Well, Howdy folks, Ol' Leonard here doin' some pigskin pronosticatin' on the third round of state playoffs. This week's game pits the juggernaut Henry County Wildcats against the always tough, 2 time defending state champion Central Yellowjackets at the "Beehive". What an opportunity for the Cats to do something extra special. No one gives the Cats much chance in this one. No one, except the ones that count. The young men that'll be looking through their facemasks on Friday night. Don't suggest to the Henry County players that they don't belong in this game.

I'm sure that Central will have all kinds of speed. Speed that you can't duplicate or practice against. It may take a full quarter or so for the Cats to adjust to the Jacket speed with their pursuit angles and so forth. If they can stay close, they will make a game of this regional final.

Henry County must run clock and keep Central's speedy offense on the sidelines. And they can do this with a good running game and then passing when Central loads the box. Keep 'em off balance and guessing. Henry can't make mistakes because Central will make you pay dearly. Don't give them a thing. Fight them for every single yard all night long. Central will not give up as Western Hills found out last week. And maybe, just maybe, Henry takes the next step with their football program.

The little smart pill machine and me have had our heads together on this one. Even though this Jacket team has some good players sidelined, they have been here before and there is something to be said about experience in these important games. Henry was in a regional final two years ago and came up short against Paducah Tilghman. Last year Henry and Central met in the first round when Henry was a #4 seed. The Henry team this year stands ready for the challenge. They do not fear the Yellowjackets and, in fact, they welcome the chance to play for a regional title. It all comes down to this game. This is why you spend untold hours in the weightroom. Why you endure the heat of summer camp. This is why you practice every day rather than going home and do nothing. This is why you work through all kinds of pain. This is your reward, to be with your football brothers under the lights. There is simply no better place to be on Friday nights.

Henry County has experience and toughness on their side. These players have been together for many years going back to the Henry County Youth Footbal League, middle school and now four years at the high school. They are prepared and confident in their ability.

Central on the other hand has two rings. But they have been taken to the mat several times this season. Not the team Henry saw last year. They can be beaten.

This is why when the dust settles on Friday night, there will be a new 3A champion for 2009. Henry, a two touchdown underdog, pulls off the huge upset.

Leonard's loser in an instant classic, Louisville Central. Sound to good to be true? Don't bet the farm.

Let's go Percy, we gotta' check out the smoke machine and get it ready for the "Beehive".

This is a pretty good post. But it seems that everyone has been going against the Jackets. Each week people say that this team isn't this or isn't as good as they once was. The fact remains is the have good coaches and tons of speed and a good running attack. It doesn't hurt that these kids Know how to win. In addition to all of the injuries they still keep putting kids in and find a way to win. I'm not for sure but I believe they play 4 or 5 freshmen, so at this point in the season these kids have played some good football. It will not be the same game as last year but please ther is something going on down at Central.

Again that was a great post. Just too throw my 2 cents in.

Just like last week game is close going into the 4th Central finds a way to win again. Henry Co. will pose a tougher challenge for the Jackets, I really like how the d-line explodes off the ball against a suspect line of Central that could be a huge key in the game. I like the speed of Central just a little more but I feel this game will be lower scoring then the Western Hills game. Central pulls out another win in the 4th. Should be a great game.

 

Central 21

Henry Co. 14

This is a pretty good post. But it seems that everyone has been going against the Jackets. Each week people say that this team isn't this or isn't as good as they once was. The fact remains is the have good coaches and tons of speed and a good running attack. It doesn't hurt that these kids Know how to win. In addition to all of the injuries they still keep putting kids in and find a way to win. I'm not for sure but I believe they play 4 or 5 freshmen, so at this point in the season these kids have played some good football. It will not be the same game as last year but please ther is something going on down at Central.

Again that was a great post. Just too throw my 2 cents in.

 

Everyone likes the (perceived) underdog. Just the way it is. And Henry is the perceived underdog because Central's been there, done that for the last two years and Henry hasn't.

 

I'm one who is very impressed with Central, but I'm not sure who the real underdog is here...and that's not a knock on the Jackets, it's merely a tribute to the kind of year HC has had...

Central wins by one. Not the same team as in the past two seasons but still enough to squeak by a tough Henry County squad.

90% run looks like one-dimensional to me. Anyhow enough of that, we all know at this stage of the game the team that has the fewest mistakes, controls the clock has a better chance of coming out the winner. I don't think any team has the mind set that they are going to just stroll into any game and just waltz their way through including Henry County, but on the other hand what is Central's mind set since they shut-out Henry County last year, maybe they are looking past Henry County. What a mistake thay would be!

Well said Pigskin!!! To say that Henry County is "much" faster than Hills is just wrong. Hills and Henry County matched up very well, so not a slight to Henry County. Hills was able to control the tempo of the game against Central and limit Central's opportunities for big plays, but still gave up 2 long TDs. Just about everything went as Hills had schemed, which is very difficult to accomplish and Central still able to pull out a win. Any small mistake, turnover, or penalty by Henry County can result in a Central TD - and as Pigskin said Henry County does NOT want to get into a shoot-out. Ledford can coach and scheme all day, but Central's speed is something that is difficult to prepare for and match - even busted plays go for 20 yard gains.

 

No, it was pretty evident that the speed of Henry County didn't allow the edge to be given up to Hills, and Hills couldn't catch the QB. My point is you are knocking that Henry is too slow for central (while HC is no match on the track for Central), so what does that make Hills? I never said it was a blow out or a beating...but the overall team speed difference between the two was very much noticeable. Sorry to burst your bubble.

