KHSAA readjusts football playoff format
Posted by Mike Fields on April 23, 2008
Just three months before the 2006 football season kicked off, the KHSAA Board of Control called a late audible and changed the post-season format so that teams stayed within their districts for the first two rounds of the playoffs. It was supposed to be a way to cut travel expenses and boost gate receipts.
After two years of mostly negative reviews, however, the KHSAA board has decided to go back to the old (and better) playoff format. The 2008 playoffs will match teams from different districts in the opening round of the playoffs. It is a readjustment that will be applauded by most players, coaches and fans.
Henry Clay Coach Sam Simpson was an outspoken critic of facing a district rival in the first round of the playoffs. “What did you earn by finishing first or second in your district? You turned right around and played the same people again,” he said. “Why they thought that’d generate more of a crowd, I don’t know. I think everybody would rather play somebody different in the playoffs.”
The 2008 playoffs will follow a straight-forward format for classes A through 5A. District 1 will be matched against District 2, District 3 vs. District 4; District 5 vs. District 6; and District 7 vs. District 8. The top seeds from one district will play the fourth seeds from the other district; while the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds will square off.
Class 6A’s districts will be matched up by a randon draw, which is good news for Lexington’s public schools. Since 2000, powerhouse Trinity has beaten a Lexington team in the state semifinals six times, and in the third round twice. But under the 2008 plan, the districts that include Trinity and St. Xavier are in the opposite bracket as Lexington’’s district. That means if a Lexington team advances through the playoffs, it wouldn’t play Trinity of St. X until the state finals.
Lexington’s 6A District 7 (Henry Clay, Lafayette, Paul Dunbar, Tates Creek) will face District 6 (Boone County, Campbell County, Conner, Ryle, Simon Kenton) in first-round games.
Whoever out of that group advances to the 6A semifinals would face the survivor from the District 4 (Bullitt Central, Fern Creek, Male, Southern) vs. District 8 (Clark County, Madison Central, Scott County, Shelby County) matchups.
