hockentucky

Actually Ryle was leading 10 - 7 in the early part of the 2nd quarter and then losing 14 - 10 for a quite a while. But it was eerily similar to both Ryle games vs Highlands where the game was close and then the stronger team busted loose just before halftime. Prior to that it looked like Ryle would make a game of it, but as is typical against great teams at any level turnovers proved costly and provided St. X with too many short fields and Ryle's D spent way too much time on the field and wore down. St. X's defense made adjustments after Ryle successfully drove the entire length of the field and then pretty much shut them down. St. X got their jet sweep going and it was just devastating with the very good lead blocking and fast quick backs. X's passing was precise and it allowed them to get out of several 3rd and long situations. Great season Ryle Raiders. Only losses to the top 3 teams in the state. With so many talented returning underclassmen, 2010 should be very brighter. Congrats to Seniors for leading the team back to its strong winning tradition and NKY top 3 status.

Ryle will have learned from their experiences with Highlands and SK, and staff experience from Papa Johns 2006 Ryle 38 St X 35

SK can win regardless of weather conditions. They have team speed and size to match up with the best in state. SK 49 Manual 35

How many kids would no longer get a chance to play HS football if there were these mega high schools? What's the point? Playing in the state championship? Besides, the road map to the promised land is right over there in Ft. Thomas. No more kids win athletic scholarships if a team wins a state championship. Bragging rights? I think that is needed sometimes to keep certain private school's enrollment up.

IMO this 'legal' shot was a deliberate set-up with probable intention of trying to taking out the QB, while refs attention was focused elsewhere. If not for this, there would be no discussion. Using him at safety seemed to begin after the SK game when the D-backs got entirely too much tackling practice and the D-back corp began to experience some injuries. He was needed to improve depth and size back there. Plus he has a nose for the football and performed very well in summer passing league at the position. Plus, watching Miles Simpson play back there with his size and speed certainly helped SK last year in their playoff run, so I'm sure that had been observed and the value noted.

For Highlands they have already won their state championship (in Ohio) and now its just a matter of not stepping on their private parts as they cruise in for a safe landing. And at the end of the season they have the highest National ranking of any KY state team...and we're all a bit bit envious.:isurrender:

A very good example of the "due" theory. Dixie was over-"due." Ashland was not.

Good luck tonight to Ryle Raiders! Go show them what your home turf advantage is all about! Bring a friend. Cooper fans, you're welcome can come cheer for us too. We'd love to have you! Couldn't be more ideal conditions for the Ryle offense to showcase its versatility.

If the field conditions are that bad it has to favor Conner. Also, because there is not that much wind and no rain for a change. All benefit Conner more that Manual because West is so good at passing, and such a load to take down if he takes off running - not an agility runner. Should be a battle! I'll take Conner by 3; 38 - 35

I hope Nick West's receivers have big games!

I may not be an encyclopedia, but I know Dixie is about as good as Conner power and skill-wise. How they managed to give away their last two games is a mystery to many. Maybe Ashland is under-rated too. Should be a good game either way. BTW, I cast my ballot for Ashland as I did for Boone prior to last weeks game, but I stand by my relative power assessment.

The only thing that I think would challenge Ryle would be some very deft mis-directional running (cross-bucks & counters) or a really good passing game (or both). This opinion based upon what has worked against them - Simon Kenton and Highlands. Next closest games were Conner & Dixie, and they had both of those down by 21 or more in the 4th quarter (when each had their passing games come alive and narrow the final margin.)

The nice things about the computer rankings is they are objective. I would like to see any ratings system, AP or Coaches or Litkenhous that put Ashland over Dixie. Dixie is actually a better team than they have shown so far, so again I would expect a 'break-out' game from them. They are so over-due. Dixie is the stronger team, period. Now whether they prove that or not will probably depend on whether they have learned from their recent debacles against CovCath and Boone.

