1. Trinity - The Rocks have moved into a football league of their own within the state of Kentucky. With Coach Bob Beatty having almost all the key players returning from last season's championship team, and even more phenomenal talent moving up from the underclasses, this team has no identifiable weaknesses. Trinity has, a phenomenal, eleven players who will vie for All BGP recognition: QB-Travis Wright (Jr.), RB-Daylen Dawkins (Jr.), WR-James Quick (Jr.), OL-Tyler English (Sr.), OL-John Heile (Sr.), DL-Adam Berry (Sr.), DL-Jason Hatcher (Jr.), DL-Tyler Sweeden (Sr.), LB-Adam Reynolds (Sr.), LB-Daeshawn Bertram (Jr.), and DB-Ryan White (Jr.). With a schedule expanded to Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee, this team will also contend for high national honors. At this point, Trinity is so far superior to everyone else, no KY team should stay within four touchdowns of the Rocks.

 

2. Male - Under Coach Chris Wolfe, the young Bulldogs abandoned the pass-happy offense and highly risky pressure defense of former coach Bobby Redman, and made a run all the way to the state finals, before falling 38-0 to Trinity. With almost all of their vital elements returning to the new 4 run/1 pass ratio offense and staunch standard defense, Male should once again be on top of all but Trinity in 6A. The Bulldog speed is a killer, led by returning running back Ronjae Morris, who rushed for 1,200 yards and a 10-yard per carry average. The Bulldogs only concerns will be their small size on both lines and whether they can compete with a vastly superior Shamrock team.

 

3. Manual - The Crimsons faced the toughest schedule in Kentucky last season, and it does not get much easier in 2011. They return about 50% of their starters on both sides of the ball, including three All BGP candidates (RB-Darmontre Warr, WR/S-Quintez Sutton, DT/OT-Thomas Chapman). Manual did manage a big 21-14 win over Male last year. New Coach Oliver Lucas had some mixed reviews from long-time Manual fans last season; however, most outside observers believe Coach Lucas is a definite upgrade. It will be interesting to see if that situation improves in 2011, and if the Crimsons can stay out of the cellar in their own "Super" district.

 

4. Scott County - After inexplicably starting out 2010 with three straight losses at home, the Cardinals went on a tear, romping to ten straight wins before losing to Male 28-12 in the state semi-finals. Many weapons return, led by QB Ben Lawler, who threw for 13 TD's and ran for 7 more, and RB Josh Walls who averaged 6-yards per carry. The top three tacklers return on an excellent defense. Jim McKee's Cards have a knack for favorable draws in the playoffs and 2011 could be the year they turn their good fortune into results.

 

5. Dixie Heights - With offensive weapons like QB Zeke Pike, RB Seth Bruns, and WR Goose Cohorn all returning, along with a lot of OL experience and a couple of major potential transfers, the Colonels look to me to have the upper hand in NKY. The big task will be trying to stop the passing game and big plays of their competitors, which was their major downfall last season. Dixie may have their best coaching staff ever, with the combined experience of Tom Spritzky and Dave Brossart. Additionally, the Colonels and Johnson Central were the only two teams in the postseason that pushed state champion Highlands in 2010. Expect good things from the Colonels this year. A loss to any 6A school, other than Trinity, will be a disappointment for Dixie Heights.

 

6. Simon Kenton - Just three years ago, the Pioneers played in the state title game and appeared poised to be a new 6A power. The next year, Simon came back with a strong team, but ran into an excellent Saint Xavier in the 3rd round of the playoffs. 2010 started and ended badly. Simon stepped up and played Middletown, Ohio and then finished the year against Ryle. Both games were ugly. The strength of the team should be a big, experienced line and the running of RB Nate Powell, and Jared Bowling, who stars at LB and TE. Simon Kenton should also be strong defensively, with six starters returning. The good news in 2011 is that Simon Kenton will know right away whether they are a contender or a pretender. If Simon Kenton is a true contender, they will handle Saint Xavier in their scrimmage and pummel Beechwood in week two.

 

7. Saint Xavier - Faced with their toughest schedule ever, the Tigers are also confronted with a massive drop in size and athleticism. Only two starters return on offense, and three on a defense which, in 2010, surrendered the most points in Tiger history. The senior class for this season finished only 4-5 as JV's, including losses to Male (30-7), Manual (14-7), and Ballard (21-15). To make matters worse, there is very little help in the junior and sophomore classes. There is no semblance of Victor Anderson, Deuce Finch, or Lamont McMurray residing on Poplar Level Road. St. X. will have to depend on vast numbers of relatively diminutive and average-speed players, team discipline, and tradition to avoid its first losing season since 1958. For Coach Glaser and his staff, this year (and the next couple) will be their biggest challenge ever. They will need a lot of smoke and mirrors to come away with any victories over teams not named Fern Creek or Doss.

 

8. Ballard - The Bruins of Coach Mike Jackson lost enough players to fill an all-star squad. Nonetheless, they have a plethora of talent moving up from the freshman and JV teams that will have the ability to tax any competing team. Senior TE Davis Martin is as good as they come, and senior WR/LB Jamal Bullitt will provide additional leadership experience. It may be a little rocky for Ballard in the beginning, but this youth train will build a strong head of steam quickly. 2011 will be an interesting year for the Bruins. Coach Jackson is in a position to turn the "public school corner" at Ballard and show the masses it can be done. However, some detractors would like to see the 2010 version prove to be nothing more than a flash in the pan, so they can continue to promote their anti-private school agenda. Any real football fan is on Messiah Mike's 2011 bandwagon.

