jeff jackson

Murray Trinity Highlands OB Catholic Ashland

I think nearly everyone is giving the Tornado the nod in this weeks game, some even calling for a running clock and maybe that's what happens, but, I also know that despite what the Cardinals have done thus far, they are still a deep and talented team with there best days still ahead of them. All they need is to find the right pieces, put them in the right places and execute there game plan. The talent is there. Between the 1st and 3rd games is when they typically find there footing and start playing up to there potential. With that said, PT still may be too big an obstical to climb, but, I expect a much closer game than most will expect.

I'm thinking PT just has too many horses for the Eagles to contain all night long. I.m thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of 42-21 Tornados...

Highlands Trinity Crittenden Co Franklin Co N Oldham

I agree with you. PT looked very good tonight against McCracken. Lots of depth in the trenches and athletes all over the field. I also think Cov Cath & Corbin are a little down from the past few years. I wouldn't eliminate Franklin Co from the mix yet though. They'll have a say in things.

Mayfield's issue was dropped passes. They have to secure the ball before trying to make a big run after catch. Graves run game was bad. The Cards D did great against the run but couldn't get stops on 3rd and long. They did alot of poor tackling when they should have gotten stops. Graves D did a good job all night and got the big int turnover when needed. I think both teams will be fine as the season wears on. Graves may well be the favorite in D1 5a this year. Mayfield should handle the rest of their schedule outside of maybe Tilghman and I still expect a deep playoff run from them.

I don't expect too many teams will be able to score that much against this Cardinal defense. The offense may take a few weeks to gel into a real solid unit, but, they've got the pieces to be very good on that side of the ball, too. They have about 65 on the roster, so, they'll have options on both sides and should be about as deep as they've ever been. I expect this game to be about 31 - 14 when all's said and done.

I expect Boyle to handle LCA by 28 or so, but, I'm not sure any other 2a team would do much better against this Rebels team. I don't think the outcome has much barring at all in the bigger picture, if nothing else, playing great competition early in the year, certainly helps you get prepared for the playoff run.

I'd start out the season with Beechwood at #1. Great nucleus returning, including a star QB. Lots to like about this team. I'd have the Cardinals at #2. Deep, talented line on both sides of the ball and, IMO, the best defensive team in 2a. Nice speed and several athletic guys capable of making plays. I'd have OB Catholic at #3. Atwell alone, puts them in the Top 3, but, they have other talented players. The thing that keeps them below the other 2 is there D. LCA has a very deep and talented line but doesn't possess the same offensive firepower as the other 3, so, I'd start them at #4 with Somerset rounding out the Top 5..

Corbin B Green Lloyd Mem S Kenton S Warren

Beechwood Mayfield OB Catholic LCA Somerset Murray Green Co Crittenden Co Metcalfe Co W Carter

Here's how I think it is as of right now: 1 - Bowling Green 2 - Paducah Tilghman 3 - South Warren 4 - Mayfield 5 - O'Boro Catholic 6 - Owensboro 7 - Graves Co 8 - Henderson Co 9 - Union Co 10 - Greenwood 11 - Madisonville 12 - Murray 13 - Glasgow 14 - McCracken Co 15 - Franklin Simpson 16 - Logan Co 17 - Apollo 18 - Warren East 19 - Metcalfe Co 20 - Daviess Co

How would the top 5-6 teams in 2a compete with the top 5-6 teams in 3a?? I'm not convinced that outside of CAL, that the next 4-5 teams would all come from 2a and I'm not even sure CAL would be the favorite if they were all in the same class. I see them more as equals as favorites. Thoughts?

I don't think they have a concern running the ball, it just seemed like they passed the ball about 75% of the time last year and with all the talent outside, I don't expect that to change much this year. In 90% of the games, they'll just out talent other teams. How will the run game perform when they play the better teams deep in the playoffs capable of at least slowing down the air game? It's not hard looking dominant against there district schedule. I'm sure they'll be more than adequate just not convinced they'll be dominant on the ground and they may not even have to be.

I'm not 100% convinced that their running game will be that dominant, but, they'll have a ton of weapons at Hayden's disposal and should be stout in the trenches. How's the defense going to be { LB's/DB's } ?

Alcoa plays in 3a in Tn. It'd be a tough game, but, I think Mayfield could play with them. I also saw where Lousanne Collegiate out of Memphis also has a 9 game schedule and 10/11 available. Mayfield actually played them the year before the covid year, but, the 2nd game got cancelled. They play in the D2 private class, middle division. Pretty solid team traditionally.

I saw where Alcoa, Tn has a 9 game schedule and an open week on 10/11, same as Mayfield. Would love to see that matchup.

I think him or Hatchell, either one, would have been a good choice.

How long has Coach Dew been coaching with the Mayfield program?

I'm hearing Dew [current DC} is the choice.

The Cardinals will be just fine next year. Next years OL will likely be their biggest and deepest they've had in a long time, mixed in with experience and a few up and coming underclassmen. They also return both their defensive interior linemen in Tre Jackson and Ashton Rogers as well as all 3 starting LBs. They'll be extremely tough to run the ball against. Starks was a great back and will be missed, but, they have 3 or 4 fast and athletic guys to fill that void and a potential star in England, who'll be a sophomore and is already over 200 lbs with power and speed to burn. They have 2 or 3 proven WRs in Kirby, Morris and Hoover along with a couple high potential younger kids that will give them solid depth. They also return their TE who made several big plays for them this year. Losing Cartwright is the only player that they lose that'll be hard to replace. The Robbins kid got alot of playing time last year in lopsided wins and may struggle early, but, I expect by the time playoffs roll around will be performing like a seasoned veteran. He's got good size and arm strength and will end up being a good one before all is said and done. I expect they'll take a step back in the kicking game, just not sure how big a factor that turns out to be. Overall, expect Mayfield to reload and be right in the hunt for another title.

I think Mayfield will be better than projected. They should be very solid on both sides of the line and their defense should be stout, especially against the run. I'm excited with what they have in the RB room, 3 or 4 really quick backs and England has a chance to be special. Hoover and Kirby give them 2 quality receivers and they have a couple more underclassmen that will provide solid depth. I look for Will Morris to be a big part of their offense next year from the TE position. The big question mark is at QB. If they can get just a solid game manager, they should be fine. Plenty of explosive offensive playmakers everywhere else to go along with a deep and experienced OL. .

Yes, I should have specified.

1 Trinity 2 Frederick Douglass 3 Male 4 St. Xavier 5 Ballard 6 Manual 7 Bryan Station 8 Ryle 9 Tates Creek 10 Fern Creek Who else should be considered? Who's to high, too low? Thoughts?