Your thoughts on who wins this one.

Imo, Hazard brings home the gold in this one. That big line of Hazard will wear down Beechwood, and the Blair kid can air it out with accuracy when he wants to. Got a great receiver in the Johnson kid, and Corey Smith is a beast at RB. Strong and well balanced with good footwork. The D line is strong and will get after it. Really believe this is Hazard's year.

If Hazard has a lot of size, this will be a tough one for Beechwood.

 

I am being told that this game could be moved to Thursday night, depending on the outcome of the Marshall game tomorrow. If Marshall wins, the game stays at 1 pm Friday. If Marshall loses, Thursday night at 8.

 

Why is it once again that 1A is forced to Thursday night? That does not seem fair at all!! The state should rotate the Thursday night game when this happens and not make it always 1A. Why not schedule the Bowling Green game which will draw a big crowd on Thursday?

Or quit playing in BG all together.

Beechwood and Hazard both played Somerset. Beechwood won 29 -7 Hazard lost to Somerset 33-15. Taking the Tigers 28-13.

Cal Preps has it 35-21 Beechwood..

I will take speed over size all day!!

Certainly the one common opponent would seem to favor Beechwood heavily but I would not use just that factor. If Hazard can throw the ball as well as run it that would certainly be a big factor. Stopping Beechwood will be tough. Forget the numbers against 1A schools, check out the offense they put up against NewCath and Holy Cross which were two pretty good 2A teams. To win Hazard is going to have to hold Beechwood to maybe 21 points and that is going to be difficult.

Imo, Hazard brings home the gold in this one. That big line of Hazard will wear down Beechwood, and the Blair kid can air it out with accuracy when he wants to. Got a great receiver in the Johnson kid, and Corey Smith is a beast at RB. Strong and well balanced with good footwork. The D line is strong and will get after it. Really believe this is Hazard's year.

 

That's what NewCath thought, and the little guys took them to the woodshed. Beechwood is small, but they make up for it with CRAZY speed.

Hazard is just that, they have proven to be a hazard to all in their way. I think BW will be to much though but who knows. 2 great programs that square off again with all the marbles on the line

Beechwood has been outsized many times this season, in fact in almost every game this year they have been outsized. Louisville Holy Cross had three 300 pounders. Covington Holy Cross was much bigger everywhere. Newport Catholics QB is bigger than anyone on Beechwood's team. Covington Catholic was much bigger and platooned players and Beechwood hung with them into the second half before wearing down. I am not saying size isn't a worry. What I am saying is size has been a worry all season and it has proven to be a non issue. I agree with others, the speed this defense plays with has negated the size disadvantage.

I was in attendance for the 08' game between these two in Louisville. Hazard played very chippy, there were several personal foul flags that day.

 

I'm on the fence in deciding to make the trek this year.

I was in attendance for the 08' game between these two in Louisville. Hazard played very chippy, there were several personal foul flags that day.

 

I'm on the fence in deciding to make the trek this year.

 

Hazard is always a strong, physical team and I expect the same this year. They are well coached and have a history of great playoff performances. Their championship in 2011 is one no one expected and they won that game clearly on the field. Beechwood needs to bring their best to win this one, as it should be in a title game.

I know very little about Hazard, but for them to handle Paintsville as they did was very impressive. Eastern Ky. football is always a tough opponent.

Beechwood peaking at the perfect time and excelling in all 3 phases.

 

Beechwood 31

Hazard 14