[ArmChairHC]

I think Pikeville is in a similar boat to what Raceland was in early in the year last year. A lot of unknowns from the outside looking in, but in reality, they have some kids chomping at the bit to make their mark and CAN and WILL in a big way.

[Patriot1]

Pikeville will have to prove themselves just like all teams except Raceland they are always the fastest strongest and most athletic on the field isn’t that right devil and it’s unusual Devil is on here this early in the season he is mostly still pouting this time of year

[WestCoast]

All guesswork, hopes and wishes. None of it means anything. We will find out how Pikeville and Raceland stack up very soon. Pikeville will have the best skill position group in Class A and can always dial up a great defense (allowed Raceland 29 total points in last 4 meetings). Anybody who thinks Pikeville isn't as good as anyone in Class A is kidding themselves. They will focused and in it to win it.

Raceland and Pikeville are eerily similar. Raceland and Pikeville BOTH have a lot of great skill players, but you would never know it once the games start. Both teams are carbon copy gameplans when they play each other. When playing weaker teams they play aggressive, being creative on offense and non-predictable. But when both teams play a team of equal or greater skill level, their coaches clam up and call some of the most conservative games you can imagine. Both teams just try to run it...run it... run it....up the middle....up the middle....up the middle...trap, QB draw, Wildcat, etc...praying to God that their RB breaks a long run. It's hard to watch. 3rd and 9 and both teams throw screens, or my personal favorite....a draw.
So really talking about Pikeville's skill players doesn't mean much. They could have Justin Jefferson out there and they are going to die before they throw it past the sticks.
I really think Pikeville fans (like Raceland fans) think *skill guys* are running backs only, not QBs, WRs, or TEs.

[ArmChairHC]

Definitely see the argument there. I think that speaks a lot on how weak 1A has been though beyond 3 or maybe 4 teams in the current alignment. Being one dimensional has been enough. Be it with the run or the pass. Pikeville went on their run and really didn’t have to throw the ball. Raceland made it to the title game without needing to the last few years. Last year, Sayre won the title without needing to run the ball and when they did, They weren’t successful doing so against better teams. So again, they were one dimensional on the other side. It’s been awhile since a balanced attack was needed to be successful in 1A it seems. That being said, had Raceland not abandoned the passing game last year in the title game, Who knows what could have happened. Waller only had 2 incompletions in the title game. I’d say 75% of those were screens, but it goes to show that the ability was there. Pikeville struggled to get the ball in the end zone after moving the ball well between the 20s in the regional title game. Campbellsville was arguably the most balanced team in the playoffs last year and still got knocked out by a one dimensional Sayre team. So the argument, I understand, but it’s hard to validate it when the successful teams in the last 10 years have been able to line up and run the ball 80% of the time or line up and throw the ball 75% of the time and still be successful. Idk for me that’s a hard thing to figure. I agree though, that if Raceland would have remained more balanced their chance of winning a title the last two years would have increased.

[jetpilot]

All guesswork, hopes and wishes. None of it means anything. We will find out how Pikeville and Raceland stack up very soon. Pikeville will have the best skill position group in Class A and can always dial up a great defense (allowed Raceland 29 total points in last 4 meetings). Anybody who thinks Pikeville isn't as good as anyone in Class A is kidding themselves. They will focused and in it to win it.

Raceland and Pikeville are eerily similar. Raceland and Pikeville BOTH have a lot of great skill players, but you would never know it once the games start. Both teams are carbon copy gameplans when they play each other. When playing weaker teams they play aggressive, being creative on offense and non-predictable. But when both teams play a team of equal or greater skill level, their coaches clam up and call some of the most conservative games you can imagine. Both teams just try to run it...run it... run it....up the middle....up the middle....up the middle...trap, QB draw, Wildcat, etc...praying to God that their RB breaks a long run. It's hard to watch. 3rd and 9 and both teams throw screens, or my personal favorite....a draw.
So really talking about Pikeville's skill players doesn't mean much. They could have Justin Jefferson out there and they are going to die before they throw it past the sticks.
I really think Pikeville fans (like Raceland fans) think *skill guys* are running backs only, not QBs, WRs, or TEs.

Lots to agree with there but Pikeville fans know very well what skill players are. 
Pikeville 3 TD passes vs Beechwood in 2015 championship 
3 TD passes vs Paintsville in 2019 championship 
Then came Birchfield and Anthony 
1 TD pass vs Russellville in 2021 championship got ultra conservative 
1 TD pass vs Raceland in 2022 but Birchfield had almost 300 rushing yards so no need to pass
1 TD pass vs Raceland in 2023 but Raceland couldn't score so no need to pass
2024 play calling was atrocious other than a game or 2.

Pikeville has at least 4 VERY good receivers this year:
Hager, Slone, Warren, Braxton. All can score from anywhere. And others. And several good RBs. And a potentially great dual threat QB. Should be very good offensively since they have weapons everywhere. BUT if they just stick someone in Anthony's spot and feed him the ball it will be unwatchable.
If Pikeville would just run their offense like the Jr High did last year and mix it up they would win Class A this year and nobody can convince me otherwise.

[bac2369]

All guesswork, hopes and wishes. None of it means anything. We will find out how Pikeville and Raceland stack up very soon. Pikeville will have the best skill position group in Class A and can always dial up a great defense (allowed Raceland 29 total points in last 4 meetings). Anybody who thinks Pikeville isn't as good as anyone in Class A is kidding themselves. They will focused and in it to win it.

