Darkwing

One thing also to be considered is that Central's team is a touchdown or two better than they were last year as well. The offensive line in particular is better, and the running backs are tougher and more physical than last year. Grim may have been the big-play threat, but Richardson and Nathan Dillon are superior athletes who will wear down defenses, and Dennis Dillon is (I think) a better ball-handler running the belly than Ratliff was (although Ratliff was a better passer). Station will have a tough task winning in Johnson County, no matter how improved they might be, because Johnson Central is also improved as well (and JC won this game by a little over six touchdowns last year).

I got a feeling it won't have much of a beat, and you can't dance to it. Central 34, Station 20

Had anyone been around me in the house here while I was listening to WSIP's radio feed, they would've heard it once or twice! And the new PA setup sounds like they've definitely done some good work on the sound system.

JC 58, BS 21 at Bryan Station.

Was looking at the game stats on the Ontario scholastic sports website from last year's championship game that St. Thomas More played in. One thing that really surprised me is how much they did NOT pass the football. Unless they've drastically changed their offensive philosophy, they are predominantly a running team: they rushed 38 times for 237 yards, but were only 1-5 passing for 14 yards. That makes me feel much better about this game, having seen that.

After Ashland's loss at home to Raceland tonight, you'd have to say they're probably in that position again unless something changes drastically. But Woodford, JC, Montgomery, and Station will make for an interesting race. Looking forward to seeing how that one turns out.

With Woodford's big loss and Johnson Central's win at Breathitt and now Bryan Station reappearing, this will be an interesting district this year.

I know I really started watching in 91, and we definitely have not played Breathitt since then.

I'd love to, but they only let me out of Florida every so often. Plan on making at least the Apple Bowl later on though. Was just glad to be here for this one! Next week's game should be quite interesting. I wonder how Ontarians will handle this heat. It does get hot in Southern Ontario in summer, but not like this very often.

Actually made it in for this one. Central's offensive line was probably the most dominant force in this game; if it weren't for two ill-timed fumbles, this score would've been worse. Conditioning was probably the biggest factor in the second half...both teams were suffering and it severely hampered both squads. All in all, a decent performance for Eagles in game one on the road. Kudos to J.J. Jude for a huge carry in the second half of his first game at a time when Breathitt was threatening to come back.

I would agree wholeheartedly. How could the KHSAA sanction changing the entire structure of the playoff system, but only doing it in one region, regardless of what that region's "policy board" might suggest? It would be much easier to move a team into the 15th and redistrict. Of course, the Pike County schools got a great break during the last redistricting with their de facto three team districts while Lawrence County got crammed into a 57th District that already had four teams, so maybe Pike County has the kind of pull to make it happen again. But there are any number of possible redistricting solutions to this problems, NONE of which involve preferential treatment of the 15th Region and Pike County in particular.

The story I always got was that there was a sign up on the site marking the future home of the "Johnson County Central" High School, and I want to say they were going to be the Patriots. (Much like Knott Central.) And then I am told, one day that disappeared and the board announced they were going to be the Johnson Central Golden Eagles. The school fight song is Morehead's fight song. I suspect they took Morehead's Eagle and colors, and changed them just a little bit to be more original. But that'd be my guess based on what I know.

They just did. Grim kickoff return to open the second half, and conversion also good for Grim. JC 22 LC 20 11:46 left in 3rd quarter.

Right now, it's 14-12 JC still, with Lincoln County 4th and long around their own 20, around 2 minutes left in the first half. Central just a punt roll by them for a big LC bounce. (Sigh.) 1:53 on the clock.

What about Michael Copley? Would he be interested in returning? I understand the folks who employ him now have been pleased with his work. Just to throw out another name I hadn't seen yet.

There's a distinct possibility of a couple of fall weekends in 2008, I'm sure.

I think losing Lewis hurts Woodford County at least as much, if not more, on defense than it does on offense.

Plenty of mental mistakes, too, that don't show up in the turnover stat. Muffing the kickoff. Watching a punt roll by to the 10 yard line. Taking a knee on the 1 yard line on a kickoff. Unforced fumbles on first down that set us 2nd and 14. These are mistakes a team cannot be making in the tenth game of a season if that team expects to win football games.

Central is currently WAY too injury-riddled to be a favorite in this game. Especially if you watched us play Ashland last night. You look at what Alber did to us up the middle? Unless something drastically changes, Dustin May could run for 300 yards, easy. I love the Golden Eagles as much as anyone, and I'd love to see us win, but this team is nowhere near full strength at the moment and should be an underdog in this road game.

If you look here, at the state schools enrollments used for classification... http://www.khsaa.org/football/realignment/schoolenrollmentandnotesuseforrealignment.pdf Among 5A teams, Covington Catholic, last year's state champion, is playing up from what should Class 4A. Highlands, this year's all-but-crowned state champion, should be the largest team in Class 3A. And Ashland's average two year boy enrollment is also ten higher than Johnson Central's (JC is the second-smallest school in 5A, disregarding teams playing up out of their rightful classes). Just some additional interesting factoids.

Bryan Station DID beat Montgomery County 34-14 last week. Did anybody else notice that? What happened there?

This game was not NEARLY as close as the score indicated. JC took the ball off the coin toss and marched it down the field to make it 8-0, the other Central answered to make it 8-7, and then the rout was on. It was 28-7 at the half. And it was 41-7 when JC put in the second team defense with about 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Louisville Central still had their starters in and still kept throwing the ball, and scored on the second team, then JC punted, and Lou. Central scored again and recovered an onside kick and threw another touchdown pass to set the final margin. JC ran pretty much at will tonight. Grim broke a long touchdown run past the Yellowjackets. Nathan Dillon was over 100 yards, and if Chase Richardson didn't hit 100, he was close. Ratliff also connected with Welch for a couple of long pass plays over the top. The Eagles had one turnover that I recall (an INT) and put the ball on the ground twice, I think, but didn't lose either one that I recall. It was definitely NOT the same team that showed up wearing our uniforms against Woodford County or Paintsville, and this Louisville Central team probably had just as much speed (or more) than Woodford. As a whole team, we simply blocked better, tackled better, and made fewer turnovers; there was nothing miraculous about it. Definitely the best game I've seen us play at the most crucial time in the four years of the Matney Era so far, and probably one of the two or three most enjoyable I've watched in nearly two decades of following JCHS football. I think our season is back on track after a brief (and scary) derailment, and I think if this team tonight seals the deal for the rest of the season and shows up in Versailles in playoff week two, you'll see a true contest.

This game still serves one purpose: it puts fans in the seats, wherever it is played, and it is consistently the biggest gate of the year for both schools (and therefore a huge source of funding for both). I personally would like to see our hugest crowds show up for teams like Woodford County and Louisville Central, but the people of Johnson County who don't come to any other game will still, for whatever reason, come watch the Apple Bowl. That alone is reason to continue it. Games scheduled against other opponents wouldn't draw the same crowds (see the Big Sandy Bowl's last few years, for example).

Will be a stiff test for the Golden Eagles tonight. Hoping for a win. Will probably be our stoutest matchup so far, especially for our pass defense. The boys will need to look sharper than ever. This game could be crucial for home field advantage in the playoffs.

What about Harley Hammonds? That guy played at SC forever and he was tough as nails and led the Cards to a couple of great seasons.