Mountain Area Kentucky Pre-Season Notebook

 

The Mountain Area Kentucky Notebook will look at teams from the Mountain Area, which will include the following teams: Bell County, Belfry, Breathitt County, Estill County, Harlan County, Hazard, Johnson Central, Knox Central, Letcher County Central, Morgan County, Pikeville, Powell County, Pulaski County, Somerset, Wayne County, Whitley County

 

Mountain Area will be strong this coming season as several Mountain Area teams will return most of their players back from 2012 and those teams being: Belfry, Breathitt County, Harlan County, Knox Central, Letcher County Central, Morgan County, Pikeville, Pulaski County, Somerset, Wayne County

 

All these teams return a great deal of players. Letcher County Central will be good with the addition of Mike Holcomb (former Breathitt County Coach) as the new head coach, Breathitt will be Breathitt no matter who they lose they seem to always have good seasons year after year, the rest of them returns a great deal of players and will be very good.

 

Surprise Teams: Betsy Layne, Estill County, Harlan, Hazard, Magoffin County, Paintsville, Perry County Central, Powell County. The rest will put talent on the field but may not win many games.

 

Like Previous years, 2012 saw Bell County once again be one of the top teams not only in 3A but also in the Mountains going 10-3 and falling just short to defending 3A State Champs, Central 14-10 in the regional championship game. 2013 will be a different story for the Bobcats as they will have to rebuild due to losing 15 players from that 2012 team, by season’s end, this young Bobcats team will have some experience under their belts and could win a game or two in the playoffs.

 

2012 saw the Belfry Pirates once again, make it to Bowling Green for the state championship game and once again the same story came up with Belfry losing to Central for the State Championship. Belfry went 12-3 in 2012 making it to the state title game. Belfry lost 13 players from that team but return a some of their best players and they should once again be right back down in Bowling Green playing for a state title.

 

Like Belfry, Breathitt County was also hoping to bring home the state title but Breathitt couldn’t get past Belfry as the Pirates rolled past the Bobcats 41-20 in the regional championship game in 2012. Breathitt lost 18 players from that team including star QB Richard Trent. The Bobcats due return Wes Noble the outstanding Wide Receiver. Breathitt also picked up a transfer in Cory Grigsby who transferred in from Prestonsburg. Breathitt County will have a new head coach in Kyle Moore who replaces long time head coach Mike Holcomb who bolted for Letcher County Central.

 

2012 was a disappointing season for Head Coach Mike Jones and his Estill County Engineers as they went 0-10 and not only did the Engineers not get a single win, they also lost two of their best players for the entire season due to ACL injuries in QB Trevor Jones and Taylor Tate. Engineers lost 6 total players from 2012 but only 3 of them seen quality playing time. Engineers are hoping for an injury free season and to get some wins under their belt.

 

Much like Belfry, Harlan County also had just 3 losses as the Black Bears went 12-3 losing to Cooper in the semi-finals of the Class 5A playoffs. Harlan County losses 11 players from that team. Harlan County should once again have a winning record and make the playoffs and more than likely be district champs.

 

Hazard much like Breathitt County failed to make it to the big stage as the Bulldogs were ousted by Fairview 40-6 in the semi-finals of Class 1A playoffs. Hazard also losses the heart and soul as they lose nearly their entire offense. 2013 might be a rebuilding year for the Bulldogs but I would still bet they are in the playoffs.

 

Like Hazard, Johnson Central also didn’t make it to the big stage losing to Covington Catholic 45-15 in the Class 4A playoffs. Johnson Central was also hit hard by graduation losing 17 players from that 2012 team.

 

2012 saw Knox Central have one of its best seasons going 10-2 losing to Lexington Catholic in the second round of the Class 4A Playoffs. Knox Central also lost 14 players from that team. The district will still come down to Knox Central and Russell County with both teams still making the playoffs.

 

Letcher County Central had a disappointing season, not only did the Cougars go 2-9 with an early exit in Class 5A Playoffs losing to Pulaski County 56-22 they also lost their head coach Paul Rains who bolted for Paul Laurence Dunbar. The bright side for Letcher County Central Football is they only lost 7 players from that team and have an ace of a head coach in long time Breathitt County Coach, Mike Holcomb who has 3 state championship rings.

