VF111

That’s the worst 4Th quarter coverage I think I have ever seen by a good team. I mean, that was offensive by Cov Cath. What on earth?!?

Madisonville is not in the CalPreps top 10 of schedule strength per this thread, which I was referring to. But to be honest, no, I am not that high on Tilghman and seriously doubt they'll be playing in the Finals this year. Nonetheless, that was an impressive win. I did miss the Corbin win by Pulaski. That is a legit win over a Paducah Tilghman-like opponent. I think Owensboro's win over O-Cath is a good win, but I think O-Cath caught some mythology with their win against a BG team that is far from who they are shaping up to be. No, I don't think Scott Co. has a win against a quality top-tier opponent other than BG. The Collins win is a good one, but that's it. Are there some wins against good teams by 5A, yes. Has anyone in 5A beaten anyone in 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, or 6A that is going to likely play in the Finals this year... no, I don't think they have.

This would be a more interesting argument if any of the 5A teams had beaten any of the teams that made their schedule so tough. Essentially, between all of those top 10 teams, you have Cooper's win against Ryle and Scott Co.'s win against BG. The rest, and I mean, all of the rest, 5A has not beaten the quality teams on their schedules.

Just for clarification, Logan has been pretty good for nine years now. They went from 1-9 in 2016 to 11-1 in 2017. Time flies!

I think Campbellsville has an abundance of speed that neither Pikeville nor Raceland has.

I think 5A is coming clear. BG appears to be settling in. I'm going to predict that there are going to be a couple of teams in the playoffs who are going to be really upset that BG is where they will be in the RPI because a high seed is going to draw the Purples early. Cooper still has the best QB in 5A. That matters. Owensboro's first two games were totally misleading. They are much better than those scores indicate. Scott Co. is going to be a VERY tough out for anyone in 5A. Question Marks... Madisonville - What happens when they can't run the ball? Woodford - These next three weeks will tell us a lot about them. Atherton - Will their lack of schedule strength fail to harden them for teams that can semi-run with them and play disciplined football? Pulaski - Are they good or not? The Laurels - What happens when they play the elite teams of 5A?

Ryle is 1-1 against these two...

This begins a three game stretch where we can finally get a gauge on where Woodford actually is in 5A. Thus far, Woodford’s wins are against opponents who are 2-3 (Fairdale), 2-3 (Harvest Prep), 1-5 (Great Crossing) and 2-4 (Heritage). The only team they have played with a winning record, Munford (5-0), they lost to.

You can see BGHS's complete football history HERE. It is linked on their Football Page I'll say this... while the Purples have struggled this year. I would not want to catch them in the playoffs if I were one of these teams looking to have that Cinderella season.

It is apparent that Atchley came with some baggage into this job... but Christian Co. knew that. It is also apparent that Christian Co. HS football came with some baggage into this hire... but Atchley knew that. It seems that oil and water got together for a football season and were somehow surprised that they didn't mix well. That said, the toxicity of Christian Co. Schools, in particular surrounding this six-year merger, on social media and in general conversations, may be as bad as any of us has ever seen for any district in KY. At this point, they want to consider renaming (again) the new HS "Chernobyl".

The next three weeks will tell us a lot about Woodford. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that at the end of the next three weeks, "5A is Woodford's to lose" will not be what we are saying.

Should we do the Top 10 in 5A like they do bingo? Just put the names of the 12-15 teams we all think are decent for 5A, and then pull them out and call them out in order, and that's how we rank them? 'Cause my goodness, at this point, there is only one thing that's for sure, and that is that there is no clear #1. Maybe not even a clear Top 5.

Not me. BG is starting to get healthy. The Purples are getting the best preparation for the 5A playoffs of any team in 5A. When the playoffs start, BG's FR QB will have played a half against St. X, and started against Scott Co., South Warren, CAL, and Franklin Co. This is also good for BG. For forever, BG has been the team that everyone has said, "I have a bad, bad feeling about this, since we're playing the Purples." It's good for the program to have to fight uphill for a while. I think the focus and buy-in for the program only improve from a game like this. My glass is half full. Go Purples!

Bump.

I think a Mr. Football excels regardless of the competition and regardless of the limitations of the factors within his own team. To be the best player in KY means that essentially, irrespective of who you are playing, you are just out of everyone's league.

Glasgow, Raceland, and O-Cath all stick out because they are smaller schools, and it is easier (albeit never truly easy) to sneak up and win a championship in the smaller classes historically. For sheer talent that has come through the school, I don't think anyone can argue that it is amazing that Boone has never gotten over the hump... especially pre-1992 when Ryle came on the scene and began step one of the "Boone Co. HS dismantling project". Henderson Co. is just a mystery. They had their best chances with Will Fidler and Co. and Tom Duffy pulling the levers. But honestly, Henderson has just never been much of a "powerhouse" of a program.

Owensboro 35-14 Catholic's reputation this year has been built on beating a BG team that has since changed QBs and was down all three starting WRs, one of whom (Barber) entered the season as a legit Mr. Football candidate, as well as their most versatile defensive player, Jaxon Smith. Owensboro's reputation took a beating from what now looks like two losses to the #2 and #3 overall teams in KY (take your pick between CAL and X as to who is #2 and who is #3).

Cooper has the best win of any team in 5A (Ryle) Scott Co. has the second-best win of any team in 5A (BG) If Atherton wins Friday, they will have the second-best win of any team in 5A (Manual) If BG wins Friday, it is arguable that they would have the best win and certainly the second-best win of any team in 5A (South Warren) As it stands, Woodford is not in that conversation. 1. Cooper 2. Scott Co. 3. Atherton 4. BG 5-10 Mixed bag... including Woodford.

I think Male comes down to the second tier. They have won a lot of games, but some of that is a product of being around forever. Overall, they have won 8 championships in the modern era, placing them tied for 10th overall in KY. Bluebloods - Good in the past, and have never stopped being relevant Trinity, X, Mayfield, Beechwood, Highlands Close to Bluebloods Bowling Green - Since the mid-90s, have been an absolute powerhouse in KY Danville - A history as good as any blueblood, but the drop off has been severe Cov Cath - Same as BGHS, but dating back to the mid-80s. They're really close Boyle - Like BGHS and Cov Cath, their rise in the last three decades has been epic... and at the cost of Davnille's fall. Belfry - I'd put them there with Cov Cath in terms of how close they are. But pre-2000, they weren't really in the conversation. Male - I do feel somewhat disrespectful not calling them a Blueblood as the 3rd winningest team in the Nation, but they just don't quite make it there for me. Probably the team I feel the most torn on when it comes to my list.

Bump

Same

Ryle.. by a lot. Cooper made sure everyone remembered them last year, and there is a line to remind them of debts to be paid back.

Owensboro 42-7 Please don't mistake Daviess Co. for CAL or St. X. When Owensboro lines up against Daviess Co. on Friday night, Owensboro's players will have spent the last two weeks playing against superior competition at every single position than what they will play against in Daviess Co. The game is going to seem in slow motion for them. No knock against Daviess, but that is simply the truth for 90% of programs in KY when compared with this year's CAL team and St. X annually.

I'd venture to say these firings had little to do with the game outcomes.

Highlands and South have largely shown themselves to be regular-season juggernauts who flame out in the playoffs. Cooper and BG, and several others, have owned them in the playoffs in recent years (except for the 2021 South team). If I were either of those two, I wouldn't be patting myself too hard on the back or thumbing my nose at 5A just yet.