The #1 Pikeville Panthers travel to Paintsville for a district showdown. If Paintsville could pull a win out here at home against the Panthers they would lock up the #1 seed for the district. Panthers are coming off its bye week so they might be a bit rusty to start the game. Paintsville having getting this game at home is huge.Keep your eyes on this Class 1A Top 10 matchup. Does Paintsville SHOCk the 1A World with a win over the Panthers? Does Pikeville just keep on road grading everything in its patch?

On 10/10/2026 at 12:21 AM, Bac2369 said:

The #1 Pikeville Panthers travel to Paintsville for a district showdown. If Paintsville could pull a win out here at home against the Panthers they would lock up the #1 seed for the district. Panthers are coming off its bye week so they might be a bit rusty to start the game. Paintsville having getting this game at home is huge.Keep your eyes on this Class 1A Top 10 matchup. Does Paintsville SHOCk the 1A World with a win over the Panthers? Does Pikeville just keep on road grading everything in its patch?

These two as rivals go back 50 years. Pikeville during the Hillard Howard era, Paintsville I think was the Walter( his last name evades my memory). Throughout all those years there has been many upsets including games where one team would beat the other badly in regular season and then be beaten during the playoffs. Looking at schedules and comparing them, Paintsville has a very good team. I don’t think they will beat Pikeville as Pikeville has played and beaten Belfry at PHS which was a bit deceiving looking at the score. I was in the end zone during the controversial play, to me, fumble with Pikeville clearly recovering with control of the ball, and Pikeville giving Johnson Central a good thumping (JC is a better team than their schedule shows IMO).Paintsville has beaten a few mediocre teams by less of a point spread I anticipated in a few games. Big rivalry games brings out the best of teams on many occasions. I think Pikeville wins, it could be running clock, it’s at Paintsville, so Paintsville won’t just hand Pikeville the W and walk away though.I think however when the lights go out it will be Pikeville by 4 TD’s or more.

4 hours ago, PHS1978 said:

These two as rivals go back 50 years. Pikeville during the Hillard Howard era, Paintsville I think was the Walter( his last name evades my memory). Throughout all those years there has been many upsets including games where one team would beat the other badly in regular season and then be beaten during the playoffs. Looking at schedules and comparing them, Paintsville has a very good team. I don’t think they will beat Pikeville as Pikeville has played and beaten Belfry at PHS which was a bit deceiving looking at the score. I was in the end zone during the controversial play, to me, fumble with Pikeville clearly recovering with control of the ball, and Pikeville giving Johnson Central a good thumping (JC is a better team than their schedule shows IMO).Paintsville has beaten a few mediocre teams by less of a point spread I anticipated in a few games. Big rivalry games brings out the best of teams on many occasions. I think Pikeville wins, it could be running clock, it’s at Paintsville, so Paintsville won’t just hand Pikeville the W and walk away though.I think however when the lights go out it will be Pikeville by 4 TD’s or more.

Walter Brugh.

This was one of our games of the week. Paintsville is really good this year, like the old days. Chris McNamee with a hungry football team is a dangerous combination. This was one of our games of the week on TCOP. Best of luck to both teams!

Possible running clock, Pikeville by a bunch!!

Interesting game to me. Paintsville has shown that they have been better than expected for quite a few. On the other side, no one seems to think that no one is beating anyone within the top 3-4. I believe that Pikeville is the favorite but I’m interested in seeing how this turns out. Good luck to both teams.

13 hours ago, PHS1978 said:

These two as rivals go back 50 years. Pikeville during the Hillard Howard era, Paintsville I think was the Walter( his last name evades my memory). Throughout all those years there has been many upsets including games where one team would beat the other badly in regular season and then be beaten during the playoffs. Looking at schedules and comparing them, Paintsville has a very good team. I don’t think they will beat Pikeville as Pikeville has played and beaten Belfry at PHS which was a bit deceiving looking at the score. I was in the end zone during the controversial play, to me, fumble with Pikeville clearly recovering with control of the ball, and Pikeville giving Johnson Central a good thumping (JC is a better team than their schedule shows IMO).Paintsville has beaten a few mediocre teams by less of a point spread I anticipated in a few games. Big rivalry games brings out the best of teams on many occasions. I think Pikeville wins, it could be running clock, it’s at Paintsville, so Paintsville won’t just hand Pikeville the W and walk away though.I think however when the lights go out it will be Pikeville by 4 TD’s or more.

They go back 100 years. First meeting was 1925.

Pikeville leads 60-35-3 all-time, thanks to a 36-5 mark against the Tigers since the mid 80s.

Classic EKY rivalry.

This has been a season of rejuvenation for Paintsville, but I think they're about to get a dose of reality. The Tigers still have a ways to go and Pikeville is still the standard.

Paintsville can be competitive, but I look for a comfortable win for the Panthers.