Class 3A

1. Central (11-3)

2. Paducah Tilghman (6-6)

3. Belfry (11-3)

Class 3A

1. Central (11-3)

2. Paducah Tilghman (6-6)

 

 

What does Tilghman have coming back this year? They've really dropped off the football map the last several years. IMO, this reclassification has the possibility of assisting Tilghman more than any other program statewide.

 

Any thoughts?

I'm glad to see Mason Co. getting some love.

Tilghman lost there 2 big playmakers from a year ago but return some good lineman and there defense should be quick, athletic and pretty big. They always have some fast athletes, so, I'd expect them to be able to replace those 2 playmakers, albeit, it may be more of a platoon situation, which may be a good thing.. I do think the realignment helps them alot, but, imo, they're not a Top 2 team...Top 5-6, maybe....

I think Russell should be ranked above Belfry.

 

Overall it looks very good.

What does Tilghman have coming back this year? They've really dropped off the football map the last several years. IMO, this reclassification has the possibility of assisting Tilghman more than any other program statewide.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Tilghman has dropped off the map, but lets remember, they used to be in a district with Hopkinsville, and opposite a district with Bowling Green.....

 

here is there recent success....

 

'06- lost to hoptown 2nd round of the playoffs

'05- lost to bowling green 2nd round

'04- lost to Hoptown 2nd round

'03- lost to Boyle Co. state semi's

'02- lost to Hoptown in regional champ. game

'01- lost to Bowling Green 2nd round

'00- lost to Owensboro 2nd round

 

Owensboro went to 4A after '01....and Bowling Green (male enrollment: 513) and Hoptown (male enrollment: 523) have had a size-able advantage against tilghman (380).......now they will be playing with schools their own size, so i see them having GREAT success this year, IMO........

Tilghman at #2 is stretching them quite a bit...especially over Russell as Tilghamn lost their QB of the past three seasons in David Jones and their main running back threat in Michael Jones from a season ago and lost seven defensive starters including three of their five D-linemen to graduation. I am not saying that Tilghman will not win their district and should be a odds on favorite of playing in Louisville...but being #2 is a far stretch...the central and eastern part of the state in this class AAA is the head of the class this year.

What does Tilghman have coming back this year? They've really dropped off the football map the last several years. IMO, this reclassification has the possibility of assisting Tilghman more than any other program statewide.

No argument on Tilghman benefitting from six classes ... but off the football map? Simply put, they haven't been able to get by Hopkinsville and Bowling Green in most years.

Tilghman at #2 is stretching them quite a bit...especially over Russell as Tilghamn lost their QB of the past three seasons in David Jones and their main running back threat in Michael Jones from a season ago and lost seven defensive starters including three of their five D-linemen to graduation. I am not saying that Tilghman will not win their district and should be a odds on favorite of playing in Louisville...but being #2 is a far stretch...the central and eastern part of the state in this class AAA is the head of the class this year.

Jones and Jones were big losses, more so than people realize on the defensive side, but Tilghman will still have more speed than anybody in 3A, probably even more so that Central.

 

As for the defensive line ... some of those departed "starters" on the line were replaced during the season. When Tilghman went with the smaller, quicker linemen, the defensive performance showed significant improvement. Those guys are back this year.

No argument on Tilghman benefitting from six classes ... but off the football map? Simply put, they haven't been able to get by Hopkinsville and Bowling Green in most years.

 

 

For a program like Tilghman...not getting by the 2nd round (five of the last 7 years)....I would say they've been "off the map". My recollection is "they don't take to losing".

Bowling Green and Hopkinsville have had more talent most of the time in recent years. Besides, this 3A is nothing like the old 3A.

1. Central IMO is the top 3A team in the new class, but they better enjoy their pre-season ranking for as long as they can because they could very well have a losing season before making the playoffs.

 

2. Tilghman is too high, thye are a top 5 team but not ahead of Russell and Belfry. Speaking of which, Russell should be in front of Belfry.

 

3. Sheldon Clark will be better than Breathitt County. In 2A, Breathitt's district last season was a complete notch below the district with Belfry, Pburg, and Sheldon Clark. The Cardinals return just as much if not more than the Bobcats including a backfield that gained almost 3000 yards. I also feel that Somerset should be ahead of Breathitt.

 

4. Positions 8,9, 10 are fine with me because there are about 6-7 teams who all could stake claim there.

Link to the 3A Rankings

Somerset has proven themselves as a playoff team the last 2 years. I see them as a number 5 to start the year and i'm trying not to be biased. Granted Deaton is gone and there are a few question marks to be answered. They will have their act together and Somerset will be a contender.

The top 5 I agree with. I think it is a very evenly matched group. Almost interchangable.