Not a whole lot of great games in the first round in Class 3A, but there are five pretty good ones. Which do you think will be the best and why?

 

Union County at Adair County

Adair was 9-1 but against a very weak schedule. Union was 7-3 but didn't do much against the two district teams ahead of them. Can the Braves go to Adair and win?

 

Waggener at Boyle County

Boyle County hasn't really clicked since losing to Lexington Catholic and now must host a Waggener team that has played good football over the last month. Boyle hasn't lost a first round game since 1992 and this would be a major upset, but can the Wildcats play with the Rebels?

 

Garrard County at Henry County

Garrard and Henry were district rivals for 14 years, off and on, between 1987 and 2002. Garrard is 14-2 all-time against Henry but its been 13 years since they've played and they have never met in the playoffs. Both teams have sat just outside the top ten all season. I think this is the best playoff game in 3A this week.

 

Fleming County at Lawrence County

Fleming tied for the district title but finished third in the tiebreaker. Now they travel to a tough Lawrence County club. Can the Panthers get a win in Louisa?

 

Casey County at Breathitt County

Neither team is great and both will be prohibitive underdogs in a second round game at Corbin, but this could be a tough one. Their only other meeting was a 54-34 win by Breathitt in the second round in 2010.

By best do you mean most competitive? If that is what you mean, I think Casey & Breathitt, maybe. Waggener certainly has the athletes to give ANYONE a game, I just think Boyle's discipline & execution will overwhelm them. Garrard & Henry could be a good one, though I honestly don't know a lot about the Wildcats. The only thing I know about Adair & Union is that Adair seems to pad their schedule every year.

By best do you mean most competitive? If that is what you mean, I think Casey & Breathitt, maybe. Waggener certainly has the athletes to give ANYONE a game, I just think Boyle's discipline & execution will overwhelm them. Garrard & Henry could be a good one, though I honestly don't know a lot about the Wildcats. The only thing I know about Adair & Union is that Adair seems to pad their schedule every year.

 

Good question. Probably wasn't clear enough. I'm mostly asking most competitive, but not also not a bad game. I think Garrard/Henry will be competitive and good. I think Breathitt/Casey may be competitive but bad.

I don't think Boyle will lose to Waggener, but Waggener is a bit of a wildcard.

 

Since adding those three key transfers you can argue they were the clear 2nd best team in that District and playing at a Top 10 level. This is one of those games that if Boyle plays focused ball they win going away..but if you play sloppy and let Waggener hang around... anything can happen.

By best do you mean most competitive? If that is what you mean, I think Casey & Breathitt, maybe. Waggener certainly has the athletes to give ANYONE a game, I just think Boyle's discipline & execution will overwhelm them. Garrard & Henry could be a good one, though I honestly don't know a lot about the Wildcats. The only thing I know about Adair & Union is that Adair seems to pad their schedule every year.

 

Adair County 2011 Kentucky High School Football

Adair County 2010 Kentucky High School Football

 

Here is a link to adair's schedule and results his first year at adair (2011) and the year previous to his arrival (2010). This conversation about "scheduling" is more annoying than any part of high school football forums. With the possible exception of dads with all star sons. This is not college football, where scheduling is strategic, this isnt private school football, where money is not an issue and there is a necessity to play hoover and kings. This is small county football in southern kentucky. Smart and experienced football folks will understand that you can not schedule like the masses on this forum suggest because of the ups and downs of county football. It would be a death sentence for a coach to try and predict the up years and try and schedule different opponents.

I an going with Union vs Adair just because I believe that they may be the most evenly matched.

I am going to predict Union gets the win.

Adair County 2011 Kentucky High School Football

Adair County 2010 Kentucky High School Football

 

Here is a link to adair's schedule and results his first year at adair (2011) and the year previous to his arrival (2010). This conversation about "scheduling" is more annoying than any part of high school football forums. With the possible exception of dads with all star sons. This is not college football, where scheduling is strategic, this isnt private school football, where money is not an issue and there is a necessity to play hoover and kings. This is small county football in southern kentucky. Smart and experienced football folks will understand that you can not schedule like the masses on this forum suggest because of the ups and downs of county football. It would be a death sentence for a coach to try and predict the up years and try and schedule different opponents.

