Region 1

 

For the fourth year in a row, the Region 1 Championship, and the State Championship, will be Bowling Green’s. Some teams may have been caught celebrating when the Purples’ massive winning streak was stopped at 48, but all Kentucky teams should realized that was a one point loss to a great out-of-state team and even thought The Streak ended, Bowling Green still hasn’t lost to a “Kentucky Team” since 2010. The streak against in-state competition will not end in the playoffs this year. The Purples will win five more games this season and forget about their one blemish on the season.

 

Who has the best chance of an upset over Bowling Green? Well, it won’t come until the Regional Championship game and that challenge will have to come from Warren Central or Graves County. Both have a chance over each other in the second round. Who ever is left standing will have the tall task of facing a Purple Machine for Regional Supremacy.

 

Graves County and Warren Central may be the closest competition for Bowling Green in the playoffs. Sadly, that may be the best game of the playoffs and will take place in the Regional Championship Game, not the State Championship Game.

 

Region 1 Championship: Bowling Green 35 Warren Central 14

Region 2

 

What a difference a year makes. Since the formation of the Six-Class System, Region 2 has belonged to John Hardin. And, anyone predicting a team, not named John Hardin, to win Region 2 would have been laughed at. But, with John Hardin finally hitting a true “Re-Building” year, Region 2 may very well be the most exciting playoff road in all of Class 5A with four teams garnering respect and high expectations.

 

So, with John Hardin working on gaining experience, who can claim the Regional Championship? One would have to look toward Bullitt County first: Bullitt East and Bullitt Central. Given last year’s near upset of John Hardin by Bullitt East, the Chargers have to be considered the favorite. Bullitt Central will have an argument over Bullitt East after beating the Chargers in overtime in the regular season. Bullitt East has rattled off three consecutive wins since that close loss and seem to have found their groove.

 

Having dreams of an upset are: Grayson County and Iroquois. Iroquois has to be the Cinderella team, and one that those that root for the underdog will embrace. How long has it been since Iroquois had a winning season? Well, it hasn’t been accomplished since prior to 1998. A time period where the Raiders had a couple close calls with 5-5 seasons, but a period that also saw several seasons without a single win and some with just one or two wins. To say Iroquois is due is a gross understatement. The Raiders have put together a nine win season, and one that surely has the Iroquois fans excited. Who is the only team to beat the Raiders this year? Wait for it, wait for it………… Grayson County.

 

Grayson County is the only team to beat Iroquois and will expect the same to happen if the two teams meet up again in the Regional Championship. The Cougars have put together an eight win season and hoping for more to come. After beating Iroquois and ending their hopes of a perfect season, can anyone in the Region beat Grayson County? Was it mentioned that Region 2 was up for grabs? Grayson County has already lost to perennial Regional Powerhouse, John Hardin.

 

So, John Hardin is down but beat Grayson County, and Grayson County beat nine win Iroquois, and Iroquois beat John Hardin. Draw it out if you need to see if it makes sense.

 

Region 2 Championship: Bullitt East 28 Bullitt Central 14

Region 3

 

Region 3 looks to be a two horse race with South Oldham being the favorite and Franklin County looking for the upset. Scott, Anderson County and Cooper are the Cinderellas.

Anderson County has quietly put together a nice season with their only losses at the hands of South Oldham, Boyle County and Franklin County. Those go in the record books as loses, but they were competitive games that the Bearcats were very much capable of winning.

 

Scott had a let down in the final week of the regular season to a struggling Mason County. The only big loss the Eagles have on their resume is a beating by Cooper. Scott will have to overachieve to get the first round win at Anderson County.

 

Cooper may be in the best position for a big upset. The only 5A team the Jaguars have lost to is South Oldham, a one score game that Cooper would like to have back. They may get the change.

 

South Oldham is coming off a two overtime upset of Bullitt Central and has big wins over Scott and Cooper. The Dragons have had some inconsistency by dropping a game to struggling Conner. South Oldham looks to be on a collision course with Franklin County.

 

Franklin County has had some inconsistency problems as well losing to struggling East Jessamine and having trouble with cross-town rival Frankfort. The Flyers also took a beating by Beechwood. Franklin County still managed to beat all District foes and will have an easier road to their future meeting with South Oldham from the number one position.

