Warren East running back Thomas Maxey carries the ball while pursued by Warren Central defensive back Jamale Barber during the Raiders’ 28-0 win Oct. 4 at Warren East.

SCOTTSVILLE – Allen County-Scottsville has had its fair share of facing stout running games. Three of the last four games have come against backfields that have torched the Patriots’ defense.

That won’t get any easier this week.

The top rusher in Class 4A and fourth-leading running back in the state visits Patriots Stadium on Friday with Thomas Maxey and the Warren East Raiders.

“Every week we’ve played a good running back and Thomas Maxey might be the fastest one of all those,” ACS coach Brad Hood said. “We’ve got a new challenge ahead in a Warren East team that has gotten better and they’re very good offensively. … Big district game for us and I think it’s going to be a fun night here in Scottsville.”

Maxey enters averaging 202 yards per game on the ground, the best in Class 4A by nearly 50 yards, and his 1,413 rushing yards ranks fourth in the state.

Those aren’t numbers that bode well for ACS (4-3). In a 21-point loss to Glasgow on Sept. 7, the Patriots allowed 389 rushing yards. Even in a win over Grayson County, Cougars running back Q Daryius McHenry rushed for 218 yards and three scores while quarterback Derrick Ruth added another 123 yards.

Then there’s Franklin-Simpson, which stuck to its roots 454 rushing yards with most of the load split between Tre Bass and Carlos McKinney.

No one has been able to stop the Warren East senior running back. In his latest showcase, Maxey ran for 312 yards on 30 carries in a 28-0 win over Warren Central two weeks ago.

“Our biggest thing is you can’t let them have big plays often,” Hood said. “He’s going to get yards. Their offensive line is strong and he’s way too good a runner. I think in the last four games they’ve had 11 plays go over 50 yards. That’s something if they get a lot of big plays on us, you can get in trouble real fast.”

Warren East (4-3) took a step forward two weeks ago in its first shutout of the year, but coach Jeff Griffith believes the offense took a step back outside of the run game. Sophomore quarterback Nolan Ford completed just two passes that went for no yardage and also had two interceptions.

“It’s frustrating because that’s the first time it’s happened all year in terms of our passing game where we were just out of sync the entire time,” Griffith said. “We let our o-line line up and do some work and hand the ball to Thomas Maxey and hurry up and get to fall break because I think that’s where our minds were.”

Both teams enter Friday fresh off bye weeks with a home playoff game on the line. With Franklin-Simpson gunning for the top seed in 4A, District 2, the Warren East-ACS winner will be the two-seed and lock up a home playoff game in the first round.

The Raiders and Patriots have split the last four games of the series, which Warren East leads 22-16 all-time.

“This is a big game in our district and a lot at stake for both of us,” Griffith said. “It’s going to be a tough road for whoever is second place. Obviously, you want that game at home and a chance to win and you’re a lot more comfortable instead of going on the road.”{&end}