Battle Hardened Squads Meet In Mayfield In One Of Round 1's Best Matchups

Records: Both are 7-3

BGP Rankings: Greenwood (#10 in 5A)

Week 11 Results: Greenwood beat Union County | Graves beat McCracken County 

Series History: Graves leads 5-2 dating back to 1998

Teaser Preview: The Eagles and Gators can probably relate to one another more than any other two teams playing in the first round. 

Both play in the long shadows of their more celebrated neighbors, and they've only suffered losses to top competition this season - Greenwood to Owensboro Catholic, South Warren, and Bowling Green; Graves County to Mayfield, Tilghman, and Owensboro. 

The Gators have a pair of quality wins over previous unbeatens Franklin-Simpson and Union County. The Eagles are the last team to beat fast rising Madisonville-North Hopkins. 

Offensive and defensive standouts for Greenwood include all-purpose back Tel Tel Long (1,200 yards from scrimmage and 19 TDs) and linebacker Gray Price (86 tackles and six turnovers created). Graves County offers one of 5A's most prolific QB-WR connections in Kaden Gregory and Lincoln Acree, who ranks tenth in the state in receptions, regardless of class. Lucas Sutton (17 TFL/8 sacks) brings pressure from the edge.

Putting the cart before the horse, the winner here gets a shot at the Purples in Round 2. 

This should be one of the better 1st round match ups across the state. Two fairly evenly matched teams. I think I'll take the home team in this one in a closely contested game... 27-21

 

Greenwood rarely ever gets out of the first round of the playoffs, but when they do it’s against one of these western Kentucky schools that’s not Owensboro.

Greenwood is not very good and doesn’t have any wins of substance. but neither does Graves County. And Greenwood has played a much tougher schedule.

So I’ll take the Gators in a close one.

3 hours ago, DevilMayCare said:

 

Battle Hardened Squads Meet In Mayfield In One Of Round 1's Best Matchups

Records: Both are 7-3

BGP Rankings: Greenwood (#10 in 5A)

Week 11 Results: Greenwood beat Union County | Graves beat McCracken County 

Series History: Graves leads 5-2 dating back to 1998

Teaser Preview: The Eagles and Gators can probably relate to one another more than any other two teams playing in the first round. 

Both play in the long shadows of their more celebrated neighbors, and they've only suffered losses to top competition this season - Greenwood to Owensboro Catholic, South Warren, and Bowling Green; Graves County to Mayfield, Tilghman, and Owensboro. 

The Gators have a pair of quality wins over previous unbeatens Franklin-Simpson and Union County. The Eagles are the last team to beat fast rising Madisonville-North Hopkins. 

Offensive and defensive standouts for Greenwood include all-purpose back Tel Tel Long (1,200 yards from scrimmage and 19 TDs) and linebacker Gray Price (86 tackles and six turnovers created). Graves County offers one of 5A's most prolific QB-WR connections in Kaden Gregory and Lincoln Acree, who ranks tenth in the state in receptions, regardless of class. Lucas Sutton (17 TFL/8 sacks) brings pressure from the edge.

Putting the cart before the horse, the winner here gets a shot at the Purples in Round 2. 

I think you mean Jacob Sutton but aside from that great write up. Appreciate the Acree mention. I feel he’s one of the more underrated receivers in West Kentucky. Not much size to him and not overly fast, but runs such crisp clean routes to get open. 

Our boys are on a 5 game winning streak, but opponents got quite a bit easier second half of the season. Mainly due to district opponents being easier. 
 

Turnovers. We cannot turn the ball over. When you go back to the earlier games this season, we turned it over 3 times in a half against Mayfield and while we hung with Owensboro, turnovers cost us. I don’t think we beat Mayfield on most nights but we didn’t give ourselves a chance. Owensboro we got too far behind and couldn’t catch up.

Protect the ball and we can win this game and hopefully pull off a surprise or two this year in the playoffs. Not saying it’s likely, but it wasn’t likely 9 years ago either. 

Greenwood 28

Graves 20. 

Hard game to call. Can see either team winning. Ima go Graves. If their defense can hold Madisonville to 14, they should be able to slow down Greenwood just enough to squeak by. 
 

Graves 21

Greenwood 17

3 hours ago, Killowatt59 said:

Greenwood is not very good and doesn’t have any wins of substance. but neither does Graves County. And Greenwood has played a much tougher schedule.

I can't dismiss the wins I referenced above as lacking in substance. 

Do they indicate that either of these teams can pose a threat to the top of this class? Not really. If that's what you're saying, then yes, I would agree with you.

But Union County, Franklin-Simpson, and Madisonville aren't exactly pushovers.

Talk about a heck of a 1st round matchup here. I’m a firm believer in defense wins in the playoffs when it gets cold and the weather gets unpredictable. Both of these teams are physical, hard nosed, and well coached. I believe defense wins in the playoffs when it gets cold and the weather is unpredictable. I’ll take the Eagles but this will be a battle and the game will be decided by a turnover or a big play by either team. 

Graves 28-21

Good game between two good teams:

Gators 21

Eagles 20

Greenwood 28-14

Going to be one of the better games in round 1. Greenwood in a close one.

Bump.

Live Stream:

Graves County vs. Greenwood at stfanclub.com

Well this game is pretty much over.  Greenwood laying another egg so far.

9-0 Graves County 1st quarter.