New Colonel

Do tickets have to be purchased online for Highlands? Or can you get them at the gate? Thanks.

I agree. The issue is none of the rules are enforced consistently anymore. Pass interference drives me crazy, defenders throwing kids to the ground one week, the next week the officiating crew throws a flag if a defender breathes on a receiver wrong. I also have heard officials say this year that "the pass was uncatchable" which isn't part of the PI rule in high school. The one that really gets me is the equipment one. Players are supposed to have knee pads that cover the knees and jerseys tucked in. Yet every single game, kids roll their pants, cut knee pads to ridiculously small size, and have back plates exposed. I even see tinted visors on occasion. I also see multiple kids without mouthpieces on every play. All of these are blatant rules violations, yet officials look the other way. I know there is a big officiating issue, especially in the Commonwealth, but the consistency of enforcing rules has to be addressed. Some are very simple rules that crews deliberately look the other way on. Just because you may not like the rule, doesn't mean you get to selectively enforce it. Until these simple issues get resolved, no way will the holding issue come close to being resolved.

So, why mention anything about names that have applied?

Correct, and it was that District Coach of the Year that lost those 3 games for Dixie.

What's holding? As a former D-lineman and D-line coach, rule #1 is holding doesn't exist because it almost never gets called. Kids get choke slammed, jerseys ripped and nothing.

Let's Go!

Is there a place stats are published?

I am surprised Kickoffs in general are still allowed to be honest. If we are really concerned with concussions and safety, then NFHS should outlaw kickoff but also field turf. Turf causes more concussions than actual collisions, and let's not talk about the lower body injuries. But safety just isn't the number 1 concern like everyone likes to say.

I agree on the formations and passing concepts. I disagree vehemently on your assessment of the corners. They get beat for BIG yards and TDs in every game. Dixie's run defense isn't a huge issue, it's them getting absolutely gashed in the pass game. Their corners simply cannot run with receivers, now maybe that's coaching also. The WRs run right by them in press man every time. Maybe they are taught trail technique for some reason with no safety help? I also disagree about Gregg. He is inaccurate. I would have had Fields as my QB at the beginning of the year and Gregg at RB. Let Fields take his lumps early before District play and then he should be rockin and rollin by the time playoffs hit. To have a 3 year starting QB is a very good problem to have.

No. I coached high school football at a few different places for a decade, on both sides of the river. Then, I gave it up as my own kids started with sports because I wasn't seeing my kids at all. So for the past 8 years, I have picked a different game to go see in the tri-state with the family. It's been nice this season to have an actual team to root for again.

I wouldn't even call it gimmicky. I'd call it bad play calling or not knowing any better. They either need new coordinators, or the coordinators need to get someone to show them how to do much better at whatever it is they are trying to accomplish. 4 of their 6 losses were directly because of bad coaching decisions. That's really hard on kids who are playing their rear ends off when they are put in next to impossible situations from those that are in charge of them. But the team has continued to play extremely hard each week despite that.

There's entirely too many factors that go into these test scores that are all outside the school's control. I wouldn't put too much stock into these test scores. If they were so good, then the private schools would be forced to use the same ratings systems.

I am new this season to following Dixie football as my primary team. I have a son in the band, so I've been at every game but 1. Dixie definitely looks the part with their players. They are overall big, & physical with decent speed and quickness. They have some dudes. Now, coaching has been questionable all year, especially defensively. Dixie loves to rush 7 and sometimes 8 and play press man coverage. That has burned them so many times, especially in the Beechwood game. Offensively, I can't figure them out. Play-calling is all over the place and so is their tempo. Kids are confused at crucial points each game as they are looking to the sidelines wanting a play signaled in, and it takes WAY too long. They don't have an identity. I also believe they have played the wrong QB all year. Fields looked really good in his first "start," but the QB rotation is never a good idea. He throws the best ball out the 3 QBs I've seen this year, has really good footwork and mechanics. I'm rooting for Dixie, hope they can stay positive and end this disappointing season somewhat positively. I know nothing about Woodford County. I do give the staff credit for their offseason program, the kids are definitely bigger, stronger, and faster than last year. Good luck Colonels, I'm going to try make it down there for the game tomorrow. By the way, I stumbled across this site last week, very cool! It's much more civilized than the high school posting site across the river.