Dino

The Golden Eagles' lack of playoff success has diminished some of their solid regular season records, no doubt. I think that a lot of factors have worked against JC over the years. Some of their better teams, like the undefeated 2000 team, played in 4A. In 2000, JC had the smallest enrollment in 4A. For a mountain 4A team, with player transportation complications, to compete strongly with the metro teams down state is a pretty tall order. JC's weak kicking game in most seasons also limited their success in the playoffs. Consistently losing the battle of field position in the playoffs, especially for a ground-oriented team without great speed like Coach Musick's teams, makes it tough to advance very deeply. Let me take the opportunity to say that I enjoyed the 2000 JC season more than any other. Coach Musick did an outstanding job that season as I believe that the Golden Eagles won six games on its final drive, including at least one on the final play. I have never seen a team play that many close games with so much confidence and composure. I give Bill Musick all the credit for instilling that kind of winning attitude in his players, two of which were my sons. Coach Musick left some very big shoes to fill and it took Johnson Central three tries to find the right man. I heard that Matney said that JC deserved B+'s for their scrimmage performances, but that they are a team capable of A+ performances. Matney is extremely confident (many would use the term "cocky"), but if he believes that this team has the capability to be that good, then I am going to take him at his word.

I think Matney's record against Ashland is more germaine to the debate than Johnson Central's record against them. With a much smaller enrollment, Matney's Sheldon Clark teams more than held their own with the Tomcats. There is no reason to believe that Johnson Central will not play at least on equal terms with Matney at the helm. Likewise, I don't think that Ashland's record prior to Coach Hart taking over is any indication of how future games will go. Both are excellent coaches and I will be shocked if the Tomcats dominate the series in the future, even if one agrees that a 4-1 record is "dominant."

I think Matney was referring to his tenure as head coach at JC. Matney's Sheldon Clark teams did play some of the strong Prestonsburg teams. I don't think that many people outside of Johnson County understand the changes that have come to the Johnson Central football team. Matney was very competitive both in AA and AAA when he coached at Sheldon Clark. Now, he has one of the top, if not the top, middle school programs in the mountains and the largest high school enrollment in the area. Matney is one of the top coaches in the state and he now has the talent pool to build a perennial powerhouse. Comparing what happened before and after Matney's arrival is pretty meaningless, IMO. The current program bears little semblance to that of the three years that preceded his arrival. I mean no disrespect to any previous JC coaches, but I always left Johnson Central-Sheldon Clark games believing that Matney outcoached his counterpart - and that includes the games that JC won. Matney won games that he should have lost and he made games that he lost much closer than they should have been. I was very disappointed when Matney turned down the JC coaching position before the school hired Bruce Humphrey. There was little or no difference between the talent available during those three lean years that preceded Matney's arrival and now but the difference in the JC program is like night and day.

That is great to hear about Barrett and the kicking game. As you pointed out, except for a foreign exchange student or two, JC's kicking game has always been one of its weaknesses. Not that the squib and frequent on sides kicks are not entertaining, but not many teams go deep into the playoffs without a respectable kicking and punting game. I am looking forward to seeing Barrett's improvement this season. Did Ian Welch's yards against North Laurel come as a running back or back-up quarterback? I have been a little surprised that Blake Johnson has not racked up more carries and yards in the scrimmages and opening game. I exect that he will have some big games this season.

Congratulations, Rams! I am happy to admit that I underestimated Raceland or overestimated the Tomcats - probably both. That is a huge single season turnaround.

Nothing wrong with the examples that I provided and I don't recall any "signature win" in 1996 foreshadowing Bourbon County's AA state title the following season. Hilton brought a new attitude to the Bourbon County program (one that seems to have left with him) just as Matney brought renewed optimism to JC's program.

The relevance is pretty clear. Past playoff performance in itself has nothing to do with future performance....and to what old battles would you be referring? It sounds like maybe you are refighting an old battle to me. Newspaper articles, like BGP posts get archived, so if your recollection is that Fairview's playoff performance validated its exclusion from the top 10 most of the season, then that's fine with me. What I remember is that many NKY people were predicting a Ludlow victory in the first round and Fairview's performance greatly exceeded their low expectations of the team. To spell it out for you, the Bardstown reference is intended to point out the pitfalls of placing too much emphasis on a team's previous season's (or seasons') playoff performance when throwing together preseason rankings. Preseason rankings are next to meaningless. Johnson Central has been rebuilding its program since it hired Jim Matney to pull its pigskin out of the fire. Last season was a step in that rebuilding, which you seem to perceive as a plateau. This year's team will by a young but experienced squad and I don't believe that the loss of Ron Blume will have the impact on its performance that people unfamiliar with the program under Matney expect. Rankings tend to be more accurate as the season wears on. I am anxious to see how the rankings look at mid-season, and if history is any indication, they will look much different than they do now. Johnson Central is among the 15 to 20 teams that have the potential to be one of the state's ten best this season. IMO, it is silly to debate whether they should be placed above or below the #10 team before a single game has been played this season. You have no idea and neither do I.

