johnscreek

Rockcastle will be anchored by their lineman this next year as well as a senior three year starting quarterback. Secondary concerns on the defensive side will be addressed this next year as the loss of Hayes @ LB , Bullock, Trimble, Smith and Mize, all hard hitters in the secondary will be felt. Between Bullock and Trimble were thirteen picks during the '08 season. Fortunately an excellent group of sophomores as well as a junior with starting experience @ LB (Saylor) should be able to step in and fill those shoes to some degree. The loss of Mason on the line as well as Miracle on defense will be felt as well. The big hearted Mason kid was a leader for the linemen as much as Hayes was to the backs and the team.

The line will now be anchored by two very good future seniors in Thacker (6'5" 280 lbs) and Abney (6'0" 215lbs) who has just broken the team power clean record in the weight room that was held by his brother Tanner, a past RCHS football hall of famer. Future junior "Little" Thacker (6'0" 230lbs) who started much of the season will also be on the line as will Lake (6'2" 215lbs) a future sophmore who started on the line the entire season as a freshman. The only question on the line will be who will fill out the line and be subs. They will probably pull from the pool of this past years freshmen team that went undefeated against a pretty good schedule which included LCA and Bell County. The freshman team is a nasty little group that when infused onto the JV team about midseason took a 2-4 JV team to a 6-5 record to finish runner up to Boyle County's JV in the championship game of a seven team conference. Another likely candidate for offensive line will be future senior Dillingham. This kid makes up for what he lacks in size (5'6 165lbs) with heart (a Rudy sort of kid). He is one of those kids that no matter how big you are and how hard you hit, he is coming at you with everything he has every play with poison.

The offensive backfield will probably include Saylor who saw plenty of starting action and Rowe an excellent hard driving future sophmore who saw some varsity action early in the year against Pulaski and a few other teams. Of course there will be Bishop at QB, who as mentioned before, has started the past three seasons at that position. The boy has a strong arm and a will to win and his leadership will be essential to a successful season.

The schedule for Rockcastle this coming year looks as tough as any they have played in the past years with the flagship games being reigning state champ Bell County, Boyle County (no disrespect to any team, but IMHO Boyle probably would have been state runner up if the bracketing was different) and Whitley who went deep into the bracket in the 5A class. There are several other teams on the schedule that are tough as well, including district rivals as well as some higher class teams (Pulaski and Southwestern). Rockcastle will not see an easy win game this next season and they will have to earn every "W". Hopefully the extra tough schedule will pay off at the end of the regular season. If injuries stay low and the secondary develops under the tutelage of varsity coaches Parkey, Saylor, and Martin, the team should pull out several wins and much experience for coming seasons.:thumb:

Now that is what I call a Distinguished portfolio piece.

Every head coach had a 1st head coaching job, this will be his. Many become head coaches after fewer years as an assistant than Chris has put in. He has been around football his entire life and in a great program. Every time someone hires a first time head coach there is a risk, but I think this will work out nicely.

Chris has also played at EKU for two years. He played WR one year and DB one year before he decided he would rather coach as play football on the college level. I am sure he picked up some valuable skills while playing under Roy Kidd.

Last two seasons 29-1. Back-back 5A State Champs. Its all luck:lol::lol:

They should have worked a little harder and then they would have been 30-0

It's not always about how often or how long teams workout... You've also got to consider what they're doing during that time. The intensity of the workouts and the type of conditioning being done is what separates these teams from the rest...

Give me a break!

Good players.

WIN, WIN, and keep on WINNING.

This is a much different Bourbon than the one he was at with Dudley...

 

I wish him luck, he will need it.

Coach Poynter is used to dealing with adversity in other jobs and struggling to get what he has needed. I am sure he will handle the situation at Bourbon Co. Best of luck old friend!

I hope the new coach, whomever that may be, opts to keep him around. He is a very good coach and the kids really seem to respond to him. The offense improved and scored about 7 ppg more than they did before he became the coordinator.

What is the hold up about hiring a new coach?

I understand this concern, but come on, Highlands in 2002 was nowhere near where Highlands is this year. That team was pretty thin on talent, if I recall.

That sounds like a typical Highlands excuse

I can agree and sum it up in just one word - "Rockcastle." :thumb:

Glad you remembered that game. I do too. It was great. Got the Rock to State Finals.

Johnson Central will not be able to compete at the Highlands level. Home field advantage will not help them..... It didn't against Belfry.

 

 

HIghlands 42

JC 7

Well, home field does matter and Highlands is not invincible. I remember the 2002 game at Rockcastle when Rock destroyed Highlands I think 48-7 and had the clock running in the 2nd half. It can be done at JC too.

Thanks, hopefully they'll continue to work hard. He's #55 if we play again keep an eye out for him. He played some on defense last night and said your line was extrememly hard hitting.

Somerset is a young team. This makes two weeks straight that a bunch of 14 year olds had to play a bunch of 18 year olds. Sometimes you have to take a few lickings, but work hard and you will get better.

P.S. We can't wait to play Bell next year either....don't think we aren't...so bring it on. :ylsuper:

Bell is always ready in case you didn't know can't wait for the rivalry to start but it will have to wait next year. Bell has bigger fish to fry right now. Good luck and see you next season.:thumb:

The Black Bears have bigger fish to fry too. Not even thinking about Bell Co right now.

Breathitt 21 Harlan Co 13

 

Hope im wrong...

There is no logical reason to pick Harlan Co. in this game. Breathitt Co. has a great football team and tradition. A lot being said on here is wishful thinking. I believe it could be anybody's win. It will come down to who makes the least mistakes. Harlan Co. defense needs to continue the physical game but at the same time be athletic enough to cover the pass and option.

Belfry will host the playoffs as long as they win the 1 seed in their district thanks to the whacky KHSAA alignment.

 

Before you worry about Belfry you better worry about Breathitt and Estill. Meanwhile, Belfry needs to worry about Russell and Mason County, and a Sheldon Clark team who has looked pretty impressive, as they will be paired up with them for the regional finals.

Harlan Co. needs to stay focused on their district games. Breathitt Co. and Estill Co. will both be tough games. One advanage for Harlan Co. is having both at home this year. Don't even be thinking past the district or even past the next game. Football titles are won by winning one game at a time. A lot of luck and being pretty good when the big games get here is the key for any football team.

Rose Hill is going to have a 1A varsity team next year. We have known it for two years. Next year all the teams in District 1-5 will have to add Rose Hill. Guess what, all the district teams are going to add Rose Hill, and drop a non district game.

 

Did the teams in Harlan County's real district not know that Harlan was going to open this year? Could those teams not been told two years ago, that in 2008 you will have to add HC as a new district opponent. How is that different then saying this year that in 2009 you will have to add HC as a new district opponent.

Because it is in the middle of a 2 year cycle. Rose Hill will begin at the beginning of a new 2 year cycle. It would be ok to put Harlan Co in 5A and let Letcher Central, Perry Central, Clay CO, N.Laurel, and Whitley Co drop one of their opponents with a year left on their contract, but I don't believe thoe schools would like that either.

I heard 3-2 with a loss to KC on the last play of the scrimmage.

 

The Powell game should be in Stanton. It was at Cawood last year.

Looking really good about the Powell Co game being rescheduled.

Sarge, so are you saying that Powell has dropped you all?

Powell Co. picked up Walton-Verona, a first year 1A program. Should be a pushover for them.