[Bull got out!]

Pikeville at Raceland. Thoughts?

[Orange Blaze]

Pikeville gets a relatively easy game this week after having a gauntlet of games to start the season.

Raceland won’t be a pushover but the competition level will decently be lower compared to Corbin, JC, and LCA. For Raceland to have a chance in this one they have to find a way to sustain long drives and control the clock.

If Duty can get into a rhythm passing they can have some success as Raceland has shown a tendency to give up big plays in the secondary at times. I think this will be a good game for the most part with Pikeville taking control late.

Pikeville 28
Raceland 14

[The 99]

I'll go with Pikeville with or without #35.
34-14 Panthers.

[2000PHS]

Pikeville overcomes 10+ penalties and wins 22-15.

[Belichick]

Pikeville gets their first W of the year. It won’t be easy. Raceland is not going down quietly but Panthers will be hungry in this one. I think OB has it right. 28-14 but it will be too close for most Pikeville fans for a while.

[Fanman]

Pikeville is tired of losing i'd say, and will take it out on the Rams. 35-14

[Patriot1]

I am going with Pikeville and if they play the offensive game against Raceland as the did LCA in the first 2 drives it will be a high scoring contest but Pikevilles defense definitely has been the weakest part of their game so far so Raceland will put up some points and could come down to turnovers and PENALTIES

[Old School 18]

Pikeville gets their first win. Their hard schedule they have played will come into play here in a positive manner even without anthony.

[64SUR]

Pikeville

[King Kong]

The tough schedule Pikeville has played will show in this one. Taking Pikeville

[Belichick]

I am going with Pikeville and if they play the offensive game against Raceland as the did LCA in the first 2 drives it will be a high scoring contest but Pikevilles defense definitely has been the weakest part of their game so far so Raceland will put up some points and could come down to turnovers and PENALTIES

Raceland does not have the line of JC or LCA. LCA has several preseason all state guys and 2 already signed to play D1. We’ve seen what JC got done even against Belfry.  Rams won’t be able to gash Pikeville like that. If they do, Panthers need to probably do some soul searching or get ready for basketball season.

[The Red Eminence]

Pikeville, and I think in a impressive showing.

[Patriot1]

I am going with Pikeville and if they play the offensive game against Raceland as the did LCA in the first 2 drives it will be a high scoring contest but Pikevilles defense definitely has been the weakest part of their game so far so Raceland will put up some points and could come down to turnovers and PENALTIES

Raceland does not have the line of JC or LCA. LCA has several preseason all state guys and 2 already signed to play D1. We’ve seen what JC got done even against Belfry.  Rams won’t be able to gash Pikeville like that. If they do, Panthers need to probably do some soul searching or get ready for basketball season.

That’s not very good comparison talking about Belfry’s defense they aren’t playing very well either and we will see if Raceland don’t gash Pikevilles defense the defense line and the linebackers of Pikeville has been playing poorly if you ask me and I am a Pikeville fan and it’s not all about getting block to me it’s about leaving their feet and poor angles on making a play and the defensive backs has not had to really play the pass but at Corbin and they didn’t fair so well and against LCA either for that matter yes they will get better and hopefully so but they played better against Corbin than the last 2 games and in my opinion that was the best team they played

[rookie57]

Pikeville wins as they gear up for another state championship

[ArmChairHC]

Picking with 75% heart and 25% head here. I’ve picked both the last two weeks…been right both times…

Rams 26
Panthers 20

Real safe though is regardless of the outcome there will be complaints that officiating determined the outcome of the game.

[Belichick]

I am going with Pikeville and if they play the offensive game against Raceland as the did LCA in the first 2 drives it will be a high scoring contest but Pikevilles defense definitely has been the weakest part of their game so far so Raceland will put up some points and could come down to turnovers and PENALTIES

Raceland does not have the line of JC or LCA. LCA has several preseason all state guys and 2 already signed to play D1. We’ve seen what JC got done even against Belfry.  Rams won’t be able to gash Pikeville like that. If they do, Panthers need to probably do some soul searching or get ready for basketball season.

That’s not very good comparison talking about Belfry’s defense they aren’t playing very well either and we will see if Raceland don’t gash Pikevilles defense the defense line and the linebackers of Pikeville has been playing poorly if you ask me and I am a Pikeville fan and it’s not all about getting block to me it’s about leaving their feet and poor angles on making a play and the defensive backs has not had to really play the pass but at Corbin and they didn’t fair so well and against LCA either for that matter yes they will get better and hopefully so but they played better against Corbin than the last 2 games and in my opinion that was the best team they played

Belfry played totally different against JC than they did against their first 2 opponents.  They moved some offensive lineman up front on D to stop the run and still couldn’t.  They did that last year and dominated JC up front.  JC is a completely different animal this year on the offensive side of the ball.  Pikeville gave up 2 offensive TDs to Corbin’s great offense.  Gave up little on the ground.  2 or 3 breakdowns led to some scores and 1 drop that would have been a score.  That game was closer than Corbin would have liked.  They won turnovers 3-0. The final score was 22-7 and Corbin was gassed at the end with Pikeville receivers running behind their coverages.  JC never had to throw and isn’t good at it.  If Pikeville ever got them into a situation they had to throw, it would have been a different game because JC can’t and isn’t that type of team.  LCA did not have to throw but tried some.  Didn’t go well for them either.  The defensive backfield is not the problem.  Pikeville is being shredded up the middle right now.  What I see from Raceland is they have potential.  They play hard.  They run it well but don’t throw it great.  But Letcher Central was tied with them in the 4th quarter.  If Pikeville stops the run, it could be a long night for the Rams because I don’t see them consistently stopping Pikeville without a lot of mistakes from the Panthers.  Raceland line looks ok but it’s not JC or LCA good.