 

9. Henderson County - The Colonels played State Finalist Male tough in the playoffs before losing 14-7 in overtime. Their strength this season lies in the fact that they return four of five starters on offensive and defensive lines, which were dominant last season. The re-establishment of winning ways at the largest high school in Western Kentucky, has allowed Coach Clevenger to more successfully recruit in the hallways, where a lot of skilled athletes were hiding. Combining this new talent with the returning horses up front should produce some major fireworks.

 

10. Henry Clay - The young Blue Devils return a lot of experience on both offense and defense. Explosive QB/Athlete Vinney Miller has already received D1 offers and is ready to vie for Mr. Football in 2011. Defensively, Henry Clay will be led by Charles McCarthy and Darius Fields, who were two of the leading tacklers from last season. As always, Henry Clay will field one of the most impressive looking teams anywhere. The only problem is that, historically, Coach Sam Simpson has experienced some difficulty squeezing consistent high efforts out of the vast Blue Devil talent, causing unexpected losses. Can this be corrected this year?

If you see a mistake please PM me and I will update the preview.

 

Other than that, have at it!

Well....I guess that sets it.....the bar is awfully high for my boys. But I can't argue, they have done it to themselves.

The ROCKS schedule is brutal. I just hope they stay healthy for the playoffs. It's going to be a fun year to watch. I got my season tickets in the mail yesterday.

Guru, I have a question: are you saying that no team in all of KY will be able to come within 28 points of T? If that's the case, then can you really blame KY teams for not scheduling T?

Guru, I have a question: are you saying that no team in all of KY will be able to come within 28 points of T? If that's the case, then can you really blame KY teams for not scheduling T?

 

To be clear, Guru is not responsible for all the preview material, it was compiled by a group of people that know a lot about Kentucky football. To your question, that is exactly what it is saying. Me personally, Blame them? No. But, if teams want to be the best, they have to play (and beat) the best.

^ I agree.....what exactly would be the point in avoiding the "supposed" best?

Who had input on this gem? It appears to be written by the Trinity PR department.

 

1. Trinity The greatest team in the history of the sport. Nobody...and I mean nobody..in this sorry football state is within four touchdowns. The entire roster appears headed to the NFL.

 

2. Who Cares H.S. They did well last year, but they are not Trinity. They have a more sound system than in the past and showed dramatic improvement in the first season, yet they still are not Trinity. They have speed everywhere, but..you guessed it.. they are not Trinity.

 

3. Ditto

 

Cant wait to see the next edition.

 

5A preveiw.

 

1. Not Trinity

2. Not Trinity

3. Not Trinity

Who had input on this gem? It appears to be written by the Trinity PR department.

 

1. Trinity The greatest team in the history of the sport. Nobody...and I mean nobody..in this sorry football state is within four touchdowns. The entire roster appears headed to the NFL.

 

2. Who Cares H.S. They did well last year, but they are not Trinity. They have a more sound system than in the past and showed dramatic improvement in the first season, yet they still are not Trinity. They have speed everywhere, but..you guessed it.. they are not Trinity.

 

3. Ditto

 

Cant wait to see the next edition.

 

5A preveiw.

 

1. Not Trinity

2. Not Trinity

3. Not Trinity

Quite sure we didn't write it. I would rather go un-noticed...but I doubt that'll happen this season.

Cold Hard, I had a small part in the T profile and it was not written by someone from T. And mentions of T are included in some of the other profiles because everyone else is chasing.

 

JB, yes I blame them, how are you ever going to compete if you avoid the best?

^ Suddenly we are shunned even more so than before.....we have much work to do to be great. I'll say this. It takes a tremendous swallowing of pride for a State Champion Alumni of Trinity to concede prowess of their team to another, particularly that of the current generation. That said, if this team performs to their expectations they will be the best that Trinity has ever produced.....how many other folks can say that?

I agree that on paper this Trinity team looks great. They won't be great until they do it on the field. I remember 1984 when Kentucky's greatest team ever (preseason division), lost big in the playoffs and 2003 when a preaseason great team started 0-4 before starting the run to the state title.

^ Suddenly we are shunned even more so than before.....we have much work to do to be great. I'll say this. It takes a tremendous swallowing of pride for a State Champion Alumni of Trinity to concede prowess of their team to another, particularly that of the current generation. That said, if this team performs to their expectations they will be the best that Trinity has ever produced.....how many other folks can say that?

There are some fans from up here in NKY that say that about their team every year. :lol::lol:

Very nice work on the previews. I enjoyed reading about teams not in my county, I know enough about local teams. I look forward to reading all the other previews.

 

As for the Rocks, they are the team to beat, but teams in their District are looking forward to playing them and are not afraid. Something along the line of "putting on their pants the same way".

 

On the Male post about their lines being small as a Bear Bryant person, I know for a fact that he would only want small linemen. They were quicker and in a running offfense thats what you want.

 

Go Dawgs!

Edited August 3, 201115 yr by Alabama Larry

Very nice work on the previews. I enjoyed reading about teams not in my county, I know enough about local teams. I look forward to reading all the other previews.

 

As for the Rocks, they are the team to beat, but teams in their District are looking forward to playing them and are not afraid. Something along the line of "putting on their pants the same way".

 

On the Male post about their lines being small as a Bear Bryant person, I know for a fact that he would only want small linemen. They were quicker and in a running offfense thats what you want.

 

Go Dawgs!

 

If by this you mean drug kicking and screaming to the game then I agree. I do have to give Male credit however for scheduling a JV contest with Trinity.