6 minutes ago, theguru said:

I haven't seen enough of Franklin County to feel confident in a pick but I am going to go with the Colonels. 

Who Ya With!

2 minutes ago, TheConch said:

Who Ya With!

Colonels!

1 hour ago, theguru said:

Colonels!

Like wise.  

If I'm Covington Catholic, I continue to go through Harney and continue that misdirection. It's impressive how the backs carry out their fakes. Dylan Gaiser looks at times like he's going to be caught in a huddle of guys only to find some way to slither threw and get solid yardage. Defensively, turnovers would be the main point of emphasis. While the fumble later on in the game was the wide point of discussion against Boyle County, it was on the first possession for Boyle where Covington Catholic knocked one out when Boyle County drove deep into their territory. Covington Catholic would score on their next drive. Their offense really impresses me, and if you have seen the discussion in the Wing-T thread you would know why. Even though it's primarily shotgun, a lot of the motions, misdirection plays that they run remind me of the Wing-T. Their line does a great job blocking, getting where they need to be and I can tell that they communicate very well with each other.

The first part I will mention with Franklin County is special teams. They looked impressive in many ways. Easton Powell is a GREAT kicker and it seems like a majority of the time he kicks off it's a touchback and he set the school record this year with a 50 yard field goal. They do a great job blocking kicks and punts and if they were to win I would say they would pull off a big play on that end. Offensively they bring a lot of different packages. They'll run shotgun with twins or trips wideouts, they'll run shotgun bunching everybody in tight, the times I have seen they have run some off set I formations and even wishbone. Franklin County has a lot of personnel that can do a lot of different things. It was especially interesting how they ran their screens, the way they pulled a couple of their linemen. And that line does a great job hustling downfield and trying to block at the next level on their run plays. I would try to keep Covington Catholic on their toes guessing, if I'm Franklin County and/or if a particular set or play works, I stick with that. Defensively, reading keys is VERY important and staying on tackles until the runner is all the way down because there have been many times I have seen a Covington Catholic runner look down, only for them to pop up or slither through a group of players for a big run. Harney, Gainer, and that bunch have good athleticism but their most impressive quality, in my opinion, is how well they follow their blocks and read the flow of the defense. 

Should be a good one. Both teams are fun to watch and have interesting elements to their game!

Does Franklin County allow tailgating? Any local restaurant recommendations? Is there a cash option for tickets? How’s the parking and gameday traffic?

If CovCath's offensive game plan deviates from Cash Harney in any way then that just isn't smart coaching ? Methodical drives that finish with 7 points and not 3! 

CovCath has to step it up defensively tomorrow night if they want to win. Have to limit Franklin County and force a TO or two!

14 hours ago, TCR said:

If I'm Covington Catholic, I continue to go through Harney and continue that misdirection. It's impressive how the backs carry out their fakes. Dylan Gaiser looks at times like he's going to be caught in a huddle of guys only to find some way to slither threw and get solid yardage. Defensively, turnovers would be the main point of emphasis. While the fumble later on in the game was the wide point of discussion against Boyle County, it was on the first possession for Boyle where Covington Catholic knocked one out when Boyle County drove deep into their territory. Covington Catholic would score on their next drive. Their offense really impresses me, and if you have seen the discussion in the Wing-T thread you would know why. Even though it's primarily shotgun, a lot of the motions, misdirection plays that they run remind me of the Wing-T. Their line does a great job blocking, getting where they need to be and I can tell that they communicate very well with each other.

