Final score.

Thanks for posting the final.

Final

A few observations from the stands.

 

This was a mismatch, as was expected. However, it was not total domination.

 

Henry Clay has speed to burn. Elijah Bell is phenomenal and Pike Central had no match for that speed. When HC was able to get the ball to their speedsters out in space, it was lights out.

 

Henry Clay is not a top 10 team in 6A. I was disappointed in their line play in particular where I thought Pike Central won that battle. Henry Clay's defense put almost zero pressure on the PC quarterback all night.

 

Pike Central's Jr. QB Justice completed many nice passes and had way too many receivers drop well thrown balls. Dropped passes are drive killers, and I never thought HC really had good coverage.

 

Pike Central's top running back, Marcus Johnson, went down with an injury just before halftime. He had to be carried off on a stretcher and it looked like a knee injury. Hope it wasn't as bad as it looked. Marcus is a 1st cousin to Belfry's running back Justin Johnson. Prayers to that family, hope we get some good news on Marcus.

I'm interested in hearing NCF's take on this game...

I agree with H-C is not a top big school team.

 

Bell is a beast, he looked like a well season allstar playing against playing against a group who was taking the field for the first time. He seems to see everything going around him and always looked two moves ahead of the defense and his speed was as fast as any back I have watched in a while. Smoothas Silk is the way I would describe the way he moves.

 

Pike Central as posted already had several drop balls, with five coming while the games was still a game.

 

I stopped county drop balls after six.

 

Pike Central can hit you and most of the time they were in the right place to make plays but the speed they faced was way too much to overcome.

Agree 100%, thanks NCF.