hockentucky

Anyone who doesn't think the majority of the flu cases going around right now are NOT the swine flu or variations of it are naive. No way a school of over 1,500 students (Ryle) has 500 out 2-days after their homecoming dance and it NOT being a new type of virus that no one has immunity from (particularly teenagers.) All told it would be a safe estimate to say about 1,000 of their students came down with the virus over the past 2-weeks. Fortunately the wave of sickness passes by fairly quickly (48 hours) and the effects don't seem to linger for most of the kids unless they have respiratory issues.

Does anyone know if running up the score in the 2nd half of a blowout improves a team's points in the computer rankings? Does anyone have a good handle of exactly what is being measured? It must be more than who has beaten who, but really how does it differentiate a team that rolls up a 42-0 halftime scored and then puts in their JV and ends the game at 49-14 or some scenario like that, vs a team that runs up 28-0 at half and keep starters in there until that last set of downs after running it up to 56-0?

I like to relate football performance to golf. Even Tiger fails to make the cut some days, so why would football be any different? Maybe its bio-rhythms or hormones or nerves for some players that fail to perform at peak efficiency on a given day or night. Maybe its not enough sleep. Maybe its a little luck? Maybe its simply a matter of football smarts, speed, power and size advantages for one team or another. Maybe its heart! Maybe coaching. Maybe officiating. Maybe momentum and its psychological effects on team. So many variables! You can pick one or pick them all, but they can all be lumped together and be called either an outstanding performance or a 'flat' football team. And it doesn't even matter who wins. A team can win and still be decribed as 'flat.' Think of the thousands of decisions being made each game on a football field by the sum total of 22 players and a half-dozen coaches! No wonder you never know what's going to happen and why you play the game! When all else is more or less equal, its the team with the players and coaches making the most correct decisions that end up on top, and in some cases the decisions are right but a player slips or a ball is tipped, and the player or team ends up looking bad, and then someone describes them as 'flat.' So often an 'excuse' like 'flat' is simply a vague or simplified explanation of a result or an expression of disappointment. Usually there are very logical explanations why one team beats another, but who has time to listen to all that from a coach or truly analyze what each player did on every play of the game? That's why they go over game film! So pump up your players like game balls so they won't be described as flat!

I'm sure if a good running back plays deep safety and spends most of his time floating around looking for picks he could play both ways without causing too much reduction in output on 'O', however if he ends up making a bunch of tackles or running down the field chasing Fugate all night his speed and energy will gradually diminish and it would become a factor late in the game. There is no way a kid - even an 18-yr-old man of a kid - can run forty to fifty 40-yard sprints in a 2-hr span and not see his 40-time slow down a bit. Playing RB and having to carry a team on your back is no different than than, and realistically even the most physically fit RB would be unable perform at peak if he's carrying the ball more than more than 2/3 of set downs and more-or-less 'resting' on defense. Some fullback types might be the exception, but those that have not done it should realize every player on that field is human and can only do so much before they cramp up or are exhausted. These teams have 'sprinters' for running backs, not marathon runners! I predict that this game will be settled in the 4th quarter as one team or the other wears down due to overuse of certain keys players. No name, just come and watch! (or tune in!) I still like Ryle for many of the reasons cited above by other posters (those that have a logical argument, that is!)

The only unsportsmanlike penalty for Ryle this year was the result of over-celebrating a touchdown against CovCath, forcing a 35-yard extra point kick.

Ryle's Conner Hemple is a very good QB and has shown very good mobility lately. Of course none of their recent opponents have seriously challenged them since Highlands beat them. If they can hold Simpson to less than 200 yards, I have to give Ryle the nod based upon versatility of offense -- if all else is even (turnovers, penalties) I would expect a result something like 42-31.

Litkenhous computers and formula know Bardo is hurt so its computer brain lowered Highlands to 3rd. Pretty smart rankings!

If Dixie can get their quick passing game firing on all cylinders early they may be able to hang in there for a while, especially if they can solve the AC riddle and keep him from getting outside where he does most of his damage. Dixie, pray the rain moves out early for your passing and the turf stays wet to take away AC's cutbacks.

