Two-time defending state champion Trinity is the overwhelming favorite to repeat as a region champion when the Class 6A football playoffs begin this weekend.
Because Class 6A uses a cross-district format in their postseason tournament, it means the western Kentucky schools in District 1 will play District 4 this year.
McCracken County (7-3) is the No. 1 seed in District 1 and will host Jeffersontown (3-7) Friday at Marquette Stadium. It’s the first-ever postseason meeting between the schools. Jeffersontown has not won a first round game since 2012.
The Mustangs enter the postseason on a five-game winning streak in claiming the district title but have never won a first round playoff game in an even year.
Daviess County (6-4) makes to trip to Louisville to play No. 2 seed Ballard (6-4). The Panthers advanced to their first region championship game last year where they lost to Central Hardin 27-20. Two of their seven career wins in 26 postseason games happened last year.
Three of Ballard’s four losses came to teams that could win the state title this year – Trinity, Male, and Boyle County.
In the upper bracket, Muhlenberg County (3-7) gets the distinction of traveling to Trinity (4-6) in the first round. The Mustangs have never won a postseason game in eight career trips.
Eastern (3-7) travels to Henderson County (6-4) for a first round matchup. The only other time they met in the postseason was a 21-17 second round win by Eastern in 2012.
Henderson is looking for their first region title since 2006 but would have to pull off a huge upset in the second round over Trinity to accomplish that feat.