In 2015, BluegrassPreps is excited to roll out weekly football Power Rankings for each of the regions around the state. With each week's Power Rankings, we will be looking to rank the top ten teams in each region - regardless of class - against the other teams in their region. Throughout the season, we will be accounting for the results of all the games throughout the region, including the strength of each opponent played, points scored, points allowed, along with several other statistics on each side of the ball.

 

We will also be featuring a highlighted "Game Of The Week", and moving forward, will be re-capping the previous games of the week, as well as highlighting regional "Big Risers" and "Big Droppers" as various teams improve their performance and other teams fall back. The BGP Power Rankings will also feature a "Player Of The Week".

 

 

10. Shelby Valley (2A)- The Wildcats were the surprise of the 2A Playoffs reaching the Semi’s and return over 4000 yards of offense and over 50 TD’s. Can they keep the momentum stepping up against Franklin County?

 

9. Bell County (3A)- The Bobcats have size and strength along with quality experience. Will 2015 be the year they breakthrough for another Regional Title after a bit of a drought by their fan's standards? If so they first need to end a 2 game losing streak to rival Middlesboro.

 

8. Russell (3A)- The Red Devils made a strong surge to reach the 3A Semi-Finals and are ahead of schedule for Maynard’s master plan. Will the Devils be able to fill the holes left at LB?

 

7. Corbin (3A)-The Redhounds feel they were a miracle play away from pushing to a 3A Title appearance. Expectations are high and the feeling is realignment has been good to the Hounds. What will year two under Coach Haddix bring?

 

6. Raceland (1A)- Keep an eye on the Rams. The early favorite in 1A out of the East looks to finally get over the hump in 2015 and find their way to Bowling Green. It all starts with West Carter.

 

5. Ashland (4A)- The Tomcats have the dynamic Quinton Baker and plenty of experience, but can they put a rough 2014 in their rear view?

 

4. Southwestern (5A)- The Warriors may have been an injury away from making a push toward the 5A Title. Do they have enough firepower to challenge their county rival? We will get a good judgement off the bat with a meeting against Harlan County.

 

3. Johnson Central (4A)- The Golden Eagles breathe fresh air in the new 4A alignment and start the season as one of the early favorites. The Eagles are heavy in experience and return some of their top playmakers.

 

2. Belfry (3A)- The Defending 3A Champs are loaded on Defense and return 7 offensive starters. The dilemma is replacing Austin Hatfield and Keaton Taylor who basically accounted for all the Pirate offense in the 3A Championship game.

 

1. Pulaski County (5A)- Maroons return a Mr. Football frontrunner in Riley Hall and all his favorite weapons as they enter as defending 5A Champs. The road has became a lot tougher though and it begins against Jeffersonville, IN.

 

 

Game of the Week:

Middlesboro @ Bell County- What’s better than two fierce Intra-County Rivals going to war in the Regular Season? How about opening the season! Bell looks to break a two game losing streak to the Yellowjackets.

Edited July 20, 201511 yr by ATLCat

I like this. Nice job Cat

Don't want to derail the thread, but what constitutes Eastern Kentucky?

Eastern Kentucky

Ashland Blazer

Allen Central

Bath County

Belfry

Bell County

Betsy Layne

Boyd County

Breathitt County

Clay County

Corbin

East Carter

East Ridge

Estill County

Fleming County

Fairview

Greenup County

Harlan

Harlan County

Hazard

Jackson County

Jenkins

Johnson Central

Knott County Central

Knox Central

Lawrence County

Leslie County

Letcher County Central

Lewis County

Lynn Camp

Magoffin County

Mason County

McCreary Central

Middlesboro

Morgan County

North Laurel

Paintsville

Perry County Central

Phelps

Pike County Central

Pikeville

Pineville

Powell County

Prestonsburg

Pulaski County

Raceland

Rockcastle County

Rowan County

Russell

Shelby Valley

Sheldon Clark

South Floyd

Somerset

South Laurel

Southwestern

West Carter

Whitley County

Williamsburg

Who is too low?

 

Who is too high?

