I was always under the impression that Boyle and Highlands were on the lower end of the 3A spectrum. So Mercer would be a large 3A school bordering on small 4A.

With new classification Mercer will be 5A....

 

as of now large 3A...

With new classification Mercer will be 5A....

 

as of now large 3A...

 

 

I wasn't about to try and figure it out in the new classification. I have a hard enough time remembering who will be in 6A with Trinity. :creepy:

At this point in the season i would have to take Mercer Co. They have alot of quality wins while Russells only quality opponent, Ashland, resulted in a 3OT loss. But there is alot of football to be played and alot can happen between now and then. Remember last year everyone was talking about how good and unstopable Fort Campbell was going to be to only suffer a shocking loss to Owensboro Catholic. There are 5 or 6 teams right now i believe that could beat one another on any given night but right now i would take Mercer over Russell if they were to play today.

Lets remember one thing...

Russell- In past five years State Semi-Finalist three times, state champion last year.

Belfry- State Semi-Finalist past three years, state champion twice

Mercer County and Harrodsburg- 0 State Semi Finals in past five years, 0 State Titles

 

I will enjoy reading "Russell vs. Mercer County" every week as long as it keep Belfry under the radar

Thank you....

While I do think that Mercer is ready to get to Louisville this year, I am one Mercer fan that wants to avoid any comparison with Russell and Belfry. For the exact reason you mentioned above!

The only way to know who is better is to line them up....so what is the point in this thread??

Lets remember one thing...

Russell- In past five years State Semi-Finalist three times, state champion last year.

Belfry- State Semi-Finalist past three years, state champion twice

Mercer County and Harrodsburg- 0 State Semi Finals in past five years, 0 State Titles

Personally, as a Belfry fan I feel we are sitting pretty right now. Not #1 in rankings, not defending title holder, so the target on our back isn't as big as Russell and Mercer. Belfry also hosts the playoffs if they take care of business as they should. The Pirates also still have three nice challenges left to keep them fresh and improving come playoff time in Pikeville, Prestonsburg, and a 2A sleeper contender in Sheldon Clark who should enter undefeated and probably ranked in the top 5.

 

Just a refresher on the Pirates... they scored what was to be the game winning TD against Russell last year on the road but it was called back (and rightly so) for an illegal motion call... they held Russell to less than 50 yards in the second half after arguably the worst half they played all year to spot the Devils a 20-0 lead. From that team who was literally a butt flinch away from a state title they returned two 1000 yard rushers and a lot of starters on both sides of the ball.

 

I will enjoy reading "Russell vs. Mercer County" every week as long as it keep Belfry under the radar

 

Tell me this, how does the past five years results play into this season. No one overlooks Belfry and they arent flying under the radar. Belfry is a very good team, just as Mercer, Western, and Russell, and i believe on any given night they could all beat each other, BUT the past five years results will have no implication on how this year plays out.

Experience means alot..... not to be a wise guy but Johnson Central can attest that come playoff time havign a team who has been there before plays huge dividends. Five straight games against teams with increasing talent in rowdy environments where the slightest miscues translates in the end of your season is huge pressure.

 

Belfry has proved they can do it, Russell has as well, but Mercer? NO

If Mercer matches up with either in the finals you can't tell me that the experience of being there won't have a marginal influence on the game?

Thus...the past five years DOES have an effect on how this year plays out.... there is a reason that certain teams can make it to the quarterfinals and semis every year...its called swagger. Its what JC has to get in order to get beyond the 2nd round of the playoffs against the Bell Counties, Ashlands, and Rockcastles.

Experience means alot..... not to be a wise guy but Johnson Central can attest that come playoff time havign a team who has been there before plays huge dividends. Five straight games against teams with increasing talent in rowdy environments where the slightest miscues translates in the end of your season is huge pressure.

 

Belfry has proved they can do it, Russell has as well, but Mercer? NO

If Mercer matches up with either in the finals you can't tell me that the experience of being there won't have a marginal influence on the game?

 

I do agree that being there before helps your chances. Many coaches tell there players, "act like you've been hear before." Belfry always had solid teams but never could quite get over that hump til 2003. I agree that it does help but i dont think that it makes that much of a difference.

 

Now as far of Johnson Central goes, they have always seemed to exit the playoffs to early. Many times the have been beaten, the game was close and they beat theirselves or a key player or 2 has been injured, just like last year when they turned the ball over 6 times and were still only beat by 6 points. Do I think experienced in playoffs is what contributed to the loss, not in the least.

