That might entice more Ashland posters to contribute to the discussion. Some of the more vocal Tomcat supporters from last season's pregame thread seem to be having a difficult time finding this thread.

I'm not a "Tomcat supporter," but I was essentially labeled one last year. For the record, I picked Ashland in a close game last year and was right. This year, I think Johnson Central is probably a touchdown or two better than the Tomcats.

If Johnson Central wins or draws the take-away stat, the Golden Eagles will win by 21 or more. If Ashland wins the turnover battle, then the game may be closer. I don't think that we will see a repeat of the Golden Eagles' playoff performance against Madison Southern last season.

 

This is a much better defense than the one that held Ashland to 13 at Putnam last season and I just don't see the Tomcats scoring much more this season unless the Golden Eagles repeatedly turn the ball over deep in their own territory. If Johnson Central leads at halftime, Ashland could be in deep trouble.

It's very interesting to compare this thread and last year's rockin'-and-rollin' shindig.

 

For starters, the above post sounds remarkably like your pregame post on this game last season:

 

Coach Matney and his staff will have had 15 full days to prepare Johnson Central for its biggest game of the season. The only way Ashland will win is if Johnson Central turns the ball over early and often.

 

JC 41

Ashland 31

 

Of course, the final was 13-10 Ashland.

Actually, I think you have it about right.

 

 

We will see.

Johnson Central 36

Ashland 17

 

I think it will stil be close at halftime, but JC will pull away in the 2nd half...

Your pick last year was JC 38-24.

Johnson Central: 35

Ashland: 14

Your pick last year was JC 42-28.

Actually, I think you have it about right.

Last year, you agreed with a poster than picked JC by two touchdowns. This year you're saying 21 points, I take it.

 

Similar predictions ... similar outcome?

I gotta go with Johnson Central...The Eagles are the best team in EKY in my opinion and they will keep rolling along this week...Ashland is a tough team though and won't go down easy and could make this a good game.

 

Ashland 7

Johnson Central 28

 

Go Eagles!!!

Last year you picked JC 35-34 ... a more credible pick than that of most Eagles fans, other than the fact the game was much lower-scoring.

^^ITG is a Pikeville fan. Hence the credibility.

 

I'm going with JC 35, Ashland 20.

I'm not a "Tomcat supporter," but I was essentially labeled one last year. For the record, I picked Ashland in a close game last year and was right. This year, I think Johnson Central is probably a touchdown or two better than the Tomcats.

I never considered you a "Tomcat supporter," westsider, just a Golden Eagles detractor.

 

I feel pretty confident that JC will win this game by at least a couple of touchdowns, but if they do, then I will be more worried about a possible rematch in the playoffs. Now that Ashland and Johnson Central have played a couple of common opponents, it is pretty clear that the Golden Eagles should be favored to win next week's game.

 

The Mason County game, assuming JC handles Ashland as easily as I expect, looms as a very dangerous road game. Coach Buchanan does a great job preparing the Royals for big games and came within an eye lash of winning the region last year after both Ashland and Johnson Central beat the Royals soundly in the regular season.

 

Johnson Central cannot afford to take any game for granted from this point forward, but that message is not always easy for young players to understand.

I never considered you a "Tomcat supporter," westsider, just a Golden Eagles detractor.

Given the way things turned out, it seems clear that I was more a realist than a detractor.

You are the first person to point out that Ashland could have a score that required a field goal. More than anything I came away from Putnam Stadium last night with the FG kicker for Ashland. I think they said on the radio he had made something like 30 straight XP and appears to be a solid kicker from the 25yd line in. I believe his name is Freeman but cant guarantee it, maybe a Ashland poster will correct me on the name if Im wrong.

His name is Preston Freeman.

It's very interesting to compare this thread and last year's rockin'-and-rollin' shindig.

 

For starters, the above post sounds remarkably like your pregame post on this game last season:

 

Coach Matney and his staff will have had 15 full days to prepare Johnson Central for its biggest game of the season. The only way Ashland will win is if Johnson Central turns the ball over early and often.

 

JC 41

Ashland 31

 

Of course, the final was 13-10 Ashland.

I am flattered that you value my opinion enough to research my old posts, westsider. If the Golden Eagles make a deep run in this year's playoffs, I will be sure to return the favor. It should be pretty easy to find posts disparaging the Johnson Central program.

