Boyle County

Record 13-1 

Last game 54-16 vs Logan County 

Final BGP rating #1 in 4A 

 

Johnson Central 

Record 12-2 (12-1 in games played on the field) 

Last game 42-24 vs Franklin County 

Final BGP rating #3 in 4A 

 

Here we go folks. In a rematch of the 2019 4A State finals we have Boyle County vs Johnson Central. Boyle enters this game on a 12 game winning streak with all of their playoff victories coming by way of a running clock. Johnson Central has won their last 9 in a row including #2 Corbin in the quarterfinals and #4 Franklin County in the Semis. The last matchup between these 2 teams came in the 2019 4A Championship game with Johnson Central coming away with a 21-20 victory over Boyle. 

 

Boyle is looking for their first back to back state titles since 2009 & 2010. Offensively Boyle is led by QB Jagger Gillis and WR Cole Lanter. While those two are the most well known names the big guys up front have done a great job clearing the way for RBs Bodner and Stone. Boyle’s D had the Rebel faithful really questioning their ability after the LCA loss early in the season but since have found their footing and have not given up more than 2 scores in a game in their last 11 outings. 

 

It is no secret that Johnson Central is playing for more than themselves this season. Midway through the year they lost their beloved and legendary coach Jim Matney and have been playing inspired football since. On Offense the Eagles provide a heavy dose of the run game game, rushing for over 4,000 yards on the year so far. They have 4 guys at over 600 yards which will really put pressure on the Boyle D to stay honest and not key on just one guy. Defensively the Eagles are giving up just 15 ppg on the year. 

 

This game is shaping up on paper to be just as good as the one from 2019. It should be one of the better games of all the classes! Can Boyle pull off the repeat or will Matney’s spirit carry the Eagles to a title? Who do you have winning the 4A State Championship Friday night at Kroger Field? 

I absolutely want my Rebels to bring home number 10 !!  I mean I really want them to repeat.  But given the circumstances surrounding JC this season if Boyle is to lose I have to be honest at least it would be to JC playing for their coach. 

I would give a slight edge to Boyle and hope that they can repeat, but I think it will be a knock down drag out battle to the end again. 

I think Boyle is a clear cut better team… but I thought they were a couple of years ago when they gift wrapped the state championship and handed it to JC. JC plays smart, tough, disciplined football and you can’t make any mistakes against them. I’m sure they’ll control the clock and make it a game. That being said I think Boyle pulls it out.

JC looked good vs FC. I gotta go with the eagles 28-24.

No way I’m picking against Boyle.  They seem to be playing at a whole other level than the rest of the class.  

Central is playing possessed. Boyle is always good. Classic battle.

Last night Boyle allowed Logan to rush for just over 100 yards (granted it was mainly against the backups). That is only the third time that a team has rushed for more than 100 yards during Coach Hadddix time at Boyle.  Franklin County did it last year’s championship game and LCA this year.  Now that surely will be hard to do this Friday but I believe the Rebels will be up for the task. 

If we don't rush for 100 yards...that'll be a bad day for us. I think we at least do that. If Boyle can keep us under 100 yards rushing, they deserve the title for sure and I'd have no problem recognizing they're the best. If. But like 2019...you never know.

JC's game plan will be pretty simple. Move the chains and keep Boyle's offense of the field. If there is one thing about JC that is underrated it is their defense. That monster of an offense gets the press for the team but the D has played well this year. JC needs to chew up a ton of clock, move the chains and punch it in. Then on D they need to frustrate Boyle and cause them to be impatient.

Boyle must be patient on Offense and get some stops on Defense.

I have a feeling this game will go back and forth down to the wire. If Boyle gets up a couple of scores, JC might be in trouble. One of the weaknesses of the offense is that it's not made to be able to come back quickly. On the other hand if JC gets ahead a couple of scores I could see them using almost a whole quarter and running a 20 play drive to put it away.

Boyle cannot let JC control the tempo of the game. But easier said than done.

Can't help but still be thinking about the Eagles burying their coach this season. Just terrible. I hope it's a great game, I still hope Boyle wins, but I hope it's a game for the ages. The JC football players deserve that.

This is going to be a great, competitive game. The 4a championship is almost always very close. 4A hasn't had a dominant, way better than everybody else team since 2016.

 

6 hours ago, Darkwing said:

If we don't rush for 100 yards...that'll be a bad day for us. I think we at least do that. If Boyle can keep us under 100 yards rushing, they deserve the title for sure and I'd have no problem recognizing they're the best. If. But like 2019...you never know.

With the way that JC rushes the ball I hope we can hold them under 200.  

I'm on the bandwagon of belief that this will be a fantastic game.  IMO this game, and the LCA/Beechwood game is going to be the best games!

If Boyle were to win this game, Justin Haddix would become the 3rd head coach (Chuck Smith, Larry French) to win at least two state championships at Boyle County.  And he would have two in as many seasons there.

This game should be a dandy! 

Really looking forward to this matchup. This game will come down to stops and turnovers.