[football 105]

Yes and no. I think it's fine to play those teams, and it is one of if not the stoutest schedules in our area, but thats only because of Ashland and Irotong. From what I've heard, Coalgrove isn't much different than I'd say Greenup on this side of the river. Not trying to disrespect either school, I just know that they are both in a bit of a slump. With the quality of players we have coming up through the ranks, I'd like to see schedule that looks something like this:

Ashland, Ironton, Somerset/Danville(good 2 or 3A school), Lexington Christian(or some lexington/northen ky school), Mason County, Johnson Central/Breathitt/Hazard(aka a mountain school), then the district games of Fairview, Paintsville, Nicholas.

I just believe that you would be better off coming into the playoffs at 7-3 or 6-4 against that schedule, than going 10-0 against teams with an average record of 2-8 or worse. More prepared and more acclimated to the "big game" enviornment. Each year the top 10 has the same problem. 1-5 are generally always competitive with one another, but 6-10 are a bust. IE: Nicholas was ranked number 9 in the state and they got waxed by Raceland at number 5. Week 1 and 2 of the playoffs are a joke. We need to go back to the playoff system of the number 1 and/or number 2 team from each district make it into the playoffs. It is obsurd to have an 0-10 team in the playoffs. It means nothing.

But, I have went off topic...back to the issue at hand. I'm not saying that every game has to be a nail-biter. But looking at Raceland and Fairview are both very high quality football teams this year, and idk about the eagles, but the rams have high hopes for the next several years. But looking at both teams schedule this year, they have only been in one game a piece where they had any sort of challenge, Raceland's self inflicted loss to Ashland and Fariview had a few games early in the season where they only one by a touchdown or two, but that was without Rutherford and King. Raceland's coming off 5 games in a row scoring atleast 50 pts, two of which they scored 60. Fairview isn't much different going over 60 points several times and eclipsing 70 points once.

I am extremely interested in seeing how these two respond when either they come out and get stopped offensively or the other team is able to trade scores with them. This game could become a shootout, or it could become a battle of inches. Who ever can control the edges deffensively will win. But this game will show how good each team is. And I will be suprised if the winner of this game, wins the inevitable rematch for the region championship.

Fairview plays maybe the weakest schedule in eastern Ky. But they have beaten us the past two years. And go.e deeper into the playoffs. And yet last year we play a very good Ashland, Russell, top five 1A Pikeville twice., 3A Lawrence Co. and a very good East Portsmouth team who beat us by 20+.,,Still the eagles went deeper in the playoffs.
Sometimes its not who you have played. But how healthy you are come playoff time.