On 8/25/2025 at 7:42 PM, brooksville said:

Raceland over Scott County is hard to believe.  But Raceland is going to be 15-0, so maybe I am wrong.  I think Belfry is getting votes based on name only and not the actual team this year.

Huh?

This is possibly the strongest Belfry has been since Isaac Dixon left? They returned double digit starters each way off a team who went to the State Semi's. If Belfry was getting voted on name they probably would have been ranked most of last year. Why take two years off before applying that principle?

As for the Belfry vs. Raceland scrimmage.. I would caution anyone that taking a scrimmage result should be done so with a huge dose of reserve. When it comes to a scrimmage with Belfry I would amplify that even more. Belfry almost exclusively scrimmages in a 10 play format which for a team who prides itself on 12-15+ play scoring drives means you might not be capturing how many scores would actually happen. Additionally Belfry under Haywood and now under Varney truly use scrimmages as a revolving door of players.

The report I got from the scrimmage is Raceland definitely deserves to be optimistic because they looked like a completely different team compared to last year, especially at the LOS and they played as if they had something to prove . They had very good balance on offense and should probably be the 1A favorite because their defense was very well coached and pursued the ball well. That same person also believed that if Belfry and Raceland had been playing in a true Week 1 game with Belfry sticking to their starting OLine, DLine, and Backs that they felt confident Belfry would probably be a TD to 2 TD pick.

1 hour ago, ATLCat said:

Huh?

This is possibly the strongest Belfry has been since Isaac Dixon left? They returned double digit starters each way off a team who went to the State Semi's. If Belfry was getting voted on name they probably would have been ranked most of last year. Why take two years off before applying that principle?

As for the Belfry vs. Raceland scrimmage.. I would caution anyone that taking a scrimmage result should be done so with a huge dose of reserve. When it comes to a scrimmage with Belfry I would amplify that even more. Belfry almost exclusively scrimmages in a 10 play format which for a team who prides itself on 12-15+ play scoring drives means you might not be capturing how many scores would actually happen. Additionally Belfry under Haywood and now under Varney truly use scrimmages as a revolving door of players.

The report I got from the scrimmage is Raceland definitely deserves to be optimistic because they looked like a completely different team compared to last year, especially at the LOS and they played as if they had something to prove . They had very good balance on offense and should probably be the 1A favorite because their defense was very well coached and pursued the ball well. That same person also believed that if Belfry and Raceland had been playing in a true Week 1 game with Belfry sticking to their starting OLine, DLine, and Backs that they felt confident Belfry would probably be a TD to 2 TD pick.

ATL, I respect Belfry, and you.  I don't mean any disrespect to either of you.  But, to say Belfry was not playing to win, is a two-way street.  Raceland, too was getting a lot of reps for various players and was working on some narrow areas of their game.  For anyone that is used to watching the Rams, it was clear the coaching staff came into the scrimmage with a few things they wanted to clarify.  

Sure, we will never know who would have won on that night in a real game, but I will have to rely on a paraphrased famous quote and say, "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it".  Either way, it is safe to say it would have been a close game, in my opinion.  

Since I won't bring it up again, no matter the opinion on a Raceland/Belfry game, I can say that I believe both teams will have great seasons and I look forward to seeing both programs succeed. And, I think the two teams scrimmaging each year is a great thing for both programs and I hope to see it continue.  

33 minutes ago, Ram said:

ATL, I respect Belfry, and you.  I don't mean any disrespect to either of you.  But, to say Belfry was not playing to win, is a two-way street.  Raceland, too was getting a lot of reps for various players and was working on some narrow areas of their game.  For anyone that is used to watching the Rams, it was clear the coaching staff came into the scrimmage with a few things they wanted to clarify.  

Sure, we will never know who would have won on that night in a real game, but I will have to rely on a paraphrased famous quote and say, "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it".  Either way, it is safe to say it would have been a close game, in my opinion.  

