The Pikeville Panthers punched there ticket first to the 2021 Kentucky High School Class 1A Championship. The Panthers did so in running clock fashion, as they beat the Raceland Rams 36-7. The Panthers have also put away Phelps in the first round, Rival Hazard in the second round and Williamsburg in the third round.

The Panthers in this State Championship matchup will be lead by a strong running game. Blake Birchfield has accounted for well over 2000 yards on the season and 20 + touchdowns. Panthers will also be lead by Senior and Murray State Commit Issac McNamee. He has thrown for well over 1500 yards on the season and 25 + touchdowns. This offense is averaging close to 32 points per game game on the season. The Panthers are also lead by there stingy defense which only gives up just 9 points per game. The defense is lead by Linebacker Luke Ray and Defensive lineman Devin DeRossett.

 

The Russellville Panthers punched its ticket, to face the Pikeville Panthers in the 2021 Kentucky High School Class 1A State Championship. The Panthers beat Bethlehem by a score of 34-21. The Panthers also beat Crittenden County in the second round and Newport Central Catholic in the third round. 

The Russellville Panthers in this State Championship matchup will also be lead by a strong ground game that has put up over 2600 yards on the ground this season. Senior Javori Gamble has put up over 1300 yards on the season, and 20 + touchdowns on the season. Senior Quarterback Lennon Ries has thrown for over 1100 yards and 16+ touchdowns. This offense has put up over 30 points per game this season. The Russellville Panthers defense also hasn’t been to shabby either and stingy as well. This defense is giving up just 10 points per game and is lead by Seniors Josh McMurry and Chevis Elliott.

 

Who wins the 2021 Class 1A State Championship? Does Pikeville bring another back home? Does Russellville come out of no where and win it all in 2021?

 

 

 

I’d love to see Russellville win this but I think Pikeville comes home with the W. 

Pikeville-35

Russellville-14. 

 

17 hours ago, WestDanville said:

I’d love to see Russellville win this but I think Pikeville comes home with the W. 

I agree. I would love to see Russellville win but I have a feeling pikeville might be too much. I haven’t really seen any video on pikeville, but on paper/stats they look awesome. I do know Russellvilles defense is pretty stout, watched them a ton this year. Last nights game against Bethlehem I think could have been a higher scoring game if Russellville hadn’t had 2 blocked punts and several miscues. It was 34-7 in the 4th with a few mins left and Russellville let Bethlehem score 2 late TDs which made the score look closer than it did. 
 

With that being said, If both defenses show up, I feel like this could be a low scoring game with pikeville pulling out the WIN. I just hope this isn’t a similar game from 1987 when pikeville dominated Russellville at papa johns stadium. Good luck to both teams!! 

I was thinking Russellville had a solid chance at the upset. The Raceland score causes me to rethink that.

Russellville will have the athletes to win this game. The only thing that concerns me is can they stay focused. They had two punts almost blocked and one did get blocked. I have not had the pleasure of watching Pikeville this year and hope to find some film to watch. Will be rooting for Russellville in this one.  

2 minutes ago, Mpb77 said:

Russellville will have the athletes to win this game. The only thing that concerns me is can they stay focused. They had two punts almost blocked and one did get blocked. I have not had the pleasure of watching Pikeville this year and hope to find some film to watch. Will be rooting for Russellville in this one.  

I suggest watching this game:

 

I am watching it now. Thank you.

I am going with Pikeville in this game.  I think they win going away.

30 minutes ago, theguru said:

I am going with Pikeville in this game.  I think they win going away.

Same. Pikeville is too good on both sides of the ball. Best quarterback, running back, offensive line, and defense in 1A. Too much for Russellville to overcome, I'm afraid.

If Russellville is going to make this a game, they can't let Birchfield and his o-line dictate every Pikeville possession. Forcing McNamee to put the ball in the air would at least give Russellville's ball hawking secondary opportunities to produce some turnovers. That might be their only path to victory or just simply preventing a rout.

I suspect Russellville has enough skill to cause Pikeville some problems. Do they have enough on the offensive and defensive lines? Pikeville dominated Raceland on both sides of the line of scrimmage on Friday. If they do that this week it’s a three touchdown victory at least. 

If Pikeville plays focused and determined football there is not a 1A team who can hang within 3 TD's of them.

With that said, I felt the same way last year and Hazard knocked them out in Round 2.

Russellville has got to play out of their minds at the LOS because Pikeville is so solid there it gives them a massive edge over basically every other 1A team.

On top of that, Pikeville has a D1 caliber QB, a WR who is his security blanket, and Blake Birchfield is an absolute hosscat of a RB. They back that up with a very sound defense.

I am not saying Russellville cannot win... Hazard proved last year Pikeville is mortal.. but what I am saying is Russellville better bring a perfect gameplan and a perfect effort.

Pikeville 36

Russellville 6

Pikeville has the experience and better team. I don’t see this staying competitive. 

2021 UK Orthopaedics State Football Finals
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I think Russellville will keep it close up until about the fourth quarter and then Pikeville will pull away and win by a couple touchdowns.