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Browse by City/ StatePreviews and predictions for Sept. 3 Louisville-area games
Here's a look at tonight's top games in the Louisville area:
TRINITY AT MANUAL
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: Trinity 1-0, Manual 1-1.
Notes: Both are coming off impressive wins last weekend: Trinity 56-23 over Indianapolis Lawrence North and Manual 59-14 over Fern Creek. But the teams also have a common opponents being Fort Thomas Highlands. Trinity beat Highlands 49-42 in a scrimmage that coach Bob Beatty said was "played just like a game," and Manual lost 45-14 to the Bluebirds in the opening week. Trinity sophomore quarterback Travis Wright was 17 of 20 in his first varsity start, completing passes to six receivers. Derek Bishop ran for three touchdowns, while Roger Johnson and Dalyn Dawkins also contributed to the running game. Manual quarterback Ian Wooldridge threw for five TDs, which is believed to be a school record, against Fern Creek. The Crimsons are in the first year under coach Oliver Lucas.
Quotable: "The thing sometimes taken for granted is the running game," Beatty said. "You throw the ball better when your opponent first has to be concerned with the run. I didn't think our running game a year ago was where it needed to be. (Teams) could lay their ears back and come after us. But we have some guys that can get the job done for us."
Jody's pick: Trinity 45-28.
DESALES AT BULLITT EAST
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
DeSales 1-1, Bullitt East 1-1.
Notes: It was a tale of two weeks for both teams in the first couple of weeks of the season. DeSales dropped a 17-10 decision to Western but rebounded with an impressive 28-6 win over Elizabethtown. The Colts ran for 239 yards against the Panthers, including 146 and three touchdowns by senior Garrit Leicht. DeSales coach Mark Sander said he has 12 seniors on this team and the Colts want to keep building on last year's Class 2-A state runner-up spot. Bullitt East beat Bardstown in the opener but suffered a 63-12 whipping at home against Holy Cross last week.
Quotable: "I was pleased and surprised (with last week)," Sander said. "We needed to win that one. We We didn't want to start the season off real bad after last year. I didn't know what that would do to the troops."
Jody's pick: DeSales 31-14.
MALE AT WESTERN
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: Male 2-0, Western 1-0.
Notes: The Chris Wolfe-era at Male is without a blemish on the record after a tough win against Eastern last week. John Giddens and Ronjae Morris are one of the best one-two punches out of the backfield in the area. Morris has 293 yards and three touchdowns and Giddens 168 yards and another score. Soloman Logan and Jalon Kemp lead a hard-hitting defense. Western has high expectations in LaVell Boyd's third season and the Warriors want to prove a point against a 6-A opponent. Last year, Western lost to Male (49-34), Bryan Station, Butler and Ballard - all from the 6-A class - and Boyd feels like he has the athletes to win a few this time around. Cornerback Leon Melvin is one of the most underrated players in the state of Kentucky. Western officials said they are having a "White Out" for the game and are encouraging fans to wear white.
Quotable: "In thee years, I feel like this is our best team," Boyd said. "We have a lot of good pieces and I feel like we're in our best position to win. We played 6-A teams last year and didn't get handled by any of them. We didn't win but we hung in there with them."
Jody's pick: Male 45-35.
FERN CREEK AT SENECA
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Records - Seneca 2-0, Fern Creek 0-1.
Notes: Seneca has scored 96 points in two games and University of Louisville commitment DaMarcus Smith has thrown for five touchdowns, including three to Michael Fluellen. The RedHawks amassed 450 yards of total offense in a 48-21 win over Southern last week. Running back Tyrome Lott has been solid in the first two games. The opener didn't go well for Fern Creek, which allowed 447 yards and had just 127 yards in a blowout loss to Manual. U of L commitment Jerrell Moore had a 15-yard TD catch and a 98-yard TD run for the Tigers' only two scores of the game. Fern Creek had two interceptions, four fumbles and five penalties against the Crimsons so they'll need to clean up their play. Fern Creek players Jalen Harrington and Jamon Brown have also committed to play at U of L.
Quotable: "(The Manual loss) is not an indication of the team we will see," Seneca coach Louis Dover said. "Every mistake Fern Creek made, Manual capitalized. There's no way they can play two games in a row like that. They have a lot of talent. There will be a whole lot of firepower on that field."
Jody's pick: Seneca 48-34.
SHAWNEE AT ATHERTON
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: Shawnee 0-1, Atherton 0-2.
Notes: Atherton has lost 16 of its past 17 games and hasn't beaten Shawnee since 2002. The Rebels only had 95 yards of total offense in a 49-0 loss to Kentucky Country Day last week. The Rebels haven't had a winning season since 1975 but has six starters back on both sides of the ball from last season. Shawnee, which has new coach Ted Leasor this season, will try to establish the running game.
Jody's pick: Shawnee 18-7.
OTHER PREDICTIONS
Eastern 31, Butler 21
Bullitt Central 21, Southern 14
St. Xavier 48, Lexington Catholic 7
Christian Academy 14, North Oldham 13
PRP 24, Doss 14
KCD 28, Eminence 14
Oldham County 22, Fairdale 20
Collins 35, Marion County 17
North Bullitt 12, South Oldham 7
Valley 49, Iroquois 0
Jeffersontown 34, Waggener 28
LaRue County 14, Shelby County 7
Last week 13-3
