Massey's predictor says the Cardinals win 41-28 ... frankly, I'll be very surprised if the game is that high scoring.

Holy Cross 17-14. Tougher schedule pays off.

Massey ranks Mayfield's schedule as the 112th toughest in the state ... Holy Cross is at 130.

Holy Cross 17-14. Tougher schedule pays off.

 

Louisville guy who likely has no idea they even play organized football outside of the metro

I'll take Mayfield by 14.

At what point in a game that is being won 50-0 at half time, should a team up its passing stats? I guess LHC would have won everyone’s respect by passing 300 yards on Caverna, Russellville or Bardstown Bethlehem. Those teams where having bad years to air it out on them when they could not stop the run would have been pretty bad sportsmanship. But maybe LHC should have in order to have people on this thread say they have a very balanced offense.

At what point in a game that is being won 50-0 at half time, should a team up its passing stats? I guess LHC would have won everyone’s respect by passing 300 yards on Caverna, Russellville or Bardstown Bethlehem. Those teams where having bad years to air it out on them when they could not stop the run would have been pretty bad sportsmanship. But maybe LHC should have in order to have people on this thread say they have a very balanced offense.

 

Get a real clue. They run the ball and that is their bread and butter. Even their coach said they don't want to throw it.

LHC doesn't have a balanced offense , its no mystery what they are gonna try to do. I'm sure that LHC can pass the ball but that won't be the main thing if they were to win this game. They are huge up front so it will be a challange for our line. Hopefully our speed will negate some of their strengths

Massey ranks Mayfield's schedule as the 112th toughest in the state ... Holy Cross is at 130.[/QUOT

Thanks for the information westsider.

At what point in a game that is being won 50-0 at half time, should a team up its passing stats? I guess LHC would have won everyone’s respect by passing 300 yards on Caverna, Russellville or Bardstown Bethlehem. Those teams where having bad years to air it out on them when they could not stop the run would have been pretty bad sportsmanship. But maybe LHC should have in order to have people on this thread say they have a very balanced offense.

To even insinuate that LHC is balanced is preposterous! Having said that, maybe they are good enough that they don't have to be, but nobody can honestly believe that they have a balanced attack, the stats say otherwise. If, MHS can stop their running game are they good enough to throw the ball and win? I don't think so. If, LHC stops the Cardinals in either aspect of their game can the Cardinals go the other direction and win the game? I think so.

You boys are like piranha down there! You seem a little excited!

 

I never said LHC was not a running team; it is preposterous to not know they are. You know they are, the whole state knows they are. I was curious of the meaning of the post regarding the low passing yards. The statement seemed obvious to me. Running team = low passing yards. But you now threw in there that we can’t pass. Now I get it.

 

My original point was kind of twisted around, so you guys enjoy the rest of the week!

At what point in a game that is being won 50-0 at half time, should a team up its passing stats?

 

I would think that if they had any plans on working on the passing game it would be early well before the score got so far out of hand. If they wanted to pass alot they would have worked on it all season long. Clearly they have a game plan that relvolves around the run as it should given the beef up front and the good back, Keen I think if memory is correct

Don't you think in a few of these games where LHC scored more than 40 pts. that working on the passing game may pay dividends in the long run? This Friday, for example. LHC topped 40 points in 10 games, topped 60 points on 6 occasions. Seems there was plenty of room to be more creative while thumbing through the playbook. Mayfield may run the spread, but you'll see a 50/50 mix.

Bigblue, I don't think we twisted your words but rather you have twisted ours. LHC will have to pass the ball some, I don't think any team in class 1A can exclusively run the ball on Mayfield.

 

On another note, do any of LHC fans know if LHC is bringing a big crowd?

Bigblue, I don't think we twisted your words but rather you have twisted ours. LHC will have to pass the ball some, I don't think any team in class 1A can exclusively run the ball on Mayfield.

 

On another note, do any of LHC fans know if LHC is bringing a big crowd?

Preach it brother! :thumb:

http://paducahsun.com/view/full_story/16464952/article-Holy-Cross%E2%80%99-power-poses-threat-to-Cards?instance=sports_high_schoolPaducah Sun article on the game

 

Well seems you have to have a sub like me so lets try this a different way

 

 

Holy Cross’ power poses threat to Cardsby By Joey Fosko [email protected] Associated Press

Nov 17, 2011 | 20 views | 0 | 1 | |

 

 

This isn’t “Clue,” where the hosts have to guess their visitors’ cunning methods. With an offensive line that averages better than 270 pounds per man, the Crusaders’ modus operandi is patently obvious.

