:laugh: I didn't know I was going to strike a nerve.

 

There are only two categories of people in my world: people who are with me and people who are not. You have now placed yourself in the latter category.

Nice article on Central.

 

It does have that Cindarella feel.

There are only two categories of people in my world: people who are with me and people who are not. You have now placed yourself in the latter category.

 

Does it matter any that I actually picked HHS to win the game?

75 hours until kickoff.

 

I am ready right now.

I like Highlands leatherneck..

 

lol

I loved this part of the article.

 

Sophomore kicker Rizik Lado nailed a 30-yard field goal on the game's final play to give Central the victory at Paducah. It was his first field-goal attempt of the season.

 

"He is a hero," coach Ty Scroggins said. "I don't think he really knows how big of a kick it really was. … He said it was just like a penalty kick (in soccer). I don't know anything about soccer, but if that's a penalty kick, keep doing it."

Well said Park.

 

I'm not sure that very many of us who aren't familiar with the history of Central have any idea of what they have overcome to get here. We are a county school in EKY and we are about as far removed from the inner city (or any city) as we can be. Our community LOVES our school and our kids and they go to great lengths to support our football team. Our kids know every other kids' parents because they are all constantly around the program, sponsoring cookouts on Thursdays, cheering at the games, welcoming them off the field, etc. It is a close knit group and I gather that historically that is about as far removed from Central's situation as it can be.

 

While I don't have a frame of reference to get a really good "feel" for their situation, I am getting a good picture of it from those of you who are close in proximity and know the history. I gather from your comments that you are proud of what they have done and the way they have done it. We all should be.

 

Would I be very far off base to make a comparison to the movie "Lean On Me" where Joe Clark instills some pride and work ethic into an otherwise underachieving student body and gets remarkable results?

 

All teams and all players who make it this far have had to work hard and sacrifice to get here. However, to be fair, we Pirate fans should just acknowledge that these kids from Central have had an altogether different set of struggles and the odds have been against them, yet they have come through with flying colors. That is an accomplishment worthy of our respect and it wouldn't be right to compare the two roads these teams have traveled to get here.

 

I can't wait for this game. :ylsuper:

 

"Lean on Me" is a good analogy, as would "Coach Carter". But, I'm sure the folks from Belfry see this game playing out more like "Hoosiers".

Go Pirates!

The point is...your earlier statement invariably applies to all the remaining schools....including Belfry.

 

Read some of the post above regarding Central.

 

All schools working hard is a given.

There is no reason to think that a team that can't handle a long bus ride will handle a very physical Belfry team regardless of where the game is played.

There's no reason to think that a team that played Manual and Highlands (both among the top five teams in the state in any class) that tough can't match up well with Belfry.

Maybe Louisville Central expected to roll over Johnson Central and Paducah Tilghman, but I really don't think that the bus ride played a role in those games. A long bus ride will contribute to a team fading in the second half because of fatigue but that is not what happened in Paintsville. The domination started with Johnson Central's first possession.

Who said anything about fatigue? Maybe, just maybe, a long road trip for inner-city kids on a team that rarely ventures outside metro Louisville affects their mental approach, too.

 

Bottom line ... two of Central's subpar performances came on long road trips. It isn't out of the question to think there may be a link between the two.

If Central is really as good as some people believe, then maybe their coaching staff simply underestimated some opponents and did not put enough time into preparing their team. Belfry came to play every week this season and nobody came within 16 points of beating the Pirates.

Belfry has had an impressive season, but their schedule doesn't hold a candle to Central's ... any comparisons are totally invalid.

Belfry has had an impressive season, but their schedule doesn't hold a candle to Central's ... any comparisons are totally invalid.

 

 

I don't really think Acefull was comparing schedules.....but addressing the effort Belfry has displayed thoroughout the season. Few letdowns...and have always rose to the occasion in the big games they've played to date.

 

Speaking of schedules....while the regular season schedule could definitely be considered a "murders row" for Central......I can say quite confidently that Belfry's had the more difficult of the two in the postseason.

I don't really think Acefull was comparing schedules.....but addressing the effort Belfry has displayed thoroughout the season. Few letdowns...and have always rose to the occasion in the big games they've played to date.

It's easier to "come to play every week" when you're not a 3A school getting beat on by the likes of Manual, Male, St. Xavier, Highlands and Johnson Central throughout the season.

Speaking of schedules....while the regular season schedule could definitely be considered a "murders row" for Central......I can say quite confidently that Belfry's had the more difficult of the two in the postseason.

Not by much, though ... as a group, Breathitt County, Somerset and Sheldon Clark aren't much above Elizabethtown, Russellville and Paducah Tilghman.

It's easier to "come to play every week" when you're not a 3A school getting beat on by the likes of Manual, Male, St. Xavier, Highlands and Johnson Central throughout the season.

Not by much, though ... as a group, Breathitt County, Somerset and Sheldon Clark aren't much above Elizabethtown, Russellville and Paducah Tilghman.

 

 

Keep thinking that way.

It's easier to "come to play every week" when you're not a 3A school getting beat on by the likes of Manual, Male, St. Xavier, Highlands and Johnson Central throughout the season.

Not by much, though ... as a group, Breathitt County, Somerset and Sheldon Clark aren't much above Elizabethtown, Russellville and Paducah Tilghman.

 

 

You've discounted the Johnson Central loss all year...no need to throw it out there now.

You've discounted the Johnson Central loss all year...no need to throw it out there now.

Yeah, whatever ...