Class 3A

 

Christian Academy of Louisville takes a free fall and Mercer County makes a massive rise in the wake of the Titans' shootout victory over the Centurions. DeSales will try to avoid a similar fate after they trek to the western tip to square off with Paducah Tilghman. Glasgow nearly earned a statement victory but fell short against 5A South Warren, the Scotties should rebound against Adair County. Ashland always gets a tough challenge from 1A Raceland and will look to avoid the upset minded Rams.

 

1. DeSales at #6 Paducah Tilghman

2. Belfry at Floyd Central

3. Ashland vs. 1A #2 Raceland

4. Bell County vs. Rockcastle County

5. Elizabethtown -- OPEN

6. Paducah Tilghman vs. #1 DeSales

7. Mercer County vs. Western Hills

8. Russell -- OPEN

9. Christian Academy of Louisville at Henry County

10. Glasgow at Adair County

How on earth does Bardstown shutout Larue County 42-0 and get dropped from the 3A rankings?

How on earth does Bardstown shutout Larue County 42-0 and get dropped from the 3A rankings?

 

I think the Mercer win over CAL left 3A with a bit of a conundrum this week. It was a challenge to appropriately reward Mercer without unfairly punishing someone. Bardstown happened to be the team clinging to #10. Regardless of who left the rankings - CAL, Glasgow, or Bardstown - someone would have a very legitimate gripe.

I think the Mercer win over CAL left 3A with a bit of a conundrum this week. It was a challenge to appropriately reward Mercer without unfairly punishing someone. Bardstown happened to be the team clinging to #10. Regardless of who left the rankings - CAL, Glasgow, or Bardstown - someone would have a very legitimate gripe.

 

I have no idea where Mercer should be ranked, but I do believe it is turning out that 3A has some really good teams... more than 10.

I have no idea where Mercer should be ranked, but I do believe it is turning out that 3A has some really good teams... more than 10.

 

Very deep class, and it seems more parity than originally thought.

The rankings are fun for fans to talk about but don't mean a whole lot. Ultimately teams have to go prove it on the field. CAL is still a very good team and will be a tough out in the playoffs. They have multiple college football players with a huge line and a very good QB/receivers. I think it is still hard to tell about some of these teams in the rankings based off their schedules so far. Etown's opponents are 3-15 with maybe their best win being against 2-4 John Hardin. Bell's opponents are 4-18 with maybe their best win being against 1-5 Knox Central. Mercer's opponents are 21-14 with only loss to Boyle and wins over CAL and Anderson who at the time was top 10 in 4A. Is Belfry's win over LCA or Desales win over Butler the best win by any 3A team right now?

There is an inherent “past season” bias and and inherent regional bias that seems to always creep into these things. My thought is that by mid-season those things should fall away. You can’t sit there an argue something like “Elizabethtown hasn’t played anyone” and simultaneously keep Bell County perched up top.

There is an inherent “past season” bias and and inherent regional bias that seems to always creep into these things. My thought is that by mid-season those things should fall away. You can’t sit there an argue something like “Elizabethtown hasn’t played anyone” and simultaneously keep Bell County perched up top.

 

To be fair, is a past season bias a bad thing in regards to Kentucky football?

 

A look at the Semi-Finals or Quarterfinals over history typically shows that the same teams are consistently the ones reaching that level over and over. I think any ranking that doesn't take recent success into the picture early on is going to ultimately fail. If DeSales returns 4 starters from a 12-2 Semi-Finalist team and Pike Central returns 8 starters from a 5-6 1st Round playoff team, Pike Central probably shouldn't get the benefit of a doubt.

 

I think it is safe to say that the BGP committee weighs these teams accurately once the body of work presents itself. If it were only a popularity and recent history factor Danville would be a Top 10 team, but they are not. Louisville Central also wouldn't be ranked at the tail end of their class' Top 10.

 

The truth of the matter is 3A has twelve teams that are Top 10 worthy and probably would be Top 10 in every class except maybe 5A or 6A. Last week, Mercer County was the odd man out but they won their way in.

 

If Bardstown takes care of business in the games they are favored and beats Etown, they will do the same thing.

To be fair, is a past season bias a bad thing in regards to Kentucky football?

 

A look at the Semi-Finals or Quarterfinals over history typically shows that the same teams are consistently the ones reaching that level over and over. I think any ranking that doesn't take recent success into the picture early on is going to ultimately fail. If DeSales returns 4 starters from a 12-2 Semi-Finalist team and Pike Central returns 8 starters from a 5-6 1st Round playoff team, Pike Central probably shouldn't get the benefit of a doubt.

 

I think it is safe to say that the BGP committee weighs these teams accurately once the body of work presents itself. If it were only a popularity and recent history factor Danville would be a Top 10 team, but they are not. Louisville Central also wouldn't be ranked at the tail end of their class' Top 10.

