This game is two weeks away, but since both teams are having their bye week, I hope this thread can stay open.

 

In the not too distant past, this was a marquee game in our area due to Central’s sudden surge to prominence and Ashland’s storied tradition…mix in a couple of record rushers and you have the ingredients for a great ballgame.

 

Central has a less than impressive record thus far, but their opponents have not been cupcakes either. Ashland has yet to take on a 5A school, but they did finally log a W against Ohio perennial power, Ironton.

 

I hope with the back to back wins, AND the start of district play will revive some of the JC posters to start a dialog about this game.

IMO, this will be Ashland’s greatest challenge of the regular season.

 

Thoughts?

This thread should get interesting. I'll take the Tomcats!

I don't think anyone will overlook Johnson Central, but Ashland will win this one. Johnson Central has had their years, and this one belongs to Ashland. I do expect a good game out of both teams, but in the end Ashland's speed will just wear Johnson Central down.

Oh, and don't you think I am going to rub this one in, to the people that called me a sandbagger in the pre-season when I predicted Ashland to win their district, a Ram doesn't forget.:popcorn:

I think the Tomcats will come out as fired up and focused as they did in the Ironton game. I believe they will remember the loses to JC. And they won't let it happen this year. This is Ashland's game to win. With JC a little down I don't think they will be able to score on the Tomcat defense. JC has won the last two games on it's schedule . But both teams records are 1-5. So I see Ashland putting it to JC. 36-10. The cats know it's district time.

Ashland I think will win this one, will it be easy no, JC will put up a fight, but it will not be a enough, Ashland's D is way to strong and fast for the eagels. The Tomcats will have a great power run game that will show up big in the 4th quarter this one. This is why I have to pick Ashland to win 20-0 over the Johnson Central. This game in my mind will be a all out fight in the first three quarters, with the forth be longing to the Tomcats.

I'll have to take the Tomcats in this one. They seem to be playing well right now.

Oh, and don't you think I am going to rub this one in, to the people that called me a sandbagger in the pre-season when I predicted Ashland to win their district, a Ram doesn't forget.:popcorn:

 

 

 

You're going to look awfully silly, and lose all credibility as a football guru if Johnson Central wins. :lol:

JC by 10. I guess I'm just a little hard-headed?

JC may not have played up to expectations so far, but I believe when Ashland plays them we'll see the JC team everyone expected to see this year. This will be a tough game for Ashland but I expect them to be well prepared and ready to avenge the big loss JC handed them at Putnam last year. I look forward to a great game atmosphere!

I think Ashland by whatever they want and then Coach Matney will ask to have Ashland taken off his schedule. Since he doesn't like to be beaten bad. I hope Ashland beats them worse than Boyle County did.

Wow. This one gets 2 weeks of hype like the Super Bowl. :-)

 

This is an interesting matchup to me for a few reasons:

 

1) The 2 teams started off the season as differently as 2 teams can start off. Ashland beat up Greenup County while Johnson Central got beaten up by one of the top teams in the state, Boyle County. Ashland has continued their roll with impressive wins at Belfry and against Ironton (OH). Johnson Central had to have their confidence shaken by losing their first 4 to very good teams, but they have managed to get back on track against Middlesboro and what used to be a good team in Breathitt County. The fact that the 2 teams intersect at this point is interesting.

 

2) Johnson Central has beaten Ashland fairly soundly since a 13-10 loss in Putnam Stadium in 2005. The last 2 meetings have been 41-6 and 67-33 in favor of Johnson Central. With many picking Ashland to win handily, I wonder if high school football programs can do such an about face? If Ashland blows Johnson Central out, that's a single season turnaround for the ages. Something is either terribly wrong at Johnson Central, terribly right at Ashland, or both.

 

3) Johnson Central has lost their first 3 home games of this season. Losing here would mean they need to come away with a win against Woodford County the following week to avoid a winless 2009 at home. That's quite a surprise considering most thought that Johnson Central was on their way to building a perennial power.

 

4) Ashland is on a roll like they haven't seen in quite awhile. They beat Raceland for the first time in 3 years, won at Belfry, demolished rival Russell for the second year in a row, and beat Ironton (OH) for the first time since Ashland's 1990 state title team got the job done. They've managed to do all of this while losing their best running back in Rashard Carter to transfer and losing 2 of their starting linemen to injury. Their defense is drawing comparisons to the famed JAWS defense of 1975. The Johnson Central game shapes up to be their biggest road test of the season and offers another opportunity to prove themselves.

 

5) Ram's football knowledge is on the line. He has predicted Ashland to win their district since the season began and his reputation as a pigskin prognosticator is riding on it.

 

All that being said, I think that Ashland is in for their toughest game of the season. While I doubt Johnson Central is more talented than Ironton (OH), I do think they will be more motivated because this is a district game on their home field and the beginning of a chance to salvage their season. Even with an inspired Johnson Central effort, though, I pick Ashland to win it 28-22.

 

I think if Ashland loses, it will be because they don't have a kicker. Their spread offense has served them well in converting 2 point attempts, but at some point this season, they're going to need a sure point. I implore them to sign up a soccer player and have a kicker as they head into the most important part of their schedule.

I think Ashland by whatever they want and then Coach Matney will ask to have Ashland taken off his schedule. Since he doesn't like to be beaten bad. I hope Ashland beats them worse than Boyle County did.

 

I don't think Ashland can be taken off the schedule even if the cats beat them 70-0. It's a dist. game.

Ashland 40

JC 14

You're going to look awfully silly, and lose all credibility as a football guru if Johnson Central wins. :lol:

I have credibility? I'm touched.:cry: I will just enjoy it for the next two weeks and see what happens next Friday.