generaldowns

From what I know, he's had about 7 or 8 offers from D 1 schools...two FBS, Air Force and Applachian State. An article in late July in the Louisville Courier said he'd verbally committed to Air Force.

Oustanding stuff, VOR! KCD is off this week, so the lineup of games to attend and enjoy from this list is mouth watering and impossible to choose from. Where's the helicopter when you need one. BW v SK, Ludlow v BB, and Hazard v Pikeville would be my top three if the chopper showed up in the driveway. You could probably do a half of BW v SK, Ludlow v BB given the NKY concentration. Loved hearing about some of the standout individual performances in 1A --Poore and Blackburn have been doing this for several years! I'd add two KCD Bearcats to the already excellent group-- QB Jackson Diaz for KCD--Completion rate of 63% on the year, 14 TDs, 1102 yards including 256 yards against LCA last Friday. And zero interceptions. All of this in an offense that has rushed for more yards than it has passing this year. TE Josh Lifson--Already named Pre-Season All Louisville at the TE spot, playing in a balanced offense with a deep receiving corps where he averages less than 4 passes thrown to him a game, he's had 375 yards in catches, 4 TDs and pulls off grabs like this one, named the WLKY High School Play of the Week last Friday in Louisville and Southern Indiana. Check out High School Playbook's Play of the Week for Sept. 22! Good luck to all the 1A teams involved in tough, exciting games this week!

Having seen LCA in first person on Friday, two things stand out besides the talent on display there: 1)Character 2) Sportsmanship ....both will take them a long way beyond this special season. How LCA responded to KCD's repeated punches(KCD was leading this game several minutes into the 3rd quarter 38-35, and scored more points on LCA than any other team to date this year) speaks volumes about the Eagles. They took the blows, regrouped and kept throwing punches back at the Bearcats. The Eagles have a group of kids who are rock steady in the face of a challenge...very, very impressed! And the Eagles are a classy team. They're confident and they have a swagger that helps them stay focused, but they're also just a good group of kids with respect for the game and the opponent. Can't say enough about that aspect of their team. As far as the "thrashing" of KCD goes, I don't think that specific word is the right one in this particular case. The Bearcats gained nearly 500 yards on offense, scored more points against the Eagles than any other team on the LCA schedule thus far before wearing out against Lexington Christian adjustments, talent and depth. Thrashing just doesn't fit what took place in Louisville Friday...and that's from LCA players and coaches who had the character and sportsmanship to convey it after the game. That team from Lexington is a very special one. It was a great gift to get to play them.

Someone forgot to inform the officials that the game needed to stop in the 3rd quarter. KCD actually led 38 35 after the two teams exchanged TDs to begin the second half. Then it was all LCA. The scene afterwards was really one of mutual respect down on the field....really amazing displays of sportsmanship and appreciation for a hard fought game with stars on both sides. Dillon Wheatley was a monster and Nieves ran brilliantly as well. KCDs Jackson Diaz showed great poise and kept his interception free season intact throwing for two scores. And TE Josh Lifson had several circus catches despite being double teamed for much of the game, one catch earning several local TV stations' "Play of the Week." You really must respect how LCA came out blazing in the second half. They took advantage of a KCD squad that was almost to a man going both ways on a tropical night in Louisville. LCA adjusted beautifully, ran hard and didn't blink when KCD took the lead again early in the 3rd quarter. LCA has the character you need to win championships to go along with the obvious talent on display.

Wonderful job of adjustment by LCA in the second half after a big momentum swing touchdown to end the first half. The Eagles really got to work with Wheatley and Nieves following that big line...they are a legit threat to take 2A...took KCDs repeated punches and punched back hard. When it was over, the Bearcats lingered on the field with parents, coaches, exhausted ...Both teams showed great sportsmanship...I watched Dillion Wheatley come up to Josh Lifson...both kids with a healthy amount of respect for each other after it was over. So...what have we learned about KCD? The tape and the rest of the season will be the ultimate answer. But what an honor, what a fight, what a testimony to high school football in Kentucky.

KCD scores 38 35

14 7 KCD after the 1st quarter

KCD up 14 7 seven left in the first quarter

ATLCAT, you're hitting your stride with these....excellent edition for the upcoming week.

