With coal money getting scarcer is Pikeville busing or coaching that 150 miles to Lexington?  Maybe a difference maker?

None of the teams Sayre played this year is still in the playoffs. 5 of the teams Pikeville played are still in the playoffs. Although RPI doesn't reward losing to good larger teams, November does reward playing a tough schedule. 

Pikeville 28-7.

31 minutes ago, SLINK said:

Pikeville 28-7.

If Pikeville beats Sayre that badly or worse, I’ll probably go ahead and say that they will win state.

I want this to be a great game. With that being said I'm not sure about it... 

Pikeville has played a much stronger schedule. Paris best wins were against 2A Bracken and 1A Paris. 

Sayre has to shorten the game on offense by controlling the clock and limiting Pikeville's offense from having the football. I think Sayre will score. But my issue with Sayre is in the trenches. I look for Pikeville game plan to be like Raceland game last year, spread Sayre and pound the ball. Sayre don't have the big bodies for that type of game. 

 

Close game with Pikeville wearing them down in second half. 

May be wrong but rain is expected Friday evening, so that goes in Pikeville's favor with their ground and pound offense. Don't think Sayre can run effectively against a stout defense like Pikeville. I know how proficient Sayre is with the pass, but with a wet field, the long pass should be ineffective. That would leave the short route option which the Pikeville D could jump, hopefully with success. Got to go with the Panthers in this one although it won't be an easy task. Wish both teams a safe, injury free game.

Strength of Schedule.

Calpreps has the best team that Sayre played all season as Bracken County.

Bracken County is the #6117 team in the country according to Calpreps.

Of the 11 different teams (they played Paintsville twice) that Pikeville faced. Only two of those teams were ranked lower than Bracken (District foe Paintsville & First Round foe Pineville).

I won't say Pikeville blows them out or even wins convincingly... I think this is a flawed Pikeville team and a vulnerable team... but when the game gets tight I have to side with the team with an active dynasty in Class 1A and a team who has played a brutal schedule with plenty of close games along the way to prepare for a moment like this.

Bump.

On 11/17/2024 at 4:18 PM, theguru said:

Hahaha.

I could see this going a number of ways. 

• Pennington and Coffman light Pikeville up, with Coffman's athleticism leaving the deepest impression. He just looks different against 1A competition. 

• Pikeville throws a bucket of cold water on Sayre‘s dream season by ramming Anthony down their throat and imposing that Pikeville attitude.

• Literally everything in between.

The points made about the contrast in scheduling philosophies can't be overstated. Sometimes, at this point in the season, I think you can toss SOS out.

But not here. 

Sayre hasn't seen anything resembling the combination of size, mobility, execution, and preparation that Pikeville brings to the table. And that's even with the acknowledgment that the Panthers are, as ATL said, vulnerable.

Pikeville, on the other hand, has seen it all with the schedule they assembled. They've seen an elite arm (Elam), an FBS athlete (Ironton's Terry), they've been hit in the mouth by Johnson Central and LCA. They've been through the wars and seem to be no worse for wear. This is what separates Pikeville from everyone else in 1A, and I think it will separate them from Sayre this week, at least as much as it takes to advance.

I do look for Sayre to have its moments, because they've got some dudes. I'm just not ready to pick against the standard in November. Someone is going to have to beat them first.

This field could be a frozen by Friday evening with all the rain and then cold weather coming through. Anyone know if Sayre may tarp there field?

Pikeville 35

Sayre 28

Pikeville with a medium size win. 

Pikeville by 2 scores, played a much harder schedule.

Getting queasy on my Sayre upset pick.  Weather going to be a huge factor in passing/finesse vs ground/pound.  Rethinking my logic and hoping weather does not negate Sayre’s long shot hopes.