Crazed 15th

AAA next year will be pretty balanced throughout the state. I would have the top 10 looking like this: 1. Russell: The Red Devils have won state the most recently and deserve to be #1. If it had not been for the AAAA Mercer County last year they would have been back-2-back. McGlone knows what it takes and Russell is never far from a state title anyway. 2. Belfry: The Haywodd lead Pirates lack some of the blazing speed that has made them so special in years past, but return one of AAA's best in May. With Haywood calling the shots they will always have a chance. 3. Breathitt Co.: The Bobcats have an offensive guru in Holcomb and his coaching will keep them in most games. The Bobcats will return one of the more explosive teams in AAA this year and will be a tough out for anyone. 4. Sheldon Clark: I know I am taking teams all from the East, but I still think the East is the best football in the class. The Cardinals return Adam Dials and Ryan Kelly who could be the best RB tandem in all of AAA. Sc's punishing ground game and a much improved defense will make the Cardinal serious contenders to walk on the carpet come Dec. 5. Somerset: Another scary team filled with athletes. Somerset has typically been one of the best mountain A teams, and will continue their ways in AAA. 6. Paducah Tilghman: You don't typically have one of the most dominant track teams in the state and not field a good football team. The Tornados will be athletic like no other team in the state and could be a Western Juggernaut with the new alignment. 7. Central: Any team that comes out of Louisville and wins 11 games and only loses 3 must be doing somthing right. I don't know a whole lot about them, but the 11 wins makes me put them on my list. 8. Russellville: While this may not be A football anymore I think Russellville will be able to compete in a somewhat watered down district. I'm not sure if they will be capable of going to the Pizza Box, but don't count them out. 9. & 10. Are kind of up for grabs because I really don't know who else to list. There is a number of teams that could hold the last 2 spots, but I feel like the first 8 are pretty solid. These are just my predictions and I am sure they will change once we kick off, but any way you look at it we are in for an exciting year of football.

Trinity dosn't have much left to work on really. They are the peak of Kentucky High School Football at the moment. They have upstanding kids, classy indivuals running the program, a great deal of support from the school system, and even more support from the community. Trinity is the program every other program is striding to be. They have earned their time in the sun and now they get to enjoy it.

Yes Hensley returns for his fourth season as the starting QB. This team has alot of potential to make a solid run.

This could be a big year for Sheldon Clark. They return one of the best tandem of backs in all of AAA next year in Adam Dials and Ryan Kelly. They return the biggest part of their playmakers and a solid portion of their line. There is an excellent group of newcomers coming in from the middle school ranks. The Cardinalos will be a tough out for anyone come plaoffs next year, espically with Shawn Hager calling the shots.

Maybe they should try to play A or even AA again? LOL (Just Joking. No Harm Intended)

Is there still no word on Ian Welch?

What is the word on Ian Welch? The big time hard hitting saftey has supposedly left the basketball team, and is not happy all around. Any truth?

You beat me to it. Even tho he transfered from Paintsville to Sheldon Clark. That is where he graduated from. He was the fastest player in the Indians orginzation. He out ran Kenny Lofton three consecutive times durring Lofton's prime.

He may have done well on a summer team, but he always plays poorly when big games come. They (JC) have 2 players that in the 15th region are as good as anyone, but still only have 7 wins to show for it. Starns has made some suspect moves (The way he handled the player that was dismissed) but at some point you have to look at players and realize that they are all talk and no show. His record as a starter speaks for itself. JC had a kid that transfered into the program with a tendency to lose. That could have a LOT to do with their struggles. Winners have a winning attitude and losers have a losing attitude.

He is a class act, but facts are facts. Some people find ways to win, but in his case it seems to be whatever team he is on finds a way to lose. He is yet to make it out of the first round of the district, and is now looking at playing the 57th district play in game. I would call a transfer of his calaber and only 7 wins to show for it a bust. But that is just me. I feel expectations should be higher for the largest school in the area.

