[jetpilot]

^^^i said this very thing in the preseason about Pikevilles play calling and or decision making in terms of them sinking their eggs into one basket the last several years and got laughed at. The season ended up playing out how I said it COULD. I didn’t predict it but definitely called this being a season that Raceland or Pikeville would fall. The Panthers were blessed with players like Anthony, Hensley, Pugh, Wright, Birchfield, etc that allowed them to pretty much call things however they wanted and the JIMMYS AND JOES made things happen. Not the Xs and Os. This year they had Anthony but while they had some really REALLY good atheletes at WR, they didn’t have a Hensley or a Lockhart (so), or even Estep type threat that good teams had to worry about on the outside, that was just as deadly to go to the house as a the RB. The QB play wasn’t as good as it had been in the past either. Duty was solid, showed signed of being really damn good against LCA. But it never really happened again. Pikeville has crazy talent and depth coming up maybe more than they have had in their run. That being said, they have to fix the play calling. Bc if they sink all their eggs in the Wright basket the same thing will happen to him that happened with 35. Idk why they wouldn’t bring Hensley, Stanley, or Branham from the MS To handle the offense. They had a crazy amount of talent to work with and they kept things balanced. Sure, Wright was the bell cow, but they made it so you couldn’t key on him. Idk, there’s just a lot of odd things I’ve seen coming at Pikeville for sometime now. Starting with the AD stepping down, to kids leaving other atheletic programs there. Not saying anything is “sketchy” going on there or anything like that. Maybe it’s just the ups and downs of a small school program. But this season definitely exposed some of Pikevilles issues.

I've thought about this as well. Whoever called plays for the JH did a phenomenal job. No matter the down and distance, you never knew if they were going to run or pass, go right left or middle, or who was going to get the ball. A++ play calling and much better than HS.

Lots of good stuff on this thread...my only worry is Pikeville better be hitting on all cylinders from day one with that schedule or their season may slip away from them again.

[plantmanky]

I missed it where did Pikeville's OC go?

[Big Five-0-]

One good positive concerning the assistant coach calling the plays in JH, is whoever it would be, they no doubt should be a difference maker in the offensive output. Also, that should help with a good transition into the varsity for this talented freshman class as well. (21 players?) Hoping for the best possible outcome in this situation.

[Patriot1]

Have to agree with a lot that was said on here and the junior high did a fantastic job but over the years Pikeville has had so much talent you could do that but this year they had the talent but I believe was no work ethic at all on this team and I have talk to some people who said this bunch had the worst attitude of any team they have seen in maroon and white and it showed on the field about every Friday night but personally I believe that will change Coach Mac is one heck of a coach and a better person and he will line that out now in years past I have never seen that anytime until this year but I do think it will be gone next year or some people might get their feelings hurt

[ArmChairHC]

What i can’t understand is how things changed over the course of one offseason. This group of seniors had never had a season that ended with anything other than a state championship game. They knew what it takes to get there. I’m just still at a loss as to who wasn’t there anymore to guide the ship.

[jetpilot]

What i can’t understand is how things changed over the course of one offseason. This group of seniors had never had a season that ended with anything other than a state championship game. They knew what it takes to get there. I’m just still at a loss as to who wasn’t there anymore to guide the ship.

So you really can't understand why Pikeville doesn't win it all every single year when your team hasn't ever won it all? You of all people should know how hard it is.

[ArmChairHC]

I certainly do understand how hard it is. The Pikeville names and numbers have changed over the course of the last 10 years. But the mentality never changed. There was a drastic drop this year though. Not in talent. The staff from what I can gather was just about the same as it was. Max has always had his teams playing their best ball in November. But from the jump, there was a different look to this Pikeville team. Was just strange to see such a huge drop off. Wasn’t like they did what they always do and fell short at the end. All of this comes from a place of respect JP. Pikeville is the standard the last decade. Would be no different to me if Beechwood, Trinity, or any of the other powers dropped in the second round, especially with returning what they did. I have the same questions about Boyle, but they just folded at the end. Pikevilles struggles were consistent all year and it looked to be more from the sidelines than the players on the field. That’s my biggest question. What caused the dismay on the sideline from an offensive standpoint.

[Patriot1]

Armchair in my opinion it was both on the sideline and on the field and there was some changes in players and coaches attitudes and that’s all I am saying no names coming from me but I still believe it will be straightened out going forward

[Link M9]

The sideline has become complacent the last couple years and when the crunch time situations arose this season they panicked , you could see at some point it every game . The fans saw it , the opposing team saw it , the media saw it and even worse the players saw it .. 
the players can only do so much on their own , they have to run what is play is called . hopefully 2025 season it will be a different story  .