 

Who do you see working their way into the Top 10 before it is all said and done?

I think I would flip flop Belfry and Johnson Central.

I like this. Nice job Cat

Keep watching, Bluegrasspreps will have five Regional Power Rankings each week of the season (EKY, WKY, NKY, CKY and the Louisville Area). There are four more Preseason Power Rankings coming out soon.

I thought Southwestern had a real shot to do what Pulaski did last year, and may have been the 2nd best team at the end of the year. I'm not up to speed on what they have coming back, but I'm a believer in Coach French and I think this may just be the beginning of the best run in SW History. Of course there is a Big Blue Elephant in the room that could stop them from reaching the ultimate goal...just don't sleep on Southwestern.

I think I would flip flop Belfry and Johnson Central.

You have a point. Johnson Central beat Belfry at the end of last season 35-0.

 

What has changed to move Belfry above Johnson Central in the East?

Belfry was really banged up and fielded a MASH unit in that game and JC wasn't 5 touchdowns better.

 

Even if they were healthy, though, I think JC was realistically 7-14 points better than the Pirates in a 48 minute game.

 

Both teams were fairly young and return a lot. I can't rank Belfry ahead of JC, just can't

You have a point. Johnson Central beat Belfry at the end of last season 35-0.

 

What has changed to move Belfry above Johnson Central in the East?

 

What Tusi said

 

IMHO, That is a 7-0 or a 14-7 win for JC if both teams were healthy. Belfry's OL was in tact and they weren't moving JC... not sure if Belfry scores though even with a full compliment of starters (Corbett and Hatfield were the only healthy starters and Corbett left in the First Half)

 

On that same note the Eagles actually struggled offensively for the most part even with a Belfry defense missing both of their All-State DT's in addition to 4 or 5 other starters. The 35 was a bit misleading considering how they had to score those.

 

In Horse Racing there are certain results you have to "throw out" because of either injury, inclement weather, or what have you... that 5 TD margin was one that both sides would say was not indicative of how that game would have played out with two healthy teams.

ATL,

 

Great Job! I am interested in Paintsville and the young man who recently signed with UK. Do you see them having a good year?

I'm hard pressed to see Pulaski slipping from the top of this list anytime soon. Maroons are loaded and I expect another deep playoff run for Johnny Hines' boys!

I'm hard pressed to see Pulaski slipping from the top of this list anytime soon. Maroons are loaded and I expect another deep playoff run for Johnny Hines' boys!

 

Agree and disagree both.

 

Being truthful I thought Belfry and Johnson Central were better than the Maroons in 2014. As you said yourself, Southwestern and Pulaski were a tossup in 2014 and Belfry annihilated Southwestern on their homefield. This is just one man's opinion here..but I thought Pulaski was the beneficiary of the weakest class last year and had a bit of the "luck factor" in that A) Hall was able to return and avoid re-injury B) Southwestern lost their best player to injury early in the rematch and C) Graves County stunned a Bowling Green team who had beat Pulaski

 

The nature of these Power Rankings though is that they are FLUID just because you are #1 and you win doesn't mean you stay #1 ... the Maroons are certainly loaded in 2015 and to me a clearcut #1 to open the season...but it would not surprise me one bit to see Belfry and/or Johnson Central jump them at some point in the season.

 

With all that said, we won't know for sure until the teams hit the field and just as easily I could see Pulaski run and hide with the top spot all season.

ATL,

 

Great Job! I am interested in Paintsville and the young man who recently signed with UK. Do you see them having a good year?

 

Definitely

 

Paintsville though is not just the Kash Daniel show!

 

The Tigers also return several starters including the Phelps and Trimble kids.

 

A legit D-1 talent at the 1A level also makes a big difference. Think back to Travis Atwell at Hancock County and Jonathan Jackson at Mayfield. I do think Paintsville benefitted a good bit from an overconfident Pikeville team in the playoffs, but at the same time there was absolutely no denying that was a team who peaked at the right time.

 

I think Paintsville and Pikeville are a tossup for the 2nd best team in 1A East and both would be right on the fringe of this Top 10 list and could very easily sneak in early in the season.