MonsterMan

HHS would have to be the favorite. I have watched both JC and Whitley play and JC will be the stronger of the two next year as of now. Alot of things can happen. JC will be bringing back some great kids, and I think will be more quicker than last years team. I think the new QB may be a decent passer. Breatthitt County and Hazard will not play us this year and our attempts to play Bell County have not worked out. With Bryan Station gone to 6A, I look for JC and HHS to play next year in the playoffs. But again with the guys coming back for HHS, they would have to be the favorites.

I saw Collinsworth play and he is the real deal and I hope to see him in a UK uniform. I think what people are saying had he played in a rural area of the the state, he would have not got a look with these numbers even though he is a legit D1 player and deserves the award.

I did not know how it worked and this is great info. No wonder the rural areas do not get represented. It is tough to pick and all the kids that got recognized deserved it. Good to see Ky football be so strong! It does not matter much to me, but it does for the kids who play and have accomplished alot in a season. Hopefully the next polls will be more represetative. Again thanks for the info as I had no idea how this worked.

I would agree with most of what you say. Where was this spirit when Painstville was running up the score on a weak JC program? Was this a FAIR GAME? If JC had ever wanted to quit back then it would have been talked about for years and made the front page of all the papers! Do you think the Paintsville fans would have not said anything? But I do agree, JC has passed the Paintsville bar and needs to set it higher.

This is one of the worse things I have ever seen! Richardson played a tough 5A schedule and no one could stop him. The AP just does not cover mountain teams. Sounds like we are not the only ones on here that feel this way, just look where most of the kids are from.

I am right there with you! The AP just covers certain areas and alot of great kids do not get recognized. Kids in rural areas never get any recognition from the AP.

It is sad, the game was a great attraction but it got to be more than a game. 95% of the fans are great people, the 5% created alot of prolbems. Most of the probelms were caused by people who attended one school and got mad and sent thier kids to the other. Great people on both sides.

You are correct. The old line JC fans endured alot of abuse and rivalary from Paintsville and we are guilty of rubbing it in a little, but we are justified. The old players and fans would love to see this go on, but there is no reason for either team to play this game anymore. JC can make up the gate and it is just a JV game with us. We need to move on and play better teams, but that is hard to do now with our sucess. JC fans are having a little fun with this, but I think have finally realized Paintsville does not figure in our sucess anymore. For Paintsville to say they have quit and had enough is sweet to our ears, but it is time to move on.

Do not worry about losing focus. The rivalry had lost it lustre to most Central fans. It is done and over, no more fun. We now focus on teams like Belfry and the boys from NKY. Alot more fun and more rewarding. Losing the Apple Bowl is sad, getting a state title is pricless.

I know this thread is about the Apple Bowl but I agree. What will Paintsville do when they do not dominate in basketball or baseball, quit? This is close to happening and maybe this year. This just shows the condition of the City of Paintsville and the school system and says alot about what they do when things get tough. Johnsonville had the grit to stick it out and never did quit when things got tough, Paintsville can not say that.

Great post! The only reason to play this game is for PHS to make money. JC can draw an Apple Bowl crowd with others teams anytime. The loss of the Apple Bowl money will be devastating to PHS. This will be the first blow of many that will start the decline of the PHS system. Regaurdless of what the faithfull PHS fans say, the financial outlook for the sytem is bleak. With the JC kids staying home, PHS will have less talent to draw off of. When it came down to crunch time PHS waved the wihite flag and said we have had enough, that is the most fitting record JC fans can ever from this series.

#42 is Tanner Bratton and he is a soph and awesome. He is a great line backer too. The kid has a D1 body and speed. #5 for JC JK Hall is a soph too and a great athelete. He started a corner back but playes running back and QB. He should be JC's starting QB next year.

I saw JC play HHS Friday Night and the tape of the Woodford-Whitley game. I am for our mountain teams, but the way I see it Whitley is a team identical to JC. I think JC had more speed and size. I think Whitley will come out strong, but HHS passing game and overall team speed will get the best of Whitley. If HHS can get out score quick and get ahead, Whitley can not catch up. If HHS lets Whitley hang around late in the game, watch out. If HHS QB gets on track early and Conner runs the ball well, this could get ugly early. Love my mountian teams, but we are going to have to become more than one dimesional to beat the guys from up North.

