just 4 fun

The Wood will always be the Top Dawgs in Class A.....It does not matter what other schools have returning, the Title goes through the Tigers........

Sorry to disagree, but, the Wood will only get my vote when I think they'll have the best team and unfortunately, I don't think they do this year. I do think they'll be right in the hunt and I actually rated them #2 based on tradition, more than anything else, but, there may well be 4 or 5 teams with more talent this year...Good luck and maybe they'll make me eat my words, and I'll be the 1st to congratulate them if they do, but, some folks outside of NKy don't crown a champion based on tradition, but, by what they actually have to put on the field...

After reviewing the preseason reviews, let's hear what everyone thinks the preseason rankings will look like...I'll start with 1a but you can put in any class you'd like or all classes, for that matter....

1a

1) LCA - seems they have about the most coming back from 07 and a strong 07 at that....

2) Beechwood - they'll be right in the hunt again. I don't think they'll be quite as strong as in 07, especially in the trenches, but, will have speed to offset it....

3) Hazard - also returns alot and should be the beast in the east after an impressive undefeated regular season in 07 and long playoff run....

4) Mayfield - were young in 07 and a year of maturity will make this team better in 08....

5) Campbellsville - should be there best team in a long time and were pretty solid in 07 as the season went on....

6) Raceland - Another team with alot coming back and should be right in the thick of things thruout the year....

7) Pikeville - may struggle early with a tough non-district schedule, but, they'll be tough to handle come playoff time....

8) Holy Cross - As usual, should be the King of the metro area this year....

9) Frankfort - Lost alot of talent off that 07 team and have alot of holes to fill, but, still enough talent to make some noise....

10) Crittenden Co - Improved dramatically throughout the 07 season after a rocky 0-4 start, and have the nucleous returning....

Assuming that Mayfield beats Crittenden County during the regular season, the Rockets would probably have to win at Louisville Holy Cross in the second round of the playoffs to earn a rematch with Mayfield.

And Mayfield would have to win it's initial playoff game, too...This is nothing different than previous yrs as far as the likelihood of a district rematch...

Marshall County will not be favored over Mayfield. The Cardinals should also handle Graves County and Caldwell County. I expect the Cardinals will be at least 7-3.

I'd take that...I wasn't sure what Marshall Co had coming back, just speaking from the past couple of years, they've really put it on Mayfield and were very solid and then I said Graves was a pick em game because of the rivalry between the 2 and the # difference can be a factor at any time, especially early in the year when it's still hot and humid...I've also heard Caldwell was dressing more kids than ever, so, I would expect that to be close, too, especially at Caldwell..I wouldn't be surprised to see Mayfield beat Tilghman, Ft Campbell and/or Calloway Co, but, they would have to really be on top of there games on those given nights to do it...

Mayfield's non district schedule starts with defending 2A State Champion Ft. Campbell, and also includes 3A State Semifinalist Paducah Tilghman, 6A schools Marshall County and Graves County, 4A Calloway County, and 2A Caldwell County

Wouldn't surprise me to see Mayfield end at about 5-5 or 6-4 with that schedule..You would have to think Ft Campbell, Pad Tilghman, Marshall Co & Calloway Co would all be favored and Graves Co & Caldwell Co probably pick-em games..Throw in an always tough Fulton City and an improved Crittenden Co team and thats pretty solid.. Mayfield always does that though and then when there record isn't that great, other teams don't think they're that good and get it handed to em, cause they're playoff ready...

I give props to Pikeville, too...That schedule will do nothing but help you come playoff time...

Not really. Fort Campbell lost their first one last year and got smoked in week two by Warren East. They turned out pretty good.

True, most teams will improve as the season wears on, but, the Falcons also weren't coming off a state championship last year and you have to believe there will be a different mindset to start off this yr vs last, from a confidence and experience standpoint..

Murray will have to play real well to get by Trigg and Caldwell, but I think they have the pieces to do so including coaching which they have not had. They are capable of making a playoff run.

 

Once again I really like Ft. Campbell, they have about the best defensive players I have seen in a while in Carter and Durrante. They also have a great back in troy turner. Someone will have to step up at QB, and I am not sure about the o-line situation.

Ft Campbell plays Mayfield in the season opener for both teams, so, you'll be able to tell pretty quickly what they'll have..

Murray will dress more kids this year than they have in a long while. There new coach has seemed to bring the excitement back to Tigertown. Plus, they have some really talented skilled kids and linemen back. they battled alot of injuries last year and if they stay healthy, could be a big surprise to Trigg Co, Caldwell Co and Heath in District 1. They'll have there hands full with Ft Campbell, but, I believe they can compete with any of the other 2a teams in D1 and D2..

Murray will be much improved this year, but, I believe Calloway Co will be very, very solid this year and should win the game handily, pulling away in the 2nd half with more depth and #s...

Murray won't play Mayfield and that's ashame, because it was a longtime rivalry. Yes, Mayfield dominated the series when they were in the same district and class, but, they had some very good games over the years. Maybe this new coach will change that. I know there's been alot of bad blood between the 2 for several years now..

