Three football districts in the state will be using the KHSAA tie-breaker method to determine postseason seeding for the playoffs that begin next week. The most likely scenario to go down to the wire is in Class 4A, District 1.
Hopkinsville, Madisonville, and Logan County are all tied at 3-1 in the district. Hoptown beat Logan County who beat Madisonville who beat Hoptown. The KHSAA uses a system that sees teams get a point for the win total of four opponents they have beaten that are not involved in the tie-breaker.
Coming into Friday’s regular season finale, Logan County has 14 points, while Madisonville has 11, and Hopkinsville 10. All three teams will face tough competition Friday, but a win could vault them into the district lead and a top seed.
Logan County’s 14 points comes from wins over Greenwood (5 wins), Warren East (4), Muhlenberg County (3), and Russellville (2). The Cougars close out with a game against eight-win South Warren. A Logan County win would almost assure the Cougars of a top seed.
Madisonville’s 11 points comes from wins over Union County (4 wins), Daviess County (4), Marshall County (2), and Ballard Memorial (1). The Maroons have a tough matchup against Mayfield, a school they haven’t beaten since 1970. The Cardinals are 8-1.
Hopkinsville may have the toughest path to the top seed but could get the most help from the team they have beaten. Hoptown’s 10 points come from wins over Caldwell County (7), Kenwood (2), and Calloway County (1). The Tigers host 7-2 Paducah Tilghman.
A Calloway County win over Union County would help Hopkinsville and keep Madisonville from receiving a point from a Union win. A Daviess County win over Warren East would benefit Madisonville and keep Logan County from getting a point. Kenwood plays a 7-2 Dyer County team.
For Logan County, Greenwood plays at 3-6 John Hardin; Muhlenberg County is likely to get a point with a win over Ballard Memorial; and Russellville plays winless Warren Central. So even if Hopkinsville wins and both Logan County and Madisonville lose, Logan County has the inside track at the top seed and a first round playoff game with Calloway County. That would leave Hopkinsville and Madisonville to meet in the first round with the team having higher point total the host.
With the KHSAA rolling out their new Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) this year, don’t be surprised to see the point system scrapped and the RPI used to break ties in the near future.