 

If you don't think scheduling is used "strategically," I don't know what to say... I do know that Adair was 8-2 last season, winning by an average of 34 points, but lost the two by an average of 33 points.

 

In the playoffs, they squeaked by a 3-7 Fort Campbell team by 4 points, then got beat by 50 at Tilghman.

 

I get what you are saying about travel, but Breckinridge, for example, is 2 hours away from Adair. If a coach doesn't have an idea what his will look like in any two year period, he probably needs to have a better handle on his program. Perhaps the "pad the schedule" comment was a poor choice of words, but they certainly haven't played very good competition week-in-and-week-out.

Adair did have a nice year last year. Are you suggesting they should have made scheduling changes in the off season? Most contracts are home and away contracts- meaning two year deals. No changes could be made especially since they added LaRue to the district. The schedule was locked in. And I don't think any football coach is happy or willing to schedule a "tougher" schedule based on a hunch of what is coming up in the next classes. That's dangerous waters banking your coaching welfare on a hunch. But hey, that's coachinb isn't it?

Adair did have a nice year last year. Are you suggesting they should have made scheduling changes in the off season? Most contracts are home and away contracts- meaning two year deals. No changes could be made especially since they added LaRue to the district. The schedule was locked in. And I don't think any football coach is happy or willing to schedule a "tougher" schedule based on a hunch of what is coming up in the next classes. That's dangerous waters banking your coaching welfare on a hunch. But hey, that's coachinb isn't it?

 

This year is Year One of the two year contract cycle.

I think the Union/Adair game will be the best first round game. Union has to drive 204 miles for a first round game but their run game should have no problem adjusting once they find Columbia. Adair County won their first-ever playoff game last year while Union has lost five of their last six postseason games

And since you know that I'm sure you're well in touch with how many of the coaches and scheudling ad's honor "gentleman's agreements" just as much as they respect a contract. I don't want to lose sight of my original point. Which is, adair and schools like adair are playing who they are supposed to be playing. There is not any reason to suggest that they are playing a padded schedule other than two good seasons of a little over 40 years.

I think the Union/Adair game will be the best first round game. Union has to drive 204 miles for a first round game but their run game should have no problem adjusting once they find Columbia. Adair County won their first-ever playoff game last year while Union has lost five of their last six postseason games

 

Union has a little playoff history with Adair, beating them in 08 on the way to losing to Central in the semi's. Beat them again in 09. Union won 6 of 10 playoff games during their last journey into 3A. But as they say, that is history and the trip to Adair will be a long and difficult journey for Union.

And since you know that I'm sure you're well in touch with how many of the coaches and scheudling ad's honor "gentleman's agreements" just as much as they respect a contract. I don't want to lose sight of my original point. Which is, adair and schools like adair are playing who they are supposed to be playing. There is not any reason to suggest that they are playing a padded schedule other than two good seasons of a little over 40 years.

 

I already stated that maybe "pad the schedule" is not accurate, since I obviously don't know the particulars of Adair's scheduling process... A better statement is probably that Adair hasn't played very tough schedules, lately - which makes it hard to gauge the likelihood of playoff success.

Casey and Breathitt are evenly matched in my opinion and that could lead to a good close game.

Adair's schedule was actually locked into place before the 9-3 2014 season ever kicked off.

 

The new realignment was finalized in May of 2014, and at that time, the state wide rat race of looking for games officially began. And it doesn't take long, especially if you're a school like Adair County had been where the 2013 4-7, 2012 6-5 and 2011 4-7 (a year removed from 1-10 at that under a different HC) were the equivalent to "Super Bowl Champs" as is.

 

IMO they are playing exactly who they need to play. The Metcalfe's, Russell County's, etc. of the world (all of whom Adair has always played) have all had their turn at the highest of highs and lowest of lows ( Russell County is going through that these last two years after winning 30+ in the three seasons prior). It's no secret on here that I am a big fan of them finally getting their turn at the big boy table of that area (and, recognition state wide). Deserved.