LongTimeReader

Both teams will have minor game plans, just to get the players and the coaches back in the mode of game prep. We as fans usually think of scrimmages for the players, but they are great to work out situations with the coaches as well. As long as each team can learn from the scrimmage they both come out of it as winners. The only time in a game situation where that is ok.

I had a conversation with my brother last season, if St. X would "let" Bowling Green beat them this year so that BG could possibly move ahead of them in the winning streak category. Should be very interesting.

Use the Georgetown camp for example, what is taking place at the camp before Aug. 1st? What is the point of a KY team going to this camp?

The rules sound more like they are for on site practices put on by teams. It does not sound like it is referring to any short of camp.

I figured I might as well go down being consistent if the Purples sweep the 4 game series.

I have wondered from a Male fan perspective how they view last season. Is it a season that they came up short because they beat X and T twice? Or is a stepping stone to this coming season?

Yes, I agree with you that adding experienced coaches will help significantly. It's a process and Coach Wolford has to make sure that he has the people around him that are going to teach to his philosophy, and I think he has done that this year with his coaching staff.

Review of 2013 The St. X Tigers head into their second year under Coach Will Wolford. The first under at the helm for Coach Wolford started with high expectations, but some inconsistent play throughout the season lead to unfulfilled expectations. The Tigers finished the year with a record of 7-5, finished third in the “Super District”, and was knocked out in the second round by the Male Bulldogs. The 2013 Tigers will be a team of inconsistency. While they had some great moments such as beating Manual in the final seconds and knocking off Cincinnati St. Xavier in the final regular season game; the team also left fans scratching their heads. The game that I pick out that sums up the 2013 season for the Tigers was the loss against the Bowling Green Purples. There was a great crowd, but in the end, the Purples dominated the game and Coach Wolford stated after the game that the Tigers were out coached. To me that pretty much summed up the first year of the Coach Wolford era. Offense The 2014 offense will be lead at QB by Noah Houk. Noah, who saw some action last year, will look to add more consistency to the position and to the offense that was missing much of last year. The offense line will have two experienced players returning in Nathan Scheler and Tyler Haycraft. The Tigers hired a new offensive line coach, Adam Billings (former St. X player) who was the head coach at Elizabethtown High School before accepting the position at St. X. Coach Billings will break in some new guys up front, but if they can perform as a unit there are a number of skilled players that can perform at a high level. Running back Taijon Smith will likely start the season as the go to back. He comes in with the most experience after filling the spot for injured Treyveon Purcell and Charles Walker at times. I firmly believe Chase Rowan will take over the position as the season progresses. He is a bigger back as is very explosive with the ball in his hands. While the wide receiving position last year saw a little bit more production than in some of the previous years, the Tigers offense will have to find guys on the outside that can make some plays to fill the roles lost to graduation by Hayden Ford and Will Roshkowski. Defense Much like the offense, the defense will have some significant holes to fill. Coach Bruner returns to the coaching staff taking over as the defensive coordinator. The Tigers will continue to use a 3-4 defense and will look to improve on a defense that was shaky at best last year. The DL, just like the OL, will have to find replacements for all three of the starters. The name that continues to be brought up as a big time player along the front line is Ethan Allen (6-3, 220 Jr). Another name to remember upfront is Tucker Donlon who is a 6-1 260lb. junior. This DL may not be as big as the unit last year, but a bit smaller unit may help them to get in the backfield and beat blocks quicker. Coach Mullins who has coached the secondary and linebackers at St. X, will take over the DL unit this year. The linebacking unit will have a lot of new faces, but the guy that needs to be on the field is a junior named Logan Butler. He brings much needed speed to a defense that was lacking heavily in that area last year. The theme of new faces will be present in the secondary as well. Again, speed is needed in the secondary, and look for Davey Sermersheim and Tyler Boarman to push a unit back to a level that it needs to be, in order to pull off key wins this year. Outlook The 2014 St. X Tigers are going through the preseason with a lot fewer expectations than was placed on the team last year. Entering the second year under Coach Wolford, I am sure he has learned a lot about being a high school coach and what it takes to win at the high school level. This team will shock some people this year, but unfortunately I’m not for sure if their record will show just how good they are. Houk will be one of the top QBs in the area and Chase Rowan will enter the spot light, but the key to the offense will be if the OL and WR positions develop to offer multiple options of attack. Coach Bruner is replacing long time defensive coordinator Todd Walsh, but I have full confidence that Coach Bruner can come in a re-energize a defense that struggled mightily last year. I cannot say this enough, speed must be present on defense this year or struggles will continue. My Predictions 8/22 – Ballard W 8/29 – (Bluegrass Bowl) Bryan Station W 9/5 – @ Bowling Green W 9/12 – Fairdale W 9/19 – Cincinnati Moeller L 9/26 – Central W 10/3 – Trinity L 10/10 – @ Male L 10/17 – Manual W 10/31 – @ Cincinnati St. X L

