“Zach is a player that wants to make his team great and does what it takes to make it that way. He is very athletic, is a physical runner, and throws the ball hard and exceptionally well,” Settles said.
Abner has 68 carries for 459 yards and 10 touchdowns and has a team-high 21 receptions for 240 yards and three more scores.
Stephen McQueen has 17 grabs for a team-high 316 yards and four scores, Aaron Hall has 12 receptions for 193 yards and four touchdowns and Cody Wesley has caught 15 catches for 183 yards and three touchdowns for the Maroons.
The Pulaski defense has been solid as well, allowing 17.8 points and 251 yards per game.
“Defensively they run an odd front, which is what we have seen most of the season up to this point,” Settles said. “They are relatively big up front and have eight seniors starting defensively and six offensively.”
After coming close the last three weeks in narrow losses, including a 23-14 loss last week at Southwestern, Settles said the Patriots need to make the big plays to knock off the Maroons.
“I am very proud of the players and coaches for the improvement we have made, but here are several things that are still holding us back. One, we are giving up too many big plays defensively; two, we not very deep with our personnel; and three, we are not making the big play ourselves when we need it.”
Garrard County (2-3)
at Jackson County (0-5)
Garrard County can win its third straight and run its Class AAA, District 5 record to 2-0 with a victory over the winless Generals.
“We are beginning to take care of some of the assignment issues that we struggled with early in the season, and our execution is beginning to improve. I do believe playing the tough early schedule is starting to pay dividends and the kids know how hard they have to play and the effort that they must give to be successful week in and week out,” Garrard coach Mark Scenters said.
“We haven’t changed anything, just staying true to the path we laid out in the beginning. But our execution is better and our mistakes are fewer.”
Jackson, which lost 38-0 to Taylor County in its district opener, is giving up 51 points and scoring just 5.6 points per game. But Scenters said the Generals are improving.
“I feel like Coach (Arthur) Carter is doing a really good job with his kids. I am very impressed at how many more looks and different things they are doing this year compared with last year,” Scenters said. “It is easy to see that the players are learning more fundamentals, and that is allowing him to get in different looks. Last year they ran basically two or three offensive formations and didn't adjust their defense all night.
“This year on film we have already seen multiple formations, although they do like to keep three backs in the backfield. Defensively, they have a 3-5 package to compliment the 4-4 that they have been running.”
Garrard has scored 82 points in wins over Estill and Wayne counties, and is averaging 30 points and 405 yards per game.
Cory Wilson has rushed for 439 yards and three touchdown for the Golden Lions, and Markell Hayes has 415 yards and five scores on the ground.
Billy Abney is 39 of 82 passing for 797 yards and 10 scores with two interceptions.
Tyler McCoy has 19 catches for 492 yards and seven touchdowns, and Hayes has 10 grabs for 147 yards and two more scores.
Casey County (4-2)
at Wayne County (1-4)
The Rebels are looking to bounce back from last week’s blowout loss to Somerset in its Class AAA, District 7 opener and even their district record at Wayne, which looking to do the same.
“Hopefully we learned that we got to work hard to compete,” Casey coach Andy Stephens said. “We have to focus this week and get back on track if were going to give ourselves a chance to be a factor in the district.”
