DeSales Dad

They won 2-A last year....this is the first 2-A team that has beaten them in the two years that they've been back.

From what I heard, he did de-commit and is getting some serious looks from some mid-level Big 10 schools.

Great seeing all of you guys again, TP. Here's hoping we get to visit regularly in the coming years, which would mean continued deep playoff runs.

Definitely a more suitable post if CAL wins next weekend. If that's bad form, I apologize. Not trying to be disrespectful. I just found myself thinking about this on my way home last night. But since the horse is out of the barn.... CAL's five....not sure. Obviously Wright, Paulson, Carr. Not sure of spelling - Olfsaka, and would need help on the 5th. First two are D1 no doubt, Carr probably as well as he is only a sophomore. DeSales - Byrd, Roush, Pirtle, Price (OL) debatable after that due to balance. Byrd is at KY Wesleyan (size kept him from D1). Roush is at WKU, Pirtle was offered by WKU and some others, currently a dominant JUCO force. Price is at Morehead. Wright would still be the best player on the field, and I agree there is value in that. I just look at how DeSales did against high quality opponents in 5-A and 6-A that season, and the playoff run was just overwhelming.

Excellent point. I touched on that briefly but THAT would be a shocker.

I'm all ears, Snake. Who am I missing? I know MF has only been in 2-A two of those five years, and several of you guys mentioned that this was the best Mayfield team since at least 2010. Are you thinking of a Mayfield team or someone else?

During the 2014 finals, we stayed at the same hotel as the Central team. The night before the game, there was a hospitality room filled with Colts and Yellow Jackets parents, coaches, etc. Coach Scroggins....that guy is fabulous. After talking to some of their coaching staff, I was ready to go tackle someone. High school football could use a few more coaches like that guy. He is just dripping with class!

Fair point. Very fair point. That kid was excellent. His presence would have definitely affected the zero part of that score, but it didn't affect the 34. That Colts offense was simply unstoppable.

Not speaking for ColtPride, but absolutely not. Mayfield is ALWAYS there.

I realize this post assumes CAL wins next week. I'm willing to take that chance. That being said, I am comparing these two teams THROUGH THEIR SEMI-FINAL GAMES since CAL has one more hurdle. I had three teams in this conversation until last night, the third being this year's Mayfield team. Now it's just these two. This is entirely fact-based, but...CAUTION!! Before reading this, you may need to put on your orange and brown glasses. :-) The case for CAL 1. Dominant front seven, with Wright always lurking at free safety for errant passes. 2. Big, tough offensive line. 3. Above average QB. 4. Two RBs that are not spectacular, but good, solid high school RBs. 5. They will have the best player on the field on offense, and on defense. 6. Big play ability on offense - hello Milton Wright. 7. Good wins - two versus DeSales, by a total of 12 points, 30-point win over Central, 24-point win over Mayfield. 8. Bad losses - not a bad loss, but a four TD margin to 6-A Simon Kenton. Highlight - Dominant performance against defending champ and undefeated Mayfield. The case for DeSales 1. Tough, experienced offensive line. 2. Do it all, dual threat QB. 3. Practically unstoppable RB Dylan Byrd (think Trajon Bright but faster) 4. Numerous WR with great hands. 5. Dominant DE in Bryant Pirtle. 6. Fastest defense I have seen - speed everywhere. 7. Good wins - at 5-A John Hardin with Matt Elam, at 5-A power (then) Warren Central, at CAL in the playoffs, at Murray in semifinals. 8. Bad losses - none. Only loss was to CAL in regular season. 27-24 game where Colts were minus three on turnovers, including a fumble at the two in the 4th quarter. Highlights....here's where I give the edge to the Colts. Their schedule is filled with great wins. 1. Scrimmages...blah. However, DeSales POUNDED Meade Co 23-0. That would be the same Meade County that played for the 6-A championship that season. 2. The John Hardin team's only other loss was in the 5-A semis to....HELLO!...Bowling Green. That was BG's 44th win in a row on their way to their 5th straight championship. They beat John Hardin 33-28, the same margin that the Colts won by. John Hardin was probably the second best team in 5-A that year. 3. Warren Central - the Dragons lost in double OT in the 5-A semi-finals in 2013. The Colts traveled to Bowling Green and beat them by two TDs. 3. CAL in the playoffs. Three weeks earlier, CAL played Male in the regular season finale. Male had beaten X and Trinity twice each, averaging 33 points against X and 28 points against Trinity. Against CAL's stingy defense, they managed only two field goals in a 6-0 victory. Three weeks later, DeSales, who scored 24 points in the first game between the two, beat that CAL team 34-0. 4. Murray - the Tigers had played a tough schedule that included a 3-point loss to 5-A finalist Graves Co. They also played Mayfield, Owensboro Catholic, and Caldwell County twice. DeSales made the trip to Murray and dominated from the start. They led 38-0 after three quarters. DeSales' defense allowed only four first downs, and there was a running clock the entire fourth quarter - in a state semi-final game. They headed to Bowling Green winning the previous two games by a combined score of 72-0. Murray's coach: "Their quickness was evident on both sides of the ball, but especially defensively." Regarding Dylan Byrd: "He's got a gear that we just don't see around here. We thought we had gone up against some good backs, but this guy was different." So....I realize I tilt in one direction here, but nothing I said was inaccurate. That being said, I give the edge to DeSales in this 2-A mythical match-up.