Its hard to imagine Campbell will rack up a lot of first downs tonight. Maybe that will act as a sort of muzzle on the announcer. Anyway, hope the rain clears out because CC's passing game is going to struggle in the wind and rain or if the game balls get slick.

If Ryle isn't the best Freshman team right now who is? 6-0 with wins over CocCath, Sk and Highlands, we'll see how they do against Boone next week. Maybe Cooper claims a stake?

Link worked great. Thanks for sharing. Points out something that I see more and more of and that is talent without football IQ. One without the other just doesn't spell success.

I would think that a roughing the kicker penalty would apply if the kicker is hit while in a vulnerable position or hit after the kick has been executed. That applies to those players trying to block the kick but fail to touch it. If the defender doesn't have the body control to either block the kick or avoid contacting the kicker then they get penalized. Its not that easy to punt a ball while on a dead run so it is unlikely the kick blocker/tackler wouldn't be able to figure out whether it was going to continue to be a run or whether the guy was preparing to kick it.

56 to 7 and then let the clock run...

Bradley was still running hard while visibly limping between plays in the 3rd so it probably became apparent it was foolish to keep pounding him at a Ryle D that had made their adjustments and had him corralled. I'm sure he'll be ready to play this week. Minor nicks like that happen and he was playing through it quite well. I thought he was a very explosive and powerful back that would kind of 'leap' through the hole and was a handful to tackle one-on-one open field. He played out of the shotgun for a while and it appeared he was supposed to pick the hole that opened. It was effective for a couple sets of downs.

Ryle D-backs will outscore the Camels. You saw it here first!

Hey, the reason many of us are glad Highlands won is that it will make our programs look all that much better when WE beat Highlands (or even if we lose 12-7.)

Highlands 45 Dixie 14

I'll take Conner by a Stephens field goal - Conner 24 Boone 21. Quainoo made all state because he had an all state offensive line and a bazillion carries last year. Unfortunately all the mileage caught up with him later in the season and he broke down at an inopportune time. Meanwhile Simpson picked his team up and carried them on his back to Papa Johns. Ask any experience D-back who they would rather have to tackle to save a game. Simpson - much bigger, faster, stronger and just as agile.

I'd call that a Catch 22:dancingpa

Despite my avatar I have no skin in this game, but I can tell you that this year's Highlands team is IMO substantially better than last years Highlands team and Friday night proved it. There is no magic north of the river, and I cannot see any scenario whereby Highlands would not win more often than lose Vs St. X this year unless they had a key player injury. Highlands lacks the depth of a St. X, but I have witnessed the overall team speed of the 'Birds current group from up very close and it is breathtaking -- much better than last year's group.

I disagree with the perfect storm argument. IMO speed defeated size, plain and simple.

I think this result is obscene.

Quote: I'm just curious... for those ranking Ryle ahead of SK, why do you think that Ryle is better? Probably because Ryle won last night and SK did not. Its what you call 'short-term memory.' However there is no reason NOT to rank the teams as above. At the same time one must say that Henry Clay is a scary opponent and a team will have to quite versatile AND fast to compete with them. It didn't sound like SK had it. I would love to see HC against Highlands this year. I know it won't happen but I think HC may have the speed and also size to neutralize the Bluebirds.

The one thing I was wondering about this game was why the lights were turned on so late? Toward the end of the first half the sun had already set and it was 'twilight' and each team had to play 'in the dark' so-to-speak where the available light was reduced to the point that it had to affect play, making it harder to gauge depth perception on a pass (mainly for a receiver) and for the defense to clearly see what was going on with handoffs, etc.

I have to agree that it is a dumb rule. The return men should decide if they want to touch the ball down in their own end zone to declare a 'touch back' -- unless of course the ball goes out of the back of the end zone. Of course if this rule did not exist then the kicking team could go down and pounce on the ball in the end zone for a touch down. Maybe that's what they were trying to prevent. Some of those kick returners have enough trouble catching the ball let alone making a decision like whether to run it out or not! Also, if they step out and then step back in and kneel down it would be a safety. Complicated sport!