Gamesmanship in the CAL-DeSales rivalry?

CAL’s Milton Wright was chased by DeSales players after intercepting a pass during Friday’s game at DeSales. Photo by Scott Utterback/Courier-Journal.

The recent back-and-forth history of the DeSales-Christian Academy football series has provided plenty of material for conspiracy theorists, but both teams’ coaches routinely have brushed it away as nothing more than mere coincidence.

But after his team’s 12-7 victory at DeSales on Friday, CAL coach Stefan LeFors hinted at some possible gamesmanship by the Colts that many have speculated about over the years.

Friday’s win gave CAL a six-game winning streak over DeSales in regular-season matchups. But the Colts have avenged those losses in the playoff rematches each of the past four seasons.

LeFors said he was “shocked” by a DeSales offense that attempted 30 passes and 20 rushes on Friday. The Colts traditionally have featured a run-heavy attack under coach Harold Davis but routinely used three- and four-receiver sets on Friday.

MORE COVERAGE | Story, photos, stats and more from CAL’s win over DeSales

“They do not run four-wides, that is not their staple, and this is what they’ve done in the past,” LeFors said before looking ahead to a possible rematch in the playoffs. “I can almost bet just about everything I’ve got that when we meet them in November, they’re going to go two tight ends with a wing and two backs and try to pound it down our throat. That’s going to be a challenge our guys have to answer.”

Davis admitted the Colts “got away from the run a little more than we should” but downplayed any notion that he was simply testing the waters for a possible playoff rematch.

Instead, he credited CAL’s defensive line for slowing the Colts’ rushing attack.

“Their front line is huge,” Davis said. “They’re big, they’re strong and they’re athletic.”

CAL and DeSales are expected to finish as the top two teams in Class 2-A, District Four, meaning they could meet in the third round of the playoffs next month.

CAL’S OLSOFKA INJURED

CAL junior lineman Nick Olsofka missed Friday’s game with a sprained knee suffered against Meade County on Sept. 30.

Olsofka is the Centurions’ top tackler with 36 (nine solo) and also is a key member of the offensive line. LeFors is hopeful Olsofka will return next month during the playoffs.

“He has five weeks to get that thing ready,” said LeFors, pointing to the possible playoff rematch with DeSales. “Nick O is our best offensive lineman and best defensive lineman, no doubt about it. He’s legit.”

ST. X RUN DEFENSE STRONG

Entering Friday’s contest, Manual’s rushing attack averaged 193 yards per game, good for ninth overall among the Class 6-A teams. However, the Crimsons failed to get much traction against St. Xavier in their 28-12 loss.

The Tigers – ranked No. 7 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings – limited Manual to just 56 yards rushing on 25 carries, and 23 of those yards came on a run during a fake punt.

“The defense played great from the very beginning,” St. X coach Will Wolford said. “Besides the opening score, there wasn’t any pressure on us.”

MORE COVERAGE | Story, photos, stats and more from St. X’s win over Manual

Four of Manual’s first nine possessions were three-and-outs, and on two other drives in that span, Manual ran just four plays. That allowed St. X to take a 28-6 lead into the fourth quarter and put in several reserves on its Senior Night. All 49 seniors got in at least one play, Wolford said.

With the victory, St. X is 2-0 in Class 6-A, District Three and is tied with Male for the district lead. The Bulldogs will host the Tigers on Friday.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

* Freshman Keaton Martin rushed for 274 yards and six touchdowns on 20 carries to lead South Oldham (7-0) to a 52-27 victory at Bullitt East (2-6).

“I tell you, I’m just along for the ride,” South Oldham coach Jamie Reed said of Martin. “We know he’s a good player and he works hard. Our offensive line and wide receivers have done a great job just blocking. He’s a special player, and we hope he continues to get better.”

South Oldham is 7-0 for the first time in school history.

Hunter Perdue rushed for 159 yards on 20 carries to lead Bullitt East.

* Chereioun Jones rushed for 80 yards to lead host Central (3-4) to a 50-0 victory over Thomas Nelson (4-3).

* Jayshawn Howard had two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, to lead Atherton (3-5) to a 23-14 victory at Iroquois (0-7).

* Dalton Landrum threw three touchdown passes, including two in the final six minutes, to lift host Franklin County (3-5) to a 48-35 victory over Spencer County (6-2). Branden Leff rushed for 344 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries to lead the Bears.

* Tyon Pearson passed for 90 yards and three touchdowns to lift host Western (3-4) to a 36-20 victory over Valley (4-3).

* Josue Batista had 12 tackles, including four for loss, to lead Southern’s defense in a 22-21 victory over visiting Fairdale (1-6). The Trojans improved to 3-3.

* Collins quarterback J.R. Lucas completed 21 of 36 passes for 402 yards and five touchdowns in a 47-39 loss to visiting Central Hardin (4-3). Dalton Maggard had 12 catches for 263 yards and three TDs for the Titans (4-3).

* Seneca (1-6) snapped a 20-game losing streak with a 42-32 victory at Jeffersontown (1-7). Seneca’s DeShawn Chaney and Josiah Taylor returned interceptions for touchdowns.

NEWS AND NOTES

* With three weeks left in the regular season, there are 15 unbeaten teams remaining in Kentucky.

Class A has the most with four – Nicholas County (8-0), Paintsville (8-0), Raceland (7-0) and Russellville (7-0).

The other unbeatens are Trinity (8-0), Ryle (7-0) and Simon Kenton (7-0) in Class 6-A; Bowling Green (7-0) and South Oldham (7-0) in 5-A; Franklin-Simpson (8-0) and Johnson Central (7-0) in 4-A; Bardstown (7-0) and Casey County (6-0) in 3-A; and Mayfield (7-0) and Lexington Christian (7-0) in 2-A.

Central will get a chance to take out one of the unbeatens Friday when it plays at Bardstown.

* Logan County’s state-long losing streak reached 40 games on Thursday in a 41-0 loss to Hopkinsville. It was the first time the Cougars have been shut out this season.

POWER FIVE

Each week Jason Frakes will provide his ranking of the top five teams in the state, regardless of class:

* No. 5 – St. Xavier (5-2). Handed Manual its first loss of the season, 28-12, as quarterback Desmond Ridder rushed for three touchdowns and passed for another. Up next: At Male (6-1) on Friday.

* No. 4 – Simon Kenton (7-0). Blasted Boone County 52-0 as quarterback Cam Racke accounted for three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing). Up next: At Campbell County (3-4) on Friday.

* No. 3 – Male (6-1). Bulldogs were off. Up next: Hosts St. Xavier (5-2) on Friday.

* No. 2 – Bowling Green (7-0). Purples were off. Up next: At Barren County (0-7) on Friday.

* No. 1 – Trinity (8-0). Roderick Thomas rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns as the Shamrocks routed Eastern 56-0. Up next: Hosts Seneca (1-6) on Friday.

GAME BALLS

Branden Leff, Spencer County

The senior rushed for 344 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries in a 48-35 loss at Franklin County.

B.J. Robinson, Pleasure Ridge Park

The junior completed 8 of 15 passes for 232 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-6 victory over Butler.

Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.