Garrard County to Host DeSales in First Round of Playoffs

Garrard County will welcome DeSales High School to Garrard County for the opening round of the Class 3A state playoffs, with the postseason series between the schools currently tied at one win apiece. The Golden Lions enter the matchup following a 5-4 regular season and a third consecutive finish as district runners-up, while DeSales arrives in Lancaster with a long tradition of playoff success, including two state championships.

The matchup marks the third time Garrard County has faced a Catholic opponent at home this season, having previously hosted Bethlehem and Lexington Catholic. DeSales, a private all-boys Roman Catholic school in Louisville founded in 1956, formerly competed in the largest classification in Kentucky high school football before dropping to Class 3A due to declining enrollment. The Colts captured back-to-back state titles in 2013 and 2014 and finished as state runners-up in 1981 and 2009.

This year’s playoff game will be the third meeting between Garrard County and DeSales, both previous encounters also occurring in the opening round. In 2003, Garrard emerged victorious at home in dramatic fashion. Down by two scores late, backup quarterback Bruce Williams led a 70-yard game-winning drive in the final minute. With starter Spencer Crutchfield sidelined due to injury since midseason, Williams stepped in and completed 17 of 27 passes for 184 yards. Jake Cool was the primary target, hauling in 11 receptions, including the decisive 17-yard touchdown with just nine seconds left, sealing a 19-15 win.

Two years later, the roles were reversed. Garrard County traveled to Louisville to face DeSales in a game played at Iroquois High School, as DeSales did not have its own stadium at the time. After a competitive start, a Garrard fumble led to a first-half collapse, with the Colts scoring three times in four minutes to take a commanding 28-0 halftime lead. DeSales went on to win 40-0. Despite the lopsided score, Garrard's Jared Prewitt made a strong individual showing with nine catches for 127 yards.

The Golden Lions are making their 32nd postseason appearance and carry an all-time playoff record of 22-31. Last season's first round victory over Elizabethtown snapped a six-game playoff losing streak that dated back to 2017. Historically, Garrard has performed well in first round home playoff games, with a 12-2 record in such contests since the Kentucky High School Athletic Association expanded to four playoff qualifiers per district in 1991. The only home losses in that span came to Campbellsville in 1992 and to Elizabethtown last year.

Garrard County’s postseason history features several memorable first-round victories. The program’s first-ever playoff win came in 1991, a 28-21 triumph over Campbellsville in Lancaster, led by Damon Norris’s touchdowns on both the ground and through the air. In 1993, following a perfect 10-0 regular season, Garrard ran for 397 yards in a 50-0 rout of Green County. Sheldon Burnside led the effort with 135 yards and four touchdowns.

Another notable comeback occurred in 2004, one year after the DeSales thriller. The Lions overcame a 21-7 deficit and ultimately defeated Louisville Western, 31-28. Crutchfield, back from the injury that had sidelined him late the previous season, threw for 307 yards and two scores and added 104 rushing yards with a touchdown. He hit Bruce Williams for the game-winner with less than a minute to play.

In 2011, Garrard County began its most successful season in program history with a dominant first round showing against West Carter. Behind a punishing ground attack, the Lions rolled to a 55-6 win as Cory Wilson and Markell Hayes each ran for 146 yards and combined for six touchdowns on just 23 carries.

This year's contest promises to add a new chapter to the growing Garrard-DeSales postseason rivalry. With the series tied and both programs looking to extend their seasons, Friday night at Dyehouse Stadium will offer a compelling matchup steeped in playoff history.

(Historical Data Provided by Daniel Hopkins)