[Panther369]

^^^i said this very thing in the preseason about Pikevilles play calling and or decision making in terms of them sinking their eggs into one basket the last several years and got laughed at. The season ended up playing out how I said it COULD. I didn’t predict it but definitely called this being a season that Raceland or Pikeville would fall. The Panthers were blessed with players like Anthony, Hensley, Pugh, Wright, Birchfield, etc that allowed them to pretty much call things however they wanted and the JIMMYS AND JOES made things happen. Not the Xs and Os. This year they had Anthony but while they had some really REALLY good atheletes at WR, they didn’t have a Hensley or a Lockhart (so), or even Estep type threat that good teams had to worry about on the outside, that was just as deadly to go to the house as a the RB. The QB play wasn’t as good as it had been in the past either. Duty was solid, showed signed of being really damn good against LCA. But it never really happened again. Pikeville has crazy talent and depth coming up maybe more than they have had in their run. That being said, they have to fix the play calling. Bc if they sink all their eggs in the Wright basket the same thing will happen to him that happened with 35. Idk why they wouldn’t bring Hensley, Stanley, or Branham from the MS To handle the offense. They had a crazy amount of talent to work with and they kept things balanced. Sure, Wright was the bell cow, but they made it so you couldn’t key on him. Idk, there’s just a lot of odd things I’ve seen coming at Pikeville for sometime now. Starting with the AD stepping down, to kids leaving other atheletic programs there. Not saying anything is “sketchy” going on there or anything like that. Maybe it’s just the ups and downs of a small school program. But this season definitely exposed some of Pikevilles issues.

I personally feel like if somebody had stepped up and fixed the play calling, and special teams, this season would’ve been a different story despite the injuries.

Injuries hurt and then they exposed the lack of good/quality play calling.

The games where somebody other than the “wannabe OC” called the plays, the panthers looked like they were contenders. Look at LCA and Boyd games. The players were more enthusiastic, the plays were less predictable, and overall they looked like a Panther team we are used to seeing. 

until the OC issues are fixed, without a stellar line, the Panthers are gonna struggle. Special teams needs to start from scratch and work their way back to the top.

[ArmChairHC]

It just baffles me bc I held Pikeville in such high regard. I still do, but more so with their strength and conditioning program and the players they had over the last several years. Bc this year showed me there staff has some things to work on, and that was something I felt they had the edge on everybody with. Raceland as well. But Chad and Sayre exposed both the big dogs.

[Khalisimo]

if I’m Mac I have a talk with stanley at the jr high and evaluate if hes ready to move up to the high school level……. Every offense he touches turns to gold lol

[TrueMarshall0627]

if I’m Mac I have a talk with stanley at the jr high and evaluate if hes ready to move up to the high school level……. Every offense he touches turns to gold lol

that’s most definitely the truth.

[Khalisimo]

if I’m Mac I have a talk with stanley at the jr high and evaluate if hes ready to move up to the high school level……. Every offense he touches turns to gold lol

that’s most definitely the truth.

i went to belfry so i hate to admit it since he took his son to pikeville but he is a great offensive coordinator and the results he has had at both belfry middle and pikeville speak for themself id bring him up to high school and either cut him loose or have a plan in place to use his coaching ability at that level movin forward

[TheTruth!]

if I’m Mac I have a talk with stanley at the jr high and evaluate if hes ready to move up to the high school level……. Every offense he touches turns to gold lol

that’s most definitely the truth.

i went to belfry so i hate to admit it since he took his son to pikeville but he is a great offensive coordinator and the results he has had at both belfry middle and pikeville speak for themself id bring him up to high school and either cut him loose or have a plan in place to use his coaching ability at that level movin forward

3am and you on here grinding lol. No offense in any way gotta love Pikeville football

[ArmChairHC]

That entire staff for Pikeville 8th grade impressed me. Not just in their knowledge but their communication and relationships with the players.

[TheTruth!]

That entire staff for Pikeville 8th grade impressed me. Not just in their knowledge but their communication and relationships with the players.

I’ve always loved Matt Branham.

[Red and Black]

if I’m Mac I have a talk with stanley at the jr high and evaluate if hes ready to move up to the high school level……. Every offense he touches turns to gold lol

Who calls the offense for their JV team? I thought their JV play calling was excellent last year. They utilized their weapons very well and kept defenses guessing and playing on their heels because they were fairly unpredictable. Mac might be able to just promote someone who is already on his staff to call plays on Friday night?

[ArmChairHC]

I went back and watched the previous two state championship games…Pikeville pretty much called everything the same in the run game. They simply didn’t have the pieces to throw the ball like they did in 21 and 22. Duty reached his ceiling his soph/early Jr year and never developed a lot beyond that. So it comes back to coaching. Same issues Raceland had early on, then late in the season. Had a ton of capable weapons, just didn’t get them the ball or didn’t get them the ball in any new sets.

That’s what it’s going to take for Pikeville and Raceland to keep up with Sayre if they start getting kids in. I can see them becoming what LCA did in the early 2000s where they become a legit contender and a pop up favorite, seemingly over night. They could be a flash in the frying pan, but all it’s going to take is the Jimmys and Joes bc Pennington can coach.

[TrueMarshall0627]

if I’m Mac I have a talk with stanley at the jr high and evaluate if hes ready to move up to the high school level……. Every offense he touches turns to gold lol

Who calls the offense for their JV team? I thought their JV play calling was excellent last year. They utilized their weapons very well and kept defenses guessing and playing on their heels because they were fairly unpredictable. Mac might be able to just promote someone who is already on his staff to call plays on Friday night?

Think it’s the signal guy on the sideline for the varsity. Wears a baby blue shirt on Friday nights. Pretty sure he’s the jv play caller.

[Patriot1]

if I’m Mac I have a talk with stanley at the jr high and evaluate if hes ready to move up to the high school level……. Every offense he touches turns to gold lol

I don’t think Stanley calls any offensine plays on the junior High

[haroldjthompson79]

That entire staff for Pikeville 8th grade impressed me. Not just in their knowledge but their communication and relationships with the players.

I’ve always loved Matt Branham.

Matt Branham will go down in PHS history as the best junior high coach there ever was. Not even a question.