By MARK MAYNARD / The Independent
The Raceland-Lexington Christian Academy high school football rivalry has produced its share of big moments.
Rams coach Randy Vanderhoof hopes more memories can be made tonight when the teams play in Lexington.
“We’re going down there to play for a district championship,” he said.
It may be the Rams’ toughest challenge in years.
LCA coach Paul Rains is calling the Eagles the best team he’s ever coached.
“It’s definitely the best team we’ve had at LCA,” he said.
Vanderhoof concurs with Rains.
“Lexington Christian is a fabulous football team,” he said. “I don’t know how you really describe them. Defensively they run to the ball so well and offensively I don’t know if we’ve seen anything like it.”
Vanderhoof compares them to some of the great northern Kentucky teams the Rams have played in past seasons.
“Overall, it’s the best LCA team we’ve seen and unfortunately we’ve seen a lot of good ones,” he said.
LCA (6-1) can all but lock up the district title with a victory and that would mean the possibility of the Eagles being home through the semifinals of the Class A playoffs.
If playing Raceland wasn’t incentive enough, that should do it, Rains said.
“We did that two years ago when we went to the finals,” he said.
LCA fell to Beechwood 38-35 in that classic 2007 state championship.
Last year, the Eagles rallied from a 20-3 deficit to defeat Raceland 27-20 in the state quarterfinals, spoiling the Rams’ unbeaten season.
But the next week, Hazard surprised LCA in the semifinals.
“We had to travel the long trip to Raceland for the regional championship in a cage-match type thing and then, the very next week, traveled to Hazard,” Rains said. “Both teams (Raceland and LCA) were spent (after the regional). Raceland could have maybe rebounded a little better than we did.”
Vanderhoof said it has been painful watching last year’s game this week in preparing for LCA.
“I’ve looked at it a couple of times,” he said. “It’s not too fun to watch.”
Three key LCA players — Dominque Hayden, quarterback Lucas Witt and receiver Branden Burdette — are four-year starters. Hayden is three touchdowns shy of smashing the state record of 110 for a career.
Witt has thrown for 1,094 yards and 17 touchdowns with Burdette his main receiver (493 yards, 9 TDs) while Hayden has rushed for 1,279 yards and 21 touchdowns along with 262 yards receiving and four TDs.
“It’s like watching Rick Pitino-style UK basketball,” Vanderhoof said. “It’s fast, faster and fastest.”
Raceland quarterback Tyler Farley has thrown for 1,152 yards and nine touchdowns while Michael Litteral (315 yards) is the leading rusher. Loren Huffman has 427 yards receiving with five TDs.
The Rams are 5-3 and riding a four-game winning streak.
“Randy and I have a unique relationship, as do our staffs,” Rains said. “There’s no healthier respect that two staffs could have for each other.”
Vanderhoof said he’s the only coach in the state who wouldn’t mind playing LCA twice this season.
Of course, for that to happen, both teams would have to win two playoff games. The winner of tonight’s game would be the home team for the regional final.
MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.
