The District Championship is on the line this week as the #1 Pikeville Panthers make the trip to take on the #6 Hazard Bulldogs. Pikeville is looking to win its 10th straight District Championship and #1 seed of the District for the playoffs. Hazard is looking to gets its first District Championship win since 2017. Hazard won the game in 2017 at home 38-26. The last win though against Pikeville came in the playoffs in 2020 in an upset 21-12. 

Pikeville comes into this 2025 matchup averaging 28 points per game and giving up 20 points per game. Hazard comes in averaging 33 points per game and giving up right at 23 points per game. These teams are very close in numbers. Who wins the district?

Does Pikeville make it 10 in a row? Does Hazard shock 1A knocking off the #1 Panthers?

Honoring the 2011 State Championship Team Friday night.

21 minutes ago, Bac2369 said:

Honoring the 2011 State Championship Team Friday night.

That 2011 championship is one of the bigger title game upsets in the past 20 years.

The Bulldogs beat Mayfield in the title game 24-6, and few people thought Hazard had a chance of winning against Mayfield. Beechwood played at Mayfield in the semi-finals losing 19-14 in a game that was a war of attrition. It was a slugfest and both teams suffered injuries to key players.

Many Beechwood supporters consider that 2011 Beechwood team one of their most talented groups of players even though they didn't win a title. The RB on that team, Cameron Vocke, rushed for over 2,000 yards that year and was just inducted into the Beechwood Hall of Fame. Several Beechwood players from that team had great college careers.

In the title game, Hazard pulled away in the second half for the win. That ended Mayfield's 29 game winning streak. The previous year Mayfield beat Hazard 47-6 in the title game. 

That was a great championship win for Hazard especially bouncing back from what happened the year before. Most people looked at the semi final game between Mayfield and Beechwood as the "title game" expecting the winner to get the championship the next week. Hazard had a different plan. Great title win for Hazard.

This atmosphere will be electric. I think Pikeville will lean on Hazard in the 2nd half and get the win. But I would not be surprised if the Bulldogs were able to pull out the win—their offense is dangerous. 

5 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

That 2011 championship is one of the bigger title game upsets in the past 20 years.

The Bulldogs beat Mayfield in the title game 24-6, and few people thought Hazard had a chance of winning against Mayfield. Beechwood played at Mayfield in the semi-finals losing 19-14 in a game that was a war of attrition. It was a slugfest and both teams suffered injuries to key players. 

In the title game, Hazard pulled away in the second half for the win. That ended Mayfield's 29 game winning streak. The previous year Mayfield beat Hazard 47-6 in the title game. 

That was a great championship win for Hazard especially bouncing back from what happened the year before.

Yes no one expected them to win after getting clocked the year before. The game in 2010 even though Hazard lost the that game, they moved the ball quite well before several self inflicting turnovers boomed them. I believe Hazard had like 6 turnovers in the game. 2 interceptions and 4 fumbles.  Hazard had over 330 yards in the game. With about 80 of that coming on the only scoring drive of that game by senior Quarterback Jon Combs. 
 

The 2011 Class is the most successful group from Freshmen to Seniors to play at Hazard. 
They ended up playing for the Championship 3 years with 2- Runnerups and 1 Championships.  They also lost to Lexington Christian in 2009 where Hazard player dropped the game tying touchdown in the endzone. Hazard most likely wouldn’t have kicked it to tie the game, but would have opted for the win instead, but came up short in a heartbreaker. As LCA the following week would go on to win the title in 2009.

Pikeville 35

Hazard 14

1 hour ago, Bac2369 said:

Yes no one expected them to win after getting clocked the year before. The game in 2010 even though Hazard lost the that game, they moved the ball quite well before several self inflicting turnovers boomed them. I believe Hazard had like 6 turnovers in the game. 2 interceptions and 4 fumbles.  Hazard had over 330 yards in the game. With about 80 of that coming on the only scoring drive of that game by senior Quarterback Jon Combs. 
 

The 2011 Class is the most successful group from Freshmen to Seniors to play at Hazard. 
They ended up playing for the Championship 3 years with 2- Runnerups and 1 Championships.  They also lost to Lexington Christian in 2009 where Hazard player dropped the game tying touchdown in the endzone. Hazard most likely wouldn’t have kicked it to tie the game, but would have opted for the win instead, but came up short in a heartbreaker. As LCA the following week would go on to win the title in 2009.

Hazard flipped that turnover story in 2011. I think Hazard's defense had 5 interceptions in the 2011 game.

4 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Hazard flipped that turnover story in 2011. I think Hazard's defense had 5 interceptions in the 2011 game.

They did. 5 different players too. 1 by BJ Combs was returned for a touchdown. Impressive stat to say the least. They also held Mayfield to two field goals that game. 

Pikeville 34-13.

Hazard 23 Pikeville 20

Interesting stats for this one.

The teams Pikeville has beat are 17-23 this season. The teams that have beat them are 25-1.

The teams Hazard has beat are 14-19, The teams that have beat them are 22-6. 
 

Both teams have been beat by really good teams. 
 

 

Nights in the Holler!!! 

NFHS Video:

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/hazard-high-school-hazard-ky/gamce70aa4cd7