By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
High school football playoffs will get underway Friday with local teams ranked No. 1 in two of the six classes, according to the latest poll of media members around the state.
Beechwood (10-0) heads the list of Class 2A contenders with a perfect record. Highlands (8-2) owns the top spot in Class 4A after beating defending state champion Boyle County, 41-21, in September.
Highlands has a home game against Boyd County (6-4) in the first round of the playoffs. The Lions have a big offensive line and senior quarterback Jace Manning, who has 1,391 yards passing and 501 yards rushing.
The Boyd County coaching staff will be spending the next few days devising a way to contain Highlands sophomore quarterback Bryce Armstrong.
In his first season as a varsity starter, Armstrong has passed for 1,585 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for 762 yards and 11 TDs.
Beechwood has a bye in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs because Morgan County (2-8) withdrew from the bracket.
The Tigers’ opponent in the second round will be the winner of the St. Henry at West Carter game on Friday.
There will be three Class 1A playoff games between local teams on Friday. Based on regular season records, the best matchup should be Dayton (8-2) at Brossart (6-4).
Two years ago, Dayton defeated Brossart, 14-0, in a first-round playoff game. That was the last meeting between the teams that have different offensive strategies this season.
Dayton is primarily a running team with junior Malachi Kennedy surpassing the 1,000-yard rushing total. Brossart’s offensive leader is senior quarterback Landon Spaulding, who has more than 1,500 yards passing and 600 yards rushing.
After the second round of the football playoffs is completed, teams in each class will be seeded according to the Ratings Percentage Index that’s based on won-loss record and strength of schedule. In each matchup, the higher seed gets a home game.
Football state playoff games on Friday
CLASS 1A
Trimble County (1-9) at Newport Central Catholic (5-5), 7 p.m.
Dayton (8-2) at Brossart (6-4), 7 p.m.
Bellevue (1-8) vs. Holy Cross (8-2) at Thomas More, 7 p.m.
Ludlow (6-4) at Newport (5-5), 7 p.m.
CLASS 2A
St. Henry (5-5) at West Carter (3-7), 7 p.m.
Jackson County (4-6) at Walton-Verona (8-2), 7 p.m.
CLASS 3A
East Carter (4-6) at Lloyd (9-1), 7 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Boyd County (6-4) at Highlands (8-2), 7 p.m.
Johnson Central (2-7) at Covington Catholic (6-4), 7 p.m.
CLASS 5A
Anderson County (3-6) at Cooper (8-2), 7 p.m.
Conner (4-6) at Scott County (7-3), 7:30 p.m.
Scott (3-7) at Woodford County (9-1), 7 p.m.
Collins (7-3) at Dixie Heights (4-6), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 6A
Louisville Fern Creek (2-8) at Ryle (5-5), 7 p.m.
Louisville Southern(1-9) at Simon Kenton (5-5), 7:30 p.m.
Campbell County (4-6) at Louisville Male (5-5), 7:30 p.m.