According to the KHSAA, and the current alignments, Mercer isnt a LARGE 3A school, or even bordering a 4A school. Actually, with an enrollment of around 920 give or take a couple, they are in the middle of the pack of the 3A enrollments, check the site if you want to see for yourself.

 

One of the smallest 4A schools is Lincoln Co., and going off of last years enrollment, they have one of 1,160. Personally, I dont consider a difference of 220-2400 borderline. For Mercer to be a bordering 4A school, they would need to be within the enrollent range of 1,160. Which, THEY ARE NOT.

 

Mercer, from outsiders points of view are in a "Danged if they do, Danged if they dont" situation. IF they win a state champioship, people will be downplaying it b/c of their #'s and if they dont win IT, then people will be making bashing comments because they didnt, b/c of their #s.

 

A middle of the pack 3A school, yes, borderline 4A school false.

According to the KHSAA, and the current alignments, Mercer isnt a LARGE 3A school, or even bordering a 4A school. Actually, with an enrollment of around 920 give or take a couple, they are in the middle of the pack of the 3A enrollments, check the site if you want to see for yourself.

 

One of the smallest 4A schools is Lincoln Co., and going off of last years enrollment, they have one of 1,160. Personally, I dont consider a difference of 220-2400 borderline. For Mercer to be a bordering 4A school, they would need to be within the enrollent range of 1,160. Which, THEY ARE NOT.

 

Mercer, from outsiders points of view are in a "Danged if they do, Danged if they dont" situation. IF they win a state champioship, people will be downplaying it b/c of their #'s and if they dont win IT, then people will be making bashing comments because they didnt, b/c of their #s.

 

A middle of the pack 3A school, yes, borderline 4A school false.

 

Who cares about the numbers? The KHSAA could care less or they would do something. Let's move on. Did Mercer earn the #1 ranking. I suppose they did with quality wins. They are the best team until they get beat. I have always thought being ranked #1 in High School Football is a jinx. I like right where Russell is sitting #3 and one loss under thier belts.

Thank you....

While I do think that Mercer is ready to get to Louisville this year, I am one Mercer fan that wants to avoid any comparison with Russell and Belfry. For the exact reason you mentioned above!

The only way to know who is better is to line them up....so what is the point in this thread??

That is the best post on this thread.

Mercer will not survive come playoff time. To much pressure on their shoulders, and from all of there players not use to winning big championship games, I can't see them delivering.

Well one thing is for sure, these boys have only been together as one team for what 8 weeks? I think they have come together rather well, considering other teams have been together for how long? Who cares about enrollment numbers, it wasn't by their choice and they as players had no say in the matter, I am tired of hearing the enrollment numbers, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, so what they are dressing about 70 kids - not counting some freshman and all together have a 100 or so - these boys want to be a part of a winning program, who wouldn't and I sure don't blame them. The coaching staff is top notch,sports complex is unbelievable, top of the line baby - fan support base is more than it has ever been before. I am happy to be a part of it as a fan. Buffalo Gap you are correct "Mercer, from outsiders points of view are in a "Danged if they do, Danged if they dont" situation. IF they win a state champioship, people will be downplaying it b/c of their #'s and if they dont win IT, then people will be making bashing comments because they didnt, b/c of their #s." These boys just want to play ball and WIN, who can blame them for that. Merged and Mighty, we are the Titans and they improve each week - they are extremely talented and they can deliver.

Mercer will not survive come playoff time. To much pressure on their shoulders, and from all of there players not use to winning big championship games, I can't see them delivering.

 

 

What did Boyle Co do the season before their first title? I believe they went 7-5 and had never smelled anything close to a title. Then what happened to them? The very next year they were one of the best teams in the state and went on one of the greatest runs in the state. So you can throw out the experience of being there and the swagger that the teams that have been there. This Mercer team is tough. Last night Boyle scored to cut the lead 21-14 late in the fourth. Mercer goes 3 and out and has their punt blocked and Boyle has the ball at the Mercer 16. What do they do? They hold them on downs. Game over or almost. They showed alot of toughness last night. From what I saw if you aren't loaded with team speed then their pursuit on defense will hurt you. All I'm saying is that they have just as good of a chance as anybody else. The community is going nuts over their new TEAM and they are getting alot of press. I just think it's going to add alot more excitement to the playoffs. Mercer will bring loads of fans so if they make it far enough to play one of the powerhouse teams it will be an unreal atmosphere. Their was alot of anger over this merger in the community. But, the more this team wins the more healing I see out their of the folks that were hurt about Harrodsburg High being no more. You just have to be from here to understand. So people are a little over excited and I know I am one of them. But, the playoffs are a way off so I believe this thread will grow for awhile.