Diogenes

How about Manual?

CR, are you implying that the football universe does not revolve around Kentucky? Actually, it would not be a statistical aberration. And, most reasonable posters would agree that X, T and BG are relatively comparable. (I do not know Highlands, but T and BG were close in their contest and X and Trinity were reasonably close). T played Cinn. X close and Cinn. X is rated as high as 2nd nationally. At a minimum, an argument could be made....

I have spent a little time reviewing old Litratings and have found them to be pretty accurate overall, particularly as it gets later in the season. Regarding Jody Demling, a Trinity grad, he called them as he saw them. In my opinion he often saw them accurately. I think that teams that take out the first string early or teams that regularly take a knee at the end of a game can hurt their computer rating. X's computer ratings may have suffered in recent weeks since Deuce was out. (Example: Cov Cath game). Riverside 157, I used to caution Trinity backers that nobody was out to get them when they occasionally engaged in flights of paranoia. Likewise, Demling, Frakes and computer ratings are not out to get X. Most reasonable people like and admire X. Ratings are of little consequence overall. I would be surprised if the Lit ratings are posted in the locker room.

Let us know if it is open to others not currently on the team. My recollection is that it was open to others. PM me if you wish. BTW, your description is accurate. It is a prayer service, not a Mass.

X is the favorite in this one. However, Marshall County is the rough equivalent to Ballard, according to the Massey ratings. X had trouble with Ballard at X. Add in a lengthy trip down to Marshall County (about 210 miles) and playing before a hostile crowd, as well as a potential letdown after a huge game against Manual, and the ingredients exist for an X stumble. Despite this, if X brings their "A" game the Tigers prevail 24-7.

A victory of a stunning magnitude over a very talented Ballard team that X really struggled against. Trinity is hitting on all cylinders and may be in the catbird seat now. Congrats on a big win.

One aspect of this game that has not been extensively examined is the effect of the preceding game on each team. Manual was in a nail biter last week against PRP, and no doubt spent the week preparing accordingly. X played Butler, and may have used part of last week to prepare for this week's game. This topic was discussed in last year's Trinity - Male playoff game, where Male had played PRP and X immediately prior to the Trinity match, and Trinity had played Southern and Ballard. Will a soft playoff schedule prior to this game help X's cause?

Flip a coin. Two of the top teams in the state meet, and it could go down to the final series. The game is at X, but Finch is out. I'll speculate X, 21-17.

X and T are the favorites with Manual a strong third. If X gets by Manual, X is the favorite, unless Finch is out when X plays T in the title game. Then, T would be favored. Sans Finch, X and Manual Friday night will be a doozy. The first X-Manual game was not as close as the score indicated, but Finch is the key cog in X's offense.

At a minimum I would think that two time defending champion, strong pre-season favorite Trinity would dispute that assertion. The Rocks seem to be picking up steam to unleash a powerful stretch drive from what we glean from their fans' posts.

St. X, the Commonwealth's top ranked team, takes on fifth ranked Manual, coming off a hard earned OT victory over eighth ranked PRP, in the Commonwealth's premier playoff game this weekend. Can Manual shake the lingering emotion of consecutive huge victories (Male and PRP) and focus on the rematch with X? Have Manual's last two games (Male and PRP) overtaxed the Rams or have the games prepared Manual for the long awaited rematch? Will X's star running back, Deuce Finch, recover from an injury that has caused him to sit out the Tiger's last two games? These issues will be resolved when Manual's former tenants host the Rams at X's new stadium on Poplar Level this Friday at 7:30 p.m. before an anticipated full stadium. Who wins, by how much, and why? Will you be there?

Perhaps you are correct, 02Rams54. I just caught two of PRP's games and thought they were a team that had a few bad breaks but could've had a much better season. There is no doubt that Wolfe is a good coach, as is Nichols, in my opinion. When you throw in a post-Male letdown with the anticipation of the big rematch with X the ingredients are there are for an upset. But, as I noted above, this would not be the first time that PRP has left me with egg on my face. Good luck to the Rams, a classy team and a classy school. Who knows, this could be the year of the Ram! By the way, it appears that PRP has three votes from X fans but that Manual has around nine votes from Tiger fans. :thumb:

A well coached and hard hitting PRP catches the Rams basking in the afterglow of the Male game and dwelling on the pending matchup with X to pull off the upset. PRP 20 - Manual 14.