I am a JC fan and a Matney supporter, but you are 100% right! Since I have been a JC fan even before Matney three things have been weak at JC and I think most mountian teams: passing game, pass defense and special teams. We need to focus on these parts of the game if we are going to take the next step to the title. Getting teams scheduled is tough for us, but we need to get out of the mountains and play teams like HHS. Beating the teams we play by just running the ball does not make us stronger. You are right, we have probably the best group coming back we have had, so we need to improve in these areas. Could you imange if we had a passing game to go with the running game we have?

I remember that one, I should have said in the regular season. No question BS had on outstanding team.

I am a JC fan and I am proud of the Eagles. We are knocking on the door, need to tune up a few areas to be champs. Is this a close as any KY team has played HHS? We made several mistakes, but we got beat by the Class of the Class, no excuses. HHS is a very talented team and ever bit as good as advertised!

Just watched WYMT Sports Overtime. Matney stated, "we must play a perfect game." Chase Richardson was the Mountain Player of the week for his performace against CC. Weather is going to be clear and 42 degrees at game time. 24 hours form now it will be on!

Welch should be all state with the year he has had. Two great players going at it, that is what playoffs are all about! Most teams have avoided throwing around Welch until CC and he got one. One of the key match ups. I hope to be watching Collinsworth at UK in a couple of years.

I am not sure how many interceptions Welch needs to break the sate record, but I will go out on a limb and say this may be his night. Welch has always performed in big games and this bunch may thow his way.

I did not infer that JC has a monopoly on pride, I said Matney can instill the "Pride Factor " in his team. You are right, both sides will have to play a perfect game to beat the other.

The place kicker we have now has been pretty consitent for a freshman. I think Matney will get the feel of the game and the momentum at that point and decide. As a side note, since we are now playing soccer look for the JC's kicking game to improve in coming years.

This is the best post I have seen on this site. No one argues that HHS has more numbers and is deeper in talent and speed. The "Matney Factor" and the "Pride Factor" he can instill can not be ignored and is hard to factor in if you have not played JC. I hope everyone is predicting HHS will blow JC out all week! It will play right into Matney Plans.

I will take a shot at this, even though there will be a hundred guys post I am wrong, but here is my try, JC has passed at times this season, but when you can score running the ball and run the clock, why pass? Welch is a potential first team all stater and is a great reciever, but is usally doubled and tripled teamed. Welch has a good arm and can throw the ball very well on the end around. Jeramy Bratton is a tall quick kid who can catch the ball and is usally not covered and tough to get down, this may be a key. Dillion is not pretty, but can pass the ball effective. Matney usally goes for home runs off the running game. Nathan Dillion and Chase Richardson can catch the ball out of the backfield. IMO, if JC can mix up a few short passes, the running game will be more effective. Matney is an outstanding coach and has seen HHS play and will have a few surprises for this game, do not count him out. I do think JC will have to pull out all the plays in the book to keep this HHS group off balance and keep them honest on the run. Again this is just my opinion and I am sure a hundred posts will tell me where I am wrong. I will make a prediction, the game will be impacted most by a player we have not mentioned on plays we do not expect.

JC has had a few trips to the playoffs in years past, but not like now. Before Matney got here we were the "doormat of the mountains". In five short years we have been all the way to the Final Four. JC has spent major bucks on facilities and there are as good as anywhere in the state. There is alot of talk here about tradtion. The reason JC fans are so behind these kids is they are virtually carving out a tradtion on thier backs in a very tough 5A class. The State Title will go through Johnsonville for many years.

This is getting to sound like the post with the CC people last week and more important things should be discussed. All I was saying is that JC has nothing but repect for HHS, you have an awesome team! But JC will not be intimadated and will come prepared to play. We will not overlook HHS, will you overlook us? The State Title does go through Johnsonville.