Drunk Johnny

Was really hoping that EKU would get in. It looks as if the loss to E. Illinois was basically a play in game. Also, I thought Dayton was in a league that had no playoffs. Has that changed, or have they moved to the FCS or (old Division AA status) in football.

Interesting stat. Between HHS and Cov. Cath, only Cov Cath has beated a team with a winning record this year and that includes the playoffs. (Beechwood). I wonder if someone has a lot of time on their hands, could find out if that has ever happended before in a regional final if two teams had made it that far without beating a team with a winning record. I think the cannon comes out of retirement for this one, and Highlands continues its winning ways over Cov Cath 21 to 14.

Manning is a first ballot hall of famer hands down. Sadly, what happens to so many great players in all sports, your body just doesn't respond and you mind will not let you say it is time to call it a career. These past two years, a little over half way through the season he has just tanked production wise, due to his body not being about to with stand the punishment. Denver is really in a tough situation, does Peyton have anything left, or just go with Osweiler and hope for the best. I am hoping Manning can get through this season, and lose to the Bengals in the AFC Championship game after beating the Patriots.

Without seeding, and the KHSAA using "the old pick the region out of the hat" to determine the bracket, very rarely are the two best teams going to play in the finals match. (Like that in baseball, soccer, and other sports as well). Basically the championship was determined in the semi final, and Assumption was the better team that night. Notre Dame has an excellent team, but only one team is going to be happy at the end of the season. The other 200 or so teams will end with a loss.

As a long suffering Bengal's fan, all I can say is enjoy the ride. They must be doing something right because the haters are starting to come out. That doesn't happen when you are 4 and 4. IF they can stay healthy, they should finish 13 and 3, or 12 and 4. I think the Denver game will be a big factor if they can get the first round bye or if they play wildcard weekend. Who Dey!

To be quite honest a cannot remember who said it in a radio interview, (I can't remember what I had for dinner yesterday most of the time), but I do know one of the talking heads had said that about Manziel.

Manziel has had several chances to take over as the Browns field general, and he just doesn't seem to be ready to do it. I feel his limited phyiscal and football IQ (always wanting to make something happen by scrambling if his first receiver isn't open), is really hurting his changes for a long career in the NFL. I have said it before, I don't think it was fair where he was drafted, (expectation wise), due to almost all the draft guru's had him as a sixth round pick. Not first round. Can he over come these deficiences, time will tell. I don't see him starting to turn it around this week vs the Bengals. Their defense is just too good. Outside of Tom Brady, give me another recent, or not recent 6th round QB that has done well in the NFL. Not to many.

This has to be the feel good story of Northern Kentucky football this year with the Mustangs. In a very short time, they have turned a program that was about to fold, into a 9 win regular season. Congrats to the coaches and players for this turn around. Facing many challenges over the past few years, this team has thrived this year, and continued good luck into the playoffs.

It really doesn't have anything to do with public money or facilities, it just comes down to talent. If most of the top volleyball talent in the Louisville area says hey lets go to this school and win, then that who is going to have the best chance of winning a state title. If school A has 5 division one talent players attend a certain school, and it is taking talent away from the school that they would go to in their district. Not saying anything is wrong with that, the student has the choice to go where they want to for high school. Happens in most sports in the state of Kentucky and pretty much everywhere else. Barking up the wrong tree about the $$$ or facilities. Since Louisville is open enrollment from what I understand, the top talent could choose a public school, but with the deep tradition at the private schools, thats where they are going. Success breeds success.

This game was not a thing of beauty on either side, but the bottom line is the Bengals got the W. The offensive line got pushed around (which surprised me), the Bengals really didn't even try to run the ball after half way through the first quarter, and Andy showed shades of the the "bad Andy" of years gone by. However, got to give them credit (especially the defense and special teams outside of the blocked field goal), for hanging in there and beating a desparate Steelers team at their place. To play in a tough enviroment, struggle most of the game on offense, and still stay undefeated, got to give the Bengals a tip of the cap. Once again, this doesn't happen very often as a Bengal fan, enjoy the ride. WHO DEY!

I am a long suffering Bengals fan, but maybe, just maybe the stars align this year, (heaven knows the Bengals are past due to get some breaks in the playoffs), and they can make a run. If they stay healthy, the only team in the AFC that really going to challenge is the Patriots. Denver has been winning in spite of the them selves, and Pittsburgh is in a rebuilding mode on defense. Not saying make you plans to riot at fountain square the first Sunday of February, but for now I am enjoying the ride.

The one thing UK has going for them is it's at home. That's about it. As much as I would like to say UK can pull this one out, the defense is still not where it needs to be and Tennessee will be able to out score the Cats. 38 to 20 Vols.

With very little bench going to be tough for Boone to stay with NDA. If Boone can score first it would really help dictate the game, but if the Panda's score first could be a tough night for the Rebels. But then again, it's why they play the game. Also, playing on a Friday night at 7 is a really bad time. Not going to get too many fans outside of parents and aunts and uncles competing against football. Should have moved it to a Saturday noon or early afternoon. IMO

Really not fair to Manziel when he got drafted. Most experts rated him as a sixth round talent, and he get drafted late first round. He does not possess the mental or physical skills to be a successful QB in the NFL. Sooner or later the Browns are going to have to face reality and let him go. He is becoming a bigger distraction than a help for his team. Not saying he did anything wrong this time, but just too much baggage.