I still wish they would go to the 5 class system...With 223 competing teams, you could have 48 teams in each of the smaller classes and then the 32 biggest in the 5a class, since that's where the biggest disparity in size is... That would be 6 teams in each of the 8 districts and 4 teams in each of the 8 districts in the 5a class... I think it would also make sense to allow teams to play down or up 1 class only... In other words, just say for example, the # 300 was used... Any team with under 300 students would have the option to play in 1a, even if they weren't 1 of the 48 smaller schools... At the same time, any team, who would be classified as 1 of the smaller 48 schools, could opt to play up to 2a... You could use different #s for the middle and upper classes, such as 500 or 700... The actual # would have to be figured in beforehand... I also believe the privates should have to factor in at 1.5%, much like Tn uses, except they use a 1.75% factor...

Southern, Ballard, Eastern and Fern Creek could also probably beat them 50% of the time its apples to oranges

Well, if 50% is competing, then I'd say the Lex schools would be competing with the Louisville schools..Same with Manual..It's like others have stated, none of the teams in 6a, regardless of geographics is competing with St X or Trinity. The same question could be posed to these teams. Will they compete with the 2 elite Louisville schools and the answer would likely be the same as the one posed for the Lex schools..No

I thought Harlan Co. was in 5A.

Mercer County. Right now in the weight room there are about 36 seniors. The team has a different attitude this year. These seniors are ready to be the team leaders and are determined to get the job done. Watch out!

36 srs...Are you serious? That's approaching Trinity/St X type numbers.. I'd say with that big of an upperclass, they should be good...

What's Green Co got coming back? They were solid and deep last year, just wondering how much of that they lost...

Anyone?

I know Ft Campbell should be pretty solid, but, who else returns alot or have strong underclasses moving up?

Brockman is a good scrambler and runs the ball pretty well when he has to, although he's not the quickest of QBs, but, you're right, he is very accurate on both the deep balls and especially the short intermediate passes and he's got pretty decent size for a HS QB. I don't think he's a D1 qb, but, could play at a D2 school somewhere...

The kid from Calloway Co will be solid..His name escapes me..

I like your top ten, but I think I would put Hazard about 2nd, with B'wood and LCA 1 and 1A. Hazard should be very good, but I think the former 2 teams will be solid across the board.

You may be right, but, it's going to be hard to beat a team that went undefeated in the regular season and to the semi-state round last year with all they have back this year. I have no doubt, Beechwood/LCA/Mayfield and Raceland are all capable of beating them, but, I just think they may have a little more proven kids back than the others...

If I were to rank them right now :

1) Hazard

2) Beechwood

3) LCA

4) Mayfield

5) Raceland

6) Campbellsville

7) Frankfort

8) Fulton City

9) Holy Cross

10) Pikeville

I think Hazard could possibly win it all this year with all they have back. LCA will be there toughest out to get to state with Raceland and Campbellsville also challenging. Look for Beechwood or Mayfield to take the west with Frankfort & Fulton City challenging. If you want to look at some darkhorses, it would have to be Pikeville & Williamsburg in the east and Crittenden Co, Holy Cross and possibly Bellevue in the west...

So you're saying Campbellsville will reach the State Semi-Finals? Last season they took one on the chin in the regional finals vs. Hazard. Hazard returns nearly everyone from that same team.

Not sure how the district lineups are this year, but, yes, I think Campbellsville could be one of the teams to go a long ways in the playoffs. I also think Hazard will be one of Top teams in all of Class A this year, but, after an undefeated season and a state semi berth, I'm not sure they could do alot more to be considered an improved team to look out for...

Lone Oak coming back to reality this year ???

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Lone Oak ran the table again during the regular season. Especially, since they host both Hopkins Co Central & Calloway

County.

 

Lone Oak defense should be downright Nasty this year & the offense will be high octane. The cupboard isn't bare. Look for the Oakers to go deep in the playoffs!

They won't be near as strong this year as last. Say what you want, but, there QB made them go last year and there top receiver will be at QB so there goes your best receiving threat. There defense should be better, because they weren't very good last year, at least not against any of the decent teams they faced...

Who are some of the teams that may not have done alot in the past couple of years but look to have alot coming back or to be much improved this year?

I can think of a couple...

Campbellsville....Sounds like they have alot coming back and although weren't one of the elite 1a teams last year, were in that 2nd tier of teams behind Beechwood, LCA, Mayfield and Frankfort....Could be a team to look out for....

Calloway Co....Coming off a 6-4 season with virtually everyone back and most importantly, there key players, WR, QB and RB, who made alot of the plays last year...Plus, Lone Oak will be coming back to reality this year, so, this could be a serious 4a contender from the west...

Who else may fit into that roll and please don't mention teams like Highlands, Beechwood, BGreen, Trinity and St X...I think everyone is well aware that these teams will be contenders....

Look for Fulton City, one of the smallest 1a schools, to boost there roster for 2009.. They always have a few really good athletes but always get done in by there lack of depth..On an average year, they'll dress 25-29 kids, but, with there recent success the last 2 years and some possible transfers from S.Fulton, Tn, they could be looking at 35-40 kids, which is very high for a school there size..