Since I won't bring it up again, no matter the opinion on a Raceland/Belfry game, I can say that I believe both teams will have great seasons and I look forward to seeing both programs succeed. And, I think the two teams scrimmaging each year is a great thing for both programs and I hope to see it continue.  

To be very clear, my info is purely second hand from someone who has watched Belfry football for nearly 50 years and has not watched Raceland save when Belfry has scrimmaged them and when they have played in the State Finals or had a game broadcast against Pikeville. There is bias there.. but it illustrates the old saying "There are three sides to every story, your side, their side, and the truth."

I think if anything what we have done is further proved why scrimmage results, especially in a setting like this, need to be left subjective. How can we definitively agree wither team would win a 4 Quarter game with injuries, cramps, and turnovers if both teams admittedly played a lot of different players and worked on specific things? 

I think the only takeaway from that night that we can put on the table in agreement taking bias out of the equation:

- This is a special Raceland team for how well rounded they are.

- Belfry is very fast and very skilled.

- Raceland looked night and day better in one calendar year at the LOS compared to the same scrimmage format where Belfry folks thought Raceland was non-competitive in this area with essentially the same guys on the field.

- This is definitely a beneficial scrimmage partnership.

 

I also feel like if Belfry folks are saying Raceland is a legit 1A Title contender that others should take proper notice. This is coming from a fanbase who knows what a title contender looks like in the mirror, but this is also coming from a fanbase who may be the best source to analyze what the best 1A program looks like because they are painfully familiar with what Pikeville has looked like.

KSR using Massey projections for scores.

43 minutes ago, Tigerpride94 said:

KSR using Massey projections for scores.

Crazy that PT and Mayfield isn't on their Games of the Week list and both are in KSR's own top 25. This rivalry is definitely known outside Western Kentucky.

Doesn't matter I don't guess, just goes to show you they aren't on the up and up like those on BGP. 

1 hour ago, Tigerpride94 said:

KSR using Massey projections for scores.

Those projections look reasonable... except Trinity losing 41-14? That looks out of line.

KSR’s Top 25 Rankings: Week 3

1. Trinity [7 first-place votes]
2. St. Xavier [3 first-place votes] (+2)
3. Paducah Tilghman
4. Christian Academy-Louisville (+2)
5. Highlands (+2)
6. South Warren (+2)
7. Franklin County (+2)
8. Cooper (+10)
9. Ryle (-7)
10. Covington Catholic (+1)
11. Boyle County (-6)
12. DuPont Manual (+1)
13. Scott County (+4)
14. Beechwood (+2)
15. Owensboro Catholic (-5)
16. Woodford County (+4)
17. Johnson Central (+6)
18. Corbin (-4)
19. Male (-7)
20. Bell County (+5)
21. Lexington Christian Academy (-6)
22. Pulaski County (NR)
23. Lexington Catholic (NR)
24. Ballard (NR)
25. Frederick Douglass (-1)

Others receiving votes: Atherton (15), Mayfield (13), Madison Central (10), Pikeville (10), South Laurel (6), Belfry (5), Bowling Green (2)

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/ksr-2025-kentucky-high-school-football-top-25-rankings-week-3/

Big opportunity for Atherton to get into rankings if beat Manual.

7 minutes ago, Tigerpride94 said:

Big opportunity for Atherton to get into rankings if beat Manual.

Right, Atherton will make a big jump in all the polls with a win.