A major piece of research and prose, VOR. And very much appreciated. For the KCD followers, you're right, there's no expectation of a win over LCA, but there's a belief it's possible. And as you put it, it's a test for the Bearcats. Can they show that either they're: 1)Ready now or 2)Will benefit from an exposure of weaknesses and prepare to be ready later to compete with the Beechwoods, Paintsvilles etc for a title in class 1A? Either way, it's a great opportunity.

Very well put,winterweather....strong arguments. Most of this stuff is just fun to debate back and forth and then you get a chance to play. That's why it's been enjoyable to read through these types of threads, and that's why I love seeing what the weekly polls are saying, the LIT ratings, the Calpreps numbers....it's a wonderful snapshot in time when you're 5-0 ranked way up high and enjoying your season. I too think that the KCD/Beechwood game has a decent chance of happening( I certainly understand why Ludlow, Frankfort and Holy Cross probably feel like they might just as well be in that game rather than KCD) But if the regional final from last year repeats itself....what a fun week of anticipation that will be for so many Bearcat followers! Let's hope we get a chance to see that game....until then, like so many at the Oscars, KCD is just honored and happy to be nominated.

There's a great deal of excitement at KCD due to this game. Despite being understandable underdogs, like any good team, a number of the kids and the coaches are thrilled to have the opportunity to play a powerhouse in LCA. Some of the keys to "making a game of this" : 1)First series respect. Whether it's on offense or defense, KCD needs to set a tone of mistake free and physical football. That means no early penalties, something of an issue for the Bearcats in the Walton Verona and Bethlehem games. Scoring on, or stopping LCA on that first series is the dream scenario, but realistically beginning this game with some momentum and success is critical. 2)Make LCA earn each score. The Eagles have a balanced and explosive offense..they will score and score repeatedly...there's little doubt of that. But forcing them to drive to score rather than quick home runs helps keep KCD within striking distance for as long as possible. 3)Feed the horses. Very good teams know the players they can count on in competitive games. KCD should get the ball in its best players' hands early and often on offense...despite the balance the Bearcats have shown on offense thus far this year...it's important to ride your horses when against this kind of talented opponent. The consensus from many who've looked at this game is that it's blowout city. You can't blame anyone from coming that conclusion. But having looked at the match up on tape...player per player, it's interesting....there are number of spots where it's pretty even first 11 versus first 11. Lexington Christian has played a tougher schedule, has a winning tradition, has size on its o-line, has swagger and on this upcoming predicted hot Friday night, has much better depth. Yet KCD has some horses too. Here's hoping everyone stays healthy and hydrated and this turns out to be a fun one to watch.

Thanks....this is high school football after all. Many of those on this site played it and would give anything to go back and put on the helmet one more Friday night. And being a senior on a good team, that's such a blessing and a curse. Every game is precious, and it sprints by so quickly. Do you have the maturity as an 17-18 year old to understand how special this time is? And what do you do with that understanding when games like this present themselves. Romps are fun, but they're fast food for the soul. Challenges....that's what makes much of this worthwhile.

Yep....this is the kind of game that if you exit with your squad injury free AND you played hard with a love for the game,you benefit...and you'll remember it. That's why you schedule tough games. Because you have far too much respect for the game to just run it up every week against the safer squads.

Barring some kind of meltdown by Beechwood in the second half of the season, they're the King Cobra. KCD will have to cut the head off to be in the number one spot. And that game won't take place until November. It's not a big secret that I have pretty decent access to the Bearcats. It has been a joy to watch this senior class grow up together, play together, win and lose together. So in a week like this, with an extremely good team coming to town, the focus has to be on pretty much the following mantra--love the game, love each other, play hard. I've watched Lexington Christian. They are a superior team to KCD. They don't have any weak spots in the lineup. As a 1a school that doesn't have a Beechwood, Raceland, Paintsville, Pikeville, Hazard, etc. tradition to bring out the numbers each year, KCD will have some weaker links in the chain this Friday. And LCA's coaches will exploit those weak spots.They are super coaches and they have a better team. But here's where the joy comes in. The scoreboard reflects what the team produces. Football isn't basketball where one player can carry the team on his back and get the win. So I expect the score on Friday to reflect the better team. But it'll be a joy to watch some of KCDs kids, who are every bit as talented as any in the state compete. Those kind of kids should be excited to play against a bigger school that's awfully good. You don't work hard and get pumped up for a team that you will dominate and see a running clock by the 3rd quarter. You sweat and struggle all year to compete against the best. Win or lose, if you love the game....that's where the joy comes. May Friday on Springdale road be a joyful celebration of hard work and opportunity converging. LCAs gonna win most likely, but here's to making it memorable.