[Blue_Bird96]

Pikeville looking to stop the losses and hoping to put one in the win column here! It won’t be easy. Tough one to pick.

[bac2369]

What’s the word on Anthony for this one?
Raceland to me is farther ahead than what I thought they would be defensively. Raceland leaned on the ground game against Letcher and I think they will need to try to do it again against Pikeville. Pikeville has been road warriors so far in the first 3 games, and will be on the road again this week as well. After this road game they will be at home for a month. 2 home games and 2 Bye weeks. Unless Pikeville has picked up a 10th game.

[RAMDAD50]

Some Pikeville fans already making excuses hahaha. Damn right the flags will be flying Friday. I know the crew doing the job and you better believe I’m already stretching out my flag throwing arm. I mean they are stretching out their arms. I bet Pukeville has more penalty yards then totally offensive hehe

[plantmanky]

Overtime.

[HatfieldMccoy]

Overtime.

If this goes to overtime then Pikeville fans better be worried for their potential run to state.

[Patriot1]

Some Pikeville fans already making excuses hahaha. Damn right the flags will be flying Friday. I know the crew doing the job and you better believe I’m already stretching out my flag throwing arm. I mean they are stretching out their arms. I bet Pukeville has more penalty yards then totally offensive hehe

Something is wrong you finally tell the truth

[Micro-Brew]

Been a while since I’ve thought this about a regular season game for the Panthers but Friday feels like a must win. If they let this victory escape things may go south for the Panthers in a hurry. Losing causes tons of restlessness amongst the natives. I by no means have became panicked yet but coming into this season I felt fairly confident that going into the week 5 game verses inner county rival Belfry that the Panthers would be 3-1 and getting ready to increase their win streak over the Pirates to 6. With what we returned and the Fresh class having another year under their belt, I felt good about getting 2 out of 3 verses those first 3 opponents.
But boy I was wrong. The Corbin game felt about right, a little slow, a little out manned and maybe not quite the depth.
But I was pretty disappointed with how Johnson Central just literally out toughed us. They kinda imposed their will while dismantling ours.
Then the LCA game, the offense had nice spurts but defensively we looked very inept. Almost zero resistance to LCA’s interior run game.
My point in all this is, Pikeville better find a way to put on their big boy pants Friday night and find that so called Eye of the Tiger, because they’ve just looked content to me over these first three games. If they don’t, 0-6 is a very real situation.
And I’m fearful that things will completely combust internally if that happens.
Time to find that heart that has made you back to back to back champions. Get that fire back and work your a$$&$ off this week and set the tone for the rest of your season.

[Senters_93]

Picking with 75% heart and 25% head here. I’ve picked both the last two weeks…been right both times…

Rams 26
Panthers 20

Real safe though is regardless of the outcome there will be complaints that officiating determined the outcome of the game.

Happens every game!!!

[Medusa]

Pikeville actually will be the predator this Friday instead of the prey. Taking Pikeville by 3 touchdowns.

[Fanman]

Picking with 75% heart and 25% head here. I’ve picked both the last two weeks…been right both times…

Rams 26
Panthers 20

Real safe though is regardless of the outcome there will be complaints that officiating determined the outcome of the game.

Happens every game!!!

The crew for this weeks game is a good one, but I wouldn't want to call that game lol

[ArmChairHC]

It’s a tough game to call for sure. All the rivalry games are. I just hate that the Raceland/Paintsville, Raceland/Fairview games aren’t happening or aren’t competitive any more. Those games were always tense with the fan bases concerning the officiating lol. Idc if officials are good or bad every Friday as long as they are consistent. Well…of course I’d rather them be good, but be good or be bad both ways lol

[i82much]

This game is "iffy".

If Raceland wins a close game, then the 1A State Champion will be neither of these two teams.
If Pikeville wins a close game, then Pikeville stands a good chance to win another title.
If Pikeville wins in a blowout, then mail another trophy to Pikeville.
If Raceland wins in a blowout, then Raceland stands a good chance to win its first title.

So that's right, you heard it here first, the future of 1A depends on the outcome of this game. ?

I think the most likely scenario is Pikeville winning a close game, which leaves the water muddy with Pikeville being the "not so dominate" favorite to take home another title.

[king360]

Pikeville takes this one.

[ArmChairHC]

I agree with I82…this game to me tells us a lot about 1A status.

---

Pikeville can not be underestimated regardless of their record. But…I think some of the “allure” of the Panthers has been weakened by their first 3 games. Corbin and JC are very good teams and so is LCA. But the way the Corbin and JC games went, that was not typical Pikeville football. And while LCA is still very good, they did lose a lot from that senior class last year. You don’t graduate 17 kids, having 13 of those kids play college football, and the other 4 playing other college sports, and not take a little step back early on. That being said, Highlsnds will beat Raceland like a drum most likely and LCA will likely beat Raceland the same as they did Pikeville. What I’m getting at though is I think the rest of 1A sees Pikeville in a different light this year. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing though lol. They seem beatable and less like the juggernaut they have been the last few years. Regardless, I think this game holds more weight than the last several regular season games between the two. And without question, the outcome will shake things up one way or another