Unusual to have this matchup as the first game of the season. Both teams have question marks, so who wins?

Like you said, question marks for both, but both teams looked good in their scrimmages. Think we will know a lot more about each team after Friday. 

It is not a shock for me to say Mayfield has owned this game over the last decade. I have seen every game of this cross town rivalry and over the last decade 3 games I feel Coach Morris won for the club or at the very least had a huge impact.

In, I think, 2011 Graves had 3 long runs and 2 tds called back after he chewed on the refs. Graves wasn’t in a position to win that night, but he 100% worked the refs.

In I think 2017, Graves had came back from trailing the whole game to get the game within one possession. They caused a fumble and had all the momentum. The chains were moved, the ball was spotted, Graves center had his hand on the ball, and the dude still got the call reversed to an incomplete pass. We are talking 2 minutes after the play. I would pay a ton of money to see what he said. Mayfield scored a couple of plays later. Huge call.

Then last year Graves was driving down the field to go up 3 possessions and Morris walked out on the field and basically stopped the Graves County drive. They had momentum and he literally without a timeout yelled at the ref for over a minute. No delay of game, no sideline warning, nothing. The next play Graves scores a td only to have the flag thrown and the Td taken off the board. After that Mayfield absolutely owned the night. 
 

Im not saying this is why Mayfield has owned us. They have owned everybody. But in a close game you have to give them the edge because of Coach Morris magic. I have witnessed it too many times. 

I do think this Graves team is better, I think they were last year, but if the refs allow Coach Joe to intimidate them, then we are in trouble haha! I don’t think the veteran officials will, but I can only imagine being a young ref and maybe the greatest coach in the state over the last 20 years is hounding at me telling me what to do, it would be hard not to be intimidated and to listen to him. 

 

 

6 minutes ago, gcbleedblue said:

It is not a shock for me to say Mayfield has owned this game over the last decade. I have seen every game of this cross town rivalry and over the last decade 3 games I feel Coach Morris won for the club or at the very least had a huge impact.

In, I think, 2011 Graves had 3 long runs and 2 tds called back after he chewed on the refs. Graves wasn’t in a position to win that night, but he 100% worked the refs.

In I think 2017, Graves had came back from trailing the whole game to get the game within one possession. They caused a fumble and had all the momentum. The chains were moved, the ball was spotted, Graves center had his hand on the ball, and the dude still got the call reversed to an incomplete pass. We are talking 2 minutes after the play. I would pay a ton of money to see what he said. Mayfield scored a couple of plays later. Huge call.

Then last year Graves was driving down the field to go up 3 possessions and Morris walked out on the field and basically stopped the Graves County drive. They had momentum and he literally without a timeout yelled at the ref for over a minute. No delay of game, no sideline warning, nothing. The next play Graves scores a td only to have the flag thrown and the Td taken off the board. After that Mayfield absolutely owned the night. 
 

Im not saying this is why Mayfield has owned us. They have owned everybody. But in a close game you have to give them the edge because of Coach Morris magic. I have witnessed it too many times. 

I do think this Graves team is better, I think they were last year, but if the refs allow Coach Joe to intimidate them, then we are in trouble haha! I don’t think the veteran officials will, but I can only imagine being a young ref and maybe the greatest coach in the state over the last 20 years is hounding at me telling me what to do, it would be hard not to be intimidated and to listen to him. 

 

 

Every coach works the refs, it’s easy to look back and find excuses, there may be some validity to these claims but many of these years Graves has no chance. 

9 minutes ago, gcbleedblue said:

It is not a shock for me to say Mayfield has owned this game over the last decade. I have seen every game of this cross town rivalry and over the last decade 3 games I feel Coach Morris won for the club or at the very least had a huge impact.

In, I think, 2011 Graves had 3 long runs and 2 tds called back after he chewed on the refs. Graves wasn’t in a position to win that night, but he 100% worked the refs.

In I think 2017, Graves had came back from trailing the whole game to get the game within one possession. They caused a fumble and had all the momentum. The chains were moved, the ball was spotted, Graves center had his hand on the ball, and the dude still got the call reversed to an incomplete pass. We are talking 2 minutes after the play. I would pay a ton of money to see what he said. Mayfield scored a couple of plays later. Huge call.

Then last year Graves was driving down the field to go up 3 possessions and Morris walked out on the field and basically stopped the Graves County drive. They had momentum and he literally without a timeout yelled at the ref for over a minute. No delay of game, no sideline warning, nothing. The next play Graves scores a td only to have the flag thrown and the Td taken off the board. After that Mayfield absolutely owned the night. 
 

Im not saying this is why Mayfield has owned us. They have owned everybody. But in a close game you have to give them the edge because of Coach Morris magic. I have witnessed it too many times. 

I do think this Graves team is better, I think they were last year, but if the refs allow Coach Joe to intimidate them, then we are in trouble haha! I don’t think the veteran officials will, but I can only imagine being a young ref and maybe the greatest coach in the state over the last 20 years is hounding at me telling me what to do, it would be hard not to be intimidated and to listen to him. 

 

 

I don’t mean to put you on blast too much, this isn’t a shot at you GC. 

I agree with what you said. I tried to make it as clear as possible that they have owned the series, which is why I wrote it multiple times.

Every coach does work the refs. Be stupid not to, but his working the refs is almost God tier. 