 

The truth of the matter is 3A has twelve teams that are Top 10 worthy and probably would be Top 10 in every class except maybe 5A or 6A. Last week, Mercer County was the odd man out but they won their way in.

 

If Bardstown takes care of business in the games they are favored and beats Etown, they will do the same thing.

That might make a reasonable argument IF credit were given to the teams that beat a past season champion, but that is not happening in these rankings. For example, Bardstown beat Danville by three touchdowns when Danville was a ranked team due to their past success, but Bardstown got no love for it. Larue County was a 3A state semifinalist last year, and the only real contributor they lost was Adkins (no doubt a big contributer) and the Tigers beat them 42-0. Larue County was ranked in the first week or so and was even being lauded last week for its 3 straight wins. For its efforts, Bardstown was dropped from the rankings. So, the past-season “bump” appears to be a 1 way street.

That might make a reasonable argument IF credit were given to the teams that beat a past season champion, but that is not happening in these rankings. For example, Bardstown beat Danville by three touchdowns when Danville was a ranked team due to their past success, but Bardstown got no love for it. Larue County was a 3A state semifinalist last year, and the only real contributor they lost was Adkins (no doubt a big contributer) and the Tigers beat them 42-0. Larue County was ranked in the first week or so and was even being lauded last week for its 3 straight wins. For its efforts, Bardstown was dropped from the rankings. So, the past-season “bump” appears to be a 1 way street.

 

It's not as simple as that unfortunately and using Danville as an example makes my case for that. Danville is having a very down year by their standards so even though they are a team that would generally garner attention to another team that beats them, that's not so much the case this season.

 

I'm no longer involved with the BGP rankings but do knows what goes into them and I would trust them more than any of the others that are out there. They'll never be perfect, just like anything else in life, but they're as close to perfect as you will find. Particularly as the season plays out.

The problem with 3A is its a Top 10 list and there are 12 worthy teams. Bardstown has a legitimate complaint but so does Taylor County. And if you put them in, whoever comes out has a legitimate complaint. Bottom line is it’s a hard process with no easy solution. Plus side is Bardstown will have two good opportunities to beat quality teams at the end of the season and in the playoffs rankings mean nothing.

The problem with 3A is its a Top 10 list and there are 12 worthy teams. Bardstown has a legitimate complaint but so does Taylor County. And if you put them in, whoever comes out has a legitimate complaint. Bottom line is it’s a hard process with no easy solution. Plus side is Bardstown will have two good opportunities to beat quality teams at the end of the season and in the playoffs rankings mean nothing.

 

I know that this is simply for discussion material, and that ultimately the games are played on the field. I am exercising my right to lobby for my team. Cal should be dropped from the rankings, as there is no objective piece of evidence to keep them up there other than the fact that they have been good in the past. When Mercer county got blown out by Boyle County two weeks ago, they were dropped from the rankings. Bell county has continued to be a high ranked team, even though last year they got blown out twice by the only good team they played, and the previous two seasons they were really fairly mediocre. I submit that the only reason that they are on this list is because of their coach, whom, as a little sidebar, would admit himself that he does not think that his offensive line is very good. They have not played anybody of substance, so what justifies bell county being up there?

I think CAL's win over South Oldham (admittedly it was Week 1) is far better than anything Bardstown has. CAL has played a tougher schedule thus far, but they've also not beat any of those good teams outside of South Oldham. If Bardstown and CAL played tonight, CAL is probably the favorite, although a Bardstown win wouldn't surprise.

 

As for Bell County, I think they've managed to keep winning and that gives a positive impression. That isn't likely an acceptable answer but while every team has presented reason to doubt, the only concern most have had with Bell County was in a game they won by 40.

 

These, however, are simply my personal opinions.

I know that this is simply for discussion material, and that ultimately the games are played on the field. I am exercising my right to lobby for my team. Cal should be dropped from the rankings, as there is no objective piece of evidence to keep them up there other than the fact that they have been good in the past. When Mercer county got blown out by Boyle County two weeks ago, they were dropped from the rankings. Bell county has continued to be a high ranked team, even though last year they got blown out twice by the only good team they played, and the previous two seasons they were really fairly mediocre. I submit that the only reason that they are on this list is because of their coach, whom, as a little sidebar, would admit himself that he does not think that his offensive line is very good. They have not played anybody of substance, so what justifies bell county being up there?

I get what you are saying but there is such a huge difference just in the top 10 between who these teams have played and who they have beaten. How many of the teams in the top 10 if they had CAL's schedule would have 4 losses if they had played South Oldham, Ballard, Boyle and Mercer. Granted CAL lost 3 of those 4 games but if CAL has Bell, ETown or even Bardstown's schedule they are probably undefeated and still ranked #1 in 3A. This is a really hard class to rank at this point due to the differences in strength of schedule up to this point.

I think this is by far the most exciting class in the state it wouldn’t surprise me if any of the top 12 or 13 teams won the State Championship can any other class say that.