Dixie should win except they have a tendency to shoot themselves in the foot and have had their share of bad luck. The home field advantage should equalize the apparent Dixie power advantage. That being said, Dixie is 'due' to have a breakout game. Their offense is tough to stop, but their 'D' has had a lot of problems stopping 6A teams in NKY.

Time for Cooper frosh to get out of the patty-cake league. They were good last year, and obviously could have used a better measuring stick this year. Congratulations on a successful season. Hope to see you next year!

Louisville readers -- Can anyone supply information on PRP? Who have they beaten? Who have they nearly beaten? They play a tough schedule, but their power ranking (Litkenhous) is in the same range as Boone County. How much stock do we put in these numbers?

What is side kicking? Kicking off close to the sideline? If that's what you're talking about then no question SK should continue doing that. Less likely to have an injury due to high speed collisions because the short high kicks offer no time for wedge development nor full speed returns (if done properly.)

Trinitry, at best, is the 4th ranked team in the state. Not aware that Highlands, St. X or SK have had anything remotely close as this result.

For those that weren't there this was actually a pretty good football game. Pretty even for the first 20 minutes of playing time after which Ryle had a couple of mental breakdowns that resulted in 10 points just before half while HHS had the bid wind advantage. The first breakdown was late in the 2nd quarter when the HHS wide right receiver was left completely uncovered on a third and long and caught an uncontested 50 yard TD pass. I don't know what the meltdown was, but it was an easy 7 for the Bluebirds. The next breakdown was the Elliot hit on the sidelines. It is debatable whether this would have been a flagged hit if it had occurred on the Ryle sideline, but since it was the Highlands QB, and since he was pretty much running out of bounds on his own, the hit right on the edge of the sideline it was considered a PF and a proper call. This gave HHS a first down on a thrid and very long and put them down to about the 40 with 20 sec. to play in the 1st half. They caught one more pass for about 10 yards and went out of bounds at the 30 setting up the nice long FG as the half ended. If Elliot had not made that hit, however close it was, halftime would have been 14-0. Ryle came out fresh in the 2nd half and completed a nice long drive into the wind making it 17-7. HHS answered right back with a drive of their own, and then Ryle scored again, and then HHS again. And that's about it. Never any doubt who would win unless some key turnovers were to occur in Ryle's favor (which didn't happen.) The big difference in this game was the Highlands defensive line. They were able to put pressure on Hemple and shut down Elliot to a great extent. Once Ryle's Hemple started to run some keepers, things started to loosen up a bit, but it seemed the passing game was a bit off - maybe due to the high winds.

Subjective 6A polls missing Ryle in Top 10: BGP: Not in Top 10 AP: 11th (Conner 10th) Computer Litkenhous: 6th MaxPreps: 4th Massey: 4th The only thing I can figure is that strength of schedule not given adequate weighting by subjective poll vote casters.

The same argument (above) could be made for any of the traditional Ohio powerhouses. It wouldn't sell as many newspapers if all the top 25 teams were from TX, FL & CA.

Answer: For an elite player, transition from HS to D1 is not that difficult. Taking it to the next level (NFL) is going to be difficult for any prospect, no matter how great they are at even the top tier D1 programs.

Although I think Dixie is the better team, I voted for Boone because Dixie seems to be jinxed. Besides, I cannot imagine Boone not wanting to put in an effort that is full tilt to see who on their own team really wants to play a full 48. The other factor is it will probably be quite breezy and possibly a little wet taking away some of Dixie's advantage. Score? Boone 24 Dixie 21

It looks like (from computer models) that the rain could be in a band just west of Louisville thru Indy at game time Friday night. It will gradually drift eastward, but the flow will come from the south-southwest. NKY and Lex may escape the most of it, or at least until later.

I would just like to add my two-cents worth... 1. Highlands should definitely take Ryle lightly. Ryle is a terrible team. Just ask Ryan Ernst. 2. In the event that Highlands implodes and St. X wins, will Ryle vault into the USA Today Super 25?