KSR’s Top 25 Rankings: Week 4

1. Trinity [8 first-place votes]
2. St. Xavier [1 first-place vote] 
3. South Warren (+3)
4. Christian Academy-Louisville [1 first-place vote] 
5. Franklin County (+2)
6. Boyle County (+5)
7. Highlands (-2)
8. Cooper
9. DuPont Manual (+3)
10. Ryle (-2)
11. Covington Catholic (-1)
12. Scott County (+1)
13. Beechwood (+1)
14. Johnson Central (+3)
15. Paducah Tilghman (-12)
16. Madisonville-North Hopkins (NR)
17. Male (+2)
18. Pulaski County (+4)
19. Bell County (+1)
20. Woodford County (-4)
21. Owensboro (NR)
22. Lexington Catholic (+1)
23. Lexington Christian Academy (-2)
24. Corbin (-6)
25. Frederick Douglass

Others receiving votes: Mayfield (20), Owensboro Catholic (16), Atherton (9), Pikeville (4), Belfry (3), Ballard (2)

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/ksr-2025-kentucky-high-school-football-top-25-rankings-week-4/

KSR’s Top 25 Rankings: Week 5

1. Trinity [9 first-place votes]
2. Christian Academy-Louisville [1 first-place vote] (+2)
3. St. Xavier (-1)
4. South Warren (-1)
5. Franklin County
6. DuPont Manual (+3)
7. Highlands 
8. Boyle County (-2)
9. Johnson Central (+5)
10. Cooper (-2)
11. Covington Catholic 
12. Ryle (-2)
13. Madisonville-North Hopkins (+3)
14. Paducah Tilghman (-1)
15. Bell County (+4)
16. Beechwood (-3)
17. Frederick Douglass (+8)
18. Woodford County (+2)
19. Lexington Christian Academy (+4)
20. Atherton (NR)
21. Owensboro
22. Owensboro Catholic (NR)
23. Male (-6)
24. Madison Central (NR)
25. Scott County (-13)

Others receiving votes: Pulaski County (21), Lexington Catholic (16), Belfry (15), Mayfield (15), North Laurel (6), Ballard (4)

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/ksr-2025-kentucky-high-school-football-top-25-rankings-week-5/

30 minutes ago, theguru said:

KSR’s Top 25 Rankings: Week 5

1. Trinity [9 first-place votes]
2. Christian Academy-Louisville [1 first-place vote] (+2)
3. St. Xavier (-1)
4. South Warren (-1)
5. Franklin County
6. DuPont Manual (+3)
7. Highlands 
8. Boyle County (-2)
9. Johnson Central (+5)
10. Cooper (-2)
11. Covington Catholic 
12. Ryle (-2)
13. Madisonville-North Hopkins (+3)
14. Paducah Tilghman (-1)
15. Bell County (+4)
16. Beechwood (-3)
17. Frederick Douglass (+8)
18. Woodford County (+2)
19. Lexington Christian Academy (+4)
20. Atherton (NR)
21. Owensboro
22. Owensboro Catholic (NR)
23. Male (-6)
24. Madison Central (NR)
25. Scott County (-13)

Others receiving votes: Pulaski County (21), Lexington Catholic (16), Belfry (15), Mayfield (15), North Laurel (6), Ballard (4)

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/ksr-2025-kentucky-high-school-football-top-25-rankings-week-5/

If only we had SOME way of determining which one of these teams was better. 

3 minutes ago, DragonFire said:

If only we had SOME way of determining which one of these teams was better. 

That's KSR's reactive ranking model. 

They must know something about Bell County that no one else does.

1 hour ago, Astro Domino said:

They must know something about Bell County that no one else does.

Bell County does have a very good team. They return the vast majority of their team from a squad who went 11-2 last year with a hard fought loss to LexCath in Round 3. Blake Burnett is a dangerous QB in Dudley's system and they have the power running game that he is accustomed to.

With that said, I haven't seen enough from Bell County to anoint them as a Top 15 team in the State. They have feasted on a bunch of bottom tier larger class schools and their only quality team they defeated was punching down in class to beat 1A Campbellsville in a tight game in the season opener.

I may be wrong but I don't see a huge delta between Bell County and Rockcastle County. I wouldn't put Rockcastle in the Top 25 teams in the State.. I would probably put Bell and Rock closer to the 30-35 range.