 

“Both their tackles are really good, and they have the best line we’ve faced,” said Mayfield coach Joe Morris, whose undefeated squad takes a 27-game winning streak into Friday night’s Class A regional final at War Memorial Stadium. “We know they’re going to line up and try to run over us.”

 

A year ago, it was the Cardinals that steamrolled their way to a regional title en route to the program’s eighth state championship. Burned by a pair of big-play touchdown runs on Holy Cross’ first two possessions, Mayfield unleashed a blitzkrieg that produced 59 points in 27 minutes to establish a running clock.

 

“Yeah, we kind of collapsed,” said Holy Cross coach Mike Fletcher, who saw his team scored against in almost every conceivable fashion. “It was quite a barrage. Punt return, fumble return, interception return, long run, long pass. But that was last year.”

 

This time, the Crusaders (11-1 and ranked third in the Associated Press poll) come in with a resolve to play the game on their terms, if not on their turf. Tackles Henry Vincent (6-5, 250) and Jeremy Glass (6-1, 270) anchor a line that has spearheaded a ground game that has produced more than 3,200 yards and 51 rushing touchdowns in 12 games. In contrast, Holy Cross’ passing game has produced only 495 yards all season.

 

Holy Cross also has a 350-pound sophomore guard and a standout tight end in Chad Conway (6-3, 250) in a no-nonsense offense that’s averaging close to 50 points per game. Tailback Jessie Keen (1,132 yards, 20 touchdowns) shoulders much of the load along with quarterback Cameron Scott and running back Aaron Drury.

 

“If we have any success against them, we have to play our kind of football,” Fletcher said. “We like to score points. We just do it running the ball.”

 

Holy Cross has beaten two of Mayfield’s district rivals in the playoffs, following a 63-13 first-round win over Fulton City with last week’s surprisingly easy 65-7 thrashing of Russellville.

 

“They’re built to beat Mayfield,” Fulton City coach Brad Rozzell said. “But Mayfield’s linemen won’t be blown 6-7 yards off the ball. They can out-technique them, get underneath them, make a pile and let the linebackers come in.”

 

Still, Morris has some concerns about a defensive line that’s considerably smaller — to call them undersized would be a massive understatement.

 

“Seth Clifton goes 200 pounds. Conner Tracey is 195 and Cody Sullivan is 190,” Morris said, referring to the Cardinals’ three interior defensive linemen. “I love them and they play their tails off, but they’re not going to get any bigger this week. We’re not going to take those guys head-on. We’re going to move left, right, whichever way and use what we have, which is quickness. They have the size and strength.

 

“They’re going to try and get 4-6 yards a pop and move the chains and keep the ball out of our hands.”

 

Russellville coach John Myers, a former Mayfield assistant, wonders whether Holy Cross “can sustain that long enough to put together some long drives. And if Mayfield jumps on them and gets up by a two or three scores, ball-control goes out the window.”

 

Holy Cross certainly had no answer for the Cardinals’ explosive attack last year, which spread the field and took advantage of its significant advantage in speed, quickness and athleticism.

 

But with Conway at defensive tackle alongside Vincent and Glass, the Crusaders could pose a problem for a Mayfield offense that has rarely been challenged this season.

 

“Hopefully, we’re a year older and faster,” Fletcher joked. “We are quicker on defense. We made some personnel changes, moved some guys around and got some quicker guys on the edge. And we upgraded our schedule, leaning toward some teams with speed. Hopefully, we’ve closed the gap.”

 

In the final game of the regular season, Holy Cross rolled over crosstown rival Seneca 48-6, the same Seneca club that beat Marshall County 6-0 in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.

 

“People look at us as a spread team that likes to throw the ball, but our bread-and-butter is handing the ball to Jonathan Jackson,” said Morris, referring to the bruising running back that has rushed for 1,283 yards and 16 touchdowns. “In a big game, we’re going to want him to run the ball 20 times.

 

“Last year, after their first two drives, we kind of had our way with them and got our receivers and running backs in space. They’re still not as quick as we are, but we have to get those guys in space. (Vincent) is a stud and really rushes the passer well, and they have the same size on the defensive line. They can overpower you. But this is a final eight game. It’s not supposed to be easy.”

 

 

Read more: The Paducah Sun - Holy Cross’ power poses threat to Cards