Bardstown '01 wins 2A state title with 47-16 win over Prestonsburg - won each playoff game by at least 21 points Bardstown '02 Preseason BGP #1 - stumbles out of the gates by getting outscored 148-16 in opening 0-3. Ends season with a second round playoff loss. Fairview '03 - Eagles finally make BGP top 10 debut in their final regular season game. Plays Beechwood very tough before the Tigers' depth takes over in the 3rd quarter. Widely acknowledged to have been a top 5 or 6 team after a gutsy playoff showing as they finish the season with an 11-1 record. My opinion of who belongs in the top 10 is no more or less valid than anybody else's. I know that what a team did last season only means something if they are returning a lot of players who played well. Johnson Central returns some very talented players and will field a much better balanced offense than last season. Whether they belong in the top 10 will depend on their own play and upon how well teams like North Laurel, Bryan Station, and Ashland play.

You can't have it both ways. You made the point that after upsetting JC in the first round, Madison Southern got it handed to them the following week. In pointing out Mason County's strong first round performance, I was merely following your lead. I am not complaining that JC is not ranked in the top 10. It doesn't really matter. However, dismissing them as an also-ran on the basis of a first round loss last season, in which I believe they fumbled five times, is a little premature on your part, IMO. I have seen teams come from nowhere to win regional and state championships. I have also seen defending champions ranked #1 preseason and slowly fall out of the top 10 and bow out of the playoffs early. Stuff happens.

Johnson Central has the same number of playoff wins this season as every other team in Kentucky. You are correct that JC was upset in the first round last season, but the district's third place team, which both Ashland and JC handled fairly easily, came very close to sending Rockcastle Country home in the same round. I think that Johnson Central is going to surprise a lot of people this season, but I expect to hear the naysayers point out last season's first round loss ad nauseum. Johnson Central has not reached the point of reloading each season yet, but the rebuilding that began when Jim Matney stepped on campus is coming along quite well. Don't be shocked if you see the Golden Eagles lined up to play Rockcastle in the regional finals this season. As for the offense, I expect that it will be better this season than last and the defense will be very solid from the get-go.

I will be pulling for the Rams Friday night. I am not an Ashland fan, but I do root for them anytime they play a team from outside of eastern Kentucky. I love seeing local 1A teams taking down one of the big schools (Paintsville vs. JC being the exception to the rule) and I hope Raceland enjoys a great season, regardless of the outcome of Friday night's game.

40 Ashland 7 Raceland

I don't expect that the Rams will quit. I do suspect that Ashland's depth will wear them down in the second half.

I feel the same way about Raceland playing Ashland as I do about Johnson Central playing Paintsville. A 3A school with a strong football program should beat a 1A school with a strong football program almost every time because of the enrollment advantage they enjoy. If Raceland walks out of a Putnam with a win I will not be surprised, I will be shocked. I know that it has happened before, but it has not happened in a very long time.

If Ashland is really a contender for the regional title this season, the Tomcats will rout the Rams. Raceland may make a game of it for a half, but I will be shocked if the Rams manage to stay with Ashland for a whole game.

Welcome to BGP, Josey! I agree with the points that you made, and I am sure that Coach Matney is reminding his players that they looked impressive in last year's scrimmages, but lost their opening game to South Laurel. I am guessing that JC's players will be sick of hearing about last year's South Laurel game by the time that the season opens. Likewise, I am also sure that Belfry's staff will be reminding its players that they have lost scrimmage games to Johnson Central in the past and gone on to enjoy great seasons.

:thumb: All great points, BrewDog. Every team that has ever won multiple state titles had to get over the hump of winning that first one. In most cases, people from around the state are shocked when a first time state champ is crowned. Bourbon County, Bell County, and Boyle County all once had their fair share of skeptics. Best of luck to both Belfry and Johnson Central for a healthy and successful season!

