With district play now in full swing, it is only natural to start looking ahead. The picture is clearing up on who the true title contenders are. There are some big district games coming that will help answer the questions about how good some of these teams are. As we go through this week's lineup, let's think about what each teams playoff prospects look like right now.

 

Beechwood opens district play against Bellevue, the team that has been their chief rival in the 6 class era. This game doesn't look pretty after Beechwood annihilated Newport last week, a team that beat Bellevue earlier in the year. Beechwood has been #1 all year in 1A and there is no doubt they are one of the leading contenders for the 1A title.

 

Paintsville faces district opponent, #8 Fairview, this week. Paintsville's come from behind OT win over Pikeville has raised them to the #2 slot in 1A. Their defense will get a test this week against Fairview's explosive offense. Fairview's biggest win of the year was over #9 Hazard. Paintsville is a clear favorite in this game and is certainly a top 1A title contender. Fairview needs to get a win in this one, or at least play a close game to the end, if they want to show they truly can contend for the title. Right now, Fairview looks like the #3 team in this district and that will make their first playoff opponent a tough one. This is a big, big game for Fairview.

 

Number 3 Pikeville, #4 Raceland and #5 Russellville all have open dates this week. All the losses these three have were against top ten ranked teams. These three all look like title contenders. If Pikeville had hung on for the win against Paintsville, they would be getting support to be the #1 team in 1A. Raceland posted a very nice win last week over Lawrence County, a team that had no problem with Fairview earlier in the year. Raceland has played the toughest schedule in 1A and they look like they are getting into the form that had some people picking them as the pre-season #1 team in 1A. Russellville was rolling until they got punched back to earth by Murray last week. They may get a challenge from Crittenden County in their district but right now Russellville looks like the clear favorite out of the far west. All three of these ranked teams are definitely in the mix for the 1A title.

 

Now we get to the teams that are more difficult to handicap. Leading the list is #6 Paris. The Greyhounds have talent and an undefeated record. They also have a strength of schedule ranked #23 in 1A. So how good is Paris? Are they a title contender? It is tough to say no to an undefeated team. They did beat Frankfort early when the Panthers still had Anthony Robinson at QB. Then we have to look at history. Last year Paris entered their second round playoff game against Beechwood with a 9-2 record but lost 51-0. Paris looks better but it is hard to call them a legitimate title contender with their strength of schedule and playoff history.

 

Next on the list is #7 Campbellsville. Like Russellville, Campbellsville saw their undefeated record blown up by a ranked 2A opponent (Danville). Campbellsville gets the week off to try and fix what went wrong in that one. They need to get things fixed because they face district rival Bethlehem in two weeks. Losing RB Kendon Young really hurts Campbellsville's playoff prospects. They needed him to be considered a true contender. Without Young, Campbellsville looks firmly in that second tier of teams that are good but not good enough to win a title.

 

Fairview, at #8 was discussed above so we will move on to #9 Hazard. The Bulldogs program has the championship pedigree so they always have to be looked at as a possible title contender. After losing to Fairview earlier in the year, last week's game versus district rival Pikeville was big. Unfortunately for Hazard, they had no answer for Pikeville in a 56-28 loss. That does not bode well for Hazard's title hopes. They will pin their title thoughts on what Paintsville did last year, turning around a big regular season loss by defeating Pikeville in the playoffs. Right now though, it doesn't look like Hazard is going to be able to rise to that title contender level. A dangerous playoff opponent but probably not enough to run through those last 3 top notch opponents they will have to face to win a title.

 

At #10 we have Bishop Brossart. As we have stated several times, the Mustangs are the story of the year in 1A. Good news - they had a nice win over a top 15 Ludlow team last week. Bad news - their record has been built against one of the easiest schedules in 1A. Good news - win this week versus Bracken County and they lock up at least #2 in their district. Bad news - in two weeks they will face another undefeated team, Paris, who looks much stronger than the Mustangs. Good news - even if they lose to Paris, they get the #2 seed and face the #3 seed in their opposing district and a chance at a playoff win. Bad news - that #3 seed playoff opponent will be a team that is heavily favored to beat Brossart. Bottom line - Brossart, enjoy the ride as long as you can, but the Mustangs are not a title contender this year.