 

It seems as though many people who know little or nothing about Johnson Central's program enjoy critiquing it ad nauseum. This is still a very young team and considering the fact that this year's senior players were members of a team that posted a 1-9 record (and narrowly missed going winless), the team's performance this season (and the previous two seasons) has been remarkable.

 

I have no idea how deep Johnson Central will go in this year's playoffs, but if Jim Matney remains at Johnson Central, it is only a matter of time the Golden Eagles make a deep run and they will be competitive with the top teams in the state. When that happens, maybe you can find another eastern Kentucky team to criticize.:thumb:

I am flattered that you value my opinion enough to research my old posts, westsider. If the Golden Eagles make a deep run in this year's playoffs, I will be sure to return the favor. It should be pretty easy to find posts disparaging the Johnson Central program.

No reason to be flattered. To paraphrase Carly Simon, you probably think these posts are about you.

 

Please show me my "disparaging" comments about Johnson Central's program. Last year, I merely presented the case that the soft schedule was reason to question whether or not Johnson Central was, as some of their fans argued, worthy of a top-10 ranking.

 

I'll be waiting ... and reading.

This will be a war! I would like to see Ashland win but i think it will be to close to call.

Given the way things turned out, it seems clear that I was more a realist than a detractor.

Are there no WKY teams for you to bash, westsider? A broken clock is right twice a day. As for "the way things turned out," Johnson Central outplayed the Tomcats in every quarter except the second, which Ashland dominated. A controversial field goal call kept the game from going into OT, and Johnson Central clearly had the momentum in the second half of last year's game. Ala in all, the Golden Eagles played an outstanding game in a hostile environment, so I would not twist my arm out of socket patting myself on the back if I were you. Most flatlanders expected the Tomcats to dominate last year's game and it just didn't happen.

 

Johnson Central is the team to beat this season in the district and those of us who actually know something about the program knew that fact before the season began. I am glad to see you finally jump on the bandwagon. I knew you would come around eventually.:lol:

 

Most of us did not expect the Golden Eagles to be a favorite to win the regional title, but seeing both Rockcastle and Bell struggle against some mediocre teams has made it clear that JC has as good a shot as anybody. Besides, Mason County almost took the title home to Maysville last season.

Historicaly these are the type of games that Ashland has a way of rising to the occasion on. I remember back in 1975 when I was a member of the Johnson Central basketball team. We were ranked #7 in the state and had gone undefeated at home. The last regular season game of the year was against Ashland at home. Ashland had a decent team that year , but was nowhere nearly as talented as Johnson Central. Ashland pulled off the upset of the Golden Eagles on their home floor that night by playing inspired basketball. The after game celebration in the Ashland locker room is something that I can still remember clearly to this day. They flat came ready to play.

 

I take the absence of Ashland posters on this thread as a meaning of an all out business aproach to friday's game. Maybe it might be best for JC posters , fans , and players to just let what happens next friday night do the talking. I really feel this is the Tomcat approach to this game. I really doubt that you will see many Ashland fans post in this thread this year. Last year Johnson Central was the rising unknown. This year Johnson Central is the perceived favorite by most. Ashland has a way of being able to thrive when tagged with the underdog role.

 

I think that Matney will have his team fully focused for this game because I think he very well knows the situation that I am talking about. Ashland is a definate threat in this game and Johnson Central is ripe for the taking if they do not come out just as inspired to play as Ashland does next friday night.

No reason to be flattered. To paraphrase Carly Simon, you probably think that post was about you.

 

Please show me my "disparaging" comments about Johnson Central's program. Last year, I merely presented the case that the soft schedule was reason to question whether or not Johnson Central was, as some of their fans argued, worthy of a top-10 ranking.

 

I'll be waiting ... and reading.

9 out of 10 Top 10 teams lose in the playoffs every season. Johnson Central deserved to be in the lower part of the top 10 last season, they have earned a spot this season, and if the get upset in the first round of the playoffs this season - they will deserve a preseason top 10 ranking next season. Next year's team should be better than this team and the team may be even better the following year.

 

Football teams are like mutual funds, past performance does not guarantee future results. When a good team returns most of its starters from the previous season, it is reasonable to expect that it will improve. JC returned many starters, and although they still depend heavily on sophomores and juniors, this is an experienced team. Ashland is a senior-dominated team and if the Tomcats do not beat the Golden Eagles this season, they may not get another good shot for a few years.