To repeat one must first win. Looking at last week's Litratings, comparative scores over the season and roster injuries, most knowledgeable fans would put X, defending champion and unanimous preseason favorite Trinity, Manual, Male and Henry Clay in the roll of favorite. As to next year, I do not know what other schools have returning, but based on underclassmen I would imagine X will be a serious comtender next year. Regarding the topic of this thread, if X is 23rd or whatever nationally, T, Highlands and Bowling Green all must be in the top 50, at least by the Lit ratings. This week X was only a fraction of a point above T.

A number of times in the past I have gone out a limb for PRP and have been disappointed. Old habits are hard to break. I realize that PRP was drummed in their earlier meeting with Manual, but I also believe that Manual really got a difficult draw for this first round game. I have seen PRP play twice this season (St. X and Trinity) and although the scores do not reflect this, PRP showed potential to make the games much closer than they were. Manual, as mentioned above, will be coming off an emotional game, and may be looking ahead to a big rematch with a major rival. If the Rams' heads are not into the game, look for an upset.

Manual, ranked 6th in last week's Lit ratings, takes on Lit ratings' eighth ranked PRP in one of the premier Jefferson county playoff games this weekend. Can Manual shake the lingering emotion of the Male game and focus on this rematch with PRP? Did PRP's murderous schedule (Indianapolis Cathedral, Trinity and X) overtax them or prepare them for a playoff run? Who wins, by how much, and why?

A different perspective, and an interesting insight. I had not considered it in this light. Hopefully, for X, you are correct.

Will Rahyvin Smith play?

Ever the contrarion, I beg to differ with my X brethren. Deuce is one of the premier running backs in the state. Losing a cog in the offense of that magnitude is bad news, especially at playoff when it is one and done. Having seen PRP twice and Manual, I have enormous respect for those coaches and teams this year. X eked by the Rams 21-14 and was trailing PRP. PepRock01 said it correctly:" Of course if Manual is 100% against St. X and Ben Zoeller has any lingering issues from the injury and Deuce is out then it might make a difference." I would substitute PRP and make the same argument. Further, assuming X clears round two, but with with possible lingering issues for Deuce, fourth ranked Male (Lit) may loom, hitting stride and averaging almost 55 points/game since the X loss.

CR, I believe that many predicting the blowout are assessing Trinity's 41-7 shellacking of Dunbar, a team Lafayette struggled to beat 16-14. They may also be looking at Henry Clay's blowout 35-10 win over Lafayette and think, as do many of us, that T has a better squad than HC. ( To take the score comparison thing to ridiculous lengths, HC was blown out 55-26 by LaSalle. LaSalle was blown out by Cincy X 35-7, and T led Cincy X well into the second half.) Even so, Lafayette is 7-1 and raked 8th among 6A teams by Massey.

Two top flight programs having big seasons. I like the Rams in this one in a tight one. Make it 24-21 Manual.

The grandaddy of all high school football rivalries revs up again this Friday at Pappa Johns. Both teams sport 8-1 records, having lost to a common opponent. The computer rankings are similar. Who wins, by how much, and why?

November, 1977. My wonderful girlfriend (now wife) accompanied me to the 3A playoff game between Doss and Southern. Doss featured an all-state running back (Shawn Donnigan). Both teams had perhaps one loss. The game was played at the Fairgrounds in Louisville. The temperature may have been in the teens, and there was a swirling snow and bitter wind. Although we were huddled together, my girlfriend was still shivering. An older man (must have been 40 ) was moved by her plight. He had just returned from the concession stand and gave her his hot chocolate. Donnigan had a monster game. He was a power runner, and had bowled over the Southern defense all night. The game went into overtime, and Southern scored first and converted the PAT. During the Doss possession, my girlfriend, who new little about football, commented that Doss would probably have Donnigan run the ball. It occurred to me that if she realized this with her limited football exposure, everyone in the stadium, including Southern, must realize it. Despite being keyed on by what seemed like the entire Southern defense, Donnigan bulled into the end zone to pull Doss within one. Doss' conversion attempt failed. My wonderful wife still sometimes accompanies me to high school football games, but none where the temps drop to the teens.

St. X 35 - Central 13. Both teams have plenty of speed, but a soft, wet field slows things down, and X has a superior power game. Like others, I commend the Yellowjackets for taking on all comers. As an aside, which X common opponent school/coach set up the more difficult schedule, Central or PRP? Central scheduled Male, Manual, Johnson Central, X and Fort Thomas Highlands. PRP scheduled Indianapolis Cathedral, Ballard, Eastern, X, T, and Manual.

St. X travels to Louisville Central Friday night in a game featuring the 6A top-ranked Tigers against the 3A second-ranked Yellowjackets. Both schools have played difficult schedules and are battle tested. Who wins, by how much, and why?