BluegrassPreps 2015 Western Kentucky Power Rankings – Week 3 Edition

 

Concerning the top story line for this week, I am admittedly long-winded on these rankings and I realize folks have busy lives and don’t have time every week to get through all the items listed in this thread, so I’ve decided to provide a “Popcorn N Coke Version” and “Meat & Potatoes Version” so you can get what you want and move on in the time available to you.

 

Popcorn N Coke Top 10 Version – Week 3:

1. South Warren 4A (4-0): Win 24-3 vs 6A Central Hardin

2. Bowling Green 5A (3-1): Win 17-14 vs 5A Owensboro

3. McCracken County 6A (3-1): Win 37-31 OT at 2A Mayfield

4. Mayfield 2A (3-1): Loss 37-31 OT vs 6A McCracken County

5. Owensboro 5A (3-1): Loss 17-14 at 5A Bowling Green

6. Hopkinsville 4A (4-0): Win 21-13 at 2A Murray

7. Russellville 1A (4-0): Win 41-6 vs 4A Logan County

8. Christian County 5A (3-1): Win 46-0 vs 3A Fort Campbell

9. Caldwell County 3A (3-1): Win 53-6 vs 1A Crittenden County

10. Paducah Tilghman 3A (2-2): Win 49-29 at 5A Graves County

 

Inaugural PurpleHaze Game of the Week (Week 3): Bowling Green 5A (3-1) 17 vs. Owensboro 5A (3-1) 14 – This game was not pretty for the casual fan, as both defenses really showed up and caused at least 7 turnovers. Both teams offensively left A LOT to be desired, but that is mostly due to the Best 2 defenses in 5A making plays and being well coached. These two teams should meet again in November with MUCH more on the line.

 

PurpleHaze Game of the Week (Week 4): Hopkinsville 4A (4-0) at Christian County 5A (3-1). Intra-county rivalries are the best because the communities talk them up all year long. No different in Christian County. This is a big game for both schools and the entire area get up for. Which team has the best defense? It may come down to that.

 

Honorable Mention: Warren Central at Bowling Green; Owensboro at Daviess County; Graves County at Mayfield; Franklin-Simpson at Monroe County

 

Meat N Potatoes Top 10 Version – Week 3:

10) Paducah Tilghman (3A) – Preseason Rank (PR): Next 10 – Last Week (LW): Next 10 - 2015 Record 2-2; District Record 0-0] Week 3 Results: Win: 49-29 at 5A Graves County (2-2). Graves never was in this game. The score speaks for itself with Tilghman being up 34-7 at one point. You can’t say Tilghman isn’t battle tested. If they can stay relatively healthy I would not want to play them in the playoffs. Week 4: At 4A Madisonville-North Hopkins (1-3).

 

9) Caldwell County (3A) – PR: 9: LW: 9 - 2015 Record 3-1; District Record 0-0] Week 3 Results: Win: 53-6 vs 1A Crittenden County (3-1) Tigers traveled to Marion and carried a Big Stick! As good as QB Shane Burns was (14 for 21 with 197 yards and 3 TDs), the Tigers D were the real stars in this one limiting the Rockets to about 60 yards in total offense! Week 4: At 6A Henderson County (1-3).

 

8) Christian County (5A) – PR: 6 – LW: 7 - 2015 Record 3-1; District Record 0-0] Week 3 Results: Win: 46-0 vs Fort Campbell 3A (0-3). Air Raid Christian County kept it on the ground this week against overmatched Fort Campbell. Kolbe Langhi was 7 for 8 127 yards and 2 TDs. No cupcakes this week! PurpleHaze Game of the Week - Week 4: vs. 4A Hopkinsville (4-0). This should be a Dandy! Bragging rights and momentum are on the line!

 

7) Russellville (1A) – PR: Next 10 – LW: 6 - 2015 Record 4-0; District Record 0-0] Week 3 Results: Win: 41-6 over Intra-county rival 4A Logan County (0-4). Another rivalry win for the Panthers! Over 300 yards on the ground with Josh Bigbee leading the way with 177 yards on “6” carries and 3 TDs. But honestly, I’d take the JV squad of every Top 10 team against Logan County: Week 4: vs. 2A Todd County Central (1-3). Murray comes to town in 2 weeks!

 

6) Hopkinsville (4A) – PR: 8 – LW: 5 - 2015 Record 4-0; District Record 0-0] Week 3 Results: Win: 21-13 vs 2A Murray (2-2). According to Silo11, Hopkinsville QB Jalen Johnson passed on 4th and 4 from the Murray 35 for a TD with 3 minutes to go in the game to make it the final score, but Murray drove down on their final possession only to be turned back. Toughest remaining game on the schedule is next week and is the PurpleHaze Western Kentucky Game of the Week: At arch-rival 5A Christian County (3-1).