 

Morgan County had one of its better seasons in school history going 8-3, district runner up. Morgan County only losses 7 players from that team, Morgan returns talented Running Back Kody Thornsberry who rushed for over 1,300 yards. With Breathitt being down and Holcomb gone to another team, 2013 could be the year that Morgan County wins the district title.

Pikeville may surprise some folks in 1A as the Panthers only lost 5 players from a 2012 team that made it to the regional championship game losing to Fairview 36-14. Pikeville returns stud running back Chase Hall who rushed for over 1,500 yards last season along with Ben Maynard who rushed for 426 yards.

 

Powell County had a disappointing but good season in 2012. Powell County went just 2-9 and had an early exit in Class 3A playoffs losing to Mason County 48-21 but to many Pirate players and fans anytime they beat neighboring Estill County it’s a good season. Pirates lose 6 players from that team.

 

2012 seen Pulaski County have yet another good season going 9-4 and making to the regional championship game where they lost to Harlan County 46-12. Pulaski County also loses 11 players from that team.

 

2012 also seen Somerset have yet another good season as the Briar Jumpers went 11-3 losing to Newport Central Catholic 27-18 in semi-finals of the Class 2A playoffs. Somerset also lost 14 players from that team. Somerset may not have a good season like 2012 but the Briar Jumpers will be in the playoffs once again and could possibly make it to the regional championship game.

2012 seen Wayne County have one of it’s best seasons in school history going 10-2 losing to defending state champions, Central 21-18 in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs. 2013 could be even better for the Cardinals as they return nearly their entire team only losing 7 players.

 

Mountain Area Kentucky Rankings:

1. Belfry

2. Wayne County

3. Breathitt County

4. Harlan County

5. Somerset

6. Pulaski County

7. Bell County

8. Hazard

9. Johnson Central

10. Knox Central

11. Letcher County Central

12. Pikeville

13. Morgan County

14. Powell County

15. Estill County

Good job, don't see Breathitt being number 3 in the mountains though.

Good job, don't see Breathitt being number 3 in the mountains though.

 

 

Yeah I don't either. They'll be down. I should have put them at about 6-10.

Good job, don't see Breathitt being number 3 in the mountains though.

 

And, barring injuries, Somerset should be better this season than last--not suffer a dropoff.

 

I'd rate those teams like this:

 

1. Harlan County

2. Belfry

3. Johnson Central

4. Bell County

5. Somerset

6. Wayne County

7. Pulaski County

8. Knox Central

9. Breathitt County

10. Pikeville

11. Hazard

12.Letcher County Central

13. Middlesboro

14. Morgan County

15. Estill County

 

I knocked Powell out of the Top 15 and substituted Middlesboro.

AJG,

 

Nice list.

 

Considering the teams included:

1. Harlan County

 

2. Johnson Central

 

3. Belfry

4. Wayne County

5. Bell County

6. Somerset

7. Knox Central

 

8. Whitley County

9. Pulaski County

 

 

10. Williamsburg

11. Pikeville

12. Breathitt County

13. Hazard

 

14. Corbin

15. Perry Central

AJG,

 

Nice list.

 

Considering the teams included:

1. Harlan County

 

2. Johnson Central

 

3. Belfry

4. Wayne County

5. Bell County

6. Somerset

7. Knox Central

 

8. Whitley County

9. Pulaski County

 

 

10. Williamsburg

11. Pikeville

12. Breathitt County

13. Hazard

 

14. Corbin

15. Perry Central

 

Whitley County, Williamsburg, Corbin and Perry County Central would all have been in my Top 15. I started out trying to rerank ASB's Top 15 then added Middlesboro. I definitely should have included those 4 and eliminated some of the others.

Reason I didn't include those other teams, these previews that we are doing, we only get a few teams and the area that your in, those teams are covered by someone else so I had to do with what I had.

Good job.

 

How do you all see Pike Central fairing this season?