The Class 3A playoffs are set, with the exception of District 2, where Hart Co, Butler Co and Edmonson Co are all tied with 2-2 district records.

 

Remember in the regionals it will be D1 vs D4, D2 vs D3, D5 vw D8, and D6 vs D7.

 

REGION 1

District 1

1 Tilghman vs 4 Webster

2 Union vs 3 McLean

 

District 4

1 Henry Co vs 4 Western Hills

2 North Oldham vs 3 Spencer Co

 

 

REGION 2

District 2

1 Russellville

* Hart Co (waiting on tie breaker outcome)

* Butler Co (waiting on tie breaker outcome)

* Edmonson Co (waiting on tie breaker outcome)

 

District 3

1 Central vs 4 Shawnee

2 Moore vs 3 Elizabethtown

 

 

REGION 3

District 5

1 Somerset vs 4 Taylor Co

2 Wayne Co 3 Garrard Co

 

District 8

1 Belfry vs 4 Magoffin

2 Sheldon Clark vs 3 Pike Central

 

 

REGION 4

District 6

1 Breathitt Co vs 4 Fleming Co

2 Estill Co vs 3 Cawood

 

District 7

1 Russell vs 4 East Carter

2 Mason Co vs 3 West Carter

Here is my predictions for the Regional Championship Games and Beyond

 

Tilghman vs. Henry Co.--this will be a good close game. Tilghman pulls it out.

Tilghman 21 Henry Co. 14

 

Russellville vs. Central--If Russellville couldn't handle Danville's speed, they are out of luck vs. Central. Central 35 Russellville 12

 

Breathitt Co. vs. Russell--Russell has been better in the playoffs recently, but I can't go against this edition of Holcomb's Cats. Herald catches a TD pass in the waning moments.

Breathitt Co. 28 Russell 24

 

Somerset vs. Belfry--May has a big night and Cole can't do it all- Belfry 34 Somerset 17

Tilghman vs. Central--another tight one, the difference will be Burrus and McKinney up front.

Central 28 Tilghman 24

 

Breathitt Co. vs. Belfry--two great mountain teams battling it out. i'm split on this one. But the heart says Breathitt in a tight one. Breathitt Co. 35 Belfry 34

 

Championship

 

Breathitt Co. will be a road tested team and will have had to battle it out to get there. Central will have a speed edge. In the end Breathitt Co. pulls it out.

 

Breathitt Co. 28

Central 26

Tilghman vs. Central--another tight one, the difference will be Burrus and McKinney up front.

Central 28 Tilghman 24

 

Breathitt Co. vs. Belfry--two great mountain teams battling it out. i'm split on this one. But the heart says Breathitt in a tight one. Breathitt Co. 35 Belfry 34

 

Championship

 

Breathitt Co. will be a road tested team and will have had to battle it out to get there. Central will have a speed edge. In the end Breathitt Co. pulls it out.

 

Breathitt Co. 28

Central 26

This is not menat to sound like I am calling you out, but your predictions raise a question:

 

The past couple seasons in 2A, the disparity between Belfry and anyone else in the region has been vast. Last season Belfry completely rolled through the region, and return most key components from that team including nearly the entire defense.

 

Do you feel that Breathitt has improved that much that they have closed the gap on Belfry/Sheldon Clark, enough so that they can go on the road and defeat these teams?

 

Breathitt continues to remain a mystery to me as their only two quality wins that we can judge by has been Pburg in a close game @ Jackson and a LCA team on the road that is a middle of the pack 1A team. The Bobcats do display a balnce that very few 3A teams in the state seem to have on offense, and a John Chapman coached defense will always be quick and pesky. Shelby Valley will allow us a common opponent between the Pirates and Bobcats, Belfry led by 50 points early in the 3rd when they removed their starters.

What I am seeing from these pairings:

- Tilghman appears to have three off weeks before playing their state semi-final game, maybe the easiest path to the state semifinals in the state of Kentucky.

 

- I foresee some very low attendances in the first round of the playoffs, the playoff system was rough enough on generating revenue when it was 4 classes, but now with 6 classes and more less competitive teams making the playoffs, it will be amplified even more, including into the 2nd round.

 

- Pike Central has a quality team this season, but man alive what a tough road they have for any chance at a State Title. Using last weeks BGP Rankings their path would potentially be: @ #8 Sheldon Clark, @ #1 Belfry, @ #7 Somerset, vs. #3 Breathitt County, vs. #2 Central.

 

-West Carter did them one better with their path consisting of @ #4 Mason County, @ #5 Russell, @ #3 Breathitt County, @ #1 Belfry, vs. #2 Central.... that's right, if West carter hopes to win the 3A State Title they may be required to beat the Top 5 teams.

