The road to a state championship gets even more daunting for the Murray High Tigers this week with a state semifinal trip to Lexington Christian Academy.
LCA is the top-rated Class 2A team in the state according to the Ratings Percentage Index used by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
Lexington Christian (9-1) has an RPI of .74357 while Murray (8-3) is ninth in the state — and last among the four remaining 2A teams — at .59584.
The Eagles have faced a stiff schedule this season. That includes two wins over 2019 state champion Somerset — including a 42-35 triumph in the second round this season.
LCA’s regular-season slate also included wins over Louisville DeSales, Lexington Catholic, Williamsburg, Lexington Paul Dunbar, Danville and Pikeville.
The Eagles’ only loss came Oct. 9 to Class 5A Frederick Douglass of Lexington 40-6.
Lexington Christian has reeled off five straight wins since then.
That includes a 43-13 win over Metcalfe County last week in a running-clock game that saw LCA build a 40-0 lead.
The Eagles have used a balanced offensive attack to average 33.4 points a game. LCA has 262 passing attempts while running the ball 260 times.
However, the Eagles are an explosive group, and Lexington Christian’s passing game is likely the biggest concern for Murray this week.
Junior signal-caller Drew Nieves has passed for 2,317 yards and 26 touchdowns this season. He has completed 150 of 243 passes with nine interceptions.
Nieves also leads the Eagles in rushing yardage with 326 yards and three touchdowns on 63 carries.
Junior Xavier Brown has the same number of carries but has played in two less games. He has 272 yards and five touchdowns. Jeffrey Selby, another junior, has toted the rock 60 times for 240 yards.
Brown also figures into the passing game. He is second on the squad in receptions with 40, compiling 805 yards and nine touchdowns. Junior Mason Moore has 45 catches for 805 yards and 10 scores.
The Lexington Christian offense is likely the best Murray has faced this season.
On the other side of the football, senior linebacker Mattie Lebryk is the heart of a quick LCA defense. Lebryk has 112 tackles, including 10 for loss and 4.5 sacks.
As a unit, the Eagles defense has 74 tackles for loss this season and 33 sacks.
LCA is allowing less than 100 yards per game on the ground this season, which is Murray’s strong suit.
LCA does give up 170 yards a night through the air.
Murray junior quarterback Rowdy Sokolowski has passed for 1,125 yards and 12 touchdowns, but the Tigers do most of their damage on the ground.
Senior Charvelle McCallister has rushed for 799 yards and 12 TDs, senior Brendan Dahncke has 723 yards and eight scores and Sokolowski adds 698 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Murray figures to have to generate a strong running game to spring an upset Friday night in Lexington.
The game kicks off at 6 p.m. Central time.
The other Class 2A state semifinal contest has Beechwood (8-2) at West Carter (10-1).
This week’s winners will meet in the state championship game at Kroger Field in Lexington on Friday, Dec. 18. The 2A finale is set for 2 p.m. Central time.
