The #3 Golden Eagles of Johnson Central will travel to Wayne County to take on the top ranked Cardinals in a game that is sure to excite. Meeting for their third time in the last three years, these teams will once again battle it out for a trip to the big dance. Johnson Central (11-2), the defending State Champs, come into the contest fresh off a decisive, 54-27 rematch victory on the road over Ashland, while Wayne County (12-1) exploded in the second half to win 45-18 on the road against Lou. Western. There were no common opponents between these two teams this year, but both played their share of high caliber teams. The winner will advance to the KHSAA Class 4A State Championship and play either #4 Collins or #5 Franklin-Simpson, 4:30 Saturday Dec. 2 @ Kroger Field in Lexington.

 

Prediction: 21-20 Wayne County

Wayne Co gave up a lot of yards rushing vs Rockcastle. That does not bode well when playing JC.

Wayne defense returned to form against Western which had demonstrated they run it pretty well. Varsity defense allowed only 1 TD.

What's Wayne's size and overall team speed like? I don't doubt that Wayne has a really good team, but it's gonna take a lot of both to beat JC.

JC rolls!!!!

I'll take Wayne at home.

I will be shocked if this game is close. I don’t think it will be as bad as last years semifinal between the two (most lopsided semifinal game I have ever seen) but would be shocked if Wayne is within striking distance in the 4th quarter

What's Wayne's size and overall team speed like? I don't doubt that Wayne has a really good team, but it's gonna take a lot of both to beat JC.

 

Wayne has good size on offense but JC will have advantage in that category. Wayne has seven skill guys that are all fast and scoring threats. Can’t focus on just one or two. They seem to be able to always have a miss match somewhere. They are balanced but contrary to popular belief actually run it more than they throw it. Wayne entire defense is fast and quick. Still they play very physical. Wayne should have the advantage in the speed category.

 

Should be a good one.

I will be shocked if this game is close. I don’t think it will be as bad as last years semifinal between the two (most lopsided semifinal game I have ever seen) but would be shocked if Wayne is within striking distance in the 4th quarter

 

You have the right to be confident. But maybe a little too confident.

 

2015 JC 21 Wayne 14. Just a few plays and breaks were the difference. JC goes on to be destroyed in the finals. JC openly said that game motivated them in 2016.

 

2016 Wayne and JC II. Basically the same personnel. Except Wayne leading rusher was out with injury. Everything that could go wrong for Wayne in that game did go wrong. No excuse. I credit JC with causing many of those problems. They had maybe one of the most dominate playoff runs ever, in part, motivated by the previous years failure.

 

2017 Wayne and JC III. Wayne once again basically returns the same team. JC does not return the same team. I know they return some good players. But some that graduated or are injured were very special players. Wayne has played a much more difficult schedule than they had in 2016. They too have been motivated by their past. They are ready. I’m sure JC is too. Both teams are well coached top to bottom and have great players. Clearly, I want Wayne to win. But I’m not predicting a winner. You though are predicting a blow out.

 

If you think one night a year ago is the deciding factor on the outcome of this game well ..... you should really prepare to be shocked.

This is going to be a war... The winner in my opinion wins state.

You have the right to be confident. But maybe a little too confident.

 

2015 JC 21 Wayne 14. Just a few plays and breaks were the difference. JC goes on to be destroyed in the finals. JC openly said that game motivated them in 2016.

 

2016 Wayne and JC II. Basically the same personnel. Except Wayne leading rusher was out with injury. Everything that could go wrong for Wayne in that game did go wrong. No excuse. I credit JC with causing many of those problems. They had maybe one of the most dominate playoff runs ever, in part, motivated by the previous years failure.

 

2017 Wayne and JC III. Wayne once again basically returns the same team. JC does not return the same team. I know they return some good players. But some that graduated or are injured were very special players. Wayne has played a much more difficult schedule than they had in 2016. They too have been motivated by their past. They are ready. I’m sure JC is too. Both teams are well coached top to bottom and have great players. Clearly, I want Wayne to win. But I’m not predicting a winner. You though are predicting a blow out.