I’m not saying any of these calls changed the outcome of the game. Just trying to show the effect his presence and voice has and you know what when you have been to more state championships than you have fingers, then maybe that’s just how it is.

I just don’t want him to overturn calls and stop drives this year. It’s been a long 12 years haha

4 hours ago, gcbleedblue said:

It is not a shock for me to say Mayfield has owned this game over the last decade. I have seen every game of this cross town rivalry and over the last decade 3 games I feel Coach Morris won for the club or at the very least had a huge impact.

In, I think, 2011 Graves had 3 long runs and 2 tds called back after he chewed on the refs. Graves wasn’t in a position to win that night, but he 100% worked the refs.

In I think 2017, Graves had came back from trailing the whole game to get the game within one possession. They caused a fumble and had all the momentum. The chains were moved, the ball was spotted, Graves center had his hand on the ball, and the dude still got the call reversed to an incomplete pass. We are talking 2 minutes after the play. I would pay a ton of money to see what he said. Mayfield scored a couple of plays later. Huge call.

Then last year Graves was driving down the field to go up 3 possessions and Morris walked out on the field and basically stopped the Graves County drive. They had momentum and he literally without a timeout yelled at the ref for over a minute. No delay of game, no sideline warning, nothing. The next play Graves scores a td only to have the flag thrown and the Td taken off the board. After that Mayfield absolutely owned the night. 
 

Im not saying this is why Mayfield has owned us. They have owned everybody. But in a close game you have to give them the edge because of Coach Morris magic. I have witnessed it too many times. 

I do think this Graves team is better, I think they were last year, but if the refs allow Coach Joe to intimidate them, then we are in trouble haha! I don’t think the veteran officials will, but I can only imagine being a young ref and maybe the greatest coach in the state over the last 20 years is hounding at me telling me what to do, it would be hard not to be intimidated and to listen to him. 

 

 

You say no sour grapes but it sure has a smell.

Mayfield at home is a big advantage and I think they will be improved from last year. The speed factor will be tough for Graves. Not sure about the Graves qb but it will be tough on him playing at War Memorial for his first varsity start. Graves should have a good running game but Mayfield will counter with a stiff defense.  I'll go with a 42-14 score, Cards.

 

2 minutes ago, snakesnot_2000 said:

You say no sour grapes but it sure has a smell.

Mayfield at home is a big advantage and I think they will be improved from last year. The speed factor will be tough for Graves. Not sure about the Graves qb but it will be tough on him playing at War Memorial for his first varsity start. Graves should have a good running game but Mayfield will counter with a stiff defense.  I'll go with a 42-14 score, Cards.

 

I agree really tough place for your first varsity start, I think it’ll be a little closer then usual 35-21 Cards.

This is basically the same defense Graves had last year versus the same offense Mayfield had. Graves only allowed 24 last year against the cards. They approved dramatically as the front 7 was basically all first year starters. By the last game they only allowed Owensboro offense to score twice at the end of last season. Only 3 teams scored more than 20 on them all of last year. Mayfield scoring 42 and 35 is a tad too high for me.
 

28-14 Graves 

13 minutes ago, gcbleedblue said:

This is basically the same defense Graves had last year versus the same offense Mayfield had. Graves only allowed 24 last year against the cards. They approved dramatically as the front 7 was basically all first year starters. By the last game they only allowed Owensboro offense to score twice at the end of last season. Only 3 teams scored more than 20 on them all of last year. Mayfield scoring 42 and 35 is a tad too high for me.
 

28-14 Graves 

Mayfield wasn't that good last year but neither was Graves. Jax is back and they looked much better and are better than last year. Graves will be Graves, a solid club that may or may not get better as the season moves on. Hopefully the game won't get out of hand as it sometimes does.

I agree with @gcbleedblue about a lower scoring game. I'm looking for a final in the neighborhood of 24-21 that could swing either way. Both teams should be improved, but @snakesnot_2000 comments about Graves breaking in a new quarterback are one of the reasons I'm picking the Cardinals. That, and Mayfield's ownership of the series. The Eagles need to win one of these before I can feel comfortable picking them. I like the makeup of this Graves County team, though. 

This might be the best running back duel in the state for Week 1 - McKee vs. Galbreath. 

1 hour ago, DevilMayCare said:

I agree with @gcbleedblue about a lower scoring game. I'm looking for a final in the neighborhood of 24-21 that could swing either way. Both teams should be improved, but @snakesnot_2000 comments about Graves breaking in a new quarterback are one of the reasons I'm picking the Cardinals. That, and Mayfield's ownership of the series. The Eagles need to win one of these before I can feel comfortable picking them. I like the makeup of this Graves County team, though. 

This might be the best running back duel in the state for Week 1 - McKee vs. Galbreath. 

Mayfield has 4 legit running backs.

This thread alone makes me want to keep up with this game!

Good luck to both teams!

@DevilMayCare can you add a poll to this one?  

I think it would be fun to know who is picking who.

28 minutes ago, Purple88 said:

This thread alone makes me want to keep up with this game!

Good luck to both teams!

@DevilMayCare can you add a poll to this one?  

I think it would be fun to know who is picking who.

Unfortunately 88, I am sorely lacking in mod powers. @theguru or @Colonels_Wear_Blue will have to handle that.