[Stardust]

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/preps/2010/1...-thoughts/

Generally, the first weekend of the playoffs is about as predictable as Charlie Brown’s field goal attempts. You have a lot of really good teams beating up a lot of really bad teams, with the rogue decent game thrown in. That said, this weekend wasn’t terrible.

Here are some thoughts:

I’ve had high school officials tell me that a penalty can be called virtually on every play. The officials in Friday night’s Holmes vs. West Jessamine game seemed to take that as a challenge. There were about 125 plays in the game. There were 25 penalties. That’s one every five plays. I get the obvious stuff. Off-sides is off-sides. A falst start is a false start. But about half the penalties in that game were holding penalties, including the one that erased the Bulldogs’ go-ahead score with a minute to play. I’m not saying it was a good call or a bad call, just a big call. I’m told the crew was from Louisville, which makes me happy I don’t cover games down there. I’d never make deadline.

Afterward, I gave Holmes coach Stephen Lickert the opportunity to light up the officiating crew; he didn’t take the bait. He said his team made too many mistakes and the officials had nothing to do with it. Good for him. Still, that one has to sting.

Saturday’s CovCath-Blazer game featured one of the most gruesome football injuries I’ve ever seen. After a first-quarter play, CovCath defensive back and leading tackler Daniel Gregory walked toward the sideline with a 45-degree angle between his wrist and elbow. His arm had snapped between two legs during the on-field action. To his credit, Gregory was totally calm. I was practically throwing up in my mouth.

Speaking of CovCath, the more I watch senior defensive back Paul Ritter, the more I think he’s one of the most underrated players in Northern Kentucky. The guy’s a beast. He can really run and he’s in on almost every play.
Newport, which nearly upset Christian Academy of Louisville in the first round, showed why Northern Kentucky’s Class 2A district is no joke.
Same goes for the area’s 6A loop and Conner, which played very well against a Henry Clay team that had been rolling teams.

Does anyone else think it would be a good idea for Kentucky to stagger playoff games like Ohio does? Classes 1A, 2A and 4A — the classes whose championship games will be played on a Friday — could play all their playoff games on Fridays. Classes 3A, 5A and 6A could play all their games, including the finals, on Saturdays. Teams could keep to normal schedules throughout the playoffs. There would be better revenue, better exposure. It’s a win-win-win.