When it comes to playing tough schedules in the mountains, go no further than the Southeastern Six – Bell County, Corbin, Harlan County, Knox Central, Whitley County and Williamsburg.

Each team is gearing up for deep playoff runs this season, and one way that will help them improve and be battle-tested in November and December is to play a tough slate, and each one will have done so by the time regular season play ends this season.

This is part one of a two-part article with the second part running before Week 0 begins. It will feature Knox Central, Whitley County and Williamsburg’s tough slates for 2013.

For a closer look at Bell County’s Corbin’s and Harlan County’s schedules take a glimpse of what’s ahead.

 

Bell County Bobcats

District games — The Bobcats will get to host two district games this season (Casey County and Corbin) while the hitting the road against McCreary Central and Wayne County.

We all know it’s hard to win on Log Mountain, so they’ll be favored to win both district games at home, even though Corbin might prove to be a tough match-up. The key game on the road will be against Wayne County. Many feel whoever wins that game, should be the frontrunner for the district’s top seed. The Bobcats shouldn’t have a hard time at all going on the road to beat McCreary Central.

 

Non-district games — Bell County will be tested early with two road games against Marion County and Whitley County. The Bobcats should have enough talent to beat Marion County, but the game against the Colonels could very well be a toss-up. Bell County does get to host Middlesboro, but this year’s version of the Yellow Jackets could very well be good enough to pick up a win on Log Mountain.

Another key game takes place the following week on the road against Knox Central. That’s when coach Wayne Mills gets to go against his former team, who will be ready to play. And of course, Bell County ends the season at home against Harlan County. The Black Bears finally ended the Bobcats reign over them last season, so can they now make it two in a row? We shall see.

 

Corbin Redhounds

The Redhounds are coming off their first losing season since 1995, but that doesn’t keep coach Steve Jewell from scheduling a tough slate.

District games — Corbin plays five games before hitting district play and its first game is a big one — a road contest against district favorite Wayne County. The Redhounds other road game is at Log Mountain against Bell County, so if Corbin is going to win the district crown, the Redhounds will need to win both games on the road. They do have to easy games at home, though, with both McCreary Central and Casey County paying a visit to Campbell Field.

 

Non-district games — Corbin has road games against Southwestern Pulaski, Trimble County and South Laurel and all three should be winnable games for them. They do have a tough slate at home, though with Perry Central, Danville and their regular season finale against Knox Central. Each game is winnable, but by no means are they going to be gimees either.

 

Harlan County Black Bears

District games — The Black Bears don’t shy away from anyone as you’ll see with their non-district slate. In district play, they do have two home games against Letcher Central and Perry Central, and both games should be wins for coach Tom Larkey’s squad. Their only road district game will probably be for the district crown at Whitley County. The Black Bears will be the favorite in that game, but Whitley County is a tough team to beat at Colonel Stadium.

 

Non-District games

Other than Whitley County, I’m not sure who can claim they play a tougher schedule that the Black Bears in the Southeastern Six.

Harlan County opens the season on the road against Class 6A’s Madison Central before hosting Clay County, Belfry and Knox Central in back-to-back-to-back games. I don’t care if they are at home, that’s a tough stretch. Then they go on the road to face two tough teams in Johnson Central and Greeneville, Tenn. before finishing regular season play on the road against rival Bell County. The Black Bears beat the Bobcats last season, so bell County ahs revenge on its mind.

Yes, each of these teams play a tough schedule, but I’m sure each of these team’s coaches wouldn’t have it any other way.

Corbin is playing an incredibly tough schedule this year, I'd love to see them play Williamsburg and Whitley though. You'd draw a huge gate and get just as good of competition.