Cover Corner

What are Fugate's stats on the season?

I voted for the Bobcats out of Jackson to win this one, but I will say that Prestonsburg will give Breathitt Co. matchup problems. I would be surprised by a lopsided score either way. Good luck to both and here is hoping all remain injury free.

I'm going to take an Ashland team that might be the team to beat in their district. Few people go into the CAM and come away winners, but I think Ashland gets the job done.

This game I think cost Channing Fugate any chance at Mr. Football. You can't come up with 5 yards and expect to be the best player in the state. Great game by the Cardinals.

7 - Allen Central 5 - Ashland Blazer 3 - Letcher County Central 2 - Harlan Co. 1 - Knox TB - Allen Central

Highlands is still in my mind the best team in the state. I think Ryle has a solid football team, but in order to beat the Bluebirds I think they need help from turnovers or penalties. I don't think they will get the help so I'm taking Fort Thomas. Highlands: 42 Ryle: 14

I'm going to go with the Red Devils in this one. I think Russell is down, but I still think they will have enough coaching to pull one out over Greenup County. Russell: 21 Greenup Co.: 7

AAA looks pretty good. Russell is down as is Belfry, but their past puts them there untill someone else does enough to pass them. Breathitt & Central are both deserving of the #1 spot, but Central lost and Breathitt won. Seems pretty fain to me.

If the athleticism and ability are comparable then his numbers should also be comparable with what I would call a weaker schedule. Fugate plays almost every down also and is one of the main players in the Breathitt Co. defense as well. Not trying to take anything away from Watkins, I'm sure he is a wonderful player, but Fugate is special and IMO the best back in the state hands down.

On a side note I was at the Breathitt Co. game and thought Holcomb did run the score up on Mercer Co. No reason to throw that ball to Fletcher at that point in the game. Throw it to someone else, ok, but not the best reciever on the team. Of course I guess it is better than running Fugate.

Sheldon Clark is not big, they are HUGE. You will really be impressed by the size and strength of SC' linemen. The Cardinals also have some athletes that will surprise some of Breathitt's fans. I am not going to predict a score or even a winner, but I am willing to bet that when both teams leave the field they will know they were in a dog fight. Good luck to both teams.

Belfry is not the Pirates of old that is for sure, but we need to remember that Belfry always starts out slow. Belfry will be right in the thick of things come playoffs. Boyd is moving in the right direction IMO, but Belfry will be a little more than the Lions can handle. Boyd plays hard, but Belfry wins it. Pirates: 28 Lions: 14

It is hard for anyone not at the game to answer yes or no to the question "Did he run up the score?" I doubt that you would become the head football coach at a school with as much tradition as Boyle County and not be a pretty classy guy. I think a trick play (i.e. double reverse, hook & ladder, tackle eligable, double pass, etc.) even with your second team when the game is well in hand is a bit much. But if you hand an inside reverse or throw a common route with reserves, well that is just part of football. I hope nothing bad was intended by either side and that everything works itself out. This could be a good game for both sides in the future.

Maybe so but Caleb Watkins is not as good or productive IMO. Fugate and Watkins play comparable schedules (I think Breathitt County's schedule is quite a bit stronger, but some would argue) and Fugate has better numbers and carries his team deeper in the playoffs. I think Watkins is a darn good football player, but would still go with Fugate every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Breathitt County Aug 22, 09 Mercer County at Campbellsville 58 - 24 (W) Aug 28, 09 Sheldon Clark away 7:30 PM Sep 4, 09 Prestonsburg home 7:30 PM KRMC Honey Bowl Sep 11, 09 Perry County Central home 7:30 PM Sep 18, 09 Lexington Christian away 7:30 PM Sep 25, 09 Johnson Central home 7:30 PM Oct 2, 09 Hazard home 7:30 PM Oct 9, 09 Estill County away 7:30 PM Oct 16, 09 Powell County home 7:30 PM Oct 23, 09 Magoffin County away 7:30 PM Corbin Aug 28, 09 Harlan away 7:30 PM Sep 5, 09 Danville home 8:45 PM Cumberland Falls Pigskin Bowl Sep 11, 09 North Laurel home 7:30 PM Sep 18, 09 South Laurel away 7:30 PM Sep 25, 09 Hazard home 7:30 PM Oct 2, 09 George Rogers Clark away 7:30 PM Oct 9, 09 Knott County Central away 7:30 PM Oct 16, 09 Leslie County home 7:30 PM Oct 23, 09 Middlesboro home 7:30 PM Oct 30, 09 Lexington Christian away 7:30 PM

Antino Andrews from Fort Campbell is overlooked way to often IMO. One of the best athletes in the state. I also think Collinsworth from Highlands is the best player in the state and maybe on the best team. But my vote would go to Channing Fugate from Breathitt County. No other player in the state means more to his team than Fugate IMO.