BG will make a solid run at their 4th straight championship, but I think they will suffer a loss along the way. I don't know if they'll be able to knock off both McCallie and St. X this year. The development of Campbell Gott will be huge for the success of the Purples.

I think they can. They have loads of experience to go with their talent, and that is usually a combination for success. I've said it before, when Male is one of the top teams football is that much better not only in the Louisville area, but in 6A.

This was a bit before my time, but I believe it was 1975 when St. X beat Trinity 11-10 in the playoffs. Trinity was lined up to punt with seconds left in the game, and if I remember correctly the ball was snapped over head of the Trinity punter and St. X ends up winning the game and eventually the state championship.

I never met Dan Haley, but what I have heard from people who either played for or coached with him, he is one of the all time greats. He really set the foundation for Bowling Green Purple football.

I know someone threw the name out earlier, but it would be hard not to have Mike Glaser up there. What about Bob Redman?

Can Kevin Wallace be in the discussion? Three straight championship appearances from 05-07; then three straight championships '11-'13 could make it four in a row. Also, currently a 44 game winning streak.

I would predict Male to win the "Super District" again this year. When Male is at their typical level, football is that much fun/entertaining in the Louisville area.

Yeah, you have to take 7 on 7 for what it is. Great to hear Houck is taking care of the ball; if that trends continues it will give them an opportunity to be pretty good on offense.

I believe St. X hosted Ballard, Seneca, and Southern Tuesday night. Was anyone in attendance? Any thoughts and observations from the activity?

I was at that game and Trinity from the opening kick off played with a "nothing to lose" attitude. X looked nervous and seemed to be caught in the moment. That '08 team was really good, but T was not far behind them. From an X stand point, I would have to put the '05 team the best X team not to win a championship because they truly looked like a college team upfront, and in '05 T really was not as close to X as they were in '07 and '08.

1999 4A State Semi Final: St. X @ Hopkinsville Hopkinsville scores its third touchdown of the first half with about 10 second remaining in the half. X's Ryan Payne returns the ensuing kickoff to about Hopkinsville's 35 yard and X kicks a field game to head to half time down 21-3. With about two minutes left in the game and X down 21-16, the (X) Tigers game winning 80 yard drive is capped off with a TD pass from Eric Sailing to Brooks Mayer to send X to the state championship game.

In regards to lodging, WKU and Bowling Green are doing some great things to upgrade their accommodations.

I believe there will be a strong push for the finals to be moved to Lexington, but will the issue of stadium size be a factor? Or if the games are moved to Lexington will it be a more centralized location for more fans to attend?

DragonFire, where does the '03 WC team rank on list of all time great WC teams? Or this current thread?

1. The Male team in '02 was unbelievable. I was a sophomore in HS and I was talking with my Dad about the game and told him Male would win because of they had the best player on the field in Michael Bush. 2. 2005 St. X. That game was a shocker. An X team that had dominated during the regular season and seemed to play like they had already won the game after they scored on their opening drive. 3. Toss up between 2007 and 2008 X teams. Comments can be made about what happened and why X was not able to knock off the Rocks in the playoffs, but at the end of the day... it is tough to beat a good team 2 times in one season. Especially a team that knows you almost as well as you know yourself.

1. Male 2. Trinity 3. St. X 4. Scott Co. 5. McCraken Co.

Truth. But I agree with Oldbird, what does that say about him that quits now? What he said isn't new information, if didn't like it then quit right after the season. But I imagine he quit now to make his point.