 

-Compare this to the previously mentioned Tilghman who would have: vs. Webster County, vs. Union County, vs. Henry County, before finally meeting Central.

 

- 4 of the Top 5 teams in the state according to last weeks BGP Rankings, and 6 of the Top 8, are all in the East.

Of the contenders, nobody in the east has a light path and homefield advantage will be bigger than maybe it has ever been before in this semi-state. Lots of intriguing matchups at some historic locations.

 

Somerset: If they win their district, they would get a break in that they would host the regional game with Belfry or Sheldon Clark instead of making that road trip. That would be a big plus for them. Then they would likely then host either Breathitt, Russell or Mason Co for the semifinal game. Having those 2 matchups at home would be huge, IMO, if in their upset bid for a title appearance.

 

Breathitt Co: Like Somerset, they walked through their district the first time and they would likely do so again in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Then they would get to play either Russell or Mason Co in the regionals. If Russell is the opponent, the game would be played at the Hank because they would both be 1 seeds and the odd district would host. However, if Mason Co wins their rematch with Russell, being a 2 seed, they would have to travel to Breathitt Co for the regional game, and that is always a tough place to play. If Breathitt wins the region, it would be on the road to Belfry, Sheldon Clark, or Somerset for the semifinals.

 

Mason Co: Being a 2 seed from an even district, Mason will only get 1 home game if the seeding holds up. Their first battle is within their district with Russell. They lost a heart breaker at home to the Devils and this time they will have to travel to the Hank for the rematch. That should be the best 2nd round game in the state, in any class. If they win the rematch, they would travel to Breathitt for the regionals. If they win that one, they would go on the road again to either Somerset, Belfry or Sheldon Clark for the semifinals. That is a LOT of travel time in 3 straight weeks.

 

Russell: They have to be elated to have won their first game with Mason and earned a 1 seed. That may have been the biggest district win in 3A because of the playoff consequenses. That means they will host the rematch with Mason Co in week 2 and if they win, they get to host Breathitt Co for the regional game. Their is no comparison between hosting that game at the Hank and traveling to Jackson to play on Breathitt's home field. If they win the region, then it is off to either Somerset, Sheldon Clark or Belfry for the semifinals. And you just know the Devils faithful are looking at that possible trip to the CAM again and the possible game with the Pirates that has become a Thanksgiving tradition over the last few years.

 

Sheldon Clark: They open up at home against a good Pike Central team and then they would get to travel back to Belfry where they just lost 34-7 last week. If they could pull that upset, it would be on the road to Somerset for the regionals. If they make it through that gauntlet, they would get to host the semifinal game with either Breathitt, Russell or Mason. And that would be a huge plus for them as playing at the Rock in Inez is never easy for opposing teams.

 

Belfry: The Pirates lucked out with the playoff alignment. They are in the odd region this year and the even region next year. This means they could host the semifinals both years if they reach that level. The battles start in week 2 for Belfry as they would likely host Sheldon Clark. As they found out last season, the Cards are capable of beating them if Belfry doesn't play their A game. The Pirates would then travel to Somerset in week 3 for the regionals game against a very good Briar Jumper team. The last time they played there it was 7-6 classic battle with a bunch of 4 down goal line stands in 1985. The semifinals would be at the friendly confines of the CAM against either Breathitt, Russell or Mason.

 

 

As I said, there is no easy path on this side of the state this year. There are lots of interesting twists and possible matchups. It should be a lot of fun to watch it develop.

Great Post.

Of the contenders, nobody in the east has a light path and homefield advantage will be bigger than maybe it has ever been before in this semi-state. Lots of intriguing matchups at some historic locations.

 

Somerset: If they win their district, they would get a break in that they would host the regional game with Belfry or Sheldon Clark instead of making that road trip. That would be a big plus for them. Then they would likely then host either Breathitt, Russell or Mason Co for the semifinal game. Having those 2 matchups at home would be huge, IMO, if in their upset bid for a title appearance.

 

Breathitt Co: Like Somerset, they walked through their district the first time and they would likely do so again in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Then they would get to play either Russell or Mason Co in the regionals. If Russell is the opponent, the game would be played at the Hank because they would both be 1 seeds and the odd district would host. However, if Mason Co wins their rematch with Russell, being a 2 seed, they would have to travel to Breathitt Co for the regional game, and that is always a tough place to play. If Breathitt wins the region, it would be on the road to Belfry, Sheldon Clark, or Somerset for the semifinals.

