Wildcats Entertain Yellow Jackets To Light Up The Sky Over Pikeville

Records: Shelby Valley (9-2) | Middlesboro (7-3)

BGP Ranking: Shelby Valley (#9 in 2A)

Series History: Middlesboro leads 3-2 all-time 

Table Setter: If you're looking to get your offensive fix this Friday, head over to Pikeville. 

No, we're not talking about the Panthers. 

Drive about fifteen minutes south of Pikeville High School to the home of the Wildcats and their beautiful new turf field. Russ Osborne and his offensively inclined teammates have done their best to tear that turf up, as well as any other playing surface they've visited this year, artificial or otherwise. Shelby Valley is averaging a 2A best 48 points per game and have topped 50 six times.

Osborne is a well kept secret in the mountains, but shouldn't be much longer. He's working on 3,287 yards of total offense and 37 combined touchdowns, and completes his throws at a clip of 72%. There are weapons all around him. Chief among them, running back Jayden Newsome (1,339 yards/26 TDs) and receiver Brady Bentley (1,104 yards/12 TDs).

Middlesboro counters with dual threat quarterback Cayden Grigsby, who's topped a thousand yards passing and a thousand rushing to go with 31 total touchdowns. The Jackets have won seven of eight coming in, averaging 43 ppg in those seven victories. A number firmly in Middlesboro's favor is 350. That's the number of coaching wins in the career of Larry French, many of which have come in the playoffs over a four decade career.

These two have met five times, with the smallest winning margin being 35 points. This one should be much, much closer, with both sides of the scoreboard keeping a torrid pace.

Bump.

Shelby Valley wins, 28-21.