Nathaniel Bryan

Not necessarily. If you're saying "all undefeated teams should be in the top 25", you're assuming the win quotient/factor trumps everything else, when most computers have built in things like scoring margin, road/home/neutral and strength of schedule. And it is possible to start it at at zero/equal. Take a four-team pool: A goes 3-0, beats B, beats C, beats D B goes 2-1, beats C, beats D, but loses to A C goes 1-2, beats D, but loses to A and loses to B D goes 0-3, losing to A, losing to B, losing to C Any computer, with a coefficient or not, should tell you a win over B or C is worth more than a win over D (since every team but D beat D and D can't play itself). Where I'm from, there's a 3-0 team (Elizabethtown) that is far from the rankings from other 3-0 teams (Male, Mayfield, South Warren) and behind a 2-1 area rival (Central Hardin). I don't think E'town fans are disappointed/mad/claiming computer bias given their schedule.

For a school of its size and a program of its nature, Adair County has a solid schedule. As far as leaving starters in -- like someone else said, the JV players already have JV games and the freshmen have already played in freshman games, if not JV games too -- there is something to be said about leaving them in. NOT exactly to run up the score, but you do need to test their stamina. Because against teams like E'town and in the playoffs, those starters will be needed in the third and fourth quarters. And how do you know they'll react and deliver if you never play them in the third and fourth quarter?

Like I said on another thread, CalPreps and MaxPreps are better NOW, because they have more data NOW (out of state games). Lit and Cantrall will catch up near the end of the regular season and I'm fairly confident all four (Cantrall, Lit, Max, Cal) will be fairly similar in their playoff projections. But like you, I laugh when posters talk about leaving out Johnson Central (not enough games against Kentucky teams, which are the ONLY teams Cantrall take into consideration) or having bias/favorites/teams they're partial to (unless teams start off with a certain ranking instead of zero/being equal, that's not very likely).

I think CalPreps and MaxPreps are more accurate than Cantrall and Lit NOW, simply because they have more data (out of state games). Toward the end of the year, I have no doubt the four computer rankings - Cantrall of the LHL, Lit of the CJ, MaxPreps and CalPreps - will be eerily similar, if not exact in their order of rankings (since they'll have similar data and use similar factors such as win margin, strength of schedule, etc.). That's what I was getting at. Like you, I don't think there's a great bit of difference between John Hardin and Warren Central. However, it seemed to me Brown felt Owensboro deserved MORE credit for beating Warren Central (winless) and Owensboro Catholic (winless against Kentucky teams) than South Warren (which destroyed a team which beat Warren Central). Owensboro also beat Madisonville, but South Warren also beat Apollo and Greenwood. And I'm not so sure Madisonville is that much better than Apollo and Greenwood -- if at all. Owensboro has wins over HISTORICALLY good teams, but I'm not sure they're actually good teams. This season at least. And I'd say the same about any school which beats Meade (closer to my home) this year. Meade was absolutely outstanding the past two seasons. But look at Meade's schedule this year and take into account they lost something like 20-of-22 starters. Meade will be lucky to go .500. And I'm not so sure even .500 is likely.

John Hardin's best athlete, Witherspoon, hasn't played yet this season (if he will at all). And John Hardin's got a monster being unleashed this weekend from Texas (transferred in late). Huge lineman. John Hardin also had some players benched in the first quarter against South Warren (when things quickly came unraveled). John Hardin hasn't exactly been at full force, either. That being said, CalPreps computer says John Hardin is better than Caldwell County and Owensboro Catholic. CalPreps has Warren Central 64th in the state, Greenwood 69th. So not much difference there. Furthermore, John Hardin beat North Hardin by 19 at North. Caldwell County won by fewer (14) and was at home (John was on the road). I think you're discrediting John simply for losing to a very, very, very good South Warren team, yet trying to bolster teams such as Warren Central (lost to John) and Owensboro Catholic (lost to Daviess) simply on name recognition and not actual body of work. At least Tilghman has played three solid teams (all in the top 1,600 in the country; all in the top-21 in the state according to CalPreps). Daviess County NOR Owensboro either have beaten anybody in the top 3,300 (Owensboro Catholic is 50th in the state, which is coincidentally the best win for both Daviess and Boro). Owensboro Catholic has North Hardin later, so that will be good to see (since John Hardin also played North Hardin; South Warren also plays North Hardin). John Hardin hung 40 on North and held it to 21 (Caldwell allowed 35 to North).

Well, Central Hardin just beat that same Bullitt East team (CH actually trailed late in the second quarter until Barbour's return gave the Bruins the lead for good. And CH crushed BE after halftime). Central Hardin also went on the road and beat Tilghman, but some people act like the sky is falling on the Blue Tornado. I'd say beating PT at PT qualifies as a good win, but PT needs to step it up a notch. Central Hardin is solid and plays a tough schedule (much tougher than any the Bruins have faced in the last 10 years, although Bullitt East and Woodford aren't as good as some folks thought they would be). The Central Hardin-South Warren game could be a good one.

Marshall County Hoopfest isn't a TOURNAMENT per se. But it is a great, great event. What makes the Hoopfest so great is: 1) It's early 2) Out-of-state teams, notably prep-school squads FWIW, Kentucky teams can't play prep-school squads (who have 5-star guys) because KHSAA forbids teams from playing teams which aren't members of their state association.

John Hardin was a regional champ last year ... and brings back a lot. Meade County was a regional champ last year ... and lost almost everything. Less than 5 starters back from last year total/combined. Many folks in Brandenburg will be ecstatic if Meade can even be .500 (5-5) this year with such personnel losses and a daunting schedule (still have Central Hardin and North Hardin and Bryan Station and CAL and John Hardin and Warren Central left). Maybe Macon County Tennessee, but right now, Meade County is NOT an overwhelming favorite in ANY game remaining. With such a rebuilding team, Meade's schedule did it no favors.

1) South Warren/John Hardin was NEUTRAL. It was at WKU, not on South's home field. 2) Yes Owensboro beat Warren Central. But South Warren flattened John Hardin ... and Warren Central just got BEAT by John Hardin. So South beating John trumps/overrules Owensboro beating Warren Central (which is winless, FWIW). 3) Owensboro beat Owensboro Catholic. ... So did Daviess (who is unbeaten and unranked). If you're going to be throwing some love toward Owensboro, then you better do it for South Warren (better win), John Hardin (beat Warren Central too) and Daviess County (also beat Owensboro Catholic).

Unless you are a nationwide computer rating, like CalPreps or Maxpreps, state computers (LIT for the CJ, Cantrall for the LHL) should probably wait until Week 7 (each team has played at least five games, no team has played more than six). More data equals better results, at least theoretically. I'm assuming by the end of the year, MaxPreps, CalPreps, LHL Cantrall and CJ Litkenhous will be fairly similar.

Not disagreeing at all. E'town's first two wins were cupcakes. Many teams would have started 2-0 against that schedule. That being said, E'town was NOT a trendy pick to beat North Oldham. Lots of folks -- especially in the E'town area itself, not just Oldham -- figured E'town would crumble in its first big test. And E'town dominated the game from start to finish. Unfortunately for E'town, North Hardin won't have near as much bus lag this week as it did by playing at Caldwell. But depending on how things shake out, maybe BOTH E'town and Caldwell deserve to be in top 10. Or E'town loses and the discussion stops. Join us next week as ...

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL UPDATE: Meade County 44, North Hardin 37 (10/25) By Nathaniel Bryan Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 10:00 am (Updated: October 25, 10:00 am) "With some key pieces injured, Meade County’s offense has been a work in progress. And although the Green Wave are far from completely healthy, their offense bailed out their usually solid defense in a 44-37 shootout win over North Hardin on Friday night in what turned out to be the season finale for the visiting Trojans." ... "On Senior Night, the Green Wave sat three seniors because of injuries in fullback/linebacker Tyler Addesa, running back/linebacker Micah Kaiser and wide receiver/defensive back Will King. Three other seniors were injured in the game in tight end/linebacker Tristin Morris and two-way linemen Ethan Pelletier and Tyler Compton." ... "Fullback Dylan Tucker ran for a team-high 102 yards on just nine carries"

Thanks for the breakdown. Doesn't make much sense to me, seeing E'town is further east than Central Hardin or that LaRue County is in the same district as E'town (and most always has been) and those two teams are in separate "areas." Maybe should have gone just straight up district Numbers (1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8). But because of the large amount of 6-A schools from Louisville, that would throw it off, too. Don't think there's a perfect solution unless you just do it by class (which we already do, but it's always fun to compare schools regardless of class). Either way, GREAT BREAKDOWN!

Well, Elizabethtown has North Hardin next, so we'll see in comparison with Caldwell. Elizabethtown's offense has been efficient -- it could have hung 50 on North Oldham and E'town's offensive starters have yet to stay in a whole game -- and the Panthers' defense has locked down everyone. HOWEVER, E'town has not seen a team yet like North Hardin. Speed everywhere. Way more size. Way more depth. E'town has a ton of players going both ways, including the Panthers' top-seven players or so. E'town's starting quarterback is also the starting middle linebacker. Granted score comparison is not exactly the best way to determine who is better -- Were there players out? Weather determining if teams have to stray away from usual style? Unusual turnovers? Road or home? -- but if Elizabethtown absolutely handles North Hardin better than Caldwell or John Hardin, the Panthers should probably be higher.

North gave Meade's BACKUPS fits last year. Meade had several guys out in that game because Mofield rested them. I believe Meade's third or fourth option running back was scoring touchdowns on North. North was in that game, but was never really a threat to win. It was more shocking it was a shootout, but I would have been floored if North pulled it off.

Computers agree with you. When considering Meade/Warren Central/North Hardin: CalPreps says Meade County, Warren Central, North Hardin. MaxPreps says Meade County, Warren Central, North Hardin. That being said, John Hardin is far more athletic and experienced defensively than Meade County (maybe not at times fundamentally and scheme, though). John Hardin's offense is way more dynamic than Meade. You can stack the box on Meade all day. John Hardin has probably four backs -- not even counting Witherspoon -- faster than anyone Meade has.

Pretty good list. Here's how the CalPreps (computer) Louisville area shakes out: Trinity Male St. Xavier DuPont Manual DeSales Pleasure Ridge Park Central Hardin (if we're considering Hardin County as Louisville metro) Spencer County Central (of Louisville, the Yellowjackets) Fern Creek Elizabethtown (if we're considering Hardin County as Louisville metro) Ballard Christian Academy-Louisville calpreps.com

How come Elizabethtown is considered WKY, but Central Hardin is considered Louisville metro? They are literally on the same street (U.S. 62/Mulberry/Leitchfield road). Elizabethtown is further east than Central Hardin. CH is actually closer to Western Kentucky Parkway. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Elizabethtown+High+School,+North+Mulberry+Street,+Elizabethtown,+KY/Central+Hardin+High+School,+Leitchfield+Road,+Cecilia,+KY/@37.6905339,-85.9160603,12z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x8868e8cd8d39b53b:0xd852162555c2f9ad!2m2!1d-85.852489!2d37.704705!1m5!1m1!1s0x8868e9958c077999:0xcffdb43cfdee769c!2m2!1d-85.9068478!2d37.6754201

Hardin County borders Jefferson County. You can stay on Dixie (31-W) coming south out of Louisville and you'd run into Fort Knox, North Hardin (turn at Prather), John Hardin (you can see it from Dixie), Central Hardin (turn right on Ring Road) and then Elizabethtown (turn left on Ring Road). That being said, Elizabethtown is considered its own metro area. Elizabethtown is also in the Eastern time zone. Only one other Eastern time zone county that could be considered Western Kentucky is Meade (and Meade is the ONLY Eastern time zone school in the 3rd Region).

Trinity's first two wins are better than any other Kentucky school's best win, according to the computers for MaxPreps and CalPreps. Kentucky High School Football Rankings - MaxPreps calpreps.com CalPreps: Trinity's schedule strength is state-best 46.3. Covington Catholic second at 41.8. Third is Fairdale (34.8). MaxPreps (entering Week 3, does not include Week 3 results): Covington Catholic's schedule strength is state-best 46.6. Trinity is No. 2 at 46.3. Rounding out top five are Henry Clay (third, 39.9), Tates Creek (fourth, 39.3) and Warren Central (fifth, 36.9).

That is impressive, no doubt. But I've seen Young play before. Quick, elusive, good vision. Not the biggest or strongest player, but he's one fine high school player. And there's nothing wrong with that. Why didn't I mention him? Because I didn't know his stats.

PASSING - Bardstown's Santrel Farmer threw for four touchdowns in the Tigers' 43-6 win against Marion County. - Belfry's Avery Browning - perhaps the only freshman to start at quarterback in Pirates' history - was 2-of-2 passing for two touchdowns in ther 43-0 win against Harlan County. - Boyle County's Josiah Robbins was 19-of-31 passing for four touchdowns and 407 yards in a 42-20 win against Danville. - Glasgow's Dessi Austin threw for four touchdowns and 248 yards in the 34-15 win against Barren County. - Owensboro Catholic's Ray Zuberer threw for four touchdowns and 276 yards in a losing effort to Owensboro, 35-28. - Tates Creek's Peyton Burke was 15-of-26 passing for five touchdowns - dividing them up amongst four players - and 247 yards in a 42-29 win over Paul Laurence Dunbar. - Trigg County's Taco Wilson threw for four touchdowns in a 48-18 win over visiting Caverna. RECEIVING - Trinity's Rodjay Burns tied James Quick's single-game 2010 record with four touchdown receptions against Lafayette. Burns finished with 105 receiving yards. - Collins' Dalton Maggard had 208 receiving yards in the Titans' loss to Eastern. - Glasgow's Ben Hughes had three touchdown receptions in the 34-15 win over Barren County. RUSHING - Elizabethtown's Berneil Cecil ran for 241 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries in the Panthers' 38-0 win over the visiting North Oldham Mustangs. - Estill County's Kordell Day ran for three touchdowns, one conversion and more than 200 yards as the Engineers rolled up more than 400 rushing yards in a 49-39 win against Frankfort. - Johnson Central had three players run for at least 100 yards - Conner Ratliff (113 yards), Bryce Skaggs (111) and Brice Workman (107) - in the win at Lexington Catholic. - Madison Central's Johan Williams ran for three touchdowns and 174 yards as the Indians beat Bourbon County, 52-28. - St. Xavier's Blake Roshkowski's scored two of his four touchdowns on the ground in the Tigers' 45-19 win against Bowling Green. - Trinity's Jailen Reed ran for more than 100 of his 163 yards in the opening 12 minutes against Lafayette. Reed finished with three rushing touchdowns. - North Hardin's Taven Graves carried the ball 22 times for two touchdowns and 212 yards in the Trojans' 49-35 loss at Caldwell County. - Three players in the Henry Clay-George Rogers Clark game - GRC's Josiah Israel (176 yards), Henry Clay's Davonte Robinson (128) and Henry Clay's Austin Bledsoe (126) - ran for more than 100 yards as the Blue Devils beat the Cardinals, 35-13. AWESOME OFFENSE - DuPont Manual's 57 points in its win against Seneca was the Crimsons' highest-scoring output in 60 games since a 59-14 win over Fern Creek on Aug. 27, 2010. - Trinity's 70 points were the most allowed by Lafayette in eight seasons. The Generals' previous worst was 65 ... against Trinity (Nov. 7, 2008). Trinity was one touchdown -- and the extra point -- from matching the school's single-game points record (77). DANDY DEFENSE - Bryan Station shut out Cooper after the Jaguars entered 2-0 and averaging 36.0 points per game. - Elizabethtown, which entered Friday allowing just one touchdown per game, shut out North Oldham. North Oldham entered averaging 43.0 points per game. It was the Mustangs' first offfensive shutout in 26 games. Elizabethtown has held three straight opponents to less than 200 yards. - Previously winless Louisville Central forced five turnovers in its 28-21 win over Christian Academy-Louisville. FREE FOOTBALL - Ohio County moved to 3-0, but it wasn't easy as the Eagles beat the Hancock County Hornets in OT, 13-7. - Paintsville's Kash Daniel ran for the conversion on the game's final play as the Tigers edged Pikeville in OT, 23-22. SLOW STARTS - Central Hardin trailed winless Bullitt East 6-0 with less than a minute remaining in the first half before the Bruins won, 35-13. - Eastern fell behind 14-0 before beating Collins in a shootout, 49-44. RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE - Scott County led 33-0 in the opening 12 minutes and 40-0 before halftime in its 54-28 win over Highlands. - St. Xavier's Blake Roshkowski returned the opening kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown in the Tigers' home win against Bowling Green. STILL UNBEATEN - Trinity coach Bob Beatty moved to 15-0 (in 16 seasons) against teams from Fayette County. WELCOME BACK (KOTTER) - Elizabethtown's Hunter Sullivan, who was expected to miss most - if not all - of this football season after having Tommy John surgery in the spring, caught a touchdown pass and threw for a touchdown in the Panthers' 38-0 win over the North Oldham Mustangs. MORE THAN A DECADE - With its 50-7 win against Fort Campbell, Hopkinsville is 3-0 for the first time since 2004. - Warren Central lost at John Hardin, matching the Dragons' longest losing streak (5; first three of 2015, final two of 2014) in 20 years according to warprodlive on twitter. EARLY ENDINGS - According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Bryan Station's win against Cooper was "called seconds into the third quarter due to weather and broken glass on the field." - Lexington Christian's 21-6 win over Green County was called shortly after halftime "due to lightning in the area" according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. - Henry Clay led George Rogers Clark 35-13 with 3:53 left in the game when it was called due to weather, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.