 

As we look at the best of the rest in 1A, there isn't anyone here capable of springing a big playoff surprise run all the way to a title. There doesn't appear to be anyone who could even make it to the state semifinals. There is still time for a couple of these teams to get some upset wins. Teams to watch are Crittenden County, Williamsburg and Frankfort. Those teams could get an upset along the way but they don't appear to have enough to make a title run.

 

The playoff picture is shaping up and the possible end is getting more and more in focus. Keep watching those key district battles to see if there are any unexpected twists and turns.

Really nice work on this VOR! From afar, it would appear to me that if Beechwood plays well its going to be hard for any of these teams to beat them. I honestly don't know much about the east teams and am pulling for Russellville, but I clearly think Beechwood is THE team to beat.

I agree that no team from District 3 looks as if they can hang with Beechwood in district 4. If Robinson from Frankfort is back and at some kinda full speed, then they have the best chance...as crazy as that sounds for a team that it is without a win to date.

 

But VOR and others: would be interested to see how people see district 3 standings after the dust settles over the next several weeks. Key game this Friday HC Louisville and KCD. If it rains big time, think KCD will be challenged as they just don't have the size of HC.

Beechwoods to lose

I agree that no team from District 3 looks as if they can hang with Beechwood in district 4. If Robinson from Frankfort is back and at some kinda full speed, then they have the best chance...as crazy as that sounds for a team that it is without a win to date.

 

But VOR and others: would be interested to see how people see district 3 standings after the dust settles over the next several weeks. Key game this Friday HC Louisville and KCD. If it rains big time, think KCD will be challenged as they just don't have the size of HC.

 

I did a preview of District 3 (and the others) in last week's notebook.

 

http://bluegrasspreps.com/ky-football-high/1a-notebook-9-a-312315.html

 

I think that district is going to be the most interesting one in 1A. The only question in my mind in District 6 is who wins between Paintsville and Raceland. I think both those teams will beat Fairview. In District 3, I can't tell you what will happen there. Frankfort is the wild card. With Robinson back, I think they will win the district. Without him playing, any of those three (Holy Cross, KCD or Frankfort) could win it. Frankfort had the week off last week. I guess we will need to watch this Friday to see if Robinson gets any playing time.

The 1a goes through Beechwood they are top dog and should be 1a champs for 2015.

SO, if Beechwood doesn't win 1A this year, HUGE UPSET. Correct?

SO, if Beechwood doesn't win 1A this year, HUGE UPSET. Correct?

 

In some people's minds probably. Personally, I have been saying all year long that these top 5 teams are all pretty close and any of the 5 could win it. Some people think Paintsville should be #1 right now. Some thought Pikeville should be #1 earlier in the year. Some thought Raceland should be #1 pre-season. I don't think it is a huge upset if Beechwood doesn't win the title. I see them as the slight favorite.

SO, if Beechwood doesn't win 1A this year, HUGE UPSET. Correct?

 

No.

No.

 

This is the one post this quarter that I will agree with p-man on. Very different reasons why we agree, but I agree.

This is the one post this quarter that I will agree with p-man on. Very different reasons why we agree, but I agree.

 

Whats to argue, Beechwood is not very good this year, sounds like we agree on that.

SO' date=' if Beechwood doesn't win 1A this year, HUGE UPSET. Correct?[/quote']

 

I don't think it's a HUGE upset, but an upset, yes. This is Beechwood's to lose. But it's also anyone else's to take. Whether it's Paintsville, Raceland, or Pikeville, they can all win it. It's whether or not Beechwood loses it.

 

Ultimately, if Beechwood doesn't win it, it's because they didn't play their best IMO.

Whats to argue, Beechwood is not very good this year, sounds like we agree on that.

 

And this is why p-man is the only person on this site I have ever put the ignore feature on. Ignorant and hateful posts are just not traits I want to waste time on.

 

:walk:

And this is why p-man is the only person on this site I have ever put the ignore feature on. Ignorant and hateful posts and just not traits I want to waste time on.

 

:walk:

 

What is hatefully about my post?

I don't think it's a HUGE upset, but an upset, yes. This is Beechwood's to lose. But it's also anyone else's to take. Whether it's Paintsville, Raceland, or Pikeville, they can all win it. It's whether or not Beechwood loses it.

 

Ultimately, if Beechwood doesn't win it, it's because they didn't play their best IMO.

 

LRam, I don't disagree here, but I would add Russellville to your post simply from the standpoint that they are likely to get the chance to play Beechwood, while 2 of the teams you mentioned won't get that chance.