I was a little surprised that Mason County is rated so high. I was not that impressed with the Royals last year and they lost their best player in their running back. I can't see them being ahead of Belfry by any means. I would have had them in the 8-10 range.

I know Chapman will do some things to make Pike Central a better team, but you can't take a lemon and turn it into wine. Bottom line is there is only so much talent at PCC and I don't see things changing that much. Henrey Co: 35 PCC: 7

The problem may not be that Manual LETS Highlands drop 7 TD's. It will be that they can't stop Highlands from scoring 7 TD's. (By the way I picked 6 TD's so 7 may be a bit much) Highlands is in a class that only Trinity & St. Xavier can match, and that could be a stretch. The biggest threat in this game is not that Manual will beat Highlands, it is that Highlands could beat themselves. That is the only way I see this one not getting out of hand.

This is not your father's Pirates. Belfry is not the same Belfry teams of recent years IMO. Besides that Belfry always starts the season out slow, but get in to top shape come playoffs. I can see P'burg coming out on top, but I'll still take Haywood out coaching Derosset any day of the week. Pirates: 28 Blackcats: 14

I know that Alcoa is one of the best teams in the state that is on Kentucky's southern border (I never say the actual name) but I have a hard time seeing anyone coming into Bell Co. and walking away winners. You may have scored the most points at the end of the game, but after the way the Bobcats hit you; you are far from winners. I will take Hilton's boys in their own backyard in this one. Bell Co. 24 Alcoa: 17

That is true Highlands won the game and deserved to win, but I for one do not think Boyle is anywhere near as good as Highlands was.

In average years this would be the game everyone in the state would be talking about, but this is not an average Highlands team. This group of Bluebirds has the potential to be the best Highlands football team ever. That means something considering the talent that has graced the halls at Fort Thomas. I don't think they are the best Highlands team yet, but if they run the table they will have at least one vote. As for the game I'll take Highlands. Highlands: 42 Manual: 7

This will be one of the biggest games in the state Friday. Boyle County is one of the elite teams in AAAA. Johnson Central is a team that has had regional success but keeps running into the buzz-saws from Northern Kentucky in AAAAA. Top to bottom this will be one of the most physical matchups you might see all year. Both teams have tremendous athletes and will be comparable in numbers. Alot is being made about Johnson Central's youth along the offensive line, but when you are running the veer like Matney does, blocking is not so much blowing your man off the ball as it is getting in his way and slowing him down. I think Boyle will slow down the JC running attack, but do not think they will shut it down all together. Highlands could not stop it I see no reason why Boyle would. A wise man once told me to never bet against a Jim Matney coached football team when he has more than one week to prepare. With that in mind......................... Johnson Central: 21 Boyle County: 17

Sheldon Clark will be tough. They have a rough schedule in front of them, but if they make it through without any major injuries they will be right in the thick of things come playoff time. Aug 21, 09 Open Aug 28, 09 Breathitt County home 7:30 PM Sep 4, 09 Lawrence County away 7:30 PM Sep 11, 09 Johnson Central away 7:30 PM Sep 18, 09 Fairland, OH home 7:30 PM Sep 25, 09 Prestonsburg home 7:30 PM Oct 2, 09 Tug Valley, WV away 7:30 PM Oct 9, 09 East Ridge home 7:30 PM Oct 16, 09 Belfry away 7:30 PM Oct 23, 09 Pike County Central home 7:30 PM Oct 30, 09 Pikeville away 7:30 PM I can't imagine that many mountain teams play a schedule much better than that.

You are comparing apples to oranges. The AFC & NFC champions are the last 2 teams standing in the NFL. In KY high school football there are 23 other teams still playing. Not as big of an acomplishment as you might like to think. Not trying to take away from the great season Whitley had, but your comparisons are a little off base IMO.