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What Murray has lacked in the last several years is consistency! Whomever comes in needs to set structure and rebuild the program from the youth level on up. The community was frustrated with the last couple of regimes on several levels. A fresh start is needed. I won't disagree with @Toothpick, Mayfield is Mayfield. But I will also say that Murray has the athletes and the pipeline to compete with them with the right person at the helm. If anyone has given the Cardinals fits (other than Beechwood) it has been Murray. It will be interesting how the new coach takes on the program and whether he is able to get backing from the community.

After two years at the helm in TigerTown, looks like Coach Bowling is taking his knowledge to Jackson, TN.

Seems Newport is slowing the game down to limit Lyon Co possessions. Not sure it that works toward their benefit. Lyon Co doesn't seem to be in rhythm either. The length of Newport is giving Lions fits. It will be an interesting second half.

Understand the comfort factor and it will be interesting to follow Travis at the next level. I do agree he can still develop more in the paint but I have a hard time stating "He’s not very athletic". If I recall, Travis Perry is the #1 rated junior in KY and #10 nationally as a PG per 247Sports. The 4 star rating he currently has in not determined in his "small town" and/or by his coach (dad). I have a hard time believing he is not athletic. 6-2 is about average for a D1 PG although I think he is a better shooter/scorer and will probably transition to that in college. Wish this young man nothing but good fortune at the next level.

PT will be reloading the next four years. It's hard for me to say McCracken will beat them anytime soon. The Mustangs are rebuilding and I've heard coach Smith is getting better numbers to the program. Just not sure how much they will be able to compete this year. Maddox O'Neal is new to the program. I will agree that his ceiling is very high but he is coming off major knee surgery. I don't believe he has taken a varsity snap yet. It will be challenging for the sophomore to win immediately.

Whitaker has been out for most of the season and this allowed other "roll" players to get some serious experience. The Tigers have won 13 out of the last 14 games. Regionals will be fun in Region 1.

This is a great RPI schedule for the Tigers. They were in rebuild mode last year after several successful years. Caldwell should be much improved. I would put them second in district 1.

PT jumps into 4A with high hopes. Year 3 of Coach Thompson tenure, he will need to show results. They should win their district. The Blue Tornado have the talent to compete with anyone in the state. Questions lie on their offensive play calling and discipline. McCracken is rebuilding, adding Maddox O'neal at QB will give the Mustangs a single caller for the next three years. If he stays! They will still have gowning pains and it will be hard to overcome Henderson for the district. Ballard... is Ballard. Calloway and Marshall should improve. The Lakers are still very young considering they played many freshman and sophomores. Tough districts for them both. Murray has many questions. Numbers still are low and having Biggers sporting the red helmet, they will need to find playmakers. They have a couple of good groups coming up in their pipeline, but for the present, expect a season similar to this past year. Graves should maintain right where they sit, behind O'boro. The Eagles don't seem to have that 1 or 2 players that can give them an edge to win. Very well coached and disciplined team. Looks like another 8-2, 7-3 season on the horizon. Mayfield will be reloaded. Skill wise, they can compete with anyone in 2A. Cartwright is a senior with 2 years of QB experience for the Cardinals. With JuJu in the backfield and sprinkle Biggers there some, Dabney, Kirby, Biggers, and Hoover on the outside, this group has the capability to be special. They will have to replace important pieces in the OL, but Mayfield is great at finding the kids to make it work. The Cardinals will also have some really good freshmen that could contribute to this coming season.

Guess it's official. Maddox is back at McCracken Co per his twitter account: @MaddoxO_3. He has the potential to be special with the right personnel. Not sure of the reason(s) for the move. I'm guessing he will be starting for the Mustangs this coming season. Good luck to him and his bright future. Tough loss for the Cards.

Things are getting tight in Region 1. McCracken is still the favorite but they are having to find a way to win close games. Marshall has shown they can't be overlooked. Calloway has played better than expected. Murray will get Grant Whitaker back soon and he makes the Tigers click on a whole different level.

Cartwirght developed really good during his Jr. campaign. Having him back with JuJu in the backfield will have Mayfield as frontrunners in 2A and favorites to get back to Kroger. I heard that Maddox O'Neal may not be a Cardinal next year. That would be a tough loss after Cartwright graduates. O'Neal is a very good young Qb. Heard he is moving back to McCracken.

I feel like Mayfield has been too cautious with their play call. Too many inside runs to me. Looks like the ball got away from Cartwright in the INT. He will have to step up in the 2nd half for Mayfield to have a chance.

Mayfield hasn't adjusted to the power run game on Beechwood's heavy set. #10 Robinson Jr. has been the difference through the air. Both teams have had a 1st and goal and came out with missed FGs. Still anyone's game.