 

If you think one night a year ago is the deciding factor on the outcome of this game well ..... you should really prepare to be shocked.

 

Not trying to be rude to Wayne as I have no dog in this fight but Wayne gave up substantial yards on the ground to Rockcastle who I have seen in person and does not run it near as well as JC.

 

If this is the same Wayne team as last year then they are in trouble as JC’s second string marched all over the field on them last year. (I do think Wayne is better this year but this comment is from your previous comment)

 

Wayne may have better athletes than Ashland ( I do not believe they do for 1 second) but if they are comparable they may be able to big play JC and come out on top.

 

JC is not built to play from behind with their ball control offense. I simply feel like if both teams play well JC wins comfortably. If they put it on the ground like they did against Ashland the first time then Wayne will have a punchers chance.

 

I wouldn’t bet on it but that is just me.

 

Good luck to both.

Not trying to be rude to Wayne as I have no dog in this fight but Wayne gave up substantial yards on the ground to Rockcastle who I have seen in person and does not run it near as well as JC.

 

If this is the same Wayne team as last year then they are in trouble as JC’s second string marched all over the field on them last year. (I do think Wayne is better this year but this comment is from your previous comment)

 

Wayne may have better athletes than Ashland ( I do not believe they do for 1 second) but if they are comparable they may be able to big play JC and come out on top.

 

JC is not built to play from behind with their ball control offense. I simply feel like if both teams play well JC wins comfortably. If they put it on the ground like they did against Ashland the first time then Wayne will have a punchers chance.

 

I wouldn’t bet on it but that is just me.

 

Good luck to both.

 

Great points and I pretty much feel the same way. I was unable to attend Ashland's win over JC in the regular season, but was at the game Friday, not to mention I've seen JC a lot over the past few years. This is probably the largest, most physical JC team I have seen yet. On top of that, they're really fast for their size.

 

Ashland has athletes and speed all over the field, which is what kept them in Friday nights game for 3 quarters. Ashland's offense is likely on par with Wayne Counties but I believe Ashland would have an edge on them defensively. Ashlands defense was as good as I've seen in recent memory, very quick, hard hitting and they swarm to the ball. That still wasn't a match for JC's running game though even though Ashland has seen it often enough to know how to defend against it. As long as JC holds on to the ball, they're going to put up plenty of points on Wayne County and I could see this being a running clock late in the game if Wayne County can't score on most of their possessions.

 

I'm not trying to discredit Wayne County, JC is just a hard team to prepare for if you don't play them often. You would think that if you stop the run you would win the game, but that's not as easy as it sounds.

Harlan Co. 49

Ashland 28

 

Wayne 47

Harlan Co. 14

 

Belfry 35

JC. 19

 

Louisville Central 60

Belfry. 21

 

Louisville Central 13

Louisville Western 12

 

Wayne Co. 45

Louisville Western 18

 

Just the facts.

Harlan Co. 49

Ashland 28

 

Wayne 47

Harlan Co. 14

 

Belfry 35

JC. 19

 

Louisville Central 60

Belfry. 21

 

Louisville Central 13

Louisville Western 12

 

Wayne Co. 45

Louisville Western 18

 

Just the facts.

 

That's a terrible way to predict the outcome of a game. Scores alone don't tell the whole story, particularly early season scores.

Yet you and others rely on the score of a game from a year ago. Why does that game tell the whole story. I knew you would fall for it. It doesn’t tell the whole story. I didn’t make a prediction or give an opinion of what those facts mean at all. I just posted them. You on the other hand did. So it is you prediction that is the one that is terrible.

 

 

I’m sure you will say it is based on more. Rockcastle rushed for a lot. Does that tell the whole story. 25 % and one score came after the game was out of reach. But you didn’t have the whole story did you. They got out scored. Last time I checked that is the only stat that determines the winner.

 

Also you make judgements on atheltism and size of Wayne without watching them play. You say Ashland is comparable. If you watched tape or film you would see they aren’t. Have you watched Wayne’s defense. No. You ask for information and then make leaps from four sentences of information that Ashland’s defense is better. Seems like a terrible way to predict an outcome.

Edited November 19, 20178 yr by RED&BLACK
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