Raceland and Pikeville are eerily similar. Raceland and Pikeville BOTH have a lot of great skill players, but you would never know it once the games start. Both teams are carbon copy gameplans when they play each other. When playing weaker teams they play aggressive, being creative on offense and non-predictable. But when both teams play a team of equal or greater skill level, their coaches clam up and call some of the most conservative games you can imagine. Both teams just try to run it...run it... run it....up the middle....up the middle....up the middle...trap, QB draw, Wildcat, etc...praying to God that their RB breaks a long run. It's hard to watch. 3rd and 9 and both teams throw screens, or my personal favorite....a draw.
So really talking about Pikeville's skill players doesn't mean much. They could have Justin Jefferson out there and they are going to die before they throw it past the sticks.
I really think Pikeville fans (like Raceland fans) think *skill guys* are running backs only, not QBs, WRs, or TEs.

Lots to agree with there but Pikeville fans know very well what skill players are. 
Pikeville 3 TD passes vs Beechwood in 2015 championship 
3 TD passes vs Paintsville in 2019 championship 
Then came Birchfield and Anthony 
1 TD pass vs Russellville in 2021 championship got ultra conservative 
1 TD pass vs Raceland in 2022 but Birchfield had almost 300 rushing yards so no need to pass
1 TD pass vs Raceland in 2023 but Raceland couldn't score so no need to pass
2024 play calling was atrocious other than a game or 2.

Pikeville has at least 4 VERY good receivers this year:
Hager, Slone, Warren, Braxton. All can score from anywhere. And others. And several good RBs. And a potentially great dual threat QB. Should be very good offensively since they have weapons everywhere. BUT if they just stick someone in Anthony's spot and feed him the ball it will be unwatchable.
If Pikeville would just run their offense like the Jr High did last year and mix it up they would win Class A this year and nobody can convince me otherwise.

Is Warren gonna play wideout this season? I know he played defense but didn’t record any stats for 2024 on the offensive side of the ball.?
I figured the Fields kid had the other spot locked down.

[Micro-Brew]

Yeah Bac, I also believe Fields will be one of your starting receivers. As for Warren, he had a significant injury preseason last year and didn’t get back to playing until very late in the year. My opinion is you see him in different spots offensively this year including the backfield, but I’m just an innocent bystander so who knows. I expect discussions on here to really ramp up post dead period, once everyone can get eyes on their teams.

[bac2369]

Yeah Bac, I also believe Fields will be one of your starting receivers. As for Warren, he had a significant injury preseason last year and didn’t get back to playing until very late in the year. My opinion is you see him in different spots offensively this year including the backfield, but I’m just an innocent bystander so who knows. I expect discussions on here to really ramp up post dead period, once everyone can get eyes on their teams.

Gotta agree Pikeville likes to scuffle there playmakers around. I’m also assuming to see Anderson and Justice in the backfield as well.

[Big Five-0-]

All guesswork, hopes and wishes. None of it means anything. We will find out how Pikeville and Raceland stack up very soon. Pikeville will have the best skill position group in Class A and can always dial up a great defense (allowed Raceland 29 total points in last 4 meetings). Anybody who thinks Pikeville isn't as good as anyone in Class A is kidding themselves. They will focused and in it to win it.

Raceland and Pikeville are eerily similar. Raceland and Pikeville BOTH have a lot of great skill players, but you would never know it once the games start. Both teams are carbon copy gameplans when they play each other. When playing weaker teams they play aggressive, being creative on offense and non-predictable. But when both teams play a team of equal or greater skill level, their coaches clam up and call some of the most conservative games you can imagine. Both teams just try to run it...run it... run it....up the middle....up the middle....up the middle...trap, QB draw, Wildcat, etc...praying to God that their RB breaks a long run. It's hard to watch. 3rd and 9 and both teams throw screens, or my personal favorite....a draw.
So really talking about Pikeville's skill players doesn't mean much. They could have Justin Jefferson out there and they are going to die before they throw it past the sticks.
I really think Pikeville fans (like Raceland fans) think *skill guys* are running backs only, not QBs, WRs, or TEs.

Lots to agree with there but Pikeville fans know very well what skill players are. 
Pikeville 3 TD passes vs Beechwood in 2015 championship 
3 TD passes vs Paintsville in 2019 championship 
Then came Birchfield and Anthony 
1 TD pass vs Russellville in 2021 championship got ultra conservative 
1 TD pass vs Raceland in 2022 but Birchfield had almost 300 rushing yards so no need to pass
1 TD pass vs Raceland in 2023 but Raceland couldn't score so no need to pass
2024 play calling was atrocious other than a game or 2.

Pikeville has at least 4 VERY good receivers this year:
Hager, Slone, Warren, Braxton. All can score from anywhere. And others. And several good RBs. And a potentially great dual threat QB. Should be very good offensively since they have weapons everywhere. BUT if they just stick someone in Anthony's spot and feed him the ball it will be unwatchable.
If Pikeville would just run their offense like the Jr High did last year and mix it up they would win Class A this year and nobody can convince me otherwise.

Jeremiah Anderson just might be the one to fill that vacancy left by Anthony. Eighth grade stud FB, built like a tank that was hard to bring down. Been playing LB on D in the varsity, but definitely could be plugged in there to replace Anthony, Imo. Pretty sure Anderson will be a Jr this season. Agree jet. That was some excellent play calling for an excellent Jr High team last season.

[ArmChairHC]

Losing Stanley on the staff will affect the Jr High to some degree. That being said, Branham and company all do a great job with that group.