A matchup of 4-0 teams. Rock will travel up to Paris to take on a 4-0 Greyhounds team that has surprised many people this year as they have started out hot and just keep beating teams they normally wouldn’t or teams that most said they shouldn’t. They’re opponent Rockcastle who comes into this weeks game 4-0 for the first time since 2017 and you would have to go back to 2011 to find another 4-0 start for Rock. 
 

A lot of questions will be answered in this matchup. Everyone wants to know just how good each team can be. What’s everyone thought on this game and which team will be 5-0?

Rockcastle does know they won't be allowed to play in the 1A playoffs, right?

3 minutes ago, BEChargers said:

Rockcastle does know they won't be allowed to play in the 1A playoffs, right?

They are well aware that the 1A playoffs won’t include them. All jokes aside in all 25+ years of watching Rockcastle football I have never seen a rock team with this much speed. The QB we have is by far the best QB to play at the Rock and we have had a few good QBs over the years and we have never had 3 WRs on the same team that has the talent and speed that we have this year. Rock offense is by far the real deal and will score points regardless who they are playing. Rock’s defense is not up to what we are used to but are getting better.

Rockets Forgo The Sights in Paris, Elect To Play Footbal Instead

Something's gotta give: The Rockets have exited the launch pad in a blaze of glory, leading the state in points scored at 57 per game. They've reached half a hundred in three straight contests, the longest streak the program has seen since the state runner-up season of 2002. Paris has allowed only 24 points total this season, ranking 6th statewide in scoring defense. That's the stingiest the Hounds have been through four games since the dominant championship run of 1982. 

Pulling back the curtain reveals those impressive statistical feats have come against teams with a combined record of 7-20, meaning we really don't know how good either of these teams are. 

That's the beauty of this game: more will be revealed under the lights in Paris.

This is the first 4-0 start for Rock since 2017 and then you have to go back to 2011 to find the other 4-0 start both of those were under the Parkey period, which were the only two times we have started 4-0 after Tom Larkey left. During Parkey’s time at the Rock we only had 1 memorable team that had a legitimate chance at making a run in the playoffs and that was the 2016 team that started 3-0 but lost its 4th game to Pulaski but didn’t lose again until a 1 point upset in the second round of playoffs to Mercer County finishing 10-2 record best under Parkey.

This is the second year under Chris Larkey and this Rock offense has the potential to be special. The QB is fast and accurate with 3 speedy WR options. This game should be a fun one to watch.

Paris likely has better athletes all around. Rockcastle better take their time, and come up with a gameplan to negate the athletic differential. 

I'd say they picked the wrong 1A team here.

Just now, Hungover_in_Andover said:

Paris likely has better athletes all around. Rockcastle better take their time, and come up with a gameplan to negate the athletic differential. 

I'd say they picked the wrong 1A team here.

Maybe you should watch some film on Rock. We have athletes as well. We have 3 WRs and a QB that will be just as fast as Paris athletes and two good hard nosed RBs to go with them. Speed isn’t going to beat this Rock team alone this isn’t an old big and slow Rock team.

15 minutes ago, RoCkMaN28 said:

Maybe you should watch some film on Rock. We have athletes as well. We have 3 WRs and a QB that will be just as fast as Paris athletes and two good hard nosed RBs to go with them. Speed isn’t going to beat this Rock team alone this isn’t an old big and slow Rock team.

Gotcha. 

19 hours ago, RoCkMaN28 said:

Maybe you should watch some film on Rock. We have athletes as well. We have 3 WRs and a QB that will be just as fast as Paris athletes and two good hard nosed RBs to go with them. Speed isn’t going to beat this Rock team alone this isn’t an old big and slow Rock team.

I agree. This will be a thrilling match up. The difference in the game will be there offense/defensive fronts.

I know Paris has speed at the RB position that can score if you aren’t able to contain them. That’s the one weakness that scares me about my Rock team. Which ironically used to be the hallmark and staple of every Rock team was their ability to take the run game away from you. However so far this season that has been the one area that this team needs to improve on in order to win their district and advance in the playoffs. Their strength on defense is their speed at defensive end and LB they get pressure to the QB causing bad throws that lead to quick picks by the defense that typically result in points as the defense has accounted for 6 interceptions and scored on 3 of those in just the 3 games they have played.

On the flip side of things I noticed Paris has nearly 1000 rushing yards and 14 scores via the run game. While on defense they have be successful in stoping the run and shutting down the pass. Their defense is almost statically been more impressive than their run game. Defensively they have allowed only 436 passing yards and nearly half that many in rushing yards. Pretty strong defense performance while also taking the ball away 6 times by interceptions. All of these things are statistically what you would want to do in order to win this Friday night against the Rock. 
 

Originally I was going to give my prediction on the score of this game however I think I will dig a little deeper before I do so…

Why the crappy scheduling?  These teams will not prepare you for Bell County!

Paid video:

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/paris-high-school-paris-ky/gam76091581a2

Give me Paris 

24-21

I believe Rock will put up points tomorrow and they will come prepared with a solid run defense that will slow Paris down quite a bit. Rock is a solid team and that will start showing every week from here on out as their season gets tougher over the next few weeks. First up Paris then next week against starts district games as they will face Clay County and then end the month down at Log Mountain taking on Bell County. This is their chance to make statement wins and it will start tomorrow night. Give me Rock

 

Rock 50

Paris 20

On 9/9/2023 at 10:34 PM, RoCkMaN28 said:

They are well aware that the 1A playoffs won’t include them. All jokes aside in all 25+ years of watching Rockcastle football I have never seen a rock team with this much speed. The QB we have is by far the best QB to play at the Rock and we have had a few good QBs over the years and we have never had 3 WRs on the same team that has the talent and speed that we have this year. Rock offense is by far the real deal and will score points regardless who they are playing. Rock’s defense is not up to what we are used to but are getting better.

I watched some of these boys during the track season and I will back this statement up. I spoke with a Rock parent, and they told me a couple of the boys were playing football this season. If this statement is true, I will agree this is the fastest Rock team I have seen. Paris is off to a great start, but I think we find out who Paris really is tonight. I see this as a slugfest contest tonight with Rock pulling away late. 

 

Rock - 35

Paris - 28