The PrepSpin game to hope for is KCD v Waggener at the end of the year...D1 kids Jarius Brents, Tahj Rice and Manny Harper for the Wildcats and Josh Lifson for KCD reason enough...but I'd expect it to be a closer game with the final outcome in doubt. The LCA game figures to be maybe a 3 TD spread or more. Calpreps projects LCA 42 KCD 21.

Have watched the tape on LCA and peeked in numerous times on the live Prepspin broadcasts that have featured the Eagles. They look VERY imposing...as Bac2369 has described, very well balanced, deep for a 2A team, athletic, playing mistake free football. They are very well coached, they know who they are and play hard on both sides of the ball. If you want to beat them, you have to be talented, make no errors and outscore them...because I don't believe you can hold them back offensively. KCD is talented, but last night's game was not a good springboard to a top notch effort against a juggernaut. Sure, the Bearcats took care of business, rolling over an overmatched Bethlehem squad, resting starters for a big portion of the second half. But the offense was sluggish early-- penalty prone, missed assignments dominated the first quarter. On defense, Bethlehem moved the chains far too often. Yes, it was shutout, but KCDs talent overwhelmed the Eagles, and the team from Bardstown made some critical mistakes in the red zone. What's troubling is that the effort last night, just wasn't there. The Bearcats phoned this one in. Equally troubling--KCD is still trying to figure out who it is offensively... the balance just wasn't there against Bethlehem. The running game set a new school record, but not in a crisp, polished kind of way. Instead, big plays ruled the run game, with blocking that was good enough to spring the backs against the Eagles, but won't be nearly good enough against a really good squad like LCA. So now the challenge is to fix a number of weaknesses in a very short time. KCD can probably beat many 1A teams in the state on talent, but that's fools gold when lining up against the best squads. Play like they did at Bethlehem and the game of the week won't be close at all.

Kind of a clunky game from KCD...penalties, blown coverages and just a slow start plagued the Bearcats in Bardstown. Running game was the strength for KCD, a record breaking effort with starters off the entire 4th quarter and part of the 3rd. Some stuff to fix before the big boys from LCA invade next Friday.

KCD ran for a school record, but didn't look so sharp tonight... Lexington Christian looms....the game KCD played tonight will not present much of a challenge for the Eagles....much needs to be fixed.

KCD exits it's emphatic 56-0 win over Carroll County in one piece--no injuries to report. That's a big deal to any team, but especially one with a skinny depth chart like the Bearcats. The season summary thus far: a balanced and explosive offense, coupled with an improved defense, experienced seniors filling most of the starting roster spots. On offense, KCD has passed for just shy of 800 yards and rushed for just shy of 800 yards. 10 different kids have scored a touchdown, six of them multiple times. That's the balance in an offense averaging 44 points a game. On defense, teams are scoring on average around 11 points a game against KCD-- they're rushing for less than 100 yards a game, and they're passing for less than 100 yards a game. Serious hurdles await in just a week and a half when Lexington Christian roars into Louisville, but for now, KCD's kids can be proud they've played hard and played well in the first four games. So the Bearcats present a daunting challenge to the Eagles in Bardstown this Friday. This was a competitive and exciting game two years ago when last KCD traveled to Bethlehem. Graduation has taken QB Matthew Hagen, TE Jameson Hinkebein and RB Hunter Downs, all talented seniors on last year's Eagles team. Without them, Bethlehem faces a KCD squad with essentially the same players from last year's 10-3 regional finalist. It's a group of kids simply one year bigger, stronger and more experienced. I don't really have a prediction for the score, other than to say that I think KCD will continue putting significant points on the scoreboard, and playing improved and stingier defense. What could hurt KCD? Thinking ahead to the following Friday when a different set of Eagles travel to Springdale Road.

That's it...final! 56-0

Jackson Diaz to Josh Lifson for 12 yard TD, KCD 56-0 3:48 left in 3rd

Hunter Bates 20 yard interception for a TD, KCD 49-0 minute to go before halftime

Ashton Robinson 47 yard TD run ...KCD 42-0 ...3:00 left before halftime

Gianni Minor 34 yard TD run...KCD 35-0 with 5:41 left in the half