 

5) Owensboro (5A) – PR: 4 – LW: 3 - 2015 Record 3-1; District Record 0-0] Week 3 Results: Loss: 17-14 at 5A Bowling Green (3-1). See above for more. At least 1 Red Devil fan won’t like this spot, but in this poll if you lose you drop. Will this game help Owensboro for the playoffs? You better believe it! The good: you have one of the best defenses in the State. The bad: you turned the ball over 5 times. The ugly or really the missed opportunity: You only lose by 3 on the road, but you really could have won this game and exercised some Purple Demons and been in a better place mentally for the playoffs. Nobody else should challenge O the rest of the regular season IMO. Week 4 vs. Intra-County 6A Cinderella Daviess County (4-0).

 

4) Mayfield (2A) – PR: 2 – LW -2 - 2015 Record 3-1; District Record 0-0] Week 3 Results: Loss: 37-31 OT vs McCracken County 6A (3-1). It’s tough when you are listed as a 2A school and you play a 6A school toe to toe and lose by 6 in OT and fall in this poll, but Mayfield isn’t just any school or any program. They are one that can compete with at least 90% of all schools in this state. This is the type game that will really help them deep into the playoffs. Coach Morris will use this game to tweak some things as we move toward District play. Week 4: vs. 5A Graves County (2-2).

 

3) McCracken County (6A) – PR: 5 - LW – 8; 2015 Record 3-1; District Record 0-0] Week 3 Results: Win: 37-31 OT at Mayfield 2A (3-1). Sometimes when you hit a home run you’re helped by the speed of the pitch. This applies to a second straight very close OT win against the marquee program in the area, which ended their 7 YEAR home winning streak. Coach Jackson has his Mustangs moving in the right direction. Detractors will say “yeah that’s against a 2A school, let them try that with Trinity or St X”. Not saying they’re king of the mountain, as this is only their 3rd Season as a school. It takes time. The Mustangs have good athletes and are starting to believe in themselves again after spitting the bit against Tilghman. Next up is Lift For Life Academy from St Louis, MO. They are ranked 280th in MO and McCracken is listed as their toughest opponent according to MaxPreps. I think the Mustangs cruise in this one prior to district play. Week 4: vs. Lift For Life Academy (1-2).

 

2) Bowling Green (5A) – PR: 1 – LW: 4 - 2015 Record 3-1; District Record 0-0] Week 3 Results: Win: 17-14 vs 5A Owensboro (3-1). The good: You won the game. The bad: You gave up 2 more fumbles that killed drives. The ugly: No points in the second half. Let’s call a spade a spade; Owensboro has the best defense BG will see this season (no offense St X) and held BG below their normal output. But Coach Wallace switched former starting TE Dane Drobocky to outside linebacker and he was all over the field for the Purple D as they made the plays necessary to win the game. The schedule switches to one of the oldest foes BG has as the Warren Central Dragons come across town for another visit, but this time no District implications are involved. Week 4: vs 4A Warren Central (1-3).

 

1) South Warren (4A) – PR: 3 – LW: 1 - 2015 Record 4-0; District Record 0-0] Week 3 Results: Win: 24-3 vs 6A Central Hardin (2-2). Central Hardin is a tough smash mouth football team that loves to ground and pound. This took its toll on both teams as multiple significant players were noticeably injured. Most notably was QB Ryder Litton, who banged up his ankle. South’s special teams showed up in a big way taking the opening kickoff to the house. That’s all they really needed as their stout defense continued to impress. I would imagine Coach Smith would try to get the second string QB some series if he can, as he will need his leader 100% with district play just around the corner. Week 4: At 6A North Hardin (1-3).

 

Jayvon Quarles Week 3 Players of the Week:

1) Joshua Bigbee – RB and CB – Russellville – 177 yards on 6 carries and 3 TDs!

2) Shane Burns – QB – Caldwell County – 14 for 21 with 197 passing yards and 3 TDs!

3) Jay Becherer – Free Safety – Elizabethtown – 15 tackles!

4) Shymez Brabson – WR – Adair County – 5 catches, 100 yards and 3 TDs!

Disclaimer: I did not have access to MANY team’s individual stats to this weeks game at this post due to non-posting on the KHSAA website. So not intending to slight anyone.

 

Week 3 “Trending Down”

Graves County (5A) – Down – Tough swing game for the Eagles, but were soundly beaten by Paducah Tilghman. Now the schedule is unkind with a trip to angry 2A Mayfield next.