 

Region 3 Championship: South Oldham 21 Franklin County 14

Region 4

Before the season started most would have expected Region 4 to belong to Pulaski County. And after the season started many would have thought Madison Southern may be at the front of the pack. Now, with the regular season complete, the water is a little muddy.

 

Madison Southern has proven they go as Damien Harris goes. Without Harris, Madison Southern's chance of a deep run in the playoffs dies. With Harris, the Eagles could be in strong competition for the Regional Championship.

 

North Laurel lost to Pulaski County and Southwestern in the regular season. Sounds bad for the Jaguars, but they lost to both teams by a combined three points, not exactly a statement of superiority for Pulaski County and Southwestern. North Laurel is most definitely in the hunt, and capable of upsetting their District rivals.

 

Pulaski County is still in the hunt, but with injuries they will have a difficult road. The Maroons have lost their last two games, one to dominate Bowling Green, but the second was to district rival Southwestern to make Pulaski County the number two District seed. A chance at redemption is on the schedule as there will likely be a rematch with Southwestern in the Regional Championship game.

Southwestern is on a six game winning streak. More impressive than the number, is who those wins came against. In that run, the Warriors beat district favorite Pulaski County, North Laurel and Madison Southern. Southwestern has to feel good about their changes to advance during the playoffs.

Region 4 Championship: Pulaski County 14 Southwestern 7

 

Semi-Finals: Bowling Green 35 Bullitt East 7

Semi-Finals: Pulaski County 21 South Oldham 7

State Championship: Bowling Green 35 Pulaski County 7

 

*Preview complied by BGP Staff Members

Can't see Bullit Central getting as far as posted here and I think the region 3 final will be with a different team.

Besdies that even though it has been said on here as late as last year that 5A is a weak class it still had the best team in the state last year and arguably this year too in BG.

 

They are are the class of the state and in the midst of one of the most memorable runs ever in state. Good luck BG, I've been a fan for awhile.

Bullitt East is the best team in Region 2 right now IMO. They will have a very tough game against JH and I think that game could go either way. Besides those two teams, Grayson County is the only other team I could see winning that region. Regardless, neither of those three teams can compete with BG nor anyone else for that matter in 5A.

If Harris is back healthy, Mad South could be a tough out on a good field against anyone. Pulaski beat them last season in a swamp.

If Harris is back healthy, Mad South could be a tough out on a good field against anyone. Pulaski beat them last season in a swamp.

 

Also beat them on the turf last year and this year. If we play in the second round, that game will be back in the "swamp"

IF Pulaski survives round 1, I expect a deep run.

So now that we are into the Regional Championship games who does everyone think will advance to the State-Semi's and get to practice on Thanksgiving? I'm going with the following:

Bowling Green over GC

John Hardin over Iroquois

Cooper over Anderson

SW Pulaski over Pulaski County

 

Congratulations to the 8 teams still remaining and wish all of them the best of luck the rest of the way!

 

What say you?

Edited November 16, 201411 yr by KingOfClutch33
Spelling Mistake

This will be the final chapter in this mini-dynasty as Highlands takes over in 2015. Remember Boyle County and their streak?

This will be the final chapter in this mini-dynasty as Highlands takes over in 2015. Remember Boyle County and their streak?

 

Boyle won the 3A title 2002, 2003 and 2004 when HHS was still in the same class. In fact 2004 it was a beatdown of HHS in the title game.

This will be the final chapter in this mini-dynasty as Highlands takes over in 2015. Remember Boyle County and their streak?

Too bad your dynasty is already over. You need to worry about Beatty being a jerk to Wolfe and trying to leave for a different job.

This will be the final chapter in this mini........

 

 

This type of comment is exactly why I wish John Hardin was staying in 5A. I will take JH over anyone in 2016 and especially in 2017.

This will be the final chapter in this mini-dynasty as Highlands takes over in 2015. Remember Boyle County and their streak?

I will remember this one.

BGP a little off target here missing on 5 of 8 regional finalists. A good job of mentioning potential Cinderellas. Unfortunately on the prediction side several of the Cinderellas made it to the dance.

This will be the final chapter in this mini-dynasty as Highlands takes over in 2015. Remember Boyle County and their streak?

 

Nice...

This will be the final chapter in this mini-dynasty as Highlands takes over in 2015. Remember Boyle County and their streak?

 

Man, leave us out of it. We'll have to deal with that next year and I for one am in an anticipation/consternation mode.