I posted after last week's game that CAL might be the best team I have seen in 2-A in the last five years, with the possible exceptions of this year's Mayfield team and the 2013 DeSales team. Now that debate is clearly down to two teams. I usually don't make predictions without having seen one of the teams play, but I will say this about Danville's chances against CAL......How?????

Change of subject - just for a minute. I was very quietly optimistic about DeSales this year. In my mind I kept thinking our defense was really, really good, and our young guys were improving week by week. I truly thought we were better this year than we were last season. Now I see that I was correct, especially about the defense, holding CAL to a total of 33 points in two games. Tied last week with two minutes to go, CAL scores on 4th and goal from the one, kid gets into the end zone by half a yard.....UGH, somehow that hurts more now than it did then.......

They lose a lot in the trenches if I'm not mistaken, and that's where this game was won.

That was the most surprising part to me. Entering the fourth quarter, I still thought Mayfield might wear them down. The exact opposite happened. CAL was getting stronger as the game progressed.

Wow. I saw this in person and still can't believe it. I thought that CAL was capable of winning this game, but I don't think even the Centurion mascot thought this could happen. MAN they are tough in the trenches......

Just read Lefors' quotes in the local paper. I have a new prediction. Mayfield 35, CAL 10. They sound somewhere between nervous, anxious, and satisfied. “It’s obviously uncharted territory for us,” CAL coach Stefan LeFors said. “We haven’t been here. We don’t know what it’s like to practice on Thanksgiving or all these three days off for these guys. So, we’re trying to keep it as routine as possible but, yes, stay loose. I understand on Friday the kids are going to be nervous. … Where we feel like we can get them to feel most comfortable is by putting all this work in on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to when they get to Friday, ‘Hey, you’re prepared. Are you nervous? That’s fine, but you’re prepared.’”

I talked with Toothpick for over 30 minutes about the game yesterday (yes, on Thanksgiving...don't judge us). We see the game similarly. Should be a good one. I would much rather be watching the game as a nervous parent, but it will be nice for a change to simply watch as a fan of high level high school football.

What I mentioned earlier, JUST against DeSales (no slouch of a team), he has run for TDs, caught TDs, thrown for one, returned an INT 100 yards for one, returned a punt for one and returned a KO for one. He's about 6'2" and 180-190, can fly, and will lay the wood to you on defense. He's a sophomore but is already being looked at by UL and other high level D1 schools. Other than that, there really isn't anything that makes me think he will be the best athlete on the field. :-)

No hard feelings here. I'm just discussing what I think is the best matchup in the playoffs. I think you and I agree 100%. Talent is nearly equal. I pick Mayfield to win for the exact reasons you mentioned, primarily coaching. CAL runs a lot of different sets and sometimes it seems a bit too complex. They usually burn a couple of timeouts during the game because of it. In a game like this, that could be vital.

I'm not sure who said faster, wasn't me. I don't know either way. And you're right. CAL has more than Wright. Paulson is an excellent TE and is very effective in their passing game. They have other solid "possession" receivers. The QB is not real mobile, but big and strong with a great arm. Their primary RB is a St X transfer. He's solid but not a game changer. So by no means are they a one trick pony.

My two cents on this game, in case I don't get a chance to post again. I don't know the kid that got suspended, but it sounds like it is a deep position for the Cardinals and it may have lit a fire under the team, so it doesn't impact my prediction. As always, the truth will be told in the trenches. IF Mayfield can run the ball effectively and does not have to RELY on their passing game to move the ball, then this could be a 2-3 touchdown margin. IF Mayfield can run the ball somewhat effectively and can mix in the passing game as they choose and not when they are forced to, they win the game by a TD. IF the line of scrimmage is neutral, the game goes either way and I predict a very close Mayfield win because of their championship experience (CAL has an EXCELLENT kicker, so if a FG becomes vital, he is good from 40-plus yards). However, IF Mayfield has trouble stopping Wright, the tables turn. My guess is that you will see a lot of him in the wildcat, as that is easily their best look because of his skill set. He can also throw the ball from that formation, although they did not show that in either game against DeSales. As I said before, I respect the heck out of Bright, he was simply tireless last year against the Colts, but Wright will be the best player on the field. He has the potential to dominate a game in four or five different ways. In four games against DeSales, he has run for TDs, caught TD passes, thrown for a TD, had a 100-yd INT return for a TD, returned a punt for a TD and returned a KO for a TD (called back by penalty, but still...). And that's just against US! However, in the end I tend to go with the guys that have been there, and have that championship experience. Mayfield 21, CAL 17.

Well aware of Bright from last year.... :-) He is an OUTSTANDING player, but with all due respect, he will not be the best player on the field.

No worries Diesel. I'm probably over-sensitive because I'm still a little grumpy about the loss Friday. :-) If Mayfield can stop the run, they win the game, no doubt.

Both games this year they ran and ran and ran the ball, then began to open up the passing game in the second quarter. Then they tend to go to Wright in the Wildcat frequently in the second half. He's a weapon on both sides of the ball.

Interesting....I assume the sarcasm is aimed at me, the guy that picked Mayfield to win the game. I've seen both teams play in person this year. Not sure who else can say that. CAL is more talented, but again, I PREDICT MAYFIELD TO WIN THE GAME because of the intangible value of being a championship program.