Football Friday ... Week 4

Calloway County's spread offense hasn't been as productive as it could be in the early stages of the season. Some of it can be attributed to some rust and timing issues caused by the pre-season injury to quarterback Casey Brockman and an ankle injury to primary receiver George Garner. Some can also be laid at the feet (or is it hands) of the Lakers' corps of receivers.

Dropped balls have been a big problem in the last two weeks in wins over Trigg County and Crittenden County. A pair of potential touchdown passes were dropped against Crittenden and Brockman was victimized by three straight drops before hitting Tyrrell Willis with a last-minute touchdown pass against Trigg.

"The last couple of weeks, we've been making them complete 30 straight passes before we leave practice," Calloway coach Josh McKeel said. "Some days, it's taken a while. We've just got to get things back in synch.

"We were so good this summer, and we've got to get back to that. There is a big difference between passing league and real football, but we've got to start making the plays we're not making yet."

Marshall County coach Scott Shelton, whose team faces the Lakers tonight, thinks Brockman is almost back to his regular level of effectiveness.

"He's looked gradually better each week," said Shelton, whose secondary has had some problems this fall. "We've got to give our corners some help when they get isolated one-on-one on the outside."

McKeel said Grant Williams, who returned to action last week after missing two games with a cracked collarbone, could see time on both sides of the ball this week. Williams, an offensive tackle and defensive end, played offense only last week. The Lakers would like to utilize him on defense for next week's district showdown with Lone Oak.

"Marshall's offense is a lot more like we'll see from Lone Oak," McKeel said. "Trigg's spread is a run spread, mainly, and Crittenden's is a little more sprint-out short-passing game. Of course, Lone Oak has a new wrinkle with Jamarielle Brown at quarterback and his ability to run. From what I've seen, their offense looks as good as ever."

• Joe Morris, whose Mayfield team was ripped by Fort Campbell in the season opener, has some empathy for Randy Wyatt, his counterpart at longtime rival Paducah Tilghman. The Tornado hosts Fort Campbell tonight.

"They're the best team I've seen around here the last few years — maybe not as strong as the Tilghman team in (2003) when they had (Hunter) Cantwell and (Joe) Casey," Morris said. "They're so physical and fast.

"With their style and speed, they remind me a lot of the real good Danville teams we've played over the years. Defensively, they don't do a lot. They don't blitz a lot. They just do what they do and they do it right. Their defense reminds me a little of our 2002 (state championship) team.

Wyatt is especially worried about stopping quarterback Antonio Andrews, who has amassed almost 800 yards (rushing and passing) in three games and has run for six touchdowns and thrown six touchdown passes. He also has a stable of good athletes in the backfield and at wideout.

"He's the biggest reason they've been so good offensively," Wyatt said. "He makes smart decisions with the ball, running and throwing."

• There aren't as many district match ups on tap this week, but Murray-Trigg County could decide the Class 2A district title. In Class A, Crittenden County hosts Fulton City and Ballard Memorial hosts Fulton County, all critical games in determining playoff seeding and positioning. A top-two seed is necessary to avoid a first-round playoff game in the Louisville area.

Next week gets us back to some big district games, with Lone Oak hosting Calloway County in Class 4A. Mayfield hosts Crittenden County in a potential championship game in Class A. Murray will play its third district games in as many weeks with a visit to Heath.

Graves County hosts Class 6A district favorite Daviess County, with Marshall County heading to Apollo for its first of three visits to Owensboro in a four-week stretch. The Marshals meet Apollo, Owensboro and Daviess — all on the road — between Sept. 26 and Oct. 19.

• All of the Louisville and Jefferson County public schools canceled school and all athletic activities for the rest of the week because of power outages caused by last weekend's windstorm, forcing some teams to scramble to land replacement games. Henderson County's game with powerful Louisville Manual was canceled, but the Colonels were able to nail down a game with Bullitt East, which was scheduled to meet defending Class 3A state champion Louisville Central.

Henderson showed it will be a force to be reckoned with in the district after losing 36-33 in overtime to Daviess County last week. Henderson took advantage of five turnovers and held a 33-14 lead in the third quarter.