 

Mason Co: Being a 2 seed from an even district, Mason will only get 1 home game if the seeding holds up. Their first battle is within their district with Russell. They lost a heart breaker at home to the Devils and this time they will have to travel to the Hank for the rematch. That should be the best 2nd round game in the state, in any class. If they win the rematch, they would travel to Breathitt for the regionals. If they win that one, they would go on the road again to either Somerset, Belfry or Sheldon Clark for the semifinals. That is a LOT of travel time in 3 straight weeks.

 

Russell: They have to be elated to have won their first game with Mason and earned a 1 seed. That may have been the biggest district win in 3A because of the playoff consequenses. That means they will host the rematch with Mason Co in week 2 and if they win, they get to host Breathitt Co for the regional game. Their is no comparison between hosting that game at the Hank and traveling to Jackson to play on Breathitt's home field. If they win the region, then it is off to either Somerset, Sheldon Clark or Belfry for the semifinals. And you just know the Devils faithful are looking at that possible trip to the CAM again and the possible game with the Pirates that has become a Thanksgiving tradition over the last few years.

 

Sheldon Clark: They open up at home against a good Pike Central team and then they would get to travel back to Belfry where they just lost 34-7 last week. If they could pull that upset, it would be on the road to Somerset for the regionals. If they make it through that gauntlet, they would get to host the semifinal game with either Breathitt, Russell or Mason. And that would be a huge plus for them as playing at the Rock in Inez is never easy for opposing teams.

 

Belfry: The Pirates lucked out with the playoff alignment. They are in the odd region this year and the even region next year. This means they could host the semifinals both years if they reach that level. The battles start in week 2 for Belfry as they would likely host Sheldon Clark. As they found out last season, the Cards are capable of beating them if Belfry doesn't play their A game. The Pirates would then travel to Somerset in week 3 for the regionals game against a very good Briar Jumper team. The last time they played there it was 7-6 classic battle with a bunch of 4 down goal line stands in 1985. The semifinals would be at the friendly confines of the CAM against either Breathitt, Russell or Mason.

 

 

As I said, there is no easy path on this side of the state this year. There are lots of interesting twists and possible matchups. It should be a lot of fun to watch it develop.

 

Very nice Watusi!!! You answered several questions that I had. Thanks

Very nice Watusi!!! You answered several questions that I had. Thanks

That 1 point win last week by Russell really looks HUGE when you put it all in context.

Mason Co beats Russell

Mason Co beats Russell

 

They just lost, albeit by only 1 point, to Russell on Mason Co's home field.

 

What do you think will be the difference in the rematch that will allow Mason to beat them on the road at the Hank?

Mason will play harder....and FIND A WAY TO WIN!

I think Mason wins the rematch, and has a nice run the the playoffs. They will need to polish their game a bit and bring it all together. Hopefully they can get over their on feild troubles before their get ousted.

 

Good luck Royals and keep fighting !:thumb:

Tilghman vs. Central--another tight one, the difference will be Burrus and McKinney up front.

Central 28 Tilghman 24

 

Breathitt Co. vs. Belfry--two great mountain teams battling it out. i'm split on this one. But the heart says Breathitt in a tight one. Breathitt Co. 35 Belfry 34

 

Championship

 

Breathitt Co. will be a road tested team and will have had to battle it out to get there. Central will have a speed edge. In the end Breathitt Co. pulls it out.

 

Breathitt Co. 28

Central 26

 

 

WAKE UP:sleep:Wake Up:sleep: NIce Dream:scared: First, Breathitt wins at home regularly but they won't beat Belfry or Somerset at their respective confines and may not get the chance against a good Russell or Mason team. Of course, IMO.

WAKE UP:sleep:Wake Up:sleep: NIce Dream:scared: First, Breathitt wins at home regularly but they won't beat Belfry or Somerset at their respective confines and may not get the chance against a good Russell or Mason team. Of course, IMO.

 

Breathitt's chances of beating Belfry do not hinge on where the game is played. Historically, the better team has won when these two teams meet regardless of the site...I don't expect that to suddenly change. If I'm not mistaken, the road team has won at least three playoff meetings between Breathitt and Belfry since '99...someone correct this if it's wrong...

 

1999 @ Belfry - Breathitt 47, Belfry 42

2000 @ Breathitt - Breathitt 28, Belfry 20

2001 @ Breathitt - Belfry 27, Breathitt 26

2002 @ Belfry - Breathitt 21, Belfry 0

 

Three of the last 4 times they've met in the playoffs the road team has won, so just a hint when picking between Breathitt and Belfry, look at the teams and forget where the game is played.