I understand how bitter rivalries work. I've been involved with a few more bitter than this one. If Paintsville leads the all time series, and the numbers they printed were a fact, what's the problem? You're questioning a fact about the series.

I am not questioning a fact, just wondering... who cares about an all-time series record? So Paintsville has won 7 more games than JC, who cares? Give JC 8 more apple bowl games and the series will be 21-20.

I am not questioning a fact, just wondering... who cares about an all-time series record? So Paintsville has won 7 more games than JC, who cares? Give JC 8 more apple bowl games and the series will be 21-20.

Anytime there is a local rivlary game, knowledgable people are interested in who leads the series, how many games they have played, who has been winning in recent years, etc.

 

Maybe the article should have said Johnson Central has won xxx games in a row, but Paintsville still leads the series 20-13.

 

If Johnson Central led the all time series, I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem. Sounds like sour grapes to me.

How far will Johnson Central go really? Can they win state?

 

No way. They wont even win their district. :thumb:

What did we (JC fans) say about the Paintsville Herald? Does anybody remember? On the front page of todays paper, this what the headline reads... "Johnson Central celebrated its 56-6 Apple Bowl win Friday night at Paintsville's Memorial Field. The Golden Eagles topped the tigers for the 3rd consecutive year, notching their first three-peat in the 33-year history of the apple bowl. Paintsville leads the all-time series 20-13."

 

Why is that important? The scoring is 154-18 (JC) for the past three apple bowls. In 8 more years the total wins will be 21-20, with JC leading.

 

 

LOL...

 

The problem here (for you) is that the statement is TRUE. Whenever there's a long-standing series of games between two rivals, the all-time record IS of interest.

 

No way. They wont even win their district. :thumb:

 

I won't be so bold as to say JC can win state...but the district shouldn't be much of a problem.

I never brought Rockcastle into the equation. I think Bell County wins the region again. I've just read several JC fans defending their schedule, and quite frankly, I can't see it. Never said a word about Rockcastle.

You have not read me defending the schedule. The schedule is stronger than last season, but it is hard to argue that the Massey 118th ranked is anything but weak. My point is that other teams, including Rockcastle, have played relatively weak schedules in past seasons and acquited themselves pretty well in the playoffs. Anybody who dismisses JC based solely on its schedule without digging a little deeper may be shocked at what might happen when that schedule stffens in a few weeks.

 

Johnson Central has not gone from a 1-9 record to a team with a good shot at an undefeated regular season and its first regional title simply by watering down its schedule. There are good reasons why JC has suddenly begun to name the score against Paintsville, why every poll and computer ranking system have the Golden Eagles in the top 10, why a new stadium with turf and an indoor practice facility are planned, and why fans are packing the stadium for home games in unprecedented numbers.

 

Bell, Rockcastle, Johnson Central, Ashland, and Mason County are all very well coached football teams. (I don't mean to slight any of the other coaches in the region - I am just not as familiar with their records). It is possible that JC may fumble away the opening round of the playoffs again, but the days when most regional titles are decided by Rockcastle and Bell County are over. The region's champion will be decided on which coach has more to work with in a given year, and Jim Matney will have plenty to work with for at least the next two or three seasons.

That's a good post Dino and I agree with the facts laid down. However, you were correct in saying that Rockcastle has played a weak schedule in the past and fared well in the postseason. Johnson Central just hasn't done that and if it's another quick exit, the schedule has to be overhauled. Any word on who JC may be adding to the 2007 schedule?

That's a good post Dino and I agree with the facts laid down. However, you were correct in saying that Rockcastle has played a weak schedule in the past and fared well in the postseason. Johnson Central just hasn't done that and if it's another quick exit, the schedule has to be overhauled. Any word on who JC may be adding to the 2007 schedule?

Johnson Central's present coach has been on board 2+ seasons after taking over a 1-9 team that won 5 games in the three years prior to Matney's arrival. In his first season, Matney led the Golden Eagles to a 7-3 season while competing in a 4A district and narrowly missing the playoffs. Last season, the Golden Eagles were upset in the first round of the playoffs. Matney's Sheldon Clark teams were never known for being soft or shying away from competition.

 

Tying how the Golden Eagles fared before 2004 to the current team's single playoff appearence seems pretty silly to me. JC fans understand that the schedule does not compare favorably to those of many of the "traditional powers." That is a fair criticism of the program - but to hold this group of players and this coaching staff accountable for what happened before most of them were even a part of the program makes no sense.

 

Bill Musick had a couple of very good JC teams before he left the program. However, those teams relied heavily on one or two key players. Depth, special teams, and pass defense were weaknesses in most years. JC now has a respectable kicking game, more depth than ever before, and a solid pass defense. Most past JC teams have also been very one-dimensional, even when they had athletic quarterbacks with great arms. JC is (or will be when JK Ratliff returns to the line-up) much more balanced offensively and is at least capable of using the pass to keep defenses honest. Two sophomore quarterbacks have filled in ably for Ratliff and the Golden Eagles leading rusher, Shawn Music, is only a junior. This is still a young team.