I think points will be at a premium today! The Tigers come in allowing 7 pts per game with 5 scoreless games. They Cardinals are giving up 10 pts per game with 4 scoreless games. For both teams, these numbers could have been even lower considering running clocks and JV defenses on the field. That's kind of scary if you ask me!! Beechwood's schedule has them battle tested playing bigger schools early and often. After loosing (In my eyes) Mr. KY Football, they have continued to have success on the ground with a RB by committee. Can it continue today? Can Hayden make enough plays to keep Mayfield's defense honest? The Cardinals defensive strength is their box play. The Cardinals seem to be peaking at the right time. 184 yards on 34 carries in the semis, Juju seems to be as healthy as he's been all season. QB Cartwright has come on in the playoffs coming off of the best two outings he's had all year. The Cardinals have a very balanced air attack and have athletes across the field to make plays. Will it be enough? This game will come down to QB play. For that, I give the edge to Mayfield. Mayfield 24 Beechwood 21 Good luck to both teams! I couldn't make the trip, but I will be watching.

15- Boyle Co 5- Frederick Douglass 4- Male 3- Mayfield 2- CAL 1- Pikeville

Mayfield has had the luxury of playing heavy run teams in the playoffs to go along with their stingy run defense. It's not easy That all changes this week when Mr. Boley and the Eagles comes to town. LCA averages 300+ yards through the air but have also given the ball away plenty (14 interceptions). Do the Cardinals have the game plan to slow down LCA's passing attack? To me, this will be the key. I don't remember Mayfield being tested this year like they will be this week. Has LCA visited Mayfield in the past? I don't recall them playing at War Memorial but I may be wrong. Playing at War Memorial in November is special if you are the home team. Many... and I mean many really good teams have made the drive west on Thanksgiving week but only 1, in recent memory, has come out of there with the win. Good luck to both teams. I'm excited to watch this game in WKY. Safe travels to everyone who makes this game. Mayfield-38 LCA-28

5- Bullitt East 4- Mayfield 3- Bardstown 2- Male 1- Bowling Green

Bullitt East Logan Co Union Co Mason Co Breathitt Co

I'd say 1st place team gets a by in the first round. There are a couple of games were 2v3 are interesting. I'm curious to see what the average score is by taking the 1v4 games out.

RPI is used starting in the third round (this weekend) but is still divided by an east and west bracket. Districts 1-4 pair and 5-8, respectively. In the 4th round, RPI is again used with the remaining semifinalist where east/west no longer applies.

Mayfield is 100% the favorite. They are probably going to rest JuJu again this week to get healthy for the coming games. The Cardinals boast a stingy defense that has been great all year. They held Murray to 10 points the firs go around. Well under Murray's average for the year (33.7 ppg). Mayfield's varsity defense has not given up more than 1 touchdown to any opponent outside of Paducah (2) all year. The 26 & 22 points given up to McCracken and Todd, respectively, were against they jv/freshman defense. Points allowed by Mayfield are at a premium this year ?... Especially at War Memorial. Thanks for the info @TilghmanPride Guess I didn't realize those numbers for the Tigers. The roster may say they dress 30 kids but I can tell you only about 14 touch the field outside of special teams. Their low numbers have a couple of factors: first, the previous coach left the program in disarray from the youth up to HS. Second, coach Bowling's offseason program is not for the faint of heart. Structure, rules, buying-in have caused several kids to not finish the season. For example, only 2 seniors (Curtis & Sokolowski) play significant minutes on this Tiger squad. Murray comes into this game on a roller coaster season. They score plenty of points, but also give up just as many. They are currently sitting at 6-5 for the season and many who follow them feel like they could easily be 9-2. Only teams that seemed to outmatch them so far, Union & Mayfield. The Tigers have been their own worst enemy throughout the season with fumbles and turnovers. Mayfield capitalized the first game scoring 28 points off of turnovers. Murray has to play mistake free to keep it close and have a chance but that is something they have not done all season. If Murray has more than 1 turnover, I see Mayfield naming the score.

5- Highlands 4- BG 3- Woodford Co 2- Trinity 1- Manual

The Bears were a decent team, not saying that at all. Their record is good at 8-2 but didn’t play anyone outside of OCath and maybe Metcalf. I was more on the fact that Murray is so turnover prone. Can’t compete at a high level like that.

Murray can’t get out of their own way…. An interception, 2 fumbles, and onside kicked recovered…. can’t win versus good competition with four turnovers.

It looked like nobody in the 2nd district wanted to come in second. Hancock Co beat Butler 28-0. At this point, they are in 2nd place. Then they lose to McClean 14-21 and Todd Co 14-16 and puff... no playoffs for the Hornets! I thought they were the 2nd best team in this district. Butler beat McClean 27-12 and Todd Co 27-21. The Bears are a run heavy team. #23 (Dunnells) is a big back that runs down hill. #2 (Grubbs) & #5 (Hunt) will be their outside threats. Their defense will have to hold a Murray offense that is also a smash mouth team. Murray comes into the playoffs with a LOT of questions. The main one: which Tiger defense is going to show up? The offense has clicked all season, averaging 34.4 per game. The only game they were held under 20 is Mayfield (10). That's considering they've fumbled the ball 22 times, losing 12 of them ?‍♂️. In their wins, the defense allowed 11.5 ppg. In their loses, on the other hand, 37.7 ?. Growing pains has been the story all season. Murray plays 3 (sometimes 4) freshman, 2 sophomores, 4 juniors, and only 2 seniors of defense. Murray 28 Butler 14