With their recent loss to Lawrence County the not so Golden Eagles are now 7-11 (2-4 in district). It looks like they will more than likley be in the 4th and 5th seed play-in game in the 57th district tournament. If they were to win they would end up facing Paintsville. My question is what has happened? Most people thought they would finish near the top of the region and they are closer to the bottom. Starns, was made out by some JC fans to be the best coach in the region but has made some poor decisions this season. The transfer was a complete bust and has proven an inability to win. Every school he plays at suffers. McCarty seems to care more about scoring than Wins. What has happend to JC and can anything be done?:confused:

Lets just call it like it is. The "NEW ADDITION" to this team has torn it apart. Players have quit and I hear it has to do with the transfer. Sometimes good players don't mesh well with other teams. Sometimes players with good stats and talent can't get wins. Maybe this is one if not both of those cases. The transfer seems to have brought a losing way with him to JC. IMO

Huntington High vs ANYONE

The biggest game in the mountains this week is Blazer and JC. The biggest game in AA in the mountains this year was SC and Belfry since our district has dominated the region for the past 3 years.

The P'burg kicker made his first FG in the first half. The score at half was 14-11.

The Achillies heel of Mercer Co. will be Russell, Belfry, or Sheldon Clark. Mercer has put ip some massive numbers and wins against weak oposition. Lets wait and see how the playoffs work out before we give them the trophy. They still have a long way to go.

My personal favorite football analysis system is the playoffs. The top teams usually rise to the top. lol

Sheldon Clark's biggest win is an easy one. The win over Belfry at Vipperman Stadium in 1998. 16-15 in OT to win the first regional title in the school's history. That after Belfry had blasted SC 42-22 less than a month earlier at the same field.

I think Russell is the better football team, but Putnam has a funny way of treating better teams. Ashland has found a little backbone after Raceland sucker-punched them. I'm going to give the nod to Russell because I don't think the T-Cats would had beat Belfry if Belfry had not helped them do so. (Fumbles & Flags) But if the Hart and Co. come out with a W I won;t be that surprised. Russell: 28 Ashland: 27 (They go for 2 in OT and mess up on the pitch)

You could not be any more right. Those 2 plays are the bread and butter of Phillip Haywood.

Ashland and Belfry are 2 of the more tradition rich programs East of Lexington. Both of these teams have alot of talent and ALOT of pride. I think Belfry's style will hurt Ashland since the Pond Creek Nation is so physical up front. They have a couple of dynamite backs in May & Chapman. Ashland is always a little more flash than physical, but I'm not sure they have enough flash to slow down the Pirates. In the end Belfry will be alot better than Raceland, and if Raceland can run the ball on you you know Belfry will. Belfry: 35 Ashland: 14

I think this will be a darn good football game. Both schools are tradition rich and both group of kids have a great deal of pride and neither will roll over for the other. I too think that most of the time a Class A State Champion might be at a higher level skill wise than a Class AA State Champion, but football has alot to do with matchups. If Belfry is able to control the football then they also control the pace of the game and the clock. That means Haywood will give them a chance to win at the end of the game. If NCC comes out and jumps on Belfry by 2 scores or so, then the Pirates might be in for a long night because Haywood does not play catch up really well with his smash mouth style. This will be the first game so I don't expect flawless performances, but I do expect a competative match. I'm going to have to back the Pond Creek Nation in this one since it is in their back yard and say the final will be: Belfry: 35 NCC: 28 Good luck to both teams.

This will be a dandy. Lawrence County is a big physical football team and they will remain a physicall football team as long as Goldsmith is at the helm. SC had a very experienced line last year and Lawrence still appeared to dominate them up front. SC has the skilled players to topple the Bulldogs and I think they will. I don't expect a flawless game from either team, it being the first game of the season, but I think the Cards will pull it out. SC: 28 LC: 14

3rd best team in Pike Co. Not in the district.

Belfry will be the team to beat in Pike Co. as they have been for the past few years. Pikeville will be behind the Pirates with a darn good football team. Pike Central (as stated before) is a distant third. SV will surprise some people, but I don't expect to see them in the playoffs. Phelps will be Phelps, but somewhat improved, and ER has some work to do.