. That was its last big test before consecutive wins over Frankfort (2-6, No. 23 in RPI) and Berea (48-0) the last two weeks. Jermaine “Ju Ju” Harmon Jr., who transferred from Scott County before the season, had 143 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries that night (he also led the Warrors with five solo tackles and recovered a fumble).

It’s worth noting that both of those teams forfeited their scheduled games against Sayre on the opposing dates, so the Spartans haven’t suited up since their 29-6 win over Louisville Holy Cross (6-2, No. 3 in RPI) on Oct. 2. Isaiah King was a workhorse in that victory, racking up 150 yards, a TD and a 2-point conversion on 24 carries; he also caught a TD from Gage Pennington, who’s completed 67% of his passes for 12 TDs and 847 yards.

Most of the games this week in Class 2A feature wide chasms in RPI disparity. One of the closest is this one, where the No. 31 team hosts No. 40 — last in the class — to guarantee one of them at least one win this fall as well as the final spot in the playoffs out of District 3.

Tristin Rogers had averaged 86.5 rushing yards per game (692 total) and scored six total TDs (5 rushing, 1 receiving) for the Bulldogs, who haven’t beaten Metcalfe since 2019.

The Hornets won 60-28 last season. That’s one less point than they’ve scored in 2026. Ethan Rakes (227 rushing yards, 3 TDs on 52 carries) and Blaine Walker (207 receiving yards, 1 TD on 18 catches) have stood out.

District 5 in 3A has quietly become one of the most competitive in across any classification. Especially on defense, where the top four teams rank inside or around the top 10 in points per game allowed.

Carroll County sits behind district leader Bourbon County (7-1) allowing 13.7 ppg (the Colonels are giving up 11.1 ppg). The Cougars’ average was significant higher before taking a 48-7 punch on the chin from Bourbon last week at home. Earlier this season they fared better against Henry County (4-4, 15.1 ppg allowed) but couldn’t get on the board in a 20-0 loss.

Karson Vaught (4) and Lukas Wainscott (3) have combined for 7 of the Cougars’ 13 interceptions this season, tied with LaRue County for the most in 3A and with Beechwood, Ludlow and Mayfield for third most statewide.

Lloyd Memorial staved off Henry County, 14-7, just six days after dropping a 41-34 decision at Bourbon County decided on the final play on Oct. 2. It’ll come in off a bye. Running back Colten Barger (838 yards, 10 TDs) will look to put a dent in a Carroll County defense allowing just 66 rushing yards a night.

The Commodores with wins over Harlan County (3-5) and Whitley County (0-8) guaranteed themselves a winning record in the district for the first time since 2011, when now Justin Haddix was their head coach. They have a tall task in front of them in a bid to sweep.

Corbin, where Haddix coached before landing at Boyle County (7-1), is the No. 5 team in 4A’s RPI and boasts two of the more impressive losses in the entire state: 21-14 to Class 5A frontrunner Pulaski County (8-0) and 10-0 at Frederick Douglass (8-0), top of the class in Class 6A’s non-Trinity division). The Redhounds have won 23 district games in a row, the last loss coming at Wayne County, 18-16 on Oct. 25, 2019.

Keagan Cecil totes the rock a lot for Perry: he’s got 650 yards and 10 TDs on 137 carries through eight games. Parker Maggard has dealt for 1,438 yards and 8 TDS through the air but has also been picked off eight times. Corbin’s intercepted only three passes this season but is among the best in the state at nullifying tossers; the Redhounds give up just 37.8 passing yards each time out.

Perhaps the best game in the state, on paper, will be in Daviess County. Both teams are 4-0 head into their final District 1 game.

The Red Devils got quarterback DaMarcus Ganaway back last week from a broken collarbone suffered in their opener against St. Xavier. He didn’t waste time in his return, putting up 200 yards and 4 TD passes on a 16 of 21 clip against Muhlenberg County (5-3).

Madisonville is ranked ahead of Owensboro in RPI — No. 4 vs. No. 5 — but was ranked five spots behind the Red Devils in the latest media poll. Suffice to say, the Maroons will command much more respect if they can stop a two-game slide against their district rival. Ryder Sandidge has rushed for 21 touchdowns, tied for the fourth highest total in the state, and 1,258 yards, the most in Class 5A heading into Friday.

The RPI rankings suggest this shouldn’t be close — the Generals are No. 6 in the division while PLD sits at 19th — but both are 2-0 in district play, the first time that’s occurred since they’ve shared one (2019).

In fact, if you exempt meetings from the first week of a season, it’s the first time they’ve met with both holding records of at least .500 since 2014. The Bulldogs are looking for their first winning season since 2021 (7-6) under Wes Johnson while the Generals have steadily climbed up the wins ladder each of the last few seasons under Jon Lawson.

Lafayette’s lone loss, 24-9 to Class 5A upstart West Jessamine (8-0), was a one-point game until the Colts returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the the fourth quarter. It kicked off the season with what’s shaped up to be a big feather in the cap, 28-14 over North Oldham (8-1, No. 6 RPI in Class 4A).

Tyree Richardson (777 yards and 7 TDs on 96 carries) and Harrison Stephens (650 yards and 6 TDs on 70 carries) provide as reliable a 1-2 punch from the backfield as any in 6A for Lafayette. On the flip side, Jayshawn Crosby had taken 61.9 percent of Dunbar’s carries; his 156 on the season are 101 more than the next three Bulldogs combined. But there’s a reason: he was able to pass the millennium mark (1,034 yards) and scored 10 rushing TDs (plus another from the sky) in just eight games.

Unfortunately, Crosby broke his arm during the Bulldogs’ win over Henry Clay (0-8) last week. “I hate it for him,” Dunbar head coach Wes Johnson said. “We will be running back by committee.” Look for Ashad Rawlings (71 yards on 17 carries), Azarious “AZ” Rawlings (99, 1 TD on 3 carries), Cameron Isom (32, 1 TD on 15 carries) and Kam Edwards (4 yards on 1 carry) all to be in the mix for the Bulldogs down the stretch.

I have no feelings about the Bears, but I loathe the New England Patriots.

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