 

Johnson Central is the team to beat in the district this season. Ashland is good enough to upset them (Mason may be as well) if the Golden Eagles don't take care of the ball better than they did against Madison Southern last season, but I like their chances of reaching the regional championship game.

 

(I am not close enough to the program to know much about the future schedule, but I understand that Matney has been trying to beef it up. As weak as this season's schedule is, it is tougher than the one that the Golden Eagles played last season, IMO. I would like to see him dump Paintsville, but I suspect that the guys in the JC BOE office are enjoying the annual paybacks too much for that to happen. )

That's a good post Dino and I agree with the facts laid down. However, you were correct in saying that Rockcastle has played a weak schedule in the past and fared well in the postseason. Johnson Central just hasn't done that and if it's another quick exit, the schedule has to be overhauled. Any word on who JC may be adding to the 2007 schedule?

 

I'll say it again. A big reason Johnson Central's schedule is rated "weak" by some, is because the Eagles have demolished every single team they have played. Their competition has not been as bad as everyone makes it out to be. North Laurel (46-6...easily could have been 66-6...at North Laurel) and Bryan Station (a decent team with a killer schedule) would beat most, if not all other teams on JC's schedule, IMO. Could Rock, Bell, Ashland, Mason, etc. destroy all 7 teams the way Central has? I don't think so. NL beat Leslie County 17-0, and a week later Bell survived against them 7-0. Rockcastle's offense couldn't score against Corbin, and was beaten by, at best, a decent Lincoln County. Ashland loses on their home field to what turns out to be a good, not great, class A team, and were extremely lucky to beat Belfry and Russell both at home in OT. This Central team couldn't care less about JC's past, or history in the playoffs. That was then, and this is now. You naysayers underestimate the lesson learned last year when Madison Southern embarrassed us on our home field in the playoffs. This is a serious, educated, physical team that remembers. A "let down" is unacceptable to them, because they understand how it happened last year, and they refuse to let it happen again. And remember, they have done nearly all of this after losing one of the best, if not the best quarterback in East Kentucky. This is a special team, and if they lose a game this year it will be because the other team was simply better, and that is the difference.

Johnson Central's present coach has been on board 2+ seasons after taking over a 1-9 team that won 5 games in the three years prior to Matney's arrival. In his first season, Matney led the Golden Eagles to a 7-3 season while competing in a 4A district and narrowly missing the playoffs. Last season, the Golden Eagles were upset in the first round of the playoffs. Matney's Sheldon Clark teams were never known for being soft or shying away from competition.

 

Tying how the Golden Eagles fared before 2004 to the current team's single playoff appearence seems pretty silly to me. JC fans understand that the schedule does not compare favorably to those of many of the "traditional powers." That is a fair criticism of the program - but to hold this group of players and this coaching staff accountable for what happened before most of them were even a part of the program makes no sense.

 

Bill Musick had a couple of very good JC teams before he left the program. However, those teams relied heavily on one or two key players. Depth, special teams, and pass defense were weaknesses in most years. JC now has a respectable kicking game, more depth than ever before, and a solid pass defense. Most past JC teams have also been very one-dimensional, even when they had athletic quarterbacks with great arms. JC is (or will be when JK Ratliff returns to the line-up) much more balanced offensively and is at least capable of using the pass to keep defenses honest. Two sophomore quarterbacks have filled in ably for Ratliff and the Golden Eagles leading rusher, Shawn Music, is only a junior. This is still a young team.

 

Johnson Central is the team to beat in the district this season. Ashland is good enough to upset them (Mason may be as well) if the Golden Eagles don't take care of the ball better than they did against Madison Southern last season, but I like their chances of reaching the regional championship game.

 

(I am not close enough to the program to know much about the future schedule, but I understand that Matney has been trying to beef it up. As weak as this season's schedule is, it is tougher than the one that the Golden Eagles played last season, IMO. I would like to see him dump Paintsville, but I suspect that the guys in the JC BOE office are enjoying the annual paybacks too much for that to happen. )

 

And also Dino, remember how everyone except a few of us Eagle fans, thought Central would be easier to handle due to the loss of Ron Blume and a couple other key senior leaders (but especially Blume). We knew we'd be better, and there's no question that we are. Shawn Grim is...yes Virginia...a better all-around running back than Blume. He doesn't quite have the speed, but he's stronger, more elusive, more durable, and has great hands (although he hasn't had to use them yet). We lose a few indispensible players this year like Tackett and Johnson, who are great defensive hitters. Can we reload? Can you say Richardson and Dials? There's no drop off in punishment next year.