westsider

Monroe Co.

Give me 4-0 Warren East at #10 over Johnson Central.

And what did Racelands "tougher schedule" do for them????

Bottom line ... if Fairview had played a tougher schedule in 2010 and 2011, maybe they find a way to get over the hump in the regional semifinals. The Eagles haven't had too many wins over teams with winning records the last two years.

I understand that Fairview is a tiny school and shouldn't be expected to play the likes of Ashland and Johnson Central, and I know they have some local and regional rivals that simply haven't fielded very good teams the last few years.

But if you know you have a shot to make some noise in the postseason, it doesn't hurt to schedule a toughie somewhere.

In any case, these are the facts in 2012: the three teams Fairview has beaten are a combined 2-10, and Raceland beat their one common opponent by a considerably bigger margin. That might explain why the Rams are rated higher right now.

Fairview will get their chance.

Probley Raceland. What does it matter if you play bigger schools when you get murdered. Raceland had a streak of beating Ashland, but the last couple of games Raceland was best by 3-4 touchdowns. Just a example.

Your the one that said teams with soft schedule exit playoffs quick, I just stated a fact. Other than fairview for the past 2 seasons, no one in this area was went that far in the playoffs.

Again, who is the best team Fairview has beaten recently?

Your right, I can't predict the future, but I do know facts. Fairview has been to the regional championship game the past two years, so there goes the soft schedule theory.

Seriously, though, since we're playing the game ... who is the best team Fairview has beaten the last two seasons?

Bottom line ...

Would Fairview have played Ashland tougher than Raceland did?

Would Fairview beat Simon Kenton or Holmes?

If you can present some compelling evidence that they would, they by all means, I'll be happy to advocate a higher ranking for Fairview.

I'm not holding my breath.

When teams get to the postseason, opponents don't care if you're unbeaten against a bunch of softies. How many times have we seen teams with gaudy records against soft schedules make a quick exit in the playoffs?

Somerset by two touchdowns ...

I think Crittenden pulls out a close game ... neither team is on a real up cycle in talent right now.

Actually, I think this is the oldest rivalry in the western end of the state, a little older than Mayfield-Paducah Tilghman.

Lone Oak is a much different team with the quarterback change. Freshman Zayire Hughes adds a dual-threat element that the offense didn't have before the injury to Cole Ousley.

I'm expecting a close game, much as it was last year.

I think the biggest question coming into the game is Murray's offense ... can the Tigers move the ball consistently and put up points against good teams? They only scored 10 points against a Graves team that didn't tackle all that well and gave up considerably more than that the week before.

Murray's game is defense, ball control and field position. Their defense has plenty of speed and generally does very well against spread teams, although Mayfield does have Jackson heading the ground game and probably a better passing game and group of receivers than they have faced in a while. Murray did a decent job against Graves' big offensive line.

Both defenses are very good, among the best in this end of the state. Mayfield's weakness has been the secondary, but Murray rarely throws the ball so I don't know if they will try much to exploit it or not. Tilghman did, with some success.

Crawford was a bad contract from the beginning ... he's a good player, but never developed the power or on-base ability he needed to improve and was really overrated at the end of his Tampa Bay tenure.

Gonzalez is a fine hitter, one of the better ones in baseball, but it's hard to get much equity with his contract. Same with Beckett, who's really good when he's good but he's 32 and throws some clunkers in there every now and then.

Bizarre ... we've never seen such a salary dump on one team in a single trade. The Dodgers must think they're going to rake in the bucks with new ownership and a potential postseason run. How much you bet ticket prices go up at Chavez Ravine next year?

Spurlock won an All A Classic state title at Hazard, as I recall. Didn't seem to have as much success at Clay County and Sheldon Clark, but still did fairly well.

So Perry Central has hired a guy that used to coach at Hazard, whose coach built Perry Central's program. Wow.

Tilghman might have a tough week. This is a trap game..LO in week one with Mayfield next week. I wouldnt be surprised if the Tornado lost this one.

Tilghman is too high. Lone Oak is a good win on paper, but with their QB going down during the game (for a team completely predicated on their passing offense), I can't help but think it may be a bit over stated to give them such a jump (especially over experienced Belfry and Breathitt teams).

Not to mention that Ousley was something 7-23 and had an interception run back for a touchdown.

I was told that Boyd, Caldwell's good tailback, missed a good chunk of the game because of a suspected concussion.

Paducah Tilghman jumped out to a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter ... first score on a long drive and the second one came on an interception return. Lone Oak cut the lead to 20-12 in the third quarter when quarterback Cole Ousley went down with a separated shoulder. It appears that Ousley will be out for a few weeks. Lone Oak's backup is a very athletic freshman, but he isn't ready for this kind of game.

Tllghman looked like a complete team in the first half ... the new starting quarterback, Jordan Tyler, was running and throwing the ball well. Tilghman's defense (speed, speed, speed) was very good and virtually big-play proof.

After Ousley went out, Tilghman got a short drive for a touchdown after a fumble, and then a safety on a sack in the end zone.

7 ... Rockcastle County

5 ... Covington Catholic

3 ... Walton-Verona

2 ... Madison Central

1 ... Dixie Heights

Rockcastle County

7 ... Lexington Catholic

5 ... Montgomery County

3 ... Christian Academy of Louisville

2 ... Clark County

1 ... Simon Kenton

Montgomery County

7 ... Ashland

5 ... Knox Central

3 ... Pikeville

2 ... Fleming County

1 ... Phelps

Knox Central

Lexington Catholic

Manual

Lone Oak

Madison Central

Christian Academy of Louisville

7 ... Manual

5 ... Christian Academy of Louisville

3 ... Bullitt Central

2 ... Doss

1 ... Meade County

Manual