I respect your opinion, Watusi, but there may be no team in the state good enough to win JC's region this year outside of Rockcastle County. Johnson Central could emerge as a legitimate top 5 3A team and still get pounded in the regional title game. We won't know how good they are until a state champ is crowned at the end of the season. BTW, I never said that JC was good enough to run the table, only that they are good enough to have a shot at an unbeaten regular season. I think that North Laurel and Ashland are the only teams on the Golden Eagles' schedule who will not be solid underdogs when they play JC. Last season, the Golden Eagles opened with a very inexperienced secondary against an experienced passing team in South Laurel. This season, JC's secondary and its defense should be among its strengths. Matney's situation at Johnson Central is much different than the one that he had at Sheldon Clark. JC is one of the largest 3A schools in the state and should never have a rebuilding season competing in 3A. Of course, JC will no longer be a big fish in the pond, enrollment-wise beginning next season. Johnson Central may not run the regular season table this season, but the potential for an unbeaten regular season is probably the best that it has ever been.

Comparisons to past years is valid only back to Jim Matney's arrival at JC. The Belfry scrimmages were high points in the three dismal seasons that preceded his arrival. Belfry played the Golden Eagles at JC's peak. Like Belfry, Matney's teams improve greatly during the regular season and just as I believe that it is premature to be crowning JC state champs or even contenders for the title, I think that it is way to early to dismiss them as an "above average" team. They have won just as many playoff games this season as anybody else in the state and the team has improved each year since Matney took the job.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't JC's total number of wins against Belfry one? (Granted, there was a very controversial field goal in the mid-70s that cost JC another win, but I think we have only one win in the books.) I am not sure, but I believe that the Golden Eagle teams coached by both Bill Tom Ross and Bruce Humphrey won scrimmages against Belfry. Things have changed since JC hired Jim Matney, to be sure, but the team has not accomplished enough on the field yet to be talking smack to the players and fans of a team that has recently won two state championships. The Golden Eagles have a great mix of talented young players and experienced upper classmen and I am looking forward to this season more than any since 2000, but let's keep expectations real and not make too much of a good performance in a preseason scrimmage. Belfry has lost its share of scrimmages over the years and won more than its share of playoff games. I would gladly trade two lost scrimmages for two playoff wins.

I am a JC fan who has watched several JC-Belfry scrimmages over the years, and the best Belfry has done in the scrimmages that I have seen has been to play even. In most years, Belfry was a much better team at the end of the season and would have pounded JC in a real game. I have learned not to pay much attention to the results of this scrimmage. However, I believe that when the dust settles at the end of this season, JC will have a better team than Belfry. That is no knock on Belfry because they should be very competitive in 2A again. Johnson Central returns a lot of experience and depth this season and if they can improve in the turnover department, they have a very good shot at an undefeated regular season. I will not be surprised if the Golden Eagles emerge as the primary challenger to Rockcastle County for the regional title. The fact that it appears that sophomore Ian Welch will be a backup QB instead of a starting RB tells me that JC is loaded this season and its backfield will be even stronger over the next two or three years. Strange things can happen in season openers, but if JC wins its opener on the road against 4A North Laurel, the Golden Eagles should be favored in every remaining regular season game, including a home game against Ashland. Barring key injuries, this should be a very special season for JC.

Where did JC play Ian Welch on offense (assuming he played), and how did he look? As a freshman last season, he looked like he had a world of potential.

Johnson Central's record in 2000 was 11-1. However, in the next three seasons between Bill Musick's tenure and Jim Matney's arrival, the Golden Eagles seem to peak during the Belfry scrimmage and it was all downhill for the rest of the season. I like Belfry's approach to scrimmages. They never seem to care about winning them, but they play a lot of kids and they are always ready for district play. I think Johnson Central has a legitimate shot at matching the 2000 team's regular season record and to advance deep into the playoffs, but the result of this scrimmage doesn't mean much.

1. Watching Johnson Central advance in the playoffs to meet Rockcastle County. 2. Watching Warren Central (Indiana) challenge for a mythical national title. 3. Watching an eastern Kentucky team win the last state title under the current four-class system

Johnson Central has a decent shot. They have six home games, including a big district game against Ashland. Hopefully, JC will survive its opener against North Laurel on the road. South Laurel beat the Golden Eagles pretty handily in last season's opener, but Johnson Central had a very inexperienced secondary when the season opened last year and South Laurel exploited its advantage. If Johnson Central avoids fumble-fests like the one that cost them dearly in the playoffs last season, they have a good shot at an undefeated regular season.