Cover Corner

Who is up?

Sheldon Clark is as bad as they have been in years past. Paintsville is a very solid A football team but was hard to get a good feel since SC was so weak. Kash Daniels passes the eye test that is for sure.

36-6 Pikevilee with about 10 left

Aaron Snyder does a really good job IMO. I like his ratings and agree with them. I would put Ashland ahead of Russell and Raceland for now but we will find out quickly as Ashland plays both early. JC is the team to beat hands down but on any given night anything can happen.

Was arguably the best coach in the 15th region. A very good hire for Christian Co. On a side note what a tough month for Sheldon Clark. Lost the best player in the 15th region (Dylan James) to Mercer Co and then your coach to Christian Co right as school starts. Talk about a gut shot. Will be tough to replace this late in the game.

Johnson Central has the tough spot of location and the fact that they are one of the largest schools in the area. Couple that with Matney's physical style and smaller schools (P-burg, Pikeville, Paintsville) do not want to play that game and frankly I don't blame them. A lot of people are throwing out some of the state's top tier programs (Trinity, Highlands, Bowling Green, etc) and in theory those are great, but when was the last time Trinity played and instate opponent that was not part of district schedule or playoffs? Many of those teams don't have to travel to rural EKY to play top teams so why should they? Scheduling with those teams is difficult. The next tier (Scott Co, Male, St. X, etc) are nearly all from West of I-75 and with the rising costs of travel expenses for a football team it makes home and home games difficult. The thought of a Bowl game is a solid one but often times you split a proceeds of the gate with other teams and unless you get into one of the top tier bowls (difficult to do) JC could be in position to be one of the teams that brings in a huge crowd and gets less of the gate than they deserve. Matney is only expressing his frustration and people are acting like he is being unreasonable. JC has taken steps to beef up their opponents (They play Lex. Cath) so I applaud them for their efforts. Hopefully if they have the type of year many expect (I personally hope they win a state title) it may open some doors to better bowl opportunities.

Wow Surprised they get rid of a proven young up and comer like Shane Simpkins for Shawn Hager. Hager is a good guy and was a solid football coach at SC. Never thought he was great. Often times seemed to get out coached to me but from all accounts a great person to be around kids.

One of the main reasons JC has such a hard time is football in EKY is not as strong as in the past. 15-20 years ago games like Ashland, Boyd Co, and Greenup Co were quality games. EKY football is quickly becoming a case of the haves and the have nots. Some teams have talent the others do not.

They will continue to play at the same stadium. The football field is safe to play. It is the old high school that was deemed un-safe and is now condemned. On a side note my heart breaks for SC. A once proud program is now in shambles. They were as good of a AAA football team as there was in the state in 2009 and 2010. After that they just fell off the face of the earth. I know economic times have hit Martin County hard but this was in motion prior to the tough times. I hope the new coach can pull the program back to relevance but I am not sure it is in the Cards.

I think Russell will be fun to watch with Conley back. Saw him in person several times last year and he has all the tools to be special. The fact that Russell's district now trades with Belfry's will make it hard come playoffs but will hopefully bring back some of the great games from the past.

I fully expect Johnson Central to be one of the premier teams in AAAA next year. I know JC got raked over the coals for their lack of quality opponents in non-district schedule but the bottom line is the schedule had nothing to do with them losing a very competitive game to a good Cov. Catholic team. The blocked FG for a TD was the deciding factor. Not opponents. This years JC team will be in the same boat. It is important for JC to beat Ashland and secure the 1 seed in the district, and that is no small task with a back that can make any ordinary play into an extraordinary play. Should be a fun and exciting season for the Golden Eagles. I wish them luck.

I think that South Warren will have a harder time in AAAA than they had the past season in AAA. If you recall the State Champ Belfry Pirates were shut out 35-0 vs Johnson Central in 2014. Now Belfry was a little banged up that game, but to think South Warren will roll over a team like JC is ridiculous to me.

I was told today on good authority that he turned them down. Some other names floating around. A couple that would be very solid hires.

Tough Draw for SC. Will take 3 good games to win region. LC got the best first round matchup with JC getting the best draw overall IMO even though SV is capable of beating anyone any night. I think SC, JC, & LC are the favorites.

I would not go as far as to take him over anyone in that region. Most of his major success came when he was flat better than everyone else. He had a run in the early and mid 2000's where he had the most talented team in the region and couldn't win it due to Shelby Valley out coaching him. He is a great motivator and his kids always play hard but as far as a basketball X's and O's and game plans coach Frankie Smith at SC can coach circles around him. Bill Mike is a great coach I don't want anyone to think I am stating other wise, but I think the statement does not do justice to other Great coaches in the 15th region. Just my thoughts.

So of this kid is eligable what kind of rotation will Scott Co be looking at this year?

Mike Hall from the 15th region

Congratulations to JC. The overall better team won tonight. Media reporting that Parsley from SC shot 30 of Sheldon Clark's 41 shots on the night. You will never win with that kind of performance from your primary ball handler IMO.

Glad to see Perry fall to Knott in this one.

I really like the way Scott County has been playing, but they have done this all year. Look solid and in control a few games then lay a dud. Neither team is your typical 11th Region contender. I will take the Knights in an upset. Lex Cath: 67 Scott Co: 64

Good draw for KCC. PCC will have a tough 2nd round game regardless of who wins beween Breathitt or Cordia

With JC & SC tied and SC having won head to head both times that would put SC as 1 and JC as the 2 correct?

Congrads to Rowan I was pulling for you. Ashland was a good team but this just seemed to be Rowan's year no shame in regional runnerup. I know several teams that would LOVE for that trophy. On a side note any talk of Ashland people being upset about transfers going to any 16th region team would be a little like the pot calling the kettle black would it not? I mean lets face it Ashland had some good "Transfers" in the past and they may have come for valid reasons I just think people seem to have short memories sometimes. But I have no dog in this fight.

WOW. That is 2 full quarters. Was it good defense by Rowan, bad offense by Lewis, or both?

My thoughts and prayers are with hime and his family.