Raceland has been on cruise control the first week of the playoffs. They are averaging close to 56 points per game and only allowing about 10 points per game. Raceland put up 70 in the first playoff game and 41 in its second round game. They haven’t been challenged so far. This week could change that. The Hazard Bulldogs come calling to Ram field for the 2nd time this season. The Rams absolutely destroyed Hazard on October 4th 42-8. The Bulldogs had its worst game of the season that night. Hazard will be looking for some redemption in this matchup. But it will be a tall task with one of its best playmakers on the sideline out for this game.  Hazard in its first two playoff games are averaging right at 54 points per game, while only allowing about 9 points per game.  Hazard put up 52 against Harlan and 56 against Williamsburg. The defense pitched a shut out in game one, while Williamsburg put up 18 against Hazard in its second round game. So on paper these two teams are about even on the numbers.

Who wins this regional championship matchup? Does Raceland keep on rolling? Does Hazard come in and stun the Rams at home?

Raceland 48

Hazard 14

Hazard will need another big game out of Connor Holbrook. 6 catches for 83 yards and 2 touchdowns. 1 rush for 3 yards. He also ran a kickoff back 80+ yards and a pick 6 for 52 yards and had 8 tackles as well. 

What a Beautiful November Sky!!

Another fine graphic.

Costly mistakes killed Hazard in the first half of the first meeting. Without them, Raceland still wins comforably, but I think the scoreboard would have reflected a more competitive showing by the Bulldogs.

That may be the best case scenario for Hazard in the rematch. Raceland won the line of scrimmage and didn't give Max Pelphrey many good looks downfield. 

I look for the Rams to replicate that effort and win this one by three scores over a more spirited Bulldog club.

The Rams have come a long, long way from when they started the season and their improvement continues to show. The passing game has grown significantly and the defense has carried the team in big moments this season. I'm sure the Rams will continue to focus on what they have utilized to get to this point. What Raceland has accomplished in recent years is remarkable. For a long time they were in the same region with Beechwood, Newport Central Catholic, or Bellevue knocking them out of the playoffs in the first or second round. It wouldn't be until 2006 when Raceland first won two games in the playoffs and now it's a regular occurrence for them to be in the regional finals. To show how far this program has come, Raceland held Newport Central Catholic to 63 yards when the two teams met - a Newport Central Catholic team that is 9-3 and has also earned the opportunity to play in the regional finals. That was a school that they used to struggle heavily with.

Hazard has made some great improvements over the course of the year as well. I do think they will give Raceland a tougher battle than the prior time the two schools met. You never know what could happen. Take 2014 for example between Pikeville and Paintsville. Pikeville would get a 62-8 win at home against Paintsville in the regular season only to lose to Paintsville 30-6 at home in the regional finals, ending what was an undefeated year up to that point. The teams are different, the dynamic is different, but that's the fun of high school football, never knowing what could happen. Hazard wasn't expected to give Raceland a run two seasons ago and their regional final game went down to the wire. As @Bac2369 mentioned, a big game out of Holbrook would be helpful for the Bulldogs. In the two playoff games he has 13 receptions for 185 yards, 4 touchdowns, and as mentioned the kickoff return and the pick 6. A player like that hitting his stride at the right time could make Hazard a dangerous team.

Definitely an exciting matchup!

7 hours ago, TCR said:

The Rams have come a long, long way from when they started the season and their improvement continues to show. The passing game has grown significantly and the defense has carried the team in big moments this season. I'm sure the Rams will continue to focus on what they have utilized to get to this point. What Raceland has accomplished in recent years is remarkable. For a long time they were in the same region with Beechwood, Newport Central Catholic, or Bellevue knocking them out of the playoffs in the first or second round. It wouldn't be until 2006 when Raceland first won two games in the playoffs and now it's a regular occurrence for them to be in the regional finals. To show how far this program has come, Raceland held Newport Central Catholic to 63 yards when the two teams met - a Newport Central Catholic team that is 9-3 and has also earned the opportunity to play in the regional finals. That was a school that they used to struggle heavily with.

Hazard has made some great improvements over the course of the year as well. I do think they will give Raceland a tougher battle than the prior time the two schools met. You never know what could happen. Take 2014 for example between Pikeville and Paintsville. Pikeville would get a 62-8 win at home against Paintsville in the regular season only to lose to Paintsville 30-6 at home in the regional finals, ending what was an undefeated year up to that point. The teams are different, the dynamic is different, but that's the fun of high school football, never knowing what could happen. Hazard wasn't expected to give Raceland a run two seasons ago and their regional final game went down to the wire. As @Bac2369 mentioned, a big game out of Holbrook would be helpful for the Bulldogs. In the two playoff games he has 13 receptions for 185 yards, 4 touchdowns, and as mentioned the kickoff return and the pick 6. A player like that hitting his stride at the right time could make Hazard a dangerous team.

Definitely an exciting matchup!

Hazard will need to play a clean mistake free game to win. The defense has been getting more pressure on opposing quarterbacks for the last few weeks now. Hopefully that continues and hoping having Javon White back who didn’t play in the first game. Hopefully he will have two full hands instead of just 1 that he has been playing with since the Pikeville game.

No matter what happens here, it's good to see Hazard back among the best in Class 1A. It's always good to have a class with multiple challengers and coach Chandler has done a fine job of moving the Bulldogs back in that direction.

Couple pics from practice.

Definitely two communities that are typically fired about November Football. 

Game Day Fit.