The Bills are banged up on both sides of the ball. (Like a lot of teams are this time of year). As long as the Bengals O line can hold up against Buffalo's d line, which the Bengals line has held up all year, I like the Bengals chances. 17 to 10 Bengals. Not going to be easy.

If all of N KY is down, I would like to see when they are doing really well. There are 3 teams in the top 10 of the state, (ND, Ncc, and SK), 2 in the top 25, Highland and St. Henry. Also, Boone County has been banged up all year or they would be in the top 25 as well. Also, Brossart and Campbell County have had a good year. In recent memory has N KY had a better year with so many teams this high in the rankings? I feel this year has been a strong year for teams from N KY.

Seattle played last Monday night, and now they have to travel and play a 1pm Eastern, (10am Pacific coast time), and Lynch is out. I like the Bengals chances unless it is bad Andy day. The O line has played very well against some pretty good d lines and hopefully they will continue today. Points will be hard to come by, but I like the Bengals to stay undefeated with Seattle's limited weapons on offense. 21 to 13 Bengals.

RJS has a lot of very good points. If a kid is a better baseball or basketball player, or even soccer player for that matter than a football player, they are going to concentrate more on that sport and give up football. 30 plus years ago you could play three sports and still have down time between seasons. Now in the specialized world we live in, with the "if you don't train everyday for this sport someone is going to be better than you and take your sports scholarship for college", everyone is on this select league play year round outside of the season the sport is in. Football is a very demanding sport as far as time and effort, and if that isn't the kids best sport, the kid doesn't want to devote the time to be either second string or rotate in here and there when they can excel or do better in another sport. Not bashing them, but the days when a kid just wanted to be part of his high school team even if they didn't play much or at all are gone. Too many other options out there that don't require that much commitment. I.E. concentrate on one sport, XBOX, internet, or net flix. I think the concussion thing is a very small part.

The schedule gets easier for Georgetown, but they still need to work on preventing the big play on defense, and get better pass protection up front on the O line. Hopefully going into game five of the season they have been able to get things straightened out. Also, injuries are starting to creep up, which do with most teams this time of year, so hopefully they can play through it or other players can step up. This game is a must if they want to get things going in the right direction.

Does anyone have any details on this game. St. Henry is a good team, but a little surprised since Highlands has been playing very well lately. Nice win for the Crusaders. Yes the nine region tourney looks like it should be wide open this year.

4 - 0

Ncc "brings home the gold" with a 4 to 2 win. Ncc started out sluggish, and with less than three minutes into the game, LCA scores on a nice cross and finish to take the lead at 1 to 0. Usually when a team scores a goal that is a good thing. However, it seemed to ignite the Breds, and within the next two minutes, Ncc would score the first of three goals. In less than an eight minute span, the Breds light up the scoreboard three times to take a three to one lead. LCA would settle the ship, and the score would remain 3 to 1 at the half. The start of the second half, LCA once again scored within the first three minutes to cut the lead to 3 to 2. Both teams would have several changes more during the majority of the second half, but with no success. Ncc was battling fatigue most of the game due the tough game the night before, then it appeared with 10 minutes to go in the game, LCA hit the wall as well. Ncc kept the pressure up from about the 10 minute mark remaining in the game, and scored with about 5 minutes to go to put it out of reach and finish the scoring for the day. The game was very clean, and only a few fouls. The only oddity was the ref must have called 20 hand balls. All were legit, and pretty even on both sides, but I think there was a season's worth of hand balls in one game.

All I can say is WOW what a game. This had the intensity of a state finals. Ncc went out the a two to zero lead with about fifteen minutes left to go in the first half. OC scores with about 10 mintues to go in the half to cut the lead in half, and that is where it would remain at the break. In the second half the game got very physical. However, Ncc clung on to a 2 to 1 lead until with just under 6 minutes to go, OC scores from a beautiful shot from about 20 yards out to tie it on an NCC team that was about running on fumes at that point. Both teams tried one more push to win in regulation, but after 80 minutes the game was even at two's. The game went straight to a shoot out. In the shoot out, Martin for Ncc outduels Klump for OC 3 to 2 between the pipes, and Ncc advanced to the finals tomorrow against LCA who also won in a shoot out. This game was very physical with many fouls called, and 2 yellow cards. One yellow went on a OC player, and the other on the OC coach. The OC coach decided with 10 minutes to go in the game he wanted to have a rather LOUD discussion with the ref at the middle of the field on the sideline. The ref in no mood for chit chat promptly pulls out a yellow card and back to game action they went.

Home opening for the Raven's, going to be tough for the Bengals to pull this one out. However, if the Bengals can run the ball, and run some more, they can hit some big plays on play action pass and may be able to outscore the Ravens. I will drink the Kool aid on this one and say 31 to 28 Bengals in a wild one.

Yellow card makes a very good point. If you are playing a team that has more talent, then the game plan has to change. What good does it do to try and open it up and get smoked 7 to 1. I take my chances being down 1 to 0 against the best team in the state with under 10 minutes to go, and see if I can generate some offense to tie it up and send it to OT, or a shoot out. Some times you cannot play your regular game due to the opponent.