The first part I will mention with Franklin County is special teams. They looked impressive in many ways. Easton Powell is a GREAT kicker and it seems like a majority of the time he kicks off it's a touchback and he set the school record this year with a 50 yard field goal. They do a great job blocking kicks and punts and if they were to win I would say they would pull off a big play on that end. Offensively they bring a lot of different packages. They'll run shotgun with twins or trips wideouts, they'll run shotgun bunching everybody in tight, the times I have seen they have run some off set I formations and even wishbone. Franklin County has a lot of personnel that can do a lot of different things. It was especially interesting how they ran their screens, the way they pulled a couple of their linemen. And that line does a great job hustling downfield and trying to block at the next level on their run plays. I would try to keep Covington Catholic on their toes guessing, if I'm Franklin County and/or if a particular set or play works, I stick with that. Defensively, reading keys is VERY important and staying on tackles until the runner is all the way down because there have been many times I have seen a Covington Catholic runner look down, only for them to pop up or slither through a group of players for a big run. Harney, Gainer, and that bunch have good athleticism but their most impressive quality, in my opinion, is how well they follow their blocks and read the flow of the defense. 

Should be a good one. Both teams are fun to watch and have interesting elements to their game!

I was extremely impressed last week with the coaching staff. Like you mentioned, very wing-T-ish with a mix of wildcat. 

It was the shotgun version of their short yardage package with an unbalanced line, 2 backs and a jet/orbit player (Gaiser). Using shotgun allows for more QB run game and with an extremely athletic QB like Harney, you will get gashed if not gap sound. 

A big, physical defensive line would be the antidote for that, but that is much easier said than done. 

The QB run scheme this year has grown leaps and bounds since the few years the staff was (justifiably) getting crushed on here for being very simple. 

There are two NFHS streaming links for this game:

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/franklin-county-high-school-frankfort-ky/gamfad41c3bed

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/khsaa/gam202690942e

There is also the free, Youtube stream and that is the one I will be watching:

Franklin rolls. 

Cov Cath plays close through half. Flyers couple early 3rd quarter TD's get things going. Flyers Defense to strong for Cov. Cath. 

 

FCHS 28 

Cov Cath 7

36 minutes ago, J. Peterman said:

Franklin rolls. 

Cov Cath plays close through half. Flyers couple early 3rd quarter TD's get things going. Flyers Defense to strong for Cov. Cath. 

 

FCHS 28 

Cov Cath 7

Bartender, I’ll have what he’s having. 

I think this will be one of the lower scoring semis this year.

Quisenberry was Boyle's offense last week against CovCath with how he took the reins running the ball, plus the kick return. I don't know that Franklin County has anyone capable of hurting the Colonels to anywhere near that extent. The freshman quarterback on this stage also gives me pause.

The other side of that coin shows Franklin County's run defense as one of the state's best. They swarm to the ball and cover a lot of ground. I think Harney finds the sledding a little tougher this week. Maybe a whole lot tougher.

CovCath displayed incredible mental fortitude last week, marching into 'Title Town' and knocking the crown off Boyle's head. I like that toughness as much as anything else this time of year. I think it carries over this week, with the Colonels emerging from a grueling, physical battle with a win in the 21-14 range.

1 hour ago, DevilMayCare said:

I think this will be one of the lower scoring semis this year.

Quisenberry was Boyle's offense last week against CovCath with how he took the reins running the ball, plus the kick return. I don't know that Franklin County has anyone capable of hurting the Colonels to anywhere near that extent. The freshman quarterback on this stage also gives me pause.

The other side of that coin shows Franklin County's run defense as one of the state's best. They swarm to the ball and cover a lot of ground. I think Harney finds the sledding a little tougher this week. Maybe a whole lot tougher.

CovCath displayed incredible mental fortitude last week, marching into 'Title Town' and knocking the crown off Boyle's head. I like that toughness as much as anything else this time of year. I think it carries over this week, with the Colonels emerging from a grueling, physical battle with a win in the 21-14 range.

This is a good post. The week before Boyle County, CCH was losing 13-0 to Johnson Central and managed to fight back in the second half for a 14-13 win. If Franklin County defense is as strong as advertised, I think low scoring game like JC - I'll say 14-7 CCH wins.

Bump.

I can't make up my mind. I've went through several convincing reasons (many already mentioned in the comments) that lead me to believe both can win. Tough one to pick. 

Is this where Franklin Co. declares to the state that they are the best team no one in KY has been talking about all year... a team, and a program, that could lure a coach back from Highlands? 

I think so.