Franklin-Simpson (4A) – Down – Second straight loss at home vs a supposedly average Greenwood team equals a downward trend. Next week at 2A Monroe, who plays bigger than their 2A moniker. Can the Wildcats rebound and gain some momentum going into district play?

 

Week 3 “Trending Up”

Elizabethtown (3A) – Up – Well here we are again! Solid win against North Hardin. Panther fans, I considered ETown for the 10th spot, but couldn’t pull the trigger this week as I compared the Panther opponent record of 3 and 13 vs Tilghman opponent record of 10-6. Yes Tilghman has 2 losses, but they just went to 5A Graves County (a team on the rise and #10 last week) and thumped them 49-29. And looked at Russellville’s marks as well, but their opponents are 5 and 11. Outstanding season thus far though and you are on the brink of the Top 10.

Monroe County (2A) – Up – The Falcons have really been coming on after facing Bowling Green to open the season. Three straight wins has Monroe riding high with district play just around the corner. The Franklin-Simpson Wildcats come to Tompkinsville for a key matchup prior to district play.

Daviess County (6A) – Up - The Panthers are 4-0 for the first time since before 1998. They have an excellent offensive team and their defense has improved significantly. The Panthers look to make some noise in district play, which begins after next week’s road trip across town to play the Owensboro Red Devils.

 

“Broke Their Maiden” – In horse racing, when you break your maiden, you win your first race. Well this is a new category for teams that don’t get as much love, but did get their first victory of the season here and I think that’s significant: (Not sure this category will stick around, but we’ll see!)

Warren Central 4A (1-3) – Won 38-6 at 6A Meade County (2-2) – The Dragons are the Best 1-3 team in the state! They have played every game on the road with a brutal schedule and now travel to arch rival Bowling Green with pride on the line.

Allen County-Scottsville 4A (1-3) – Won 26-20 vs 2A Glasgow (2-2) – The Patriots get in the win column against the Scotties. Happy for the kids that put in the time to get to experience a W!

#3 thru five must be a tight race since #5 just lost @ #2 by three.

Purple 88 is the best poster this side of the Mississippi. Great job.

Great job! However, I feel Owensboro could be ranked higher.

#3 thru five must be a tight race since #5 just lost @ #2 by three.

 

Neer, It is Very Tight and I have to split hairs here alot!

Great job! However, I feel Owensboro could be ranked higher.

 

DT, would agree about O. And I struggled with this, but they were behind Mayfield last week and based on results this week couldn't put them over the Cardinals. Plus McCracken beat Mayfield so they have to move ahead of Mayfield. Its tough but there it is.

New Question: What is the % chance Western Kentucky could sweep (or Win Individual) State Championships? For example,

1A - Russellville

2A - Mayfield

3A - Caldwell County, Paducah Tilghman

4A - South Warren, Hopkinsville

5A - Owensboro, Bowling Green, Christian County

6A - McCracken County

 

Maybe I should put this on a separate thread. If so, moderator please help.

3A and 6A are the only classes I believe will not be won by the West. Other than that, I believe the West asserts its dominance this year.

New Question: What is the % chance Western Kentucky could sweep (or Win Individual) State Championships? For example,

1A - Russellville

2A - Mayfield

3A - Caldwell County, Paducah Tilghman

4A - South Warren, Hopkinsville

5A - Owensboro, Bowling Green, Christian County

6A - McCracken County

 

Maybe I should put this on a separate thread. If so, moderator please help.

 

I think Beechwood gets it this year in 1a since Mayfield is gone.

6a is Male or Trinity

3a Boyle county.

I think 2,4 and 5 go to the west.

 

Question now is does father son both win in their classes and has that ever happened?

New Question: What is the % chance Western Kentucky could sweep (or Win Individual) State Championships? For example,

1A - Russellville

2A - Mayfield

3A - Caldwell County, Paducah Tilghman

4A - South Warren, Hopkinsville

5A - Owensboro, Bowling Green, Christian County

6A - McCracken County

 

Maybe I should put this on a separate thread. If so, moderator please help.

 

Purely my opinion

 

1A: 5% (Beechwood 40%, Paintsville 20%, Pikeville 20%, others 15%)

2A: 40% (DeSales 40%, CAL 10%, NCC 5%, others 5%)

3A: 5% (Boyle 40%, Belfry 40%, others 15%)

4A: 45% (Johnson Central 40%, others 5%)

5A: 55% (Pulaski County 30%, Highlands 10%, others 5%)

6A: 2% (Male 40%, Trinity 40%, others 18%)