OK, 1 more maybe. Off to play golf, then back in to watch LSU and then it will be time to get ready, down to the endzone around 5.

Well, I woke up with butterflies in my stomach, you would think I was getting ready to strap on the helment again! Wish I was! I am very confident about our team and believe that our defense will be the deciding factor. Don't get me wrong, I HATE to loose, to ANYBODY, but if we play the best game we can play and Beechwood wins, I can live with it. If Beechwood wins I hope they go to Bowling Green and blow out whoever they play, leaving no doubt who the second best team in 1-A was, I hope you Beechwood fans feel the same. The main reason I hope Mayfield wins is I think the Beechwood fans trip home will be safer if they loose, they will be depressed, if they win they will be shouting and partying and all that so they may not concentrate on their driving as much, so for your safety's sake, I hope you loose!

The main reason I hope Mayfield wins is I think the Beechwood fans trip home will be safer if they loose, they will be depressed, if they win they will be shouting and partying and all that so they may not concentrate on their driving as much, so for your safety's sake, I hope you loose!

 

That maybe a reason you hope but I doubt it is the main reason. I agree with you, if they beat us I will pull for them to take the title.

 

 

Here is the Paducah Sun's article this morning

 

In a few more years, it may be as much of a Thanksgiving tradition as turkey and dressing and pumpkin pie.

 

Mayfield and Beechwood, Class A's two most decorated football programs with 19 state championships between them, will meet in the state semifinals for the third consecutive year.

 

So far, however, the annual clash of small-school titans has been a little one-sided.

 

Mayfield dominated the visiting Tigers in 2009, winning 38-0 before falling to top-ranked Lexington Christian in the state title game. It was a little more competitive a year ago, with Beechwood threatening to make a game of it before a 98-yard kickoff return Devin Jones "put the knife in our back," in the words of Tigers coach Noel Rash, in a 38-14 victory that set the stage for the Cardinals' rout of Hazard and their eighth state crown.

 

Their next meeting has been anticipated, and expected — Mayfield (13-0) and Beechwood (12-1) have been ranked Nos. 1-2 in the Associated Press poll since the start of the season, and the winner will be heavily favored to knock off either Hazard or Pikeville in the state championship game.

 

"We're just approaching this as another year," Rash said."We've got five or six kids that will have played in all three games, and we're going to use it as fuel. But we'll be positive about it. It's not revenge and all that crap. We've just got to play and execute."

 

Why should the Tigers be more competitive this time around? In Rash's thinking, it starts at the line of scrimmage.

 

"We haven't been this good up front," Rash said. "We're bigger, faster and stronger, and we've got plenty of hind end up there. Our tackles (weigh) 270-280 (pounds), our guards are 230-240 and our center is about 210. Both are tight ends are 6-5 and one is 220 and the other one is 200. Our third tight end, which we use a lot, is 6-2 and 225.

 

"I don't think we can do 'three yards and a cloud of dust' against them. They run well and their defense just doesn't get out of position very often. That's one of the things that's so impressive about them."

 

Indeed, Mayfield's defense — led by linebackers Jonathan Jackson and Shain Ross and defensive end LaBront Scott — has been ultra-tough, with the first unit allowing just 40 points in 13 games. Third-ranked Louisville Holy Cross came calling at War Memorial Stadium last week with a huge offensive line and running game full of power and promise, and left town with 45 yards on the ground and on the short end of a 44-0 rout.

 

"The biggest thing for us is our quickness," Mayfield coach Joe Morris said. "Our defense was pretty good last year, but these guys are a year older and this is one of the best we've had.

 

"Still, these guys know they have some work to do. They want to win two more games and win another state title."

 

Beechwood's biggest weapon is the running-back tandem of Cameron Vocke and Max Nussbaum, who have combined for nearly 3,000 yards and 45 touchdowns for a squad whose only loss was to Covington Catholic, which was ranked second in Class 5A and eliminated last week by Fort Thomas Highlands, the consensus No. 1 team in that class.

 

Rahs describes Vocke (5-9, 178) as "a shifty runner with some wiggle to him, a stop-and-start guy with really good vision and leg strength." He compares Nussbaum (6-0, 185) to former Mayfield star Derrick Parrott, who led the Cardinals to a 14-7 win over Beechwood in the state title game in 2002, when Rash was an assistant. "He's kind of a powerful slasher."

 

Nussbaum has also seen some time as the quarterback in the postseason, and it won't come as a shock to see him line up there some in a wildcat formation. Starting quarterback Taylor Davis was sidelined with a broken collarbone late in the regular season, and Nussbaum took over for the regular-season finale, a 29-20 win over defending Class 2A state champion Newport Catholic, and the first two rounds of the playoffs.

 

Davis will throw the ball on occasion and has been moderately effective in that role, but it's clear the Tigers want to establish the running game. In the videos that Morris and his staff have reviewed, Beechwood has called a running play close to 90 percent of the time.

 

"I do the defense, and I let the offensive coaches do their thing," Rash said. "I'm sure we'll do some different things. Max is a good athlete, the shortstop on the baseball team, and he can throw the ball. Cameron's been back there, too, and they both love it. We're happy with whoever we put back there."

 

Mayfield's offense has shown steady improvemene throughout the season, with sophomore quarterback Jake Guhy gradually being counted on as more of a playmaker. Against Holy Cross, Guhy was 12-for-18 for 188 yards and two touchdowns, with William Higginson catching six balls for 100 yards and a touchdown.

 

"Last year, we hurt them with a lot of hitches and screens, and we'll have to do that again," Morris said. "Two years ago, we just ran over them, but we won't be able to do that again."

 

Mayfield also has more than just a potential stae championship on the line. It also has a 28-game winning streak dating back to last season, but Morris said his players rarely, if ever, make a mention of it.

 

"These guys are focused and ready to go, just a smart group," Morris said. "Not that we don't ever have a bad practice, because sometimes we do. Last Wednesday, before the Holy Cross game, we didn't show a lot of emotion and I wondered about it. I think they were just bored with practice and ready to play. They knew what they needed to do and they were ready.

 

"Our kids know what's at stake, and they know about Beechwood. They know about the 11 state titles. They're the Mayfield of northern Kentucky, the best (small-school) program up there."

....."Our kids know what's at stake, and they know about Beechwood. They know about the 11 state titles. They're the Mayfield of northern Kentucky, the best (small-school) program up there."

 

The writer has it wrong. Mayfield is like the Beechwood of Western Kentucky!

The Beechwood team in 77 wasn't very good. In light of this I guess I will have pick Mayfield tonight!

 

:laugh:

5 pages, 245 post and counting! You know, it's a shame that there is no interest in thos game and both fan bases are not more vocal.

In the words of Earl Pitts. American.....Wake up America, your kids deserve better !! :popcorn:

Just went by the stadium and the end zone is already about full. Grills are going and maybe some cold ones are getting downed LOL. Good luck boys and I hope both teams come out healthy.

5 pages, 245 post and counting! You know, it's a shame that there is no interest in thos game and both fan bases are not more vocal.

In the words of Earl Pitts. American.....Wake up America, your kids deserve better !! :popcorn:

 

 

WTW?