No, it was pretty evident that the speed of Henry County didn't allow the edge to be given up to Hills, and Hills couldn't catch the QB. My point is you are knocking that Henry is too slow for central (while HC is no match on the track for Central), so what does that make Hills? I never said it was a blow out or a beating...but the overall team speed difference between the two was very much noticeable. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Back on topic. I think who ever tackles and blocks the best will be the winner. Is it really that easy? Football is a funny game.

No, it was pretty evident that the speed of Henry County didn't allow the edge to be given up to Hills, and Hills couldn't catch the QB. My point is you are knocking that Henry is too slow for central (while HC is no match on the track for Central), so what does that make Hills? I never said it was a blow out or a beating...but the overall team speed difference between the two was very much noticeable. Sorry to burst your bubble.

 

:ohbrother:

 

I will say this and then get back to the topic of the thread. Yeah the speed of HC and their QB was so fast that they scored on the first series of the game and never scored again till late in the 3rd Qtr. You are using the HC, WH and the WH, Central game as a comparrison as to how you think HC will do against Central. What I am saying is this HC did not dominate Hills by any stretch of the word the stats that I posted on both teams came from HC team stats on the scoreboard posted by HC. Henry County put up 199 yards of total offense and 3 fumbles against Hills and Hills had 202 yards of total offense and 4 fumbles in this game. I just don't see how that shows the speed of HC not that that matters anyway because the speed of HC is not what is going to get them a win at the BeeHive.

 

I am here to tell you right now Central will put up more yards in the 1st quarter than both these teams combined that night if you let them touch the ball. If you don't stop their RB's before they make the turn on the outside they will have 20 yards before you get them down, and you still may not get the tackle.

 

I am not saying HC can't win this game and if you will go back and read my earlier posts I have said that more than once. The key to a HC victory is not as much defense as it is ball control, you keep the ball as long as you can and punch it into the endzone keep it out of Centrals hands and HC wins, but if you give them opportunities they will turn those opportunities into 6 points.

 

just like I said before if you try to get in a shootout with them it's gonna get ugly fast.

Overall team speed is obviously Centrals strength but Henry has great speed in some pretty key positions. I think this is what has saved some big plays that would have been scores in several games this year. The big play threat will be much greater with Central but if we can contain them defensively, control the ball and limit them to one or less big plays we can win. Oh yeah, tackling and blocking will help too!

Patterson out.

 

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20091117/SPORTS05/911170374/1031/Central+star+LB+Patterson+out+for+season

 

I may have to change my vote.

:ohbrother:

 

I will say this and then get back to the topic of the thread. Yeah the speed of HC and their QB was so fast that they scored on the first series of the game and never scored again till late in the 3rd Qtr. You are using the HC, WH and the WH, Central game as a comparrison as to how you think HC will do against Central. What I am saying is this HC did not dominate Hills by any stretch of the word the stats that I posted on both teams came from HC team stats on the scoreboard posted by HC. Henry County put up 199 yards of total offense and 3 fumbles against Hills and Hills had 202 yards of total offense and 4 fumbles in this game. I just don't see how that shows the speed of HC not that that matters anyway because the speed of HC is not what is going to get them a win at the BeeHive.

 

I am here to tell you right now Central will put up more yards in the 1st quarter than both these teams combined that night if you let them touch the ball. If you don't stop their RB's before they make the turn on the outside they will have 20 yards before you get them down, and you still may not get the tackle.

 

I am not saying HC can't win this game and if you will go back and read my earlier posts I have said that more than once. The key to a HC victory is not as much defense as it is ball control, you keep the ball as long as you can and punch it into the endzone keep it out of Centrals hands and HC wins, but if you give them opportunities they will turn those opportunities into 6 points.

 

just like I said before if you try to get in a shootout with them it's gonna get ugly fast.

 

 

Just like WH fans, the guy never said anything about DOMINATE. Way to make it up as you go! Nobody said anything about a shoot out with Central, doesn't take genius to know that, and ifact Big Cat acknowledged that...move on, WH's season is over. Work harder and get better for next year.

Just like WH fans, the guy never said anything about DOMINATE. Way to make it up as you go! Nobody said anything about a shoot out with Central, doesn't take genius to know that, and ifact Big Cat acknowledged that...move on, WH's season is over. Work harder and get better for next year.

 

:clap:

Sounds like Dark Horse needs a nap!

Just like WH fans, the guy never said anything about DOMINATE. Way to make it up as you go! Nobody said anything about a shoot out with Central, doesn't take genius to know that, and ifact Big Cat acknowledged that...move on, WH's season is over. Work harder and get better for next year.

 

So will HC's come Friday night if they don't do any better than they did against Hills.

 

 

First of all Dark Horse if you had been paying attention while you were reading you would have discovered that not one WH fan mentioned anything about the WH and HC game untill it was brought up by an HC fan.

 

My only point about that game is this yeah HC played a good game, and got the win, but they didn't do anything spectacular in that game that you could use to say that HC will beat Central.

So will HC's come Friday night if they don't do any better than they did against Hills.

 

 

First of all Dark Horse if you had been paying attention while you were reading you would have discovered that not one WH fan mentioned anything about the WH and HC game untill it was brought up by an HC fan.

 

My only point about that game is this yeah HC played a good game, and got the win, but they didn't do anything spectacular in that game that you could use to say that HC will beat Central.

 

It started when your buddy Fishmaster was way off. He said that Henry Co. did not have enough speed to stay in the game and would no answer on D. :idunno: