Jeff Waters

The most exciting game I ever called during my 30 years broadcasting Marshall County Football was the Marshall/Henderson County game at Henderson in 1998 for the 4A, District 1 Championship. Both were ranked in the top 5 in 4A. Marshall won in triple overtime, 42-41. Marshall's Bobby Sanders and Justin Ard and Henderson's Brian Bivins were all later starters on Murray State's 2002 OVC Championship team.

I wouldn't read too much into a preseason scrimmage. No doubt in my mind that Graves is a preseason top 3 to 4 team in the region and will be in the mix come February.

Good point. Last summer I had more than one coach in the region tell me that Tilghman's Devon Hart was going to have a breakout season last year, and they were right. I saw him play probably 8 times last year and I love the kid's game. He was my #10 pick in last year's rankings, and as the year went on I thought I should have ranked him higher. But when I looked back, I'm not sure who I would have switched him with, based on the previous season's performance of numbers 1 through 9. I dare say that every year in almost every region a kid has a breakout type season and by the end of the year they are a top 10 player, even though they may not have made any preseason top 10 rankings.

lovin_war, I noticed that for the second straight year that you’re the first one to be critical of my rankings. You certainly have the right to do that, and my observations are never above second-guessing. However, let me suggest that you actually buy the yearbook and read the team capsules. You say that Graves should have at least 2 players in the top 10. Vogt is a given. Who are the others? I think Ryan Mathis is going to be a star in the region, and I think Christian Gough is going to be a force in the paint this season. And I point these things out in the team capsules. In fact, the reason I rank Graves #3 is because of their frontline and the matchup problems they will give other teams in the region. Now, could Gough and Mathis be considered top 10 players in the region by the end of the season? Absolutely. I think they’re outstanding players. But, based on the numbers and performances last season of those that are in the top 10, who would you bump out to make room? If